Greater Lexington (KY) Delegation of 165 Business & Community Leaders to Study Madison, Wisconsin, During Intercity Visit

​[Lexington, Kentucky] – Commerce Lexington’s annual Leadership Visit intercity trip presented by Central Bank & Trust Co. will include a delegation of about 165 regional business, education, government, and nonprofit leaders traveling to Madison, Wisconsin (May 14-16).  The annual intercity visits not only enable leaders to study the best examples of success from benchmark cities across the country, but are also responsible for many programs, initiatives, events and projects occurring in our community and region today.
 
One of the longest-running and largest intercity visits of its kind among chambers of commerce and economic development groups, the Leadership Visits have been responsible for the creation of many great programs and initiatives right here in Central Kentucky. Things like our wildly popular Thursday Night Live (celebrating 30 years in 2025), the successful Courageous Conversations, and the ongoing Regional Competitiveness Plan all resulted from past Leadership Visits, as well as Commerce Lexington’s own EMERGE conference, the Community & Minority Business Development program, the Access Loan Program, and many more.

​Commerce Lexington Board Chair, Carla Blanton, said, “There will be a lot to learn from this trip, partly because of similarities between our two cities. Both Lexington and Madison boast an exceptional quality of life, diverse economy, large public universities driven by research and development, top-notch healthcare facilities, high educational attainment numbers, and a strong entrepreneurial environment built by collaboration between education and industry to help translate ideas into viable solutions for business.”
 
The group will kick off the agenda on May 14 at The Pyle Center Alumni Lounge on the campus of the University of Wisconsin - Madison. After a brief welcome, the delegation will hear from Jason Ilstrup, President of Downtown Madison Inc., Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton, and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway.  Day one sessions will conclude with a higher education discussion featuring University of Kentucky President Dr. Eli Capilouto and Dr. Jennifer Mnookin, Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
 
Day two will provide a look at the Greater Madison Chamber’s talent attraction initiative called Be Madison, the tourism industry with representatives from Lexington and Madison, and how the region is confronting its housing challenges with University of Wisconsin – Madison professor Kurt Paulsen. On Thursday afternoon (May 15), participants will have opportunities to experience Madison through a variety of elective tours featuring the downtown area, an eBike tour, an engagement lunch at The Coopers Tavern, the Wisconsin State Capitol, a visit to the Epic campus in Verona, a tour of the Black Business Hub, and a pontoon charter tour.
 
The final day (May 16) will include sessions with Madison Chamber President and CEO, Zach Brandon, and Kurt Bauer, President and CEO of the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, followed by a moderated session to help the group reflect on their experience and harness ideas during the trip.
 
Those who are not able to travel with the group can be part of the ongoing conversation and experience what others are seeing and doing in Madison through social media using the hashtag #Madison2025. For regular updates during the trip, follow facebook.com/CommerceLexington and instagram.com/CommerceLex. You’ll also find trip materials, an agenda, and other information posted on our website at www.commercelexington.com/MadisonBound.html.