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 25, 2017
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: August 4, 2017; November 2017
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. Read more about GLIDE 2017 here.

Date: September 10-12, 2017
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: August 24, 2017
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: February 24, 2017; March 29, 2017; April 26, 2017; July 13, 2017; August 17, 2017; October 12, 2017; November 1, 2017; December 19, 2017
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: April 28, 2017; August 10, 2017; December 2017
Audience: Exclusive to GLI Top Investors and special guests.

Public Policy Events

Advocacy Into Action (AIA)

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 2017
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: January 30, 2017: Speaker Jeff Hoover; April 11, 2017: Senator Todd Young; July 14, 2017: Secretary Elaine Chao; August 2017: TBA
Audience: GLI Top Investors, public policy executives and other business leaders.

DC Fly In

The voice of the business community is crucial to smart public policy. You have the opportunity to play a pivotal role in helping that voice reverberate throughout our nation’s capital in Washington D.C. The Fly In features face-to-face meetings with federal stakeholders.

Join fellow business, civic, and community leaders as they advocate for key federal issues identified by GLI’s public policy committees that are critical to a pro-business climate. Tell your story to members of Congress and listen as they tell you the challenges they face in crafting impactful, significant legislation that will unite opposing interests.

Date: June 21-22, 2017
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 Evening of Entrepreneurship (E3)

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: October 14, 2017
Audience: Gazelle companies, entrepreneurs, Top Investors, professional service firms, etc.

Hot & Fast 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: December 2017
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 14, 2017
Audience: The entrepreneurial community including entrepreneurs, gazelles, angel investors, EnterpriseCorp Board of Advisors, regional and community leaders and local media.

Professional Development & Networking Events

Executive Assistant How-To Series (EA)

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: March 14, 2017; August 18, 2017
Audience: Executive Assistants from top businesses in the region.

GLIP Events

The mission of the Greater Louisville International Professionals (GLIP) is to attract and retain international talent by showcasing Louisville as welcoming and inclusive. GLIP is committed to providing a platform of distinct initiatives – such as social media networks, country ambassadors, mentorship programs and hosted events – to engage and connect the accomplished individuals of the international and local community. It also exists to assist companies as they relocate and integrate foreign born professionals and executives.

Dates: March 7, 2017; Late Summer 2017; Fall 2017
Audience: International professionals, business leaders, entrepreneurs, global executives and recruiters.

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: March 7, 2017; Late Summer 2017; Fall 2017
Audience: GLI members and non-members, sales professionals.

Shop Talk

With a growing demand for in-depth training, GLI’s Shop Talk fills the gap with professional instruction to help your business. This popular series allows attendees to engage with an industry expert on specific topics to help grow their business while providing a platform to make valuable connections and cultivate relationships.

Dates: March 22, 2017: Personal & Professional Coaching; Late Summer 2017: TBD; October 5, 2017: Strategic Planning; November 15, 2017: LEAN Methodology
Audience: GLI members, small to medium sized businesses.

Webinars

GLI has teamed up with Action Coach to offer in-depth training in a quick, interactive and free (to members) webinar. GLI’s Small Business How to Webinar Series fills the gap with professional instruction to help your business. Topics for 2016 will dig deeper into the basics of sales, marketing and hiring.

Dates: March 2, 2017; April 27, 2017; July 25, 2017; Spetember 6, 2017
Audience: Small to medium sized business owners, middle management, industry professionals.