The Center for Free Enterprise at UofL

09/24/2026

The second in our series of conversations on economic development in Louisville will focus on the importance of real estate in driving economic growth. Join us to hear from two of the region's most experienced real estate leaders, as they discuss what Louisville is doing well, what may be holding our region back and what business and civic leaders can do to support sustainable economic development.

The event is part of our Menard Family Lecture Series. It is free and open to the community. Registration is not required. More information: https://tinyurl.com/27emzsjt.

09/16/2026

Thanks to everyone who came out to the UofL College of Business for the first of three events in our series on local economic development. We had a great conversation about opportunities for growth and challenges that businesses face in Louisville. Many thanks to our panel of business leaders - Trevor Pawl, One Louisville, Lance Mann, Dean Dorton and Matt Thornton, Thornton Capital - who took time out of their busy schedules to share their insights and stories with students and members of the community. It was truly enlightening and a great kickoff to our fall semester series.

Stay tuned for more information on our next event, Wednesday, October 7 at 4:30, when local developers Chris Dischinger and John Hollenbach discuss the role of commercial real estate in local economic development.

09/11/2026

Meet Matt Thornton, one of the panelists on our upcoming discussion "Louisville's Economic Outlook: Seizing Opportunities. Overcoming Obstacles."

Matt served as President and CEO of Thorntons, a 200-unit convenience store chain in the Midwest and Southeast from 2001-2019. The company had revenues of $3B and was twice named Convenience Chain of the Year by industry trade publications. In 2019, Matt and his team negotiated the sale of the business to a newly formed joint venture between BP and ArcLight Capital partners. The new venture retained the entire team, the Thorntons brand and continues be headquartered in Louisville. Following the sale of Thorntons, Matt established Thornton Capital, also headquartered in Louisville. The firm has a broad investment mandate with concentrations in real estate, public securities, private equity and venture capital.

Join us on Tuesday, September 15 at 4:30 in the UofL College of Business to hear from Matt, along with One Louisville CEO Trevor Pawl and Lance Mann from Dean Dorton. This talk is free and open to the community. Registration is not required.
More info at https://tinyurl.com/5722z97k.

09/10/2026

As we prepare for the first installment of our series on local economic development, we are introducing our distinguished panelists. Meet Lance Mann, who will join Trevor Pawl and Matt Thornton on Tuesday, September 15 at 4:30 in the UofL College of Business for a discussion on how Louisville stacks up against comparable cities.

As Assurance Director and Market Leader for Dean Dorton, Lance Mann has more than 20 years' experience in delivering assurance, risk management, internal audit and business advisory services across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, higher ed, manufacturing, construction and real estate. In addition to leading traditional audit and compliance engagements, he serves as a strategic advisor to middle market companies, helping them navigate budgeting, financial management and long-term planning. Mann's expertise also spans givernance, regulatory compliance, internal audit, due diligence, fraud investigations and the design and assessment of internal controls.

Our panel discussion is free and open to the community. Registration is not required. More information: https://tinyurl.com/5722z97k

09/09/2026

The first event in our series on economic development in Louisville features a powerful lineup of local business leaders, including discussion moderator Trevor Pawl. Pawl is CEO of One Louisville, the official economic development organization and regional chamber of commerce focused on driving business attraction, expansion and innovation across the Louisville region. In his first year guiding the city's economic development (2025), Louisville announced 2,700+ new jobs and more than $3 billion in capital investment - a record for the city.

Join us on Tuesday, September 15 at 4:30 in the UofL College of Business as Pawl leads a conversation with Lance Mann (Dean Dorton) and Matt Thornton (Thornton Capital) on how Louisville measures up to peer markets. The three will discuss opportunities for development, as well as barriers to growth. The event is free and open to the community. More information at https://tinyurl.com/5722z97k.

08/27/2026

Join us for the first of three events this fall focused on local economic development. On September 15, One Louisville CEO Trevor Pawl will lead a discussion with Lance Mann (Dean Dorton) and Matt Thornton (Thornton Capital) about how Louisville measures up to peer markets. The three will examine local opportunities for development, as well as barriers to growth.

The event is part of our Menard Family Lecture Series and is free & open to all. Registration is not required. More information is available at https://tinyurl.com/ycxpbc3p.

08/25/2026

When CFE Director Steve Gohmann retired last month, we received an outpouring of messages from students, alumni, colleagues and former colleagues about their gratitude, admiration and respect for this incredible educator. Read more about Steve's career and enduring legacy at:

August 24, 2026 | Retired CFE Director Steve Gohmann Built Opportunity Through Exploration What do socialism-flavored b**r, the cost of homelessness and markets amid drugs, drones and disasters have in common? Together, they reflect the broad scope of conversations hosted by the Center for Free Ente...

05/09/2026

Congratulations to our College of Business grads and the entire class! 🎓You may be moving on, but you'll always be a Cardinal. ❤️🖤Best of luck in your next chapter.