Moxietalk With Kirt Jacobs

Ankur Gopal’s desire to make an impact has fueled his success building a technology application company. Gopal is the founder and CEO of Interapt LLC, a Google Glass partner. Interapt is an award-winning company specializing in mobile apps and wearable technology. Interapt partners with businesses in the healthcare and long-term care industries, helping them use technology more effectively to complement their overall business strategy. Interapt was selected by Google as one of only ten global companies to be a Glass at Work Partner. It has also earned the Gartner Cool Vendor Award, an international award designated by the research giant Gartner Group. Gopal was named an emerging entrepreneur by the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame and one of the 40 Business Leaders Under 40 in Business First magazine. Gopal also serves on the Speed Museum Board, the Kentucky Center for the Arts Board, and the Junior Achievement Board, and is an entrepreneur mentor. Gopal is married to Dr. Kiran Gill and they are expecting t

A competitive spirit drives Chris Morris in his pursuit for excellence as a master distiller. A Louisville native, Morris is only the seventh master distiller at the Brown-Forman Corporation since 1870, as well as its current spirits historian. He is responsible for maintaining the award-winning taste of the Woodford Reserve family of brands and serves as brand ambassador at trade and consumer functions. Morris is one of three generations in his family to work at Brown-Forman. He began as a trainee at Brown-Forman in the central lab under the master distiller in 1976. He left to work for Glenmore Distillers in 1988, and then United Distillers when it acquired Glenmore in 1991. He returned to Brown-Forman in 1997. It was at this time that he was chosen to train as a master distiller. Morris has served on the boards of the Kentucky Distillers Association and the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. He has also had the honor to judge at the International Wine and Spirits Competition and the International Spirits Challenge

Since Lee W. Robinson was seven years old and constructing scale models, he has had a passion for design and building beautiful homes. After a 14-year career in banking, Robinson decided to pursue his dream to open a design company that offers drafting, remodeling and design services in one location. The Lee W. Robinson Company, now in St. Matthews, fills two floors with a beautiful collection of furniture and accessories from artisans and design houses. The collection includes Robinson’s three lifestyle lines, each named after his sons Owsley, Thurston and McDowell. Business First magazine named the Lee W. Robinson Company the #1 Full Service Remodeler in Louisville in 2008, just 9 years after opening its doors. It was also credited as a Fast 50 Top Growing Company. Robinson has been featured in several national magazines. In 2012, his company designed the Evelyn Lauder Holiday House in New York for the Hampton Designer Showcase. Robinson was born in Lexington and currently lives in Louisville.

Kevin Grangier is driven by his desire to create things that make people happy. Grangier began his career in marketing and communication locally, before heading to Los Angeles to start his own company. Carry On Communication Inc. is an award winning firm specializing in branding, public relations, and marketing. It expanded to five communication companies and offered services to some of the largest, most significant brands in the U.S. like Yahoo!, Clorox and many others. In 2010, Grangier returned to Louisville to open The Village Anchor Pub & Roost, an eclectic European “bistropub.” The restaurant received critical acclaim for its unconventional marketing strategies and practices, and he was named Restaurateur of the Year. Grangier has since opened a second restaurant in Louisville, Le Moo Fine Steakhouse, as well as creating Belle Noble Entertainment Group. He plans to develop new restaurant and entertainment concepts in various cities across the U.S. Grangier follows guidance he received early in life:

Dan McDonnell loves to compete, loves to win, and loves seeing the growth in his players as he coaches the University of Louisville baseball team. Since McDonnell’s hiring in 2006, the team has accomplished amazing statistics. In his first year, McDonnell led the team to the College World Series. Then he led the Cardinals to seven more NCAA appearances in eight years, including two more to the College World Series. Louisville is ranked 6th place nationally, with a school record of 51 wins in 2013. The Cardinals also hold six regular-season titles and two tournament championships in their conference. McDonnell was awarded National Coach of the Year by rivals.com, as well as ACC Coach of the Year. He has had 22 All-American players and 43 players who have signed professional contracts at the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. McDonnell is married to the former Julie Anne Underwood of Charlotte, N.C. The couple has two sons.

Tom Jurich cites his motivation to do things right and see results as he leads athletic programs at the University of Louisville. Since 1997, Jurich has made a permanent mark at the University of Louisville by leading an athletic department that has enjoyed tremendous athletic and academic accomplishments. In 2003, Jurich began his run as vice president at U of L. Under Jurich, the Cardinal athletic teams have produced unparalleled success in multiple sports. Louisville’s 2012 – 2013 year marked the first time any university has ever won a BCS level bowl game, placed both its men’s and women’s basketball teams in the NCAA Final 4, and reached the baseball College World Series in the same season. CBS Sports ranked Cardinals Athletics among the top three nationally for the past three years. Jurich and his wife share U of L’s prestigious Hickman-Camp Award and he was named Louisville magazine’s Person of the Year in 2007. He resides in Louisville with his wife, Terrilynn. They have four children and several gran

Jeff Walz has a passion for excellence that drives him as the head coach of the University of Louisville Women’s basketball team. Walz was hired as the head coach in 2007. Since then, he has helped the Cardinals burst into national prominence as one of the most competitive and successful teams. In his eight seasons with the team, the women Cardinals have gone to the NCAA Sweet 16 six times, had two NCAA Runner Up finishes, two All-Americans, 18 All-Conference selections, and five WNBA draft picks. His team has averaged 26 victories per season with a record 34 victories in the 2008 – 2009 season. Prior to Louisville, Walz coached in Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Western Kentucky. As a student, he earned a basketball scholarship to Northern Kentucky University, where he studied secondary education and acquired a master’s degree in education. In 2008, Walz was named the WBCA Maggie Dixon Rookie Coach of the Year. Walz and his wife, Lauren, reside in Louisville, Ky., with their four children.

Heather Howell’s desire to inspire her children and fear of failure power her in selecting her projects and in growing beverage brands. As director of innovation for Brown-Forman Corporation, Howell is responsible for developing the global portfolio expansion strategy and acts as brand leader for Collingwood, a premium blended Canadian whiskey. Howell joined Brown-Forman in 2015. She previously worked for Rooibee Red Tea, where she served as chief tea officer, CEO and, board member, helping take the organic tea brand from the farmers market to the national market. Howell has been recognized numerous times, including Ernst & Young’s 2013 E.D.G.E. Award, a 2014 Enterprising Woman to Watch Award from Business First, and a 2013 finalist for the Business Leader of the Year Award. She is also president emeritus of the National Association of Women MBAs and serves on the board of Republic Bank. She resides in Louisville with her husband, Dr. Steven Howell, a pediatric eye surgeon, and their two children: son,Tea

Driven by conscience and seeing challenges as possibilities drive Jackie Ford as she leads the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana. Tennessee-native Ford brings over 25 years of non-profit experience to the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana. Previously, Ford served as the executive director of Literacy Volunteers of America in Connecticut for 10 years. In 1988, she began her career with the Girl Scouts as director of membership and marketing in southwest Connecticut and moved on to COO in 2002. A few years later, Ford was named CEO for the Girl Scout Council of Savannah, Ga, and moved on to Girl Scouts services officer in historic Georgia. Ford was then elected as COO for Girl Scouts of North East Ohio in 2012, where she was responsible for all operations. In 2015, she came to The Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, where she was named CEO. In this position, Ford helps provide strategic direction and leadership. Ford has two sons, Sean and Ryan, who live in the metro New York area.

Emily Cleveland has a passion for helping children see past disability through friendship. Cleveland is the Kentucky state director of Best Buddies International, providing direct support for the state’s school-based programs. These programs create opportunities for youth and adults, with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities and disorders, though friendship pairings. Best Buddies of Kentucky has seen significant growth since Cleveland has been with the organization. The number of school-based programs has doubled. She helped secure a $100,000 gift from the NASCAR Foundation, and revenue increased by 27% for the annual Friendship Walk. Her goal is to grow to 30 school-based chapters by June 2016 and she aims to increase private revenue and increase operational efficiency and effectiveness for the anticipated growth. Cleveland was recognized as the 2014 Best Buddies International Program Manager of the Year. She resides with her husband, Ryan, in Louisville, Ky.

Vickie Yates Brown brings passion to all of her projects – from shaping health care policy to the Nucleus project. Brown is an experienced health care law and finance attorney. She worked on planning, development, and finance for Nucleus: Kentucky’s Research and Innovation Center alongside the University of Louisville Foundation and U of L President James Ramsey. Brown was named president and CEO of Nucleus in 2008. Brown also serves as the chair of the Health and Life Sciences Practice Group at Frost Brown Todd LLC. She is the chairwoman of the Health Law Section of the American Bar Association, vice chair of the Health Enterprises Network, and sits on the editorial board of the BNA Health Law Reporter. Brown served on the advisory council for the Human Genome Project and National Institute of Diabetes, Digestion and Kidney Disease, and has co-authored three publications on health care law and government regulation. Brown and her husband, Col. Shawn Glisson, M.D. (Ret. USA), reside in Louisville, Ky.

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. Dept. of Homeland Security, which captured national headlines. In 2006, and again in 2012, Nicholson was elected and re-elected Jefferson County circuit court clerk. He manages a staff of over 300 employees and operates from eight locations. Nicholson’s community involvement within the Louisville area has a strong and lengthy history. He has served on the Board of Directors for Kosair Charities, the Kentucky Association of Counties, and the National Association of Counties. Nicholson and his wife, Debra, have two children: one who is an attorney and the other a student at the University of Louisville Brandeis School

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, which would feature live entertainment and a unique cuisine, a completely separate experience from River House. Starting at age 14 in Cleveland, Ohio, Varanese credits Dino De Franco as his mentor and teacher for what it takes to be a good chef and business owner. He learned the business side of the restaurant, discipline and from scratch cooking. His first executive chef position was at Azeala restaurant in Louisville, Ky. Within three years, Varanese began making plans to open his own restaurant. He is passionately committed to sourcing local food for his restaurants. Varanese has won numerous awards and was invited

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, Patrick John, sees his blessings with family as his driving inspiration to serve them each day. Patrick Henry played in the University of Louisville Marching Band for five seasons with help from his father, who tirelessly maneuvered Patrick Henry’s wheelchair through the formations during practices and games. During this time, his dad spent his days attending classes on campus assisting his son and working the overnight shift. Patrick Henry speaks fluent Spanish, and in 2010 graduated from U of L magna cum laude. The pair made appearances all across the USA and even shared their story internationally. They were featured

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 in their U.S. touring production of “The Great Russian Nutcracker.” Conducting since 1993, Foster was formerly the conductor of Bella Voce and the Louisville Children’s Choir, which performed at Carnegie Hall. She also conducted at both public and private schools. She was a voice teacher at Sacred Heart School for the Arts, the Choral Director at Sacred Heart Academy, and has a private voice studio, as well. Her professional vocal career includes performing with the Kentucky Opera, the Stephen Foster Story, community theatre groups, and solo engagements with churches and at private events. Foster is a member of the K

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-changing event. Wanting to learn more about horses to improve his chances to win at the track, Blowen asked to work the stables for free, and he fell in love with these majestic animals. In 1999, The Boston Globe offered Blowen and his wife, Diane, also a Globe columnist, a retirement buyout. He took it and joined the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, which rescues horses and provides them with safe homes. A year later, he moved to Kentucky to help the foundation. Blowen then founded the non-profit organization Old Friends Farm in Georgetown, a retirement and rescue facility for pensioned thoroughbreds. In 2002, Der

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 7 Tournament Championship twice, was named in Under Armour’s All-American Watch List, and was also named Region 7’s Player of the Year. George came to the University of Louisville volleyball team and quickly moved to a starting position. She spent her summer overseas for the USA National Collegiate Team, winning the silver medal at the European Global Challenge Tournament in Pula, Croatia. Having no previous experience in beauty pageants, George was crowned Miss Kentucky USA In 2015 and competed in the Miss USA pageant, finishing in the top 15.

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 Everyday system. Known as VINE, the system calls crime victims any time there is a change in their offender’s status. Honoring their daughter’s memory, The Mary Byron Project was established in 2000. For 8 years, Byron served as its president before her designation as president emeritus. She has earned much recognition for her work, including the Eastern Kentucky University College of Justice and Safety Dean’s Award and the Honoring Excellent Role Models award from Today’s Woman magazine. Byron’s husband, John, is a registered professional engineer, and served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. Today, he is retired fro

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 and Mississippi John Hurt. Cotton began playing guitar and by his early 20s, he was playing clubs and dives. His work has taken him all over the world, and he’s sat in with Lady Rizo and the legendary composer/singer David Amram. With a unique and original sound, Cotton has played at a number of momentous venues, including South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, BB King’s Blues Club in Times Square, and the Motherlodge Festival, where he opened for Johnny Winter. Today, Cotton plays original work and still covers many artists who influenced him.

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 association sectors for 20 years. She pursued a career in the public sector immediately after college. Her first professional post was with the American Federation of Teachers, a teachers union where she and a colleague led the public advocacy efforts around a national campaign to raise the standards of achievement and conduct in public schools. She has been a member of the Louisville Bar Association, the Advertising Federation of Louisville, the Kentucky Science Center, and the Home for the Innocents. She volunteers regularly with many area groups and was peer-selected as the National Executive Director of the Year for the A