Head Coaches Pat Kelsey and Mark Pope as featured keynote speakers of the 2024 Leadership Louisville Luncheon on August 28th at the Kentucky International Convention Center
Annual event hosted in partnership with the Leadership Louisville Center and the Office of Mayor Greenberg, powered by LG&E and KU Foundation
Over 1,000 business and community leaders are slated to attend the 2024 Leadership Louisville Luncheon on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at the Kentucky International Convention Center. Powered by LG&E and KU Foundation and held in partnership with the Office of Mayor Craig Greenberg, this year’s luncheon promises a unique perspective on leadership, featuring two of the state’s newest and most prominent faces in sports: Pat Kelsey, Head Coach of the University of Louisville Men’s Basketball team, and Mark Pope, Head Coach of the University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball team.
“Now in our 45th anniversary year, we’re proud to host our signature event which gathers business and community leaders for important conversations around our region’s challenges and how we can come together to build a more vibrant community,” said Cynthia Knapek, president and CEO of Leadership Louisville Center. “We are thrilled to welcome two new leaders of vital institutions in our state, both that are economic drivers and creators of civic energy. We look forward to hosting over 1,000 of our region’s top decision-makers, who can build relationships and demonstrate their commitment to the success of our community.”
“I am so excited that our city is bringing UofL Men’s Basketball coach Pat Kelsey and UK Men’s Basketball coach Mark Pope together for the first time to talk about leadership, what it takes to succeed and a preview of the college basketball season ahead,” said Mayor Craig Greenberg. “This year’s Leadership Louisville Luncheon is going to be the best yet and I can’t wait to see everyone there. Thank you to everyone who helped make this amazing lineup possible.”
The 2024 Luncheon will be the premiere event for bringing together leaders from all sectors of the region to build connections and drive positive change for our commonwealth. Our dynamic and engaging keynote speakers will bring their insights into how leadership has impacted their coaching careers, and the sense of shared pride collegiate basketball brings to the state of Kentucky.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to speak at the Leadership Louisville Luncheon and connect with local business and community leaders,” said Coach Mark Pope. “I appreciate Mayor Greenberg’s invitation and look forward to working with a group of dedicated leaders who are committed to the ongoing success of our commonwealth.”
“It is an honor to be invited by Mayor Greenberg to speak at this year’s Leadership Louisville Luncheon along with Coach Pope,” said Coach Pat Kelsey. “This impactful civic event brings together leaders from all over the state and I’m excited to be a part of it. The Leadership Louisville Center has been in existence for over 45 years and has helped organizations and individuals make an impact on the region. I’m looking forward to learning from all of the successful people that will be part of this year’s program.”
Attendees may register at www.leadershiplouisville.org/luncheon. Individual tickets are $125, with discounts available for members of the Leadership Louisville Center, and table sponsorships are $3,000. Additional sponsorship opportunities are also available by contacting Jennifer Stevens, jstevens@leadershiplouisville.org.
WHEN: Wednesday, August 28, 2024
11:00 a.m. – Networking
11:30 a.m. – Leadership Louisville Luncheon (11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)
WHERE: Kentucky International Convention Center – 221 S. 4th Street, Louisville, KY 40202
HOW: Limited tickets are available through Friday, August 23 at 10am. For more information, visit www.leadershiplouisville.org/luncheon or call (502) 561-0458.
LG&E and KU Foundation generously supports the Leadership Louisville Luncheon as the event’s presenting sponsor. Special thanks to our additional supporters –
Platinum sponsors: Fifth Third Bank
Event partner: Louisville Office of the Mayor
ABOUT KEYNOTE SPEAKER COACH PAT KELSEY
Head Coach of the University of Louisville Men’s Basketball team
Pat Kelsey, a proven program builder who’s won nearly 70% of his career games, was named the new men’s basketball head coach at the University of Louisville on March 28, 2024. Kelsey has been a dominant winner across his 12 seasons as a head coach, including the last three at College of Charleston and the previous nine at Winthrop. He boasts an impressive 261-122 record (68.1%) across his head coaching career with 11 total conference championships and four NCAA Tournament bids. The Cincinnati native Kelsey is the 24th head coach in Louisville’s 110-year history, and the 10th in the past 79 years.
Prior to making head coaching stops at Charleston and Winthrop, Kelsey served as associate head coach at his alma mater Xavier from 2009-11. Before that, he worked at Wake Forest as assistant coach (2004-09) and director of basketball operations (2001-04). He began his coaching career at Elder High School in Cincinnati as an assistant from 1998-2001. Kelsey graduated cum laude in 1998 from Xavier University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing. He began his collegiate playing career at the University of Wyoming, before transferring and playing three seasons at point guard for the Musketeers from 1995-98. He is two-time finalist for the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award and finalist for the 2021 Jim Phelan Coach of the Year Award,
Kelsey and his wife, Lisa, have three children: Ruthie, Caroline and Johnny.
ABOUT KEYNOTE SPEAKER COACH MARK POPE
Head Coach of the University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball team
Mark Pope, a captain of the University of Kentucky’s 1996 National Championship team, returned to Lexington as the 23rd head coach of Kentucky’s storied men’s basketball program in April of 2024. After graduating from the UK with a degree in English and as a Rhodes Scholar candidate, Pope was selected in the second round of the 1996 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. He played professional basketball from 1997-2005, including stints with the Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets. In 2000-01, he started 45 games and helped the Bucks reach the Eastern Conference Finals.
A proven winner, his nine-year head coaching career boasts a 187-108 record, with his squads winning 20 or more games in six of the last seven seasons and he has directed teams to six postseason appearances during that stretch. Most recently, he led BYU to a top-20 ranking in its inaugural Big 12 season, showcasing his ability to elevate programs.
Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Pope was a medical student at Columbia University. He has been honored with coaching awards such as the United States Basketball Writers Association District VIII Coach of the Year, a semifinalist for the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year and CBS Sports dubbed his hire at BYU as “the best in the country” that season.
Pope and his wife, Lee Anne, have four daughters, Ella, Avery, Layla and Shay.
ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP LOUISVILLE LUNCHEON
Presented by the Leadership Louisville Center in partnership with the Office of the Mayor, the Leadership Louisville Luncheon has gathered influential leaders from across the region since 1988. Special guest speakers have included top mayors in the country to share insights on community development initiatives of interest to the Louisville community as well as notable leaders engaged in civic leadership. Past events have been attended by over 1,000 community leaders representing over 300 companies. The Leadership Louisville Luncheon remains a must-attend gathering for those dedicated to positive change.
ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP LOUISVILLE CENTER
The Leadership Louisville Center is the region’s most valuable resource for leadership development and civic engagement. With a purpose to inspire and equip leaders to be better and do better, it has graduated over 15,000 through its programs since 1979. The Center is recognized as a national best practice and is known for its dynamic programming and strong community connections. Programming includes five social impact leadership programs (Leadership Louisville, Focus Louisville, Ignite Louisville, Bingham Fellows and Encore Louisville), the Alice Houston Women’s Leadership Program, leadership skills training courses presented through partner brand LeadingBetter™, and events designed to connect leaders and motivate positive change. Learn more at www.leadershiplouisville.org.