GLI Initiatives
Program Description
Signature Events
Annual Meeting
The region’s premier business networking event of the year, the Greater Louisville Inc. Annual Meeting brings together the largest gathering of business, community and civic leaders for one night, at one location, for one big celebration. This high-profile event features a nationally renowned keynote speaker, celebrates the successes of the past year and looks ahead to the future.
- Date
- January 17, 2018
- Audience
- C-level executives, GLI Board of Directors, Top Investors, regional business and community leaders, general membership and local media.
Business at Breakfast
The Business at Breakfast series remains one of Greater Louisville Inc.’s signature programs. Each year our members designate topics of particular interest to our audience. In turn, we secure dynamic speakers, typically top local CEOs with the ability to skillfully discuss the topic and deliver tangible, practical tips for business leaders. Relevant business information, prudent insights and a hot breakfast all before 9 a.m.!
- Dates
- Twice Annually
- Audience
- Medium to large sized companies, Top Investors, business and community leaders.
GLIDE
The Greater Louisville Idea Development Expedition (GLIDE) is an annual, invitation-only executive program for regional business and community leaders. The program promotes learning, brainstorming and relationship building that is critical to regional visioning and progress.
- Date
- Fall 2018
- Audience
- Top-level executives, business leaders, elected officials.
Inc.Credible Awards
This annual celebration is the region’s signature small business event. GLI presents eight Inc.credible Awards for businesses with fewer than 100 employees and celebrates the entire small business community for its ongoing contribution to our region’s economic vitality. An inspirational event for anyone who knows the importance of small businesses dreaming big, this is a must-attend celebration for companies of all sizes.
- Date
- May 8, 2018
- Audience
- A mixture of small business owners as well as medium to large businesses attending to support their clients.
Investor Forum
A small, informal meet and greet with Kent Olyer, GLI President & CEO to bring investors up to date on GLI’s strategic plan.
- Dates
8X in 2018
- Audience
- An invite-only mixture of GLI Investors of all sizes with varied businesses interests.
Top Investor Series
Greater Louisville Inc.’s Top Investors attend these “shareholder-like” events four times per year. GLI’s CEO and Senior Team discuss key strategies and current projects. Attendees ask questions about community issues, discuss matters specific to their own business, and network with one another. 325+ CEO Council, Government Partners, Chairman’s Club, President’s Circle, Private 100 and Trustees make up our Top Investor companies. January: Expanded Gaming-Johnathan Blue, Blue Equity
- Dates
3X in 2018
- Audience
- Exclusive to GLI Top Investors and special guests.
Public Policy Events
Advocacy Into Action
GLI takes the opportunity each year to recognize Jefferson County’s elected officials for their contributions to the region’s growth and prosperity. The format of this year’s signature event will change to allow more time for attendees to build and cultivate those valuable connections. A condensed program will provide attendees with an update of GLI’s legislative priorities with a focus on the critical issues affecting the business climate.
- Dates
- December, 2018
- Audience
- C level, Top Executives and business leaders within the community that have a vested interest in legislative issues that will impact the business community as well as federal, state and local officials.
Capitol Connection
This popular series provides attendees unique access to legislative leadership, issues and information. Speakers for the event include local and national elected officials, and programs feature a question and answer opportunity for the audience. Past speakers include: Senator Mitch McConnell, Representative John Yarmuth, Governor Matt Bevin, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers and others.
- Dates
3 X in 2018
- Audience
- GLI Top Investors, public policy executives and other business leaders.
2018 Congressional Summit
Following up GLI’s successful DC Fly In, we are bringing our federal advocacy efforts back to Louisville. GLI will be hosting its inaugural 2018 Congressional Summit.
Join GLI for this half-day event and interact with elected officials from the region. The 2018 Congressional Summit will provide an excellent opportunity to help shape and promote GLI’s federal priorities. Presentations and paneled discussion will be held to learn the inside scoop of what’s going on inside the D.C. beltway.
Invited speakers will include: U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell KY-R, Senator Rand Paul KY-R, Senator Joe Donnelly IN-D, Senator Todd Young IN-R, Congressman John Yarmuth KY3-D, Congressman James Comer KY1-R, Congressman Brett Guthrie KY2-R, Congressman Thomas Massie KY4-R, Congressman Hal Rogers KY5-R, Congressman Andy Barr KY6-R, Congressman Trey Hollingsworth IN9-R. Others may include: Trump Administration Officials, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, national media.
Dates
Summer 2018
Audience
GLI Top Investors, public policy executives and other business leaders.
Issues & Influencers
Public Policy “pop ups” offer access to exclusive events in order to learn more about recent legislation and its impact on the Greater Louisville community as well as opportunities to engage with governmental officials and opinion leaders.
Dates
3 x in 2018
Audience
GLI Top Investors, public policy executives and other business leaders.
Public Policy Regional Tour
The Louisville region’s business leaders will have an exclusive opportunity to meet and learn from leaders of the Eastern Kentucky region.
Just like in the Greater Louisville region, many other regions within the Commonwealth are striving for ways to tackle major issues facing education, business competitiveness, and health care. This regional tour will not only create an opportunity to recognize and show gratitude towards other regional leaders for their support of Louisville, but also helps our business community better understand their challenges and explore ways to work together towards common goals.
GLI will be connecting with civic and business leaders throughout Eastern Kentucky to focus a dialogue of how to bridge the urban-rural divide and learn more about their journey of overcoming economic challenges.
Dates
July, 2018
Audience
C level, Top Executives and business leaders within the community that have a vested interest in legislative issues that will impact the business community as well as federal, state and local officials.
EnterpriseCorp Events
EnterpriseCorp’s Evening of Entrepreneurship
EnterpriseCorp is the division of GLI’s economic development team that focuses on entrepreneurial assistance. With help from our community partners, we keep seek continued advancement of Louisville’s entrepreneurial vitality by serving the companies that create the vast majority of new wealth, new revenue and new jobs. Clients range from technology start-ups to fast-growth companies producing over $1 million in revenue.
This event recognizes and outlines the state of entrepreneurship in the Louisville region. It highlights some of the emerging companies in the Louisville region, advancements in the entrepreneurial ecosystem and discusses the critical things we need to accomplish as a community for continued advancement.
- Date
- Summer, 2018
- Audience
- Gazelle companies, entrepreneurs, Top Investors, professional service firms, etc.
Hot & Fast Innovation Showcase
The Hot & Fast Showcase focuses on recognizing and celebrating the fastest growing companies and is lively celebration of the individuals in our community that are enabling ideas through entrepreneurship.
- Date
- Fall, 2018
- Audience
- Gazelle companies, entrepreneurial community, Top Investors.
Vogt Awards Demo Day
This event is the culmination and celebration of the 10-week Vogt Awards Accelerator Program and offers presentations by the Vogt Awards Grant Distribution winners for the opportunity to win up to an additional $100,000. This event is the culmination and celebration of the 10-week Vogt Awards Accelerator Program and offers presentations by the Vogt Awards Grant Distribution winners for the opportunity to win up to an additional $100,000 in non-dilutive seed funding to commercialize their product. The cocktail event includes networking, the Vogt Award participant showcase and brief remarks by Mayor Greg Fischer. in non-dilutive seed funding to commercialize their product. The cocktail event includes networking, the Vogt Award participant showcase and brief remarks by Mayor Greg Fischer.
- Date
- November, 2018
- Audience
- The entrepreneurial community including entrepreneurs, gazelles, angel investors, EnterpriseCorp Board of Advisors, regional and community leaders and local media.
Talent & Economic Development Events
Familiarization Tour
This two day event brings national and international site selectors to Louisville in an effort to bring additional recognition to our community for future economic development.
Dates
June, 2018
Audience
Invitation-only national and international site selectors
Intern Welcome Event
The Louisville region welcomes hundreds of College interns every summer. As a talent attraction initiative, this welcome event serves as a kick-off to their summer internships in an effort to promote Louisville as a destination post-college. GLI hosts in conjunction with the Mayor’s office.
Date
Summer, 2018
Audience
College Interns and community businesses
Regional Development Updates
Advance Greater Louisville Regional Partners combine to provide updates from their respective communities on the latest development projects and opportunities.
Dates
2X in 2018
Audience
Top Investor companies, real estate brokers, bankers, local elected officials
Networking Events
Coffee & Connections
An informal gathering of new or newly engaged investors to provide a high level overview of GLI. GLI department Vice Presidents and/or Directors provide overviews of their respective areas of expertise and how investors can get more involved.
Dates
6 X in 2018
Audience
New GLI Investors or newly engaged GLI Investors
Executive Assistant How-To Series
This popular event series is specifically for the top Executive Assistants from the region. This program provides a platform for EA’s to connect with their peers, share ideas and gain useful knowledge that they can use in their everyday role.
- Dates
- 3X in 2018
- Audience
- Executive Assistants from top businesses in the region.
Hot Spot
Access. Influence. Connections. Come and connect with GLI and other business professionals in this new networking programming beginning in 2017. Experince the hottest spots in town that make Louisville cool, fun and “uniquely Lou.”
- Dates
- 3X in 2018
- Audience
- GLI members and non-members, sales professionals.
Learn more about sponsoring a GLI Event