About The Arena Authority
Louisville Arena Authority Inc.
Board
of Directors
Biographical
Summaries
Jim Host, Chairman
Jim Host served as Secretary of Commerce for the Commonwealth of Kentucky
under Gov. Ernie Fletcher for approximately two years, retiring in October
2005. He was formerly chairman and CEO of Host Communications, Inc. (HOST),
which he founded in Lexington, Ky., in 1972. HOST became a subsidiary of
Bull Run Corp. (NASDAQ: BULL) in December 1999, and he stepped down as CEO
in 2001. Bull Run recently merged with Gray Publishing to form a new
company: Triple Crown Media (NASDAW: TCMI).
Host, a University of Kentucky graduate, played professional baseball after
receiving one of UK's first baseball scholarships. He worked with Proctor &
Gamble in sales and spent the 1960s with his own real estate, building and
insurance companies as well as doing play-by-play for several networks
broadcasting UK sports.
At age 29, Host became the youngest member of Gov. Louie B. Nunn's cabinet as
commissioner of the Department of Public Information and then as commissioner
of the Department of Parks. He was the Republican nominee for lieutenant
governor in 1971, but lost in the general election.
Host returned to Lexington in 1972 and opened Jim Host & Associates, which
began rapid development in 1974 with two contracts: a basketball and
football radio agreement with the University of Kentucky and an executive
management relationship with the National Tour Association. Host began a
long-standing business relationship with the National Collegiate Athletic
Association in 1975 and is personally credited with implementing the first
collegiate corporate marketing program with the NCAA in 1985.
In 2000, Host was named to the University of Kentucky Distinguished Alumni
Hall of Honors and the state of Kentucky's Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2001
he received one of Kentucky's top civic awards: Kentuckian of the Year from
the Chandler Foundation. In 2003 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award
from the University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Telecommunications.
In 2004, Host was named Rural Kentuckian of the Year by the Rural Electric
Cooperatives of Kentucky.
Host received a lifetime achievement award from the National Association of
College Marketers and was inducted into the Travel Industry of America's Hall
of Leaders and the National Tourism Foundation Hall of Fame.
He is currently a member of the executive committee of the International
Basketball Hall of Fame. He serves as chairman of the Louisville Arena
Authority and is the founding chairman of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian
Games to be held in Lexington, Ky., in 2010.
Larry Bisig
Larry Bisig ( UK ’85) is a Louisville native and resident.
After a five year stint with a local advertising firm, he founded
Bisig Communications in 1991, which is now Bisig Impact Group,
one of Kentucky’s largest marketing firms. As Chief Executive
Officer of the advertising/public relations driven organization,
Bisig’s responsibilities include oversight of several disciplines
including new media and civic involvement. The downtown agency
is credited with founding several communications/entertainment
initiatives including original sports radio programming on the
high school, college, and professional level. In addition, it
has produced the majority of music festivals in the Louisville
market since 1992. Bisig’s publishing arm and flagship
concept “Southern Gaming Magazine” enjoys over 30,000
readers per issue. Bisig’s community service work includes
having served on the Boards of the Breeder’s Cup Host Committee
as chair; the Greater Louisville Sports Commission as founding
vice-chair; the Alderman’s Arena Committee as chair; and
the Conference USA Men’s Tournament Host Committee as chair,
to cite a few. Mr. Bisig is married with three children.
Todd L. Blue
As its co-founder, President and
CEO, Todd L. Blue is responsible for the strategic direction of
Cobalt Ventures. Cobalt’s
primary businesses are private equity investing and real estate
development. In the last 6 years Todd and Cobalt have been recognized
as leaders in the pioneering effort to re-vitalize downtown Louisville.
Formally, (1998-2000) Todd served as Vice President of Progress
Rail Services, a subsidiary of Progress Energy (NYSE). From 1994-1998,
Todd was responsible for commercial metals trading at Louisville
Scrap Material Company, as its Executive Vice President. From
1992-1994 Todd was an Account Executive with Luria Brothers Trading
Group in Chicago, IL. Todd earned his degree in International
Business from The George Washington University in 1992. Todd
is an active member of The Young Presidents Organization, The
Kentucky Economic Development Partnership Board, The Old National
Bank of Kentucky Advisory Board, and The Cathedral Heritage Foundation.
In 2004 Todd was awarded the Governors Economic Development Leadership
Award. From 2000-2002 Todd participated as a member Louisville’s
NBA Pursuit Team which worked with local business leaders to
build a multi-purpose downtown arena that was to be shared with
the University of Louisville. In both 2001 and 2003 Todd was
awarded Cornerstone Awards for Cobalt’s adaptive re-use
and renovation of downtown real estate. Todd, and his wife Karen,
have three children and reside in Louisville.
Ulysses
(Junior) Bridgeman
Ulysses (Junior) Bridgeman is the
owner and President of Bridgeman Foods, Inc. and currently oversees
the administration and operation of 156 Wendy’s Old Fashioned
Hamburger Restaurants in four states. After graduation from the
University of Louisville in 1975, Mr. Bridgeman played professional
basketball with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers
for a total of twelve years. During his professional basketball
career, he also worked as a Sales and Public Relations Representative
for Howard Johnson in Milwaukee and as an analyst with Towers,
Perrin, Foster and Crosby Insurance Consultants in Milwaukee.
Junior is also actively involved in the Louisville Community.
He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Fifth Third
Bank, The Louisville Convention Visitors Bureau, and The Library
Board. He is Capital Campaign Co Chair for the African American
Heritage Foundation and serves as Chairman on the Board of Trustees
at The University of Louisville.
Tim Corrigan
Not Available at this time.
Reba
Doutrick
Ms. Doutrick’s professional
career includes experience in the cable industry beginning in
1980 through her current position as Director of Community Relations
for Insight Communications. As a resident of Valley Station,
Ms. Doutrick is actively involved in the community and many civic
activities. Her volunteer involvement includes organizations
such as Women 4 Women, the Mint Jubilee, the Louisville-Jefferson
County Redevelopment Authority, the Systematic Treatment of Autism
and Related Disorders Agency, and Project One. Additionally,
Ms. Doutrick serves as chairman of the Board for Riverside, the
Farnsley-Moremen Landing.
Lanny Greer, Ex Officio
Bio Coming Soon...
Eric Gunderson
Eric Gunderson is an entrepreneur and active community leader.
Upon returning to Louisville in 2001 from Houston, Texas, where he served as
marketing director for Tradecast Securities, Mr. Gunderson started Maverick
Marketing & Media, leading the agency to nearly $2mm in billings before selling
the firm in 2007. He is now the president of Gunderson Marketing which works with
businesses to help them develop strategic plans; and is the executive editor of
Valeo Magazine, a lifestyle publication for health care professionals. Mr.
Gunderson is the former president of the Young Professionals Association of
Louisville and an active member of the Entrepreneurs Organization, Greater
Louisville Inc. and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Kentuckiana.
Larry Hayes
Larry Hayes currently serves as Secretary of the Governor’s Executive Cabinet for Governor Steven L. Beshear. Most recently, Hayes served as both deputy mayor and secretary of the Finance and Administration Cabinet in the City of Louisville.
Prior to his service as deputy mayor, Hayes owned Midwest Construction, Inc. in Lexington and partial interests in a warehousing and distribution business in Elizabethtown.
Hayes has held several positions in state government and in the private sector. Hayes served as the first president of what is now Greater Louisville, Inc. from 1987-1988. In state government, he served as Secretary of the Executive Cabinet and State Budget Director from 1983 through 1987 in the administration of Governor Martha Layne Collins. Prior to that, he was the Executive Assistant to the Kentucky State Senate President for six years.
Alice
Houston
Houston earned a master’s degree in college
student personnel services in 1975 and is former assistant and
associate director of financial aid at U of L. Houston left U
of L in 1988 to join the Houston family businesses, which have
included Johnson-Houston Corp., Houston-Johnson, Inc., Active
Transportation Co. and Automotive Carrier Services Co. She has
served within the businesses as director of administration and
finance, vice president of administration, president and chief
executive officer and member of the board of directors. Houston
is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National
Urban League. She currently serves on the Board of Directors
of the African American Venture Capital Fund, the Louisville
Community Development Bank, The Muhammad Ali Center, the Regional
Leadership Coalition, U of L’s Board of Overseers
and Community Partnership Board, Jewish Hospital HealthCare Services’ Board,
and the West Louisville Economic Alliance Advisory Committee.
Jim King, Ex Officio
Jim King, CPA is President and CEO of King Southern Bank with assets of $160
million and King + Company, PSC, a regional CPA firm serving banks throughout
Kentucky.
He was recently elected as the President of the Louisville Metro Council and
he is a member of the University of Louisville's Board of Overseers, the Board
of the Louisville Orchestra and the Simmons College Board of Trustees. He is
a Past-Chairman of the Kentucky Bankers Association and a member of the Boards
of the Kentucky Derby Festival, Boys and Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana, and
numerous corporations.
He is a life-long Louisville resident having graduated from St. Xavier High
School and the University of Louisville. He and his wife, Debbie, have four
children and eight grandchildren.
Elaine
(Cissy) Musselman
Elaine (Cissy) Musselman, Vice Chair
of Risk Management Services Corporation, has long been involved
in civic and sports activities. She's currently on the Louisville
Regional Airport Authority and chair of the Greater Louisville
Convention and Visitors' Bureau. Ms. Musselman is the founder
of Women 4 Women, a former board chair of Greater Louisville
Incorporated and served on the Louisville Arena Task Force.
James
A. Patterson
Following graduation from the University
of Louisville and service in the U.S. Air Force, James A. Patterson
began his successful business career in the restaurant business.
He was the founder of Long John Silver’s in 1969; he helped
to found Chi-Chi’s
Mexican Restaurants with which he was affiliated throughout the
1980s; he started Rally’s Hamburgers in 1985; and he has
been a multi-unit Wendy’s franchisee since 1976. Other
business interests from 1970s to present have included oil and
gas exploration, telecommunications services, property and casualty
insurance, consumer finance, medical accounts receivable management,
transportation companies, and real estate development. In 1998,
Mr. Patterson founded School Choice Scholarships to help lower-income
families in Louisville with private school tuitions. He has served
on numerous local Boards, and in 2002 was one of ten national
recipients of the 2002 Horatio Alger Award granted to individuals
who have risen from humble beginnings to achieve personal and
professional success.
Lindy B. Street
Lindy Street’s professional
career includes working for corporations such as Columbia/HCA
Healthcare Corporation, for which she most recently served as
the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Public Affairs; Humana
Inc.; First Kentucky National Corporation; Metro United Way – New
Orleans; First National Bank of Louisville and University of
Louisville. Ms. Street is actively involved in other civic and
charitable activities serving on numerous boards including the
Heuser Clinic, the Women 4 Women Executive Committee, Metro United
Way Executive Committee, the Heuser Hearing Institute - Marketing
Committee Chair, and the Muhammad Ali Center Executive Committee.
She is a founding board member of Gilda’s Club Louisville
and currently serves as chair of the Hilliard Lyons Government
Fund Board. Ms. Street is a 2005 recipient of the Spirit of Louisville
Foundation’s
Bell Award, 1992 Woman of Achievement Award from the Business
and Professional Women/River City, 1990 IABC/PRSA Landmarks of
Excellence Silver Award and the Junior Achievement’s 1989
Bronze Leadership Award. As well, she is a 1990 Leadership Louisville
graduate, a 1999 Bingham Fellow and a former President of Junior
League of Louisville.
William E. Summers V
William E. Summers, V is
an eleven year veteran of Louisville’s
banking and financial services industry. He currently serves
as the Vice President of Central Bank’s Louisville Private
Banking Division. Mr. Summers is a life long resident of Louisville
and is very involved in our community. He serves on various boards
and is dedicated to making the quality of life in our hometown
the best it can be.
Daniel C. Ulmer, Jr.
After a 40-year banking
career, Mr. Ulmer retired in 1994 as the Chairman and CEO of
PNC Bank, Kentucky. He is Chairman and an owner of the Louisville
Baseball franchise and is an owner-investor in several local
small businesses. Mr. Ulmer has served as Chairman of the Board
of Trustees for Minor League Baseball. He has also served as
Chairman of the Metro United Way Fund Drive, Louisville Central
Area, Operation Brightside, Norton Healthcare and numerous other
community agencies. Mr. Ulmer is a former member of the University
of Kentucky’s Board of Trustees, former Chairman
of the Board of Trustees of the University of Louisville and
a past Chairman of the Kentucky State Fair Board. He has served
on the Boards of Louisville Fund for the Arts, Regional Airport
Authority, Metro Parks, Chamber of Commerce, and Metropolitan
Sewer District among others and is a current member of the Golf
Magazine Rating Committee. In 1982, Mr. Ulmer was chosen Man-of-the
Year by the National Conference of Christians and Jews and Man-of-the-Year
in 1983 by the Better Business Bureau/Advertising Club of Louisville.
He is also the Recipient of 2004 Catholic School Alumni Award
and the Voice Tribune Man-of-the-Year in 1993.
Robert
L. Woolery
Robert Woolery is currently of Counsel to
the law firm of McKenzie, Woolery, and Webb P.S.C. As well, he
is the acting secretary and a current member of the Board of
Directors of Ashmark Inc. Mr. Woolery has also practiced law
as President of McKenzie, Woolery, Emrick, and Webb P.S.C. and
as assistant county attorney in Boyd County. His experience reaches
into the commercial industry having served as the President of
Ashland Beer Distributors, Inc., the President of The Big Sandy
River Trucking Company, Inc., and the Secretary of Chisholm & Associates
Mining Company, Inc. Additionally, Mr. Woolery has acted on the
Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce for Boyd and Greenup
Counties and he is a University of Kentucky Fellow.
“This is the group that will guide the Commonwealth as
we pursue plans to build this sports and entertainment complex
in Louisville,” said Governor Fletcher. “The authority
will help answer questions like: what impact Hurricanes Rita
and Katrina will have on construction costs, how will inflation
affect this project and other related issues. This group will
ensure that the best interest of the Commonwealth are protected.”
“I appreciate the willingness of these outstanding leaders
to guide the creation and development of what will be a major
economic catalyst for the Commonwealth and our community,” Abramson
said.
The Louisville Arena Authority, Inc. will be a non-profit entity
that is able to buy and hold property, negotiate and sign contracts,
sell bonds to pay for the arena complex and hire a corporation
to manage day to day operations of the arena complex, among other
things. The original Louisville Arena Task Force recommended
that the Fair Board be hired to manage the day to day operations
of the facility, in order to ensure continuity with events and
other facilities in Jefferson County.
This is the next step of many in providing an economic catalyst
to Kentucky’s economic engine,” said Host. “Governor
Fletcher talks about hope and opportunity. By creating the authority,
he has created a group that has the potential to help create thousands
of jobs, millions of dollars of new taxes for the state and hundreds
of millions of dollars of public and private investment in downtown
Louisville.”
