USINESS OCUS BOFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF COMMERCE LEXINGTON INC. F MAY 2014 VOLUME XXII, ISSUE V Our Expert Media Panel Public Policy Takes You Beyond the Luncheon Stories of the 2014 Session & Looks Ahead Friday, May 9 Page 15 to the Upcoming Elections Inside This Issue: @330 Series: Keeping Yourself & Your Customers’ Data Secure On-line 2014-15 Leadership Lexington Applications Due May 15th Bestselling Author Adam Braun to Keynote EMERGE 14 Conference Register & More Info: www.EmergeBluegrass.com www.CommerceLexington.com BUSINESS FOCUS May 2014: Volume XXII, Issue V INSIDE THIS ISSUE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: 4-5 Local Game Developers Attend PAX East in Boston Lexington Venture Club Features AngelList’s Joshua Slayton Business Focus is published once a month for a Marketing Trips, KAED Conference Highlight Staff Travels total of 12 issues per year by Commerce Lexington Inc., 330 East Main Street, Suite 100, Lexington, KY 40507. Phone: (859) 226-1600 EMERGE 14: 6-7 2014 Chair of the Board: Full-Day Young Professionals Conference is Thursday, May 15 Kenneth R. Sagan, Chairman Stites & Harbison, PLLC EVENTS: Publisher: 8-15 @330 Series: Keeping Your On-Line Data Safe & Secure Robert L. Quick, CCE, President & CEO Commerce Lexington Inc. Hilton Lexington Downtown Hosts Business Link INTERNATIONAL TRIP: Wonders of Dubai Oct. 18 - 26 Editor: Mark E. Turner Lexington, Louisville Leaders Ready for Charlotte Trip Communications Specialist: Elizabeth Bennett BOAB Enrollment Event Takes Place on Tuesday, May 6 Printing: Post Printing Mail Service: Lexington Herald-Leader GET CONNECTED: Subscriptions are available for $12 and are 15-19 included as a direct benefit of Commerce Ambassador Spotlight: Scott Green, Bates Security Lexington Inc. membership. Business Focus Leadership Development Session Recaps (USPS 012-337) periodical postage paid at 2014-15 Leadership Lexington Applications Due May 15 Lexington, Kentucky. Welcome New Commerce Lexington Inc. Members POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to Member Personnel Announcements & Awards Business Focus, Commerce Lexington Inc., P.O. Box 1968, Lexington, KY 40588-1968. DISPLAY RATES WHAT 2 WATCH 4 For DISPLAY RATES in Business Focus, con- tact Dana Zinger at (859) 226-1607 or [email protected], and an account executive will contact you. @330 Series: On-Line Security Experience the Wonders of Dubai PERSONNEL UPDATES Experts Help You & Your Customers During Commerce Lexington’s Submit your company’s awards and mile- Keep On-Line Data Safe 2014 International Trip stones or personnel changes and additions to [email protected]. Personnel news might include promotions, additions, awards and milestones, recogni- tions and certifications and/or appoint- ments. Information is published only as space permits. Public Policy Luncheon Bestselling Author Adam Braun is Features Expert Media Panel Keynote Speaker at EMERGE 14 Discussing 2014 Session Young Professionals Conference 2 BUSINESS FOCUS MAY 2014 PUBLIC POLICY 2014 Regular Session of Kentucky General Assembly Concludes SUBMITTED BY: Andi Johnson, VP of Public Policy | [email protected] | http://commercelexington.tumblr.com The 2014 Regular Session of er education as institutions the Kentucky General Assembly received some bond funding for concluded on April 15. capital construction projects, Throughout the 60-day session, such as $145 million in agency which began in January, the legis- bonds to support the KCTCS lature considered a variety of Build Smart initiative. It will help issues, but the primary focus was fund projects in partnership with the passage of the $20 billion private fundraising at several biennial state budget. This campuses including the BCTC process was especially challeng- Phase II Newtown Campus ing as funding requests out- Expansion. The budget also weighed available revenues. authorized $24 million in state Further complicating matters, bonds for the BCTC Scott County this is an election year, and both Manufacturing Technology parties were reluctant to consid- Center. er proposals to raise any revenue The University of Kentucky or address comprehensive tax received authority to move for- reform. ward -- using its own dollars and Despite the tight budget, law- private fundraising efforts -- with makers increased funding for K- agency bonds for $160 million to 12 education and funded the renovate and expand the Student actuarial required contribution Center and $150 million to con- (ARC) to the state’s troubled tinue the fit-out of Chandler public employee pension system Hospital. The budget also ($207 million). To make up dol- included a $35 million invest- lars, most state agencies were ment in bonds from the state -- cut by 5 percent. Public universi- to be matched by $30 million in ties and community and techni- private fundraising efforts -- for cal colleges received 1.5 percent the College of Law. cuts. This means a $4 million Advocates for the renovation loss in base operating funds for of Rupp Arena and the Lexington the University of Kentucky this Convention Center were disap- coming year. It wasn’t all bad news for high- SEE SESSION ON PAGE 14 MAY 2014 BUSINESS FOCUS 3 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT A Collaborative Effort of the Bluegrass Business Development Partnership (BBDP): SUBMITTED BY: Gina Greathouse, Hannah Huggins & Kimberly Rossetti, Commerce Lexington Inc. Economic Development Division BBDP Supports Group of Local Game Developers at Penny Arcade eXpo As a part of the Bluegrass Business ing non-profit RunJumpDev both exhibit- Development Partnership (BBDP), we ed at PAX East. Frogdice is an independ- supported a group of local game develop- ent game developer of online role-playing ers and a booth at the Penny Arcade eXpo games, virtual worlds and downloadable (PAX East) in Boston, Mass. Warren games. RunJumpDev is a people-powered Nash, a BBDP partner and Director of the non-profit created to grow and cultivate UK Innovation & Commercialization the local game development community Center, attended the event with the in Lexington. RunJumpDev’s exhibit also Lexington delegation, as well. PAX East is presented games from seven Lexington a three-day tradeshow exclusively for the developers at PAX East. Other Lexington gaming industry. developers spoke on panels; one panel This event draws tens of thousands of featured three Lexington developers who gamers and includes a variety of events, spoke to a packed room of 800 gamers. such as game-culture inspired concerts, Gaming is a growing industry in panels on game topics, exhibitor booths, a Kentucky and is one of Commerce local area network (LAN) party, tabletop Lexington’s strategic target niches. game tournaments and video game Lexington currently has four full-time and freeplay areas. five early-stage game development com- Lexington developer Frogdice and gam- panies. May 14th Venture Club Meeting Features AngelList Founding CTO Joshua Slayton Join us on Wednesday, May AngelList, an online platform 14, at the next meeting of the for startups. He will be speak- Lexington Venture Club pre- ing on connecting start-ups sented by Dean Dorton Allen and investors, crowdfunding Ford, PLLC. The event, held at and fundraising. The cost to the Hyatt Regency Lexington attend is $35 per person. TOP: Warren Nash, far right, at the Frogdice booth with Pang (401 West High Street, down- RSVP at http://lvcmay.event and Michael Hartman. BOTTOM: Richie Hoagland of Super Soul, a Lexington game developer, speaking on a PAX East Panel. town Lexington), will be from brite.com. 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This JOSHUA month’s meeting will feature SLAYTON Joshua Slayton, the Founding By The Numbers: Chief Technology Officer of In 2014, Commerce Lexington’s Economic Development Division has responded to calls from May 15th: Open Coffee With Joshua Slayton the following: New Business: 40 new prospects interested in find- For a more in-depth conversation with Club on his experience with start-ups, ing a new location or expanding operations Joshua Slayton, a UK graduate and the investors and raising capital. Coffee, Existing Clients & Local Entrepreneurial Founding Chief Technology Officer of juice and pastries will be provided. There Companies: 11 companies with potential expan- AngelList, join us for “Open Coffee” at is no cost to attend, but space is limited. sions in Lexington Commerce Lexington Inc.’s first floor RSVP at http://opencoffeewith Client Visits: 8 conference room on Thursday, May 15, joshuaslayton.eventbrite.com. Existing Business Visits: 31 from 9 - 10 a.m. Slayton will continue the discussion from the Lexington Venture www.LocateinLexington.com | www.twitter.com/locateinlex | www.facebook.com/locateinlex 4 BUSINESS FOCUS MAY 2014 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Cincinnati, Columbus Trip The economic development team will travel to Columbus and Cincinnati in late May on a marketing trip. We are meeting with site selection consultants to cultivate and maintain strong relationships. Site selection consultants represent major corporations and provide valuable due diligence and guidance to their clients. It’s important for our team to maintain our relationships with the gate keepers to companies. On the marketing trip, our team will also visit with executives at the headquarters of some companies who have Lexington operations. The purpose of our visit is to thank the headquarters for their presence and investment in Lexington. Being a resource and maintaining a good relationship with our existing businesses is a priority of Commerce Lexington’s economic development team. Next 5Across is June 25th Join Awesome Inc. for the next 5Across event on Wednesday, June 25, at 5:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Ky. Association for Economic Development Lexington Venture Club, 5Across is a pitch contest Spring Conference in Owensboro for entrepreneurs. 5 pitches, 5 minutes per pitch, $500 prize, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., $5 cost (includes food). Kimberly Rossetti and Hannah Huggins (pictured above) for professional develop- If you haven’t checked out a 5Across, you won’t travelled to Owensboro in April for the ment and networking with several site want to miss this fun entrepreneurial event. To reg- Kentucky Association for Economic selection consultants.