June 7th, 2011 at 7:00pm at the Kentucky Theater, downtown Lexington. Cost just $10.

Special thanks to Jason Delambre of Interdependent Energies – Carbon & Sustainable Energy Consulting out of Frankfort – for this heads up:

The Ky Energy & Innovation Roundtable & 2011 IdeaFestival are presenting a screening - for one night only, on June 7th at 7pm - of Carbon Nation a new climate solutions documentary created by Kentucky native Peter Byck. You can watch the film’s trailer at http://www.carbonnationmovie.com/. Peter will be in attendance at the screening and will be answering questions at the end.

From Jason, one of the sharpest clean energy minds in the entire region:

I have seen this movie multiple times and I think it is one of the best climate change movies out there. It has wide audience appeal, because it does not focus on the doom and gloom of climate change, but instead the positive solutions that are happening right now all over the country. I left the movie with a hopeful heart and a renewed sense that we can tackle this issue as a community and as a united country.

The cost for the event is just $10.

Here are some reviews of the movie so far…

ABC News:
Byck began the project four years ago with a goal of convincing an uncle who’s skeptical of climate change that green tech has plenty of other merits.
“I almost think we’ve had more enthusiasm from the right and from people who are conservative… because I feel like there’s a lot of people who understand that waste is bad,” Byck said. “They’re just not on board with climate change, but when we present the film this way, it’s something they can actually agree with.”
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/conversation-carbon-nation-common-ground-green-technology/story?id=12894877

from a New York City screening:

Carbon Nation doesn’t waste time arguing that climate change is real and caused by humans, the film steps right into what can be done about it. The main theme — that it makes simple, good business sense to use energy more efficiently and to find alternatives to fossil fuels — is developed on economic arguments. Fossil fuels are getting more expensive and we must find alternatives. When evaluated on basic economics, the new fuels are nearly always renewable energy sources.

Building a rich entrepreneurial & innovation ecosystem in the Bluegrass – and well beyond – requires purposeful (and sometimes seemingly monumental) amounts of human effort.  Not to mention growing financial resources.  On behalf of the entire state of Kentucky, plus our Smart Series guests from Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus and Athens (OH) – and West Virginia – the LeXenomics Board of Directors wants to thank the following beautiful people for their instrumental support in making Saul Kaplan’s entrepreneurial tour of Kentucky a huge success:

David Mohney: $1000 Contributor

University of Kentucky and Lexington’s Downtown Development Authority

Sponsored Laurel Christensen’s creative visual productions – and the development of – The Smart Series with Saul Kaplan. David also spent all Super Bowl Sunday making enormous amounts of homemade Kentucky burgoo for over 80 Smart Series guests!

Randall Stevens: $500 Contributor (Plus free usage of his downtown space)

Archvision and Base163

Sponsored Saul’s travel expenses from Providence to Lexington and hosted The Smart Series, February 7th & 8th.

Jim Gray: Sponsor of Connecting BIF & Kentucky

Lexington Mayor

Sponsored our original September 2010 trip to the Business Innovation Factory in Providence, Rhode Island.

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Greg Fischer

Louisville Mayor

Completely rearranged his Tuesday schedule, with almost zero notice, to personally meet with Saul and 20-25 Louisville entrepreneurs & innovators… at 7:00am on Tuesday, Feb. 8th (it was still dark outside!)

Alltech

Provider of the Kentucky Ale, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale and Kentucky Light for The Smart Series with Saul Kaplan

Laurel Christensen

University of Kentucky

College of Design, Senior

Developer of The Smart Series and Creative Director of our Smart Series visual graphics

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Jim Clifton

Therix Medical, CEO

LeXenomics board member, researcher & discoverer, and he who originally told Eric to follow @skap5 on twitter!

Christoper Rice

University of Kentucky

Originally attended BIF-6 in 2009, then told Eric to attend in 2010 – leading to Mayor Gray’s travel sponsorship

Adam Fish, J.P. Davis & Matt Winn

University of Louisville, Forge Louisville & Chrysalis Ventures (Louisville)

Key organizers helping not only lead Louisville’s venture into the 21st century innovation economy – but also Saul’s visit to Louisville, Tuesday morning

Brett Jeffreys

red7e and Possibility City in Louisville

Major connector between Louisville and Lexington

John Y. Brown III

The JYB3 Group in Louisville

Major connector and facilitator for Louisville’s emergence as a 21st century American city. And enormous helper for Lexington’s and Louisville’s growing connectivity – for all of Kentucky’s benefit.

Bobby Fererri

Greater Louisville, Inc.

Organizer behind Saul’s Tuesday morning innovation explorations in Louisville with Mayor Greg Fischer & staff – and Louisville’s innovators

Robynn Pease

University of Kentucky’s Work-Life Center

Organizer of our special session with Saul on “Aging in the Community” with over 25 innovators from around the region. And Robynn provided snacks and beverages for Tuesday afternoon’s first session!

Jonathan Miller

Kentucky’s Secretary of Finance

Connector between Lexington, Louisville, Frankfort and throughout all of Kentucky. It was Jonathan’s idea, originally, to take Saul to Louisville, directly.

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Ikenna Uzuegbunam

University of Kentucky Professor of Entrepreneurship

Host for Saul Kaplan’s class on Business Model Innovation to UK Sophomores (and many guests from around the city, the University and the country).  Ikenna also provided Tuesday’s lunch for everyone!!!

Adam Martin

A. Martin Design Studio

LeXenomics’ Brand Consultant and logo designer – plus provider of more Ale8One than you’ve ever seen in your life!

Debra Hensley

Debra’s Social Stimulus

Major Connector throughout all of Central Kentucky – and Debra contributed FOUR TIMES the required Smart Series registration price.

Allison Davis

The Tasting Experience

Caterer of our Smart Series Kentucky hot browns, Kentucky beer cheese and the best ever Kentucky (and now nationally famous) bourbon balls!  (They were soooooooo good!)

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Tim Knittel

Woodford Reserve

Provider of Saul’s customized, personal bottle of Kentucky Derby famous Woodford Reserve bourbon

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Chris Hill

Symply Social

Social Media Manager for The Smart Series with Saul Kaplan

Susannah Harris 41buzz

Hospitality Coordinator for The Smart Series with Saul Kaplan

Lisa Broome-Price

University of Kentucky’s Gaines Center for the Humanities

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Our Absolutely Awesome Out-of-Town Guests!

• Selena Schmidt: Pittsburgh’s Power of 32 Regional Initiative
• Deb Mills-Scofield: Cleveland, Ohio (Mills-Scofield, LLC)
  
• Andy Sparks: Ohio State Univ. Business Builders Club President (Columbus, OH)
• Greg Kaple: Ohio University’s Department of Entrepreneurship (Athens, Ohio)
• Duane Thomas & Deana Keaner – Create West Virginia

Our group’s humor is the highlight of each of my facebook visits, in fact. Ha!

But I also posted something serious in there – Saul Kaplan’s recent Harvard Business Review blogpost, “Will the Sun Shine Bright on Kentucky Innovation?”.

And some of the most revealing feedback Kentucky could ever receive came forth – straight from one of Lexington’s native and most creative sons. A 37/38 year-old who is essentially having to raise his family elsewhere, in the Dallas / Ft. Worth area.

His story:

I only post this because there are a lot of us that would LOVE to be back home. I’m sure (our class President) would like to have his wine business in Lex… (Jonathan) would love to have his (music) studio and distribution deal in Lex… I work every day to reach a dollar figure where I can move back and not worry about money and be close to my family – but Lexington is closed to all of us – when I do go back home I see the houses and cars that I have here in Dallas – and I say out loud “what the hell do these people do??”

I lived there for 26 years — how can a town that small need so many doctors, lawyers and whatever the hell else people do there?

I wasn’t aware of it when we were growing up – even when I went to Transy – I didn’t notice – it was only when I graduated and started trying to figure out what I wanted to do – I knew, almost immediately that I would have to go to Cincinnati — and that led to Dallas. Now – I’d love to come back — but the housing market – cost of living – and opportunity are amazingly distorted for a city that size.

I’m keeping his name private, but if you could imagine one of the most outside-the-box, creative innovators you’ve ever met, you’d be imagining the guy telling this story.

He – like sooooo many other native Lexingtonians around the world now – has done quite well for himself, professionally and personally, throughout his adult life.  But he would prefer to succeed and raise his family right here in the Bluegrass – to be nearer to his parents.

Our task, then, is crystal clear: to create the space for this innovative brainpower to flourish right here in Lexington. And in Louisville.  And throughout Kentucky.

Premium human capital is the key to Kentucky’s future – and evidence again illustrates it wants to live and flourish here.

… “but I’m not an entrepreneur. I’m not an innovator.”

Really?  Then who is?  I think you’ll be 100% surprised when you find out – or when you dig into the video booth of BIF’s and Babson College’s Entrepreneur Experience Lab.

Entrepreneurs are regular people – if there ever were regular people.  Innovators, probably moreso than anyone today (when institutional hierarchies seem to dominate our economy), are definitely “regular people.”  They just think a lot differently – they see things that others haven’t verbalized yet, perhaps. And entrepreneurs seem to believe in their own capabilities to live fully aware above all else – even if they work in “a regular job” from 9 to 5.

And you know what, when you meet Saul Kaplan of Providence, Rhode Island’s Business Innovation Factory, you will know beyond any doubt that entrepreneurs & innovators are the regularest of people.  Kaplan, for being so connected to the most innovative leaders on the planet, is the friendliest, most unassuming guy you’ll ever meet.

Evidence: he’s coming to Lexington and Louisville next week for free. No “speakers fee.”  No “consulting fee.”  He’s coming because he wants to – because it’s who he is. (We’re just making sure we treat him well and show him awesome Kentucky hospitality!)

You may or may not be very acquainted with The LeXenomics Group, but you should definitely get acquainted with Saul Kaplan and BIF.  It’s an enormous opportunity, coming to our front door.

Register online for The Smart Series with Saul Kaplan.

Monday & Tuesday, Feb. 7-8 at Base163 in downtown Lexington.  Kentucky Ale Smart Series Reception, Monday evening from 5:30 – 7:30.

And last year, with around 2500 runners, the “economy” created by the race neared $150,000.  Certainly nothing to sneeze at – particularly when the vast majority of that money is (or should be) spent locally, on Central Kentucky businesses right here in our front yard.

Yesterday, because of some unexpected management challenges with the previous charity, The LeXenomics Group stepped in – to keep this race growing and becoming one of Kentucky’s premier, iconic, signature springtime events – and for Lexington to also maintain local ownership of this “miniature economy.”

Timeout: if you’d like to challenge yourself, or if you’d like to share Lexington’s signature half-marathon with your friends/family, we’ve lowered the early registration price to just $50, through the end of January.

In the last week, we have also met myriads of awesome Kentuckians. Small business owners and not-so-small business leaders, race directors, runners, volunteers, you name ‘em.

And everyone who knows things, agrees, this race was awesome last year and demand is only growing.  Kentuckians WANT to be healthier, Kentuckians WANT to get out and be energetic, Kentuckians WANT to keep get better and better!

And nothing says more about the future of Lexington, and the future of Kentucky, than that right there.  And we haven’t even touched on the financial impact that large races like half-marathons and full marathons have on tourism.  Neighboring cities like Louisville, Nashville and Cincinnati attract runners from all around the entire region with their awesome races – and Lexington’s Thoroughbred backdrop provides arguably an even prettier route than anyone else’s in the country!

Finally, and this bears repeating, our mission is simple:

To make this race one of Kentucky’s most recognizable, iconic, signature events – a “rite of spring” if you will, every single year.

Now, as Mr. Chenery told his daughter Penny, in Secretariat’s story, “You Run Your Race, Kentucky!”

Punndit's Beta Launch Party - Lexington, KY

This is the first of coming guest posts by Duane Thomas, Regional Connector, Adjunct Management Professor at Marshall University and a Community/Innovation Catalyst in Huntington, West Virginia.

We are previewing one of America’s very brightest lights, the Business Innovation Factory and Founder, Saul Kaplan, leading up to his visit here from Providence, Rhode Island, February 7-8.

You can follow Duane on twitter at @edyoucation or via his EdYOUcation blog.

In Tupelo, community development came before economic development, and that … has made all the difference.

- Vaughn Grisham, from Hand in Hand: Community and Economic Development in Tupelo

People are constantly looking left and right for someone to lead – lead their community, lead their state, lead their country. WHAT happened to looking within?

Looking within our country, looking within our state, looking within our community? OR maybe the better question is: “Looking within ourselves?”

“If you want a better community, you will have to do it yourself. If you don’t do it, it will never get done.” – George McLean

The Lexington area, or looking more broadly, the Appalachian region from Lexington – Charleston – Pittsburgh – Columbus has an opportunity..

To WHAT? I can’t answer that question for you – YOU must look within yourself and answer it for your community, answer it for your state, and answer it for your country.

LeXenomics is providing an opportunity: Entrepreneurial and Innovation Exploration with Saul Kaplan for you to CREATE a better TODAY -  in essence, lead your community, lead your state, and lead your country.

…what you CREATE, is up to YOU!

Brittain "Grits" Skinner

Since a fundamental aspect of economic development (and therefore one of LeXenomic’ focal points) is urban planning – how a city and region is physically built and interacts with its people – we are beyond elated to welcome Brittain Skinner, Urban Planner, into our fold!

Brittain “Grits” Skinner is passionate about creating and connecting community within the context of environmental sustainability… and Australian Rules Football!!!

Brittain grew up in Central Kentucky, holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Smith College and a Master’s degree in City & Regional Planning from Georgia Tech University.  Prior to returning to her native Bluegrass, Brittain worked as an urban planner in Atlanta, Georgia and Melbourne, Australia – explaining her affinity for scrums!  She also has over a dozen years experience working with youth in Kentucky and Georgia, both as a volunteer and as a Presbyterian youth director.

Notoriously proud of her Kentucky roots (and given to superlatives), she knows the Bluegrass is one of the greatest places on earth and she intends to convince her fellow Kentuckians and the world of this truth.  She also knows the Bluegrass has incredible potential to be so much more and she intends to help realize this potential.

You may reach Brittain via email or facebook:

You my also peruse our entire Board of Directors.

Advance Lexington – Target Industry FINAL.December10.2010

You can follow @RunTheBluegrass on twitter and “Like” the big race on facebook to stay up-to-speed (pun wholly intended) on the race’s latest and greatest developments.

Emceed by Bobby Clark, the very first Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame induction night was a huge success. Inspirational and enlightening stories were shared by famed KY entreprenuers John Y. Brown, Pearse Lyons, Jim Host, Warren Rosenthal, Davis Marksbury, Dr. Lee Todd and more.

Ky Entrepreneurs Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (Nov. 17, 2010) from LeXenomics on Vimeo.

Held at Awesome, Inc. in downtown Lexington, the very first class of inductees into the Ky Entrepreneurs Hall of Fame provided a great night of inspirational stories, insights and experiences.