MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs

David Nicholson learned the importance of community involvement from his late father, Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge S. Rush Nicholson. In 1991, Nicholson joined the Metro Criminal Justice Commission and in 1998, became its executive director. During this time, the commission, which helps first responders, received millions in grants. This included a multi-million-dollar grant from the U.S....

Creativity in food, atmosphere and service fuel John Varanese in his career as chef and restaurant owner. After an impressive food and restaurant background, Varanese opened Varanese on Frankfort Avenue in 2007. Eight years later, he announced his second restaurant, River House, located on the riverfront. Later that year, Varanese announced another restaurant at the River House location, Levee, wh...

Love for family drives both Patrick John Hughes and his son, Patrick Henry Hughes, to expand possibilities. Patrick Henry was born without eyes and without the ability to fully straighten his arms and legs, making him unable to walk. He has overcome these physical issues to excel as a musician and public speaker. Musician Patrick Henry has flourished with the support of his family. His father, Pat...

Terri Foster knew from a young age she had musical gifts, and now seeks to use her gifts to help other young people develop theirs. Since 2007, Foster has been named artistic/executive director of the Louisville Youth Choir. She directs the Chamber and Aria Choirs at LYC, as well as the all-female Adult Alumni Choir. Under her direction, the Louisville Youth Choir performed with the Moscow Ballet...

Michael Blowen's fear of horses grew into a deep love for horses, and for saving their lives. Early in his career, Blowen was a writer and movie critic for The Boston Globe. He eventually held the enviable position of movie critic, which gave him contact with film stars and celebrities throughout the 1980's and 1990's. A chance outing in 1997 to Suffolk Downs in Massachusetts proved to be a life-c...

Katie George sees her daily challenge to make herself and others better. Louisville-native George graduated from Assumption High School where she played volleyball for Coach Ron Kordes. She received several volleyball sports accolades and was featured in the 2010 Faces in the Crowd in Sports Illustrated magazine. Among her many accomplishments and recognitions, George led her team to the Regional...

The 1993 tragic murder of their daughter, Mary, thrust Pat Byron and her husband, John, into advocacy work for domestic violence victims. Mary was shot and killed by the assailant who previously raped and stalked her, the very same day he was released from prison. Mary was not aware he had been set free. This flaw in the system led the Byron's to create the Victim Information and Notification Ever...

Tyrone Cotton's love of music and desire to create fuels his music and the songs he writes. Cotton is a Louisville musician and songwriter. Inspired by his grandfather, a preacher, and singer, he fused his sound from blues, jazz, folk, and rock. His mother loved gospel and R&B, and at a young age, BB King thrilled Cotton with his playing. Later, he would study Jerry Garcia, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy...

Robin Miller grew up in a family active in politics and the community, spurring her to serve in the public sector. Miller serves as the executive director for downtown Louisville's Main Street Association, a business and historical preservation company. She also recently launched her own community marketing firm. Miller has worked within the public education, social service, and business associati...

A love for horticulture inspired Lee Squires in his career managing the 300-acre Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Ky. Squires was the general manager of Cave Hill Cemetery for more than 40 years (1975-2015). He was its 5th president since the cemetery's founding over 150 years ago, in 1848. He also acted as president of the Kentucky Cemetery Association and is the past executive director of the K...

Diane Medley and her business partner founded their CPA firm to treat people in a way that they can achieve their dreams. When Medley became managing partner of Mountjoy Chilton Medley, she was named the first female managing partner of a CPA firm in this U.S. region and the only female managing partner of a Top 100 firm, as well as a founding member of a firm. In her role she determines and execu...

The exciting challenge of creating a sense of wonderment is what drives Louisville-native Wayne Hettinger to create memorable events on a grand scale. Hettinger's company produces special events on a spectacular scale for corporate, community and non-profit organizations. Since 1990, they have been best known for creating and producing Thunder Over Louisville, a waterfront fireworks event attracti...

Major General (retired) Robert S. Silverthorn Jr. credits growing up in a military family as his inspiration and drive to achieve excellence. Silverthorn has served the United States in the military and as a counselor of law. He is a U.S. Army Vietnam veteran and was mobilized for Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He also served during the Global War on Terror from 2001 to 2005. Silverthorn retired as M...

Matt Jamie's motto of "Slow. Small. Simple." guides his company in producing high quality, bourbon-based sauces. Louisville-native Jamie established Bourbon Barrel Foods in 2006. Made in re-purposed bourbon barrels, Jamie uses Kentucky grown non-GMO soybeans, soft red winter wheat, and limestone-filtered Kentucky water to produce his soy sauce. The smoky, brothy, meaty sauce has a subtle sweetness...

As the owner of Joseph's Salon and Spa, Kelly Flint Campbell sees the growth of her staff and client relationships as her inspiration. Since the early 1990s, Campbell has been the owner and president of Joseph's Salon/Spa in Louisville, Ky. Originally opened 40 years ago by her parents, Joseph's set out to be a beauty destination with highly skilled professionals who have an unwavering commitment...

Terry Taylor's drive to bring peace to communities, through understanding each other's differences, powers his work. Taylor is the recently retired executive director of Interfaith Paths to Peace, also known as IPP, a Louisville-based inter-religious, non-profit organization. His collaborative projects include working with countless of the religious councils and centers throughout Louisville. He w...

Karen Morrison sees her job as president and CEO of Gilda's Club as winning the job lottery. Gilda's Club is a cancer support community, for families and patients, helping them live with joy. Morrison joined the organization eight months before the clubhouse opened in 2007. The Louisville Chapter is its 22nd club. Prior to Gilda's Club, Morrison spent 17 years as chief operating officer for the Am...

Pam Darnall focuses her professional life on helping children and families facing abuse and violence. Darnall was named president and CEO of Family & Children's Place in 2014, setting the vision, leadership, and coordination of all the organizational. From 1994 to 2008, Darnall served as president of The Family Place. She played an essential role in the merger of The Family Place and Family and Ch...

A commitment to environmental responsibility as a principle of her faith powers everything Heather Warman does. Warman is the executive director of the Kentucky Environmental Foundation. She speaks regularly on green building, sustainable design, recycling, and reuse. Warman is an avid proponent for green building initiatives in Kentucky. She has volunteered locally with American Cancer Society, t...

Judge Erica Lee Williams sees discipline and community service as core values grounding her career. Williams was a practicing attorney when she was appointed to serve as district court judge of the 30th Judicial District in Division 17 by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear in 2009. The following year, Williams was elected to a full term, and then was re-elected in 2014. She currently serves as presid...

Elizabeth Kitzito sees her cookie business as a way to provide for her family here and in Uganda. Born in Uganda during the 1950s, Kizito moved to America in 1975 to attend school. Unfortunately, civil unrest and war in Uganda prevented her from returning. She moved to Louisville in 1978 and began making and selling cookies – originally as a way to pay for her son's birthday present. She started s...

Summer Auerbach is committed to local independent businesses and leads Rainbow Blossom Natural Foods. In 1977, Auerbach's parents started the first Rainbow Blossom Food Market in Louisville. After growing up in the business, she decided to go away to school and travel extensively. Auerbach graduated from Bentley University in Massachusetts with a degree in international studies. She had plans to s...

Dr. Donna Hargens' unwavering belief that every child can learn serves her as she leads the country's 28th largest school system, with more than 101,000 students and nearly 17,000 teachers and staff. In 2011, Hargens began her position as the superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS). She quickly brought the community and education communities together with a series of ongoing forum...

Jim Allen cites leadership by example as his style leading Hilliard Lyons. Allen is the president, chairman, and CEO of Hilliard Lyons. After joining the firm in 1981, he has devoted his entire working career to the same company. In 2003, Allen was named the president of Hilliard Lyons and a year later, he was elected chairman and CEO. Allen oversees more than 70 offices in 12 states and assets ma...

Matt Thornton cites his desire to win as the trait that drives him in his roles leading Thorntons and contributing to the community. Thornton is president and CEO of Thorntons Inc., a leading, independent gasoline and convenience chain retailer with well over 170 stores. Originally founded by Thornton's father, James H. Thornton, the first location opened in Clarksville, Ind., in 1971. For eight y...