Meet the 2026 Hall of Fame Emerging Entrepreneurs, Executive, Investor, and Mentor honorees

Amy Luttrell, Brad Zapp, and Kris Knochelmann are among the people the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame is recognizing in 2026. Their awards call attention to three kinds of work that matter to a business community: executive leadership, investment, and mentorship.

The Hall of Fame names Luttrell as Executive of the Year, Zapp as Investor of the Year, and Knochelmann as Mentor of the Year.

These categories broaden the celebration beyond the founders being inducted. They give the community a chance to recognize people whose work helps organizations operate and entrepreneurs move forward.

Three different kinds of contribution

Executive leadership involves the ongoing work of guiding an organization. Decisions about people, priorities, and resources continue long after an idea becomes a functioning business.

Investment creates another point of connection. Founders need people willing to evaluate opportunities and commit resources. Mentorship offers a different kind of support: time, perspective, and a place to work through difficult questions.

For anyone attending this year's celebration, the awards are also a useful prompt: who has made that kind of contribution in your own working life? A person who gave you an honest assessment, helped you take a next step, or stayed involved when the work became difficult?

Recognizing the 2026 Emerging Entrepreneurs

This year's celebration also includes Emerging Entrepreneurs awards, recognizing Chris Ratterman of Shady Rays and Jason Thompson, Evan Morris, Jeremiah Sizemore, and Bryce Anderson of Sounds Fun Entertainment. The Hall of Fame lists Activate Games America, Breakout Games, and Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen among the companies associated with the Sounds Fun Entertainment honorees.

From sunglasses to interactive games and restaurants, these honorees bring consumer-facing businesses into this year's awards. Their recognition gives attendees more Kentucky entrepreneurs to meet and companies to learn about alongside the 2026 Hall of Fame inductees.

Join the celebration

The Emerging Entrepreneurs, Executive, Investor, and Mentor awards sit alongside the induction of John Neace, Ervin Houchens, Roger Griggs, and Purna Veer into the 2026 Hall of Fame class.

The induction celebration and dinner take place Nov 4, 2026 at Central Bank Center in Lexington. The reception begins at 4:30 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m. JPMorganChase is the presenting sponsor.

Join us to recognize this year's honorees and spend an evening with Kentucky's entrepreneurial community: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-kentucky-entrepreneur-hall-of-fame-ceremony-dinner-2026-awesome-inc-tickets-1990889427872