The exciting challenge of creating a sense of wonderment is what drives Louisville-native Wayne Hettinger to create memorable events on a grand scale. Hettinger’s company produces special events on a spectacular scale for corporate, community and non-profit organizations. Since 1990, they have been best known for creating and producing Thunder Over Louisville, a waterfront fireworks event attracting 750,000 spectators every year. Thunder is the largest annual fireworks display in North America a...
Jun 28, 2017•30 min
Major General (retired) Robert S. Silverthorn Jr. credits growing up in a military family as his inspiration and drive to achieve excellence. Silverthorn has served the United States in the military and as a counselor of law. He is a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran and was mobilized for Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He also served during the Global War on Terror from 2001 to 2005. Silverthorn retired as Major General (2 stars) in 2008. He received many military decorations, including the Distinguished S...
Jun 28, 2017•30 min
Matt Jamie’s motto of “Slow. Small. Simple.” guides his company in producing high quality, bourbon-based sauces. Louisville-native Jamie established Bourbon Barrel Foods in 2006. Made in re-purposed bourbon barrels, Jamie uses Kentucky grown non-GMO soybeans, soft red winter wheat, and limestone-filtered Kentucky water to produce his soy sauce. The smoky, brothy, meaty sauce has a subtle sweetness, similar to fine Kentucky bourbon. Bourbon Barrel Foods has since grown to include smoked spices, a...
Jun 28, 2017•28 min
As the owner of Joseph’s Salon and Spa, Kelly Flint Campbell sees the growth of her staff and client relationships as her inspiration. Since the early 1990s, Campbell has been the owner and president of Joseph’s Salon/Spa in Louisville, Ky. Originally opened 40 years ago by her parents, Joseph’s set out to be a beauty destination with highly skilled professionals who have an unwavering commitment to customer service. Joseph’s has grown and now includes the Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Spa. With her...
Jun 28, 2017•25 min
Terry Taylor’s drive to bring peace to communities, through understanding each other’s differences, powers his work. Taylor is the recently retired executive director of Interfaith Paths to Peace, also known as IPP, a Louisville-based inter-religious, non-profit organization. His collaborative projects include working with countless of the religious councils and centers throughout Louisville. He was instrumental in Louisville’s designation as a Compassionate City. In 2013, Taylor played a signif...
Jun 28, 2017•30 min
Karen Morrison sees her job as president and CEO of Gilda’s Club as winning the job lottery. Gilda’s Club is a cancer support community, for families and patients, helping them live with joy. Morrison joined the organization eight months before the clubhouse opened in 2007. The Louisville Chapter is its 22nd club. Prior to Gilda’s Club, Morrison spent 17 years as chief operating officer for the American Red Cross, directing programs for the Southern Arizona Chapter, and then as development direc...
Jun 28, 2017•29 min
Pam Darnall focuses her professional life on helping children and families facing abuse and violence. Darnall was named president and CEO of Family & Children’s Place in 2014, setting the vision, leadership, and coordination of all the organizational. From 1994 to 2008, Darnall served as president of The Family Place. She played an essential role in the merger of The Family Place and Family and Children First to create Family & Children’s Place. Her prior experience includes 10 years wit...
Jun 28, 2017•29 min
A commitment to environmental responsibility as a principle of her faith powers everything Heather Warman does. Warman is the executive director of the Kentucky Environmental Foundation. She speaks regularly on green building, sustainable design, recycling, and reuse. Warman is an avid proponent for green building initiatives in Kentucky. She has volunteered locally with American Cancer Society, the U.S. Green Building Council, Bluegrass Junior Women’s Club, and American White Water which focuse...
Jun 28, 2017•31 min
Judge Erica Lee Williams sees discipline and community service as core values grounding her career. Williams was a practicing attorney when she was appointed to serve as district court judge of the 30th Judicial District in Division 17 by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear in 2009. The following year, Williams was elected to a full term, and then was re-elected in 2014. She currently serves as presiding judge for teen court in Jefferson County. Williams holds numerous professional accolades, such a...
Jun 28, 2017•29 min
Elizabeth Kitzito sees her cookie business as a way to provide for her family here and in Uganda. Born in Uganda during the 1950s, Kizito moved to America in 1975 to attend school. Unfortunately, civil unrest and war in Uganda prevented her from returning. She moved to Louisville in 1978 and began making and selling cookies – originally as a way to pay for her son’s birthday present. She started selling cookies downtown and within a few years, in 1989, she traded her cart for her own bakery on B...
Jun 28, 2017•25 min
Summer Auerbach is committed to local independent businesses and leads Rainbow Blossom Natural Foods. In 1977, Auerbach’s parents started the first Rainbow Blossom Food Market in Louisville. After growing up in the business, she decided to go away to school and travel extensively. Auerbach graduated from Bentley University in Massachusetts with a degree in international studies. She had plans to serve in AmeriCorps and help in disaster relief. However, when her father became critically ill, Auer...
Jun 28, 2017•30 min
Dr. Donna Hargens’ unwavering belief that every child can learn serves her as she leads the country’s 28th largest school system, with more than 101,000 students and nearly 17,000 teachers and staff. In 2011, Hargens began her position as the superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS). She quickly brought the community and education communities together with a series of ongoing forums dubbed the Superintendent’s Summit. These valuable meetings allowed the School Board and her to in...
Jun 28, 2017•24 min
Jim Allen cites leadership by example as his style leading Hilliard Lyons. Allen is the president, chairman, and CEO of Hilliard Lyons. After joining the firm in 1981, he has devoted his entire working career to the same company. In 2003, Allen was named the president of Hilliard Lyons and a year later, he was elected chairman and CEO. Allen oversees more than 70 offices in 12 states and assets management of over $40 billion. He founded and served as president of both the Hilliard Lyons Growth F...
Jun 28, 2017•28 min
Matt Thornton cites his desire to win as the trait that drives him in his roles leading Thorntons and contributing to the community. Thornton is president and CEO of Thorntons Inc., a leading, independent gasoline and convenience chain retailer with well over 170 stores. Originally founded by Thornton’s father, James H. Thornton, the first location opened in Clarksville, Ind., in 1971. For eight years, Thornton served as vice president of operations. During this time, Thorntons revolutionized th...
Jun 28, 2017•28 min
Cathy Fyock’s belief in being true to your heart sparked her career as an author and human resources consultant. Fyock launched her author-consultancy business, named Your Possibility Partner, to provide professionals with coaching support to help them cut through the daily distractions of everyday life and find the focus they need to write their books. She has provided keynotes and workshops for hundreds of clients and has authored six books, including “On Your Mark: From First Word to First Dr...
Jun 28, 2017•30 min
Christen Boone is a community connector, social entrepreneur, and leader in nonprofit development and strategic philanthropy. In 2014, Boone was named the president and CEO of Louisville’s Fund for the Arts. Fund for the Arts supports a range of arts organizations and drives accessibility across neighborhoods, schools, community centers, and public spaces. Boone also leads The Boone Group, which focuses on building strong and vibrant communities through the power of collective action and the spa...
Jun 28, 2017•28 min
Tom Partridge thrives on helping businesses secure capital for projects that will have a positive impact on their communities. Partridge is responsible for 45 bank branches of Fifth Third Bank in the greater Louisville and Lexington areas, and well as over 2.5 billion in assets. He oversees the growth and strategic direction of four lines of business, including commercial banking, branch banking, consumer lending, and investment advisors for the affiliate. Partridge began with PNC in Cincinnati ...
Jun 28, 2017•29 min
Tom Fawbush began in broadcasting as a teenager. He has been the General Manager at WBNA TV, an ION affiliate and the only locally owned station in Louisville, for over 10 years. He sees the impact, and responsibility of the impact, that broadcasting has on the community as a calling. The channel strives to present positive and entertaining programs. Fawbush transitioned the station from a network run entity to an independently run station. He previously served as the operations director at Clea...
Jun 27, 2017•25 min
Tim Laird loves interacting with people and sharing experiences with food and beverage. Laird is an authority on wines and spirits, as well as a gourmet chef, and a master at entertaining and execution. He makes hundreds of appearances a year on radio and television programs and has appeared on multiple news programs. In his current role as the chief entertaining officer of Brown-Forman, Laird serves as its brand spokesperson. He also hosts three weekly television shows: “Secrets of Bluegrass Ch...
Jun 27, 2017•29 min
Dawne Gee grew up dreaming of working in communications. In August 1994, Gee joined WAVE 3 News, where she had applied nine times before they hired her as a writer in the promotions department. Eventually, Gee filled in for an anchor on “WAVE Listens,” a television talk show. Four years later, she was named the morning anchor of WAVE 3 News. Gee now co-anchors the 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. newscasts and hosts “WAVE Country with Dawne Gee,” which profiles people making a difference in our community and ...
Jun 27, 2017•30 min
Challenge motivates Ed Hart, and business turnarounds meet that need for him. Hart has a long and distinguished history of entrepreneurial undertakings, with a particular focus on the successful turnaround of high profile, previously failed projects. Hart successfully rescued two real estate buildings in the historic Highlands neighborhood and two theme parks, both of which he and his team brought from bankruptcy and neglect back to vibrant success. Hart is now, again, deeply engaged in the rede...
Jun 27, 2017•30 min
Dr. James Calleroz White wakes up every morning excited about how education constantly changes to stay relevant to a student’s future. He is the head of school at the Louisville Collegiate School, a Junior Kindergarten through Grade 12 co-ed school with over 700 students in Louisville, Ky. He is a change agent and sees his role as continually improving the education experience. Since arriving in Louisville, White has served as a guest columnist in Business First, has a regular column in the Voic...
Jun 27, 2017•29 min
Dan Rivers sees each day as an opportunity to “do better” and make a contribution. From a near drowning incident at age ten, and teachings from his parents, Rivers has learned to see each day as an opportunity to achieve and contribute to the world. In 2005, Rivers moved to the area to oversee the merger of a number of offices in Kentucky and Sothern Indiana and to create the managing team for the newly created Northwestern Mutual of Louisville. He is currently its managing partner and president...
Jun 27, 2017•22 min
Ed Webb thrives on the challenges of business, change, and growth. Webb became president and CEO of the World Trade Center Kentucky in 2008. He oversees the operations and strategic direction for global trade and international trade organization. Webb is responsible for strengthening businesses in Kentucky and supports economic development by facilitating import and export opportunities. Webb reports to a 35-member board of directors, which includes the governor of Kentucky, the mayors of Louisv...
Jun 27, 2017•30 min
Marty Storch’s competitive nature and commitment to continual improvement shape his contributions at the Louisville Metro Parks department. As department director of Louisville Metro Parks, Storch oversees 120 parks in the greater Louisville area. These parks include 14 miles of parkways, 12 community centers, two amphitheaters, nine golf courses, 135 athletic fields, and 179 playgrounds. He also oversees a huge staff and a $24 million annual budget. Storch serves in numerous activities througho...
Jun 27, 2017•27 min
Jennifer Adrio desires to do meaningful work and make a positive impact on her community. Adrio began her non-profit career at the American Red Cross and then moved over to Metro United Way as United Way’s executive vice president. During her tenure at United Way, the organization received several national awards for initiatives in increasing revenues in planned giving and major gift programs. In 2013, Adrio rejoined the American Red Cross of Louisville after working with Metro United Way for ov...
Jun 27, 2017•21 min
Saul Garcia followed his dream of seeing people enjoying themselves while sharing a meal at his own restaurant. Garcia is the co-founder of Los Aztecas and Sol Aztecas restaurants in Louisville, Ky. Originally from Mexico, Garcia spent his early years without most modern amenities and began working at an early age to help his family. At age 11, he learned he had Leukemia, began chemotherapy, and pulled through with a new motivation in life. As a teen, he worked in a restaurant and became fascina...
Jun 27, 2017•29 min
Chef Edward Lee wakes every morning with a passion for his work, and for learning and discovering new things. Lee is a Korean-American chef from Brooklyn, trained in the kitchens of New York. He is the owner of 610 Magnolia and Milkwood restaurants. In 2001, a Kentucky Derby road trip brought him to discover 610 Magnolia, where he fell in love with his surroundings. Within a year, Lee relocated to Louisville and the growing new southern food scene. Lee’s culinary style draws from his Asian herit...
Jun 27, 2017•29 min
Vincenzo Gabriele and his brothers grew up with a love for fine dining, inspired by their father, a captain in the Merchant Marine. In 1969, Gabriele came from Italy to work with his brother Giovanni in St. Louis. In 1975, Don and Michael Grisanti approached Gabriele to come to Louisville as maître d’ of their family restaurant. With his great people skills and an incredible knowledge of the art of hospitality, Gabriele eventually became the restaurant’s co-owner. In 1981, Gabriele was awarded t...
Jun 27, 2017•25 min
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz experienced the calling and desire to serve others through the clergy while in high school. Kurtz is the 4th archbishop, the 9th bishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville, and Benedict XVI appointed him Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. He served from 1972 – 1999 in the Diocese of Allentown, Pa., receiving the distinguished title of monsignor in 1986. He moved on to be the bishop of Knoxville, Tenn. until 2007. The Archdiocese of Louisville is the oldest Roman Catholic...
Jun 27, 2017•28 min
