President Gerry Bradley’s impact on the city has been recognized by Louisville Business First. Bradley is one of the publication’s Power 50 2026, along with Josh Heird, UofL director of athletics. Jason Smith, CEO of UofL Health and a UofL professor of surgery, also is recognized in the Power 50 2026 class of 5 on the Rise.
It is the first Power 50 recognition for all three men.
Two members of the UofL Board of Trustees, Christopher Dischinger and John Hollenbach, also are among those recognized.
For the sixth consecutive year, Business First has published the list of 50 most influential business and civic leaders in the region. Louisville Business First selected honorees from individuals nominated by the public and those covered in the publication’s own reporting and sourcing. It does not include elected officials. The 5 on the Rise class recognizes emerging influential leaders.
Bradley assumed leadership of UofL in March after serving as executive vice president and university provost and dean of the UofL School of Dentistry. Since taking the helm at UofL, Bradley has overseen the completion of the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, the opening of the Engineering Student Success and Research Building and surpassing 25,000 enrolled students for the first time in the university’s history.
In his State of the University address on Feb. 12, Bradley highlighted goals for UofL, including a focus on further improvements in enrollment, six-year retention rates, degrees offered and experiential learning opportunities. He intends to prioritize new residence halls and academic research facilities.
“I am grateful to lead this great university and amplify its positive impact on the city of Louisville,” Bradley said. “It is an honor to be recognized by Business First in the Power 50 2026, particularly after less than a year in my role as president of UofL.”
Since being named director of athletics in 2022, Heird also has had some significant wins. He hired Jeff Brohm to lead the football program and Pat Kelsey to take the reins of men’s basketball. In the 2024-25 season, ten UofL teams earned a top-25 ranking and 11 programs earned trips to the postseason.
Under Heird’s leadership, student-athlete academic success has been a priority. Last semester closed with an overall department GPA of 3.431 — with 18 of 19 sports above 3.2. UofL athletes are also winning with a 96% graduation success rate.
Jason Smith, chief executive officer of UofL Health, was named CEO of the health system in October after serving most recently as its interim CEO and chief medical officer. In December, he oversaw the opening of the $186 million, seven-story UofL Hospital West Tower.
The honorees will be profiled in the March 27, 2026, print edition of Louisville Business First, and online around that time.
