Commerce Lexington Announces 2026 Executive Board, New Board Members

​Commerce Lexington announced its 2026 Executive Board and officers and named eight new individuals to the organization’s Board of Directors. Leading the board in 2026 will be Nick Nicholson, Member in Stoll Keenon Ogden’s Lexington office, where he focuses on real estate development. He has also worked in various aspects of the bourbon industry, helping distillers or aging operations open new locations, or facilitating new tourism ventures that help promote the current Golden Age of Bourbon.
 
Commerce Lexington President and CEO, Bob Quick, said, “I want to thank Carla Blanton for her steady leadership of our organization this year. She is one of only a handful of community leaders to have served two terms as chair of our Board of Directors. I am excited that Stoll Keenon Ogden’s Nick Nicholson will be taking the helm as Board Chair for 2026. He has been very involved with our organization, especially on the policy side, where he served as Chair of the Public Policy Council and has helped guide us on land use, housing, and development issues.”

The 2026 Executive Board, including leadership positions, includes:

• Nick Nicholson (2026 Board Chair), Member, Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC
• Kevin Atkins (City Representative), Chief Development Officer, City of Lexington
• Tucker Ballinger (Vice Chair, Talent & Workforce Development), President & CEO, Forcht Bank
• Stephanie Bell (At-Large Member), Vice President, Government Affairs, Kinetic
• Carla Blanton (Immediate Past Chair), Owner, Carla Blanton Consulting
• Jonathan Caldwell (Vice Chair, Communications), Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer, Valvoline
• Bishop Carter IV (At-Large Member), Owner, Elaine Allen LLC
• Kimra Cole (At-Large Member), President & COO, Columbia Gas of Kentucky
• Luther Deaton (Vice Chair, Economic Development), Chairman, President & CEO, Central Bank & Trust Co.
• Billie Dollins (Vice Chair, Leadership Development), Executive VP, Central Region President, Community Trust Bank
• Larry Forester (Vice Chair, Community & Minority Business Development), Senior VP, Commercial Banking Officer, Forcht Bank
• Branden Gross (Vice Chair, Public Policy & Regional Engagement), Partner, Dentons
• John Mahan (Regional Representative), Owner, Mahan Farms/Sodworks
• Danny Murphy (Vice Chair, Membership & Engagement), ​Vice President & Personal Trust Advisor, Central Bank & Trust Co.
• Bob Quick (Board Secretary), President & CEO, Commerce Lexington
• W. Craig Robertson III (General Counsel), Partner-in-Charge, Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP
• Debbie Smith (Treasurer), Lexington Market Leader, Cherry Bekaert LLP
• Mary-Alicha Weldon (Board Chair-Elect), Commercial Banking Executive, Kentucky & Southern Indiana Region, Fifth Third Bank

​Commerce Lexington has also welcomed eight individuals who are new to the Board of Directors in 2026, including:

• John Cioci, Senior Vice President & Commercial Relationship Manager, PNC
• Mike Inman, President, Bluegrass REALTORS, and REALTOR, Coldwell Banker McMahan
• Patrick Keal, Director of External Affairs, LG&E and KU Energy
• Allen McDaniel, Executive Director & CEO, Downtown Lexington Partnership
• Jordan Parker, Director of Business Development, Traditional Bank
• Michael Patterson, President, Denham-Blythe
• Tate Russell, President, Kentucky Eagle, Inc.
• Simon Scholte, Vice President & General Manager, Kindeva

ABOUT COMMERCE LEXINGTON:
With 1,900-plus member investors, Commerce Lexington is a catalyst for economic development, a convener of leaders and influencers, and a champion for a strong business climate. Through advocacy, networking, talent development and community engagement, Commerce Lexington supports a connected and forward-looking regional economy. Find out more at www.commercelexington.com.