The Annual Meeting & Awards of Excellence Luncheon Presented by Republic Bank allows us to recognize the accomplishments that have transformed our downtown by making it stronger, more vibrant and prosperous. Each year, this event recognizes outstanding businesses and/or individuals that have made a lasting and positive impact on downtown. This year’s event took place at the Hilton Lexington/Downtown on Monday, April 24 at 11:30 AM.
COMPLETE LIST OF PREVIOUS AWARD WINNERS
Contact Laura Farnsworth at Laura@downtownlex.com.
Landscape and Streetscape Award: Given to the business and/or property owners for outstanding effort in maintaining a visual pleasantness to downtown.
Urban Innovation Award: Given to businesses or individuals for a successful and truly trail-blazing activity in a previously underdeveloped area or facet of downtown Lexington. Included in this category is recognition for new efforts, for continued and expanded work, and for creative and unusual achievement.
Leadership Achievement Award: Given to the business or organization which best exemplifies exceptional contribution to the business, civic, or human vitality of downtown Lexington.
Rose Lucas Perfect Partner Award: Given to a person or organization that contributes greatly to the downtown Lexington mission.
Outstanding Individual Award: Given to an individual who has contributed to the growth, vitality, and overall appeal of downtown Lexington, making it a better place to live, work, and visit.
Smiley Pete Award: Given to the organization, business, or individual that has a great impact on how people feel about downtown. Named in honor of that longtime canine resident of Main and Lime, and created as the ultimate in compliments for those who help everyone enjoy being downtown.
Landscape and Streetscape Award: For their investment in the streetscape surrounding the newly expanded Central Bank Center, including extensive renovation to the façade, creation of a Catwalk stone staircase connecting High and Vine Streets, and adding Lexington-born sculptor John Henry’s “Publisher” sculpture to Vine Street, we recognize Oak View Group.
Urban Innovation Award: For their investment in Lexington’s historic and culturally rich East End, including a retail art gallery, a live/work community for artists, a business and marketing incubator for artists, and affordable studio workspaces, we recognize Art Inc. Kentucky – A Community Ventures Social Enterprise, led by Mark Johnson.
Leadership Achievement Award sponsored by Dinsmore: For her contribution to leadership development in Lexington, including the EMERGE conference, Leadership Lexington & Leadership Central Kentucky programs, and the Emerging Leaders of the Bluegrass program, we recognize Amy Stout, Vice President, Leadership Development, Commerce Lexington.
Rose Lucas Perfect Partner Award: For uniting with a common goal to enhance the ambiance of the Fifth Third Bank Pavilion in Tandy Park in preparation for the 2022 Breeders’ Cup as well as regularly hosted programming including Central Bank Thursday Night Live and Lexington Farmers Market, we recognize the following partners: Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilmembers Hannah LeGris and Chuck Ellinger II, Beverly Fortune, Breeders’ Cup, Fifth Third Bank, Lexington Divisions of Parks & Recreation and Police, and Lord Aeck Sargent.
Outstanding Individual Award sponsored by Central Bank: For his many years of service to downtown Lexington, including several leadership terms on the board of Downtown Lexington Partnership and serving as Chair from 2020-2021, as well as more than 30 years in marketing and sales for Central Bank, during which time many fruitful partnerships were forged, we recognize Steve Kelly.
Smiley Pete Award sponsored by Fayette Alliance: For igniting downtown Lexington during the Breeders’ Cup, including a seven-day festival that featured live music, local artists and guests from across the world, as well as four nights of a Love Letter to Lexington projection mapping show across Lexington’s Historic Courthouse, we recognize Kip Cornett, Chair of the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Festival.
