Message from the Board Chair
JEFF KOONCE
“I am a firm believer in the power of collaboration and working together to achieve greatness. I also believe that we can find innovative ways to promote economic growth, while preserving what makes our community unique. However, that starts with compromise and finding opportunities to meet in the middle – something we see far too little of these days across our nation.
That’s why you’ll hear me talk about 'Constructing Bridges' throughout my time as Chair of Commerce Lexington Inc.’s Board of Directors. In the literal sense, bridges connect you to where you want to go. Likewise, building strong bridges, or relationships, across the Bluegrass helps our community get to where we want it to go.
Commerce Lexington is helping to be a bridge to the next generation of leaders through its leadership development programs, the rapidly-growing EMERGE Conference, and its partnership with Fayette County Public Schools’ Academies of Lexington. Providing unique experiences, broadening horizons, and provoking discussion on key issues helps create a level of understanding for different perspectives that is often necessary to overcome challenges.
We must also be a bridge to helping all businesses succeed, but even more so to our growing minority-owned, women-owned, and small business segment. That’s why it’s important for Commerce Lexington to have the Access Loan small business financing program, the Minority Business Accelerator initiative, and the Business Owners Advisory Boards, as well as support the area’s many entrepreneurial events through SPARK. Since its inception in 2001, the Access Loan Program has facilitated $19.2 million in financing for small businesses, or an average of just over $1 million per year during that time.
Our economic development team annually connects with upwards of 160 existing businesses in the region and 150 site selection consultants around the world. Again, it’s about building those relationships with key decision-makers in business relocation and expansion.
We always say that everything we do at Commerce Lexington is tied to economic development, but without the right policies from government leaders, our efforts to grow business become more difficult. Relationships across the political spectrum are extremely important, and that’s why Commerce Lexington hosts its Public Policy Luncheon Series, an annual D.C. Fly-In, the Kentucky Regional Tour, and many other briefings and networking opportunities with elected officials.
Commerce Lexington is looking forward to working with our new mayor and our many community partners to build bridges to a better future for our community. I want to personally thank Karen Hill for her exemplary leadership as our 2018 Board Chair. It is an honor for me to serve in this way in 2019, and I look forward to working with many of you throughout the year.”
Jeff Koonce
2019 Commerce Lexington Inc. Board Chair
Market President
WesBanco Bank
That’s why you’ll hear me talk about 'Constructing Bridges' throughout my time as Chair of Commerce Lexington Inc.’s Board of Directors. In the literal sense, bridges connect you to where you want to go. Likewise, building strong bridges, or relationships, across the Bluegrass helps our community get to where we want it to go.
Commerce Lexington is helping to be a bridge to the next generation of leaders through its leadership development programs, the rapidly-growing EMERGE Conference, and its partnership with Fayette County Public Schools’ Academies of Lexington. Providing unique experiences, broadening horizons, and provoking discussion on key issues helps create a level of understanding for different perspectives that is often necessary to overcome challenges.
We must also be a bridge to helping all businesses succeed, but even more so to our growing minority-owned, women-owned, and small business segment. That’s why it’s important for Commerce Lexington to have the Access Loan small business financing program, the Minority Business Accelerator initiative, and the Business Owners Advisory Boards, as well as support the area’s many entrepreneurial events through SPARK. Since its inception in 2001, the Access Loan Program has facilitated $19.2 million in financing for small businesses, or an average of just over $1 million per year during that time.
Our economic development team annually connects with upwards of 160 existing businesses in the region and 150 site selection consultants around the world. Again, it’s about building those relationships with key decision-makers in business relocation and expansion.
We always say that everything we do at Commerce Lexington is tied to economic development, but without the right policies from government leaders, our efforts to grow business become more difficult. Relationships across the political spectrum are extremely important, and that’s why Commerce Lexington hosts its Public Policy Luncheon Series, an annual D.C. Fly-In, the Kentucky Regional Tour, and many other briefings and networking opportunities with elected officials.
Commerce Lexington is looking forward to working with our new mayor and our many community partners to build bridges to a better future for our community. I want to personally thank Karen Hill for her exemplary leadership as our 2018 Board Chair. It is an honor for me to serve in this way in 2019, and I look forward to working with many of you throughout the year.”
Jeff Koonce
2019 Commerce Lexington Inc. Board Chair
Market President
WesBanco Bank
