LEXINGTON, Ky. — Commerce Lexington announced its 2026 Executive Board and officers and named eight new individuals to the organization’s Board of Directors. Leading the board in 2026 will be Nick Nicholson, member in Stoll Keenon Ogden’s Lexington office, where he focuses on real estate development and various aspects of the bourbon industry such as helping distillers or aging operations open new locations and new tourism ventures that promote the current Golden Age of Bourbon.
“I want to thank Carla Blanton for her steady leadership of our organization this year,” Commerce Lexington President and CEO Bob Quick said. “She is one of only a handful of community leaders to have served two terms as chair of our Board of Directors. I am excited that Stoll Keenon Ogden’s Nick Nicholson will be taking the helm as Board Chair for 2026. He has been very involved with our organization, especially on the policy side, where he served as Chair of the Public Policy Council and has helped guide us on land use, housing, and development issues.”
The 2026 Executive Board, including leadership positions, includes:
Nick Nicholson (2026 Board Chair), Member, Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC
Kevin Atkins (City Representative), Chief Development Officer, City of Lexington
Tucker Ballinger (Vice Chair, Talent & Workforce Development), President & CEO, Forcht Bank
Stephanie Bell (At-Large Member), Vice President, Government Affairs, Kinetic
Carla Blanton (Immediate Past Chair), Owner, Carla Blanton Consulting
Jonathan Caldwell (Vice Chair, Communications), Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer, Valvoline
Bishop Carter IV (At-Large Member), Owner, Elaine Allen LLC
Kimra Cole (At-Large Member), President & COO, Columbia Gas of Kentucky
Luther Deaton (Vice Chair, Economic Development), Chairman, President & CEO, Central Bank & Trust Co.
Billie Dollins (Vice Chair, Leadership Development), Executive VP, Central Region President, Community Trust Bank
Larry Forester (Vice Chair, Community & Minority Business Development), Senior VP, Commercial Banking Officer, Forcht Bank
Branden Gross (Vice Chair, Public Policy & Regional Engagement), Partner, Dentons
John Mahan (Regional Representative), Owner, Mahan Farms/Sodworks
Danny Murphy (Vice Chair, Membership & Engagement), Vice President & Personal Trust Advisor, Central Bank & Trust Co.
Bob Quick (Board Secretary), President & CEO, Commerce Lexington
W. Craig Robertson III (General Counsel), Partner-in-Charge, Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP
Debbie Smith (Treasurer), Lexington Market Leader, Cherry Bekaert LLP
Mary-Alicha Weldon (Board Chair-Elect), Commercial Banking Executive, Kentucky & Southern Indiana Region, Fifth Third Bank.
Commerce Lexington has also welcomed eight individuals who are new to the Board of Directors in 2026, including:
John Cioci, Senior Vice President & Commercial Relationship Manager, PNC
Mike Inman, President, Bluegrass REALTORS, and REALTOR, Coldwell Banker McMahan
Patrick Keal, Director of External Affairs, LG&E and KU Energy
Allen McDaniel, Executive Director & CEO, Downtown Lexington Partnership
Jordan Parker, Director of Business Development, Traditional Bank
Michael Patterson, President, Denham-Blythe
Tate Russell, President, Kentucky Eagle, Inc.
Simon Scholte, Vice President & General Manager, Kindeva
With 1,900-plus member investors, Commerce Lexington is a catalyst for economic development, a convener of leaders and influencers, and a champion for a strong business climate. Through advocacy, networking, talent development and community engagement, Commerce Lexington supports a connected and forward-looking regional economy.
