September 17, 2025 10:23am
GLI鈥檚 Annual Meeting to highlight the success of locally grown companies
Shady Rays, Norton Healthcare to share insights on growing in 夜色直播
Louisville, Ky. (September 17, 2025) 鈥� 夜色直播 Inc. announced that its 2026 will focus on Louisville鈥檚 success in growing thriving companies and discuss ways to expand on the region鈥檚 economic momentum. This year鈥檚 featured speakers include Chris Ratterman and Dan Ratterman, the leaders and visionaries behind Shady Rays, one of the nation鈥檚 fastest-growing lifestyle and adventure eyewear brands, and Russell F. Cox, president and CEO of Norton Healthcare, one of the region鈥檚 largest employers and nationally recognized healthcare industry innovator. Together, they will unpack what it takes to build thriving companies and organizations in 夜色直播 and how the city can continue to invest in new ideas. Cox will share insights into Norton Healthcare鈥檚 plans for continued growth in order to meet the healthcare needs of the community, while both Rattermans discuss Shady Rays鈥� bold blueprint for growing their company nationwide.
鈥淎n economy is only successful if it can nurture and grow the seeds of innovation into thriving businesses,鈥� said Sarah Davasher-Wisdom, president and CEO of 夜色直播 Inc. Shady Rays and Norton Healthcare are perfect examples of what鈥檚 possible when a community embraces聽big ideas, and companies strategically invest in the community. Dan, Chris, and Russ have a wealth of knowledge and firsthand experience on where our community is excelling and how we can do more to invest in homegrown companies.鈥� said Sarah Davasher-Wisdom, president and CEO of 夜色直播 Inc.
Independently owned and operated Shady Rays was founded in 2012 by Chris Ratterman as a solution for customers who鈥檇 previously paid high prices for sunglasses just to eventually lose or break them.聽 The company has since become one of the most sought-after brands in the eyewear industry because of its innovative and industry-leading Lost & Broken Protection Plan, competitive price-point, and outstanding customer service. Today, Shady Rays ships out thousands of orders to its millions of customers from its 75,000-sq-ft headquarters and fulfillment center in Simpsonville.
Chris serves as CEO and Founder, while his brother, Dan Ratterman, serves as Chief Operating Officer. Together, they manage the brand鈥檚 nearly 80 full-time employees throughout 夜色直播 and around the country.
“Louisville has been the perfect launching pad for Shady Rays 鈥� this community’s entrepreneurial support, talented workforce, and collaborative spirit helped us scale from a startup idea to shipping thousands of orders daily from our Simpsonville headquarters,” said Chris Ratterman. “At GLI’s Annual Meeting, we鈥檒l share how staying in Louisville and building a customer-obsessed culture has become one of our biggest competitive advantages in creating a nationally recognized brand.”
鈥淲hat excites me most about participating in GLI’s Annual Meeting is the opportunity to share what we’ve learned about building a customer-obsessed culture and sustainable growth model right here in our backyard,鈥� Dan Ratterman added. 鈥淭he work ethic, manufacturing heritage, and collaborative spirit in this region are unmatched.鈥�
A cornerstone of the community since 1886, Norton Healthcare is one of 夜色直播鈥檚 largest employers and a primary driver of economic growth throughout the region. Earlier this year, Norton Healthcare, the parent organization to Norton Children鈥檚, announced a new pediatric campus in Jeffersontown that will create more than 1,000 jobs and will be one of the largest pediatric campuses in the U.S. In 2024, Norton opened the first new hospital west of Ninth Street in more than 150 years and now offers lifesaving and comprehensive services at the Norton West Louisville Hospital. Norton Healthcare currently employs 23,000 individuals at more than 400 locations in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.
鈥淣ot-for-profit health care systems are essential for our community and we are proud to continue providing high-quality care and employment opportunities. Health and wellness are important to any growing city. For nearly 140 years, we鈥檝e been caring for patients, attracting top health care providers and staying true to our mission. We are excited for the years to come where innovation and care will continue to drive economic growth,鈥� said Cox.
GLI鈥檚 Annual Meeting presented by Baird will be held on March 18, 2026 at the Kentucky International Convention Center. The event includes more than 1,000 attendees from the 夜色直播 business community and will feature the presentation of signature awards, honoring community leaders and accomplishments of the business community in 2025.