Leadership Visit History
Commerce Lexington's annual Leadership Visit is the longest- running program of its kind in the nation and thought to be among the largest, with over 250 business, education, government and community leaders taking part the last three years. Now in its 79th year in 2018, Commerce Lexington's Leadership Visit is designed as a learning opportunity for community leaders to study other cities and to apply the best of what they see and hear to the Bluegrass Region.
Over the years, Lexington leaders have visited such cities as Baltimore (M.D.), Greenville (So. Car.), Jacksonville (Fla.), Madison (Wis.), Minneapolis (Minn.), Mobile (Ala.), Portland (Ore.), Raleigh (No. Car.), and San Antonio (Texas).
Those participating in the annual Leadership Visits have brought back a plethora of ideas for implementation here in Lexington. A sampling of recent Visits appears below:
• Baltimore, 2003: Purchasing and procurement initiatives and programs through a Minority Business
EXPO in collaboration with UK, FCPS, LFUCG and Ky. State University; Development of the EBO
(Emerging Business Opportunities) collaboration leading to two half-day workshops at Blue Grass
Airport to assist minority business owners in participating in projects related to airport
expansion/initiatives.
• Nashville, 2000: Commerce Lexington's Access Loan Program and New Century Lexington's
Community Livability Report.
• Portland, 1999: Bluegrass Partnership Initiative
• Mobile, 1998: Formation of AALE (African-American Lexingtonians Emerge)
• Madison, 1997: Coldstream Research Park.
• Richmond, 1996: Commerce Lexington's Business Information Center.
• Greenville, 1995: Commerce Lexington's Minority Business Development program and Thursday Night
Live Downtown event.
• Austin, 1992: Lexington Community College's Street MBA Program.
• New Orleans, 1988: World Trade Center downtown.
• Tulsa, 1985: Hope Center (also Charlotte, 1993).
• San Antonio, 1983: Formation of Lexington United.
• Scottsdale, 1981: LFUCG's Herbie and Rosie programs.
Over the years, Lexington leaders have visited such cities as Baltimore (M.D.), Greenville (So. Car.), Jacksonville (Fla.), Madison (Wis.), Minneapolis (Minn.), Mobile (Ala.), Portland (Ore.), Raleigh (No. Car.), and San Antonio (Texas).
Those participating in the annual Leadership Visits have brought back a plethora of ideas for implementation here in Lexington. A sampling of recent Visits appears below:
• Baltimore, 2003: Purchasing and procurement initiatives and programs through a Minority Business
EXPO in collaboration with UK, FCPS, LFUCG and Ky. State University; Development of the EBO
(Emerging Business Opportunities) collaboration leading to two half-day workshops at Blue Grass
Airport to assist minority business owners in participating in projects related to airport
expansion/initiatives.
• Nashville, 2000: Commerce Lexington's Access Loan Program and New Century Lexington's
Community Livability Report.
• Portland, 1999: Bluegrass Partnership Initiative
• Mobile, 1998: Formation of AALE (African-American Lexingtonians Emerge)
• Madison, 1997: Coldstream Research Park.
• Richmond, 1996: Commerce Lexington's Business Information Center.
• Greenville, 1995: Commerce Lexington's Minority Business Development program and Thursday Night
Live Downtown event.
• Austin, 1992: Lexington Community College's Street MBA Program.
• New Orleans, 1988: World Trade Center downtown.
• Tulsa, 1985: Hope Center (also Charlotte, 1993).
• San Antonio, 1983: Formation of Lexington United.
• Scottsdale, 1981: LFUCG's Herbie and Rosie programs.
