Leadership Kentucky Announces 2017 Class

June 14, 2017 – Frankfort, Ky. – Leadership Kentucky, one of the oldest and most prestigious statewide leadership development programs in the United States, is proud to announce the members of the Leadership Kentucky Class of 2017.

Leadership Kentucky, created in 1984 as a non-profit educational organization, brings together a selected group of people that possess a broad variety of leadership abilities, career accomplishments, and volunteer activities to gain insight into complex issues facing the state.

The Leadership Kentucky program is made up of seven two-day sessions where participants are educated about the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its challenges. They will meet with many of Kentucky’s current leaders and explore the state’s opportunities and resources.

This year’s class held its orientation at historic Boone Tavern in Berea and will be traveling to Louisville in July, Maysville in August, Frankfort and Georgetown in September, Eddyville and Hopkinsville in October, Hazard and Manchester in November, and Danville and Lexington in December. The sessions will cover topics ranging from business and economic development, arts and tourism, natural resources and the environment, education and healthcare, agriculture, and government.

This year’s class includes 52 participants from across the state representing a variety of public and private sectors:

• Matt Alexander from Sparta employed at Kentucky Speedway
• Nicholas Apro from Lexington employed at Perfection Group
• Marc Arnold from Union employed at Duke Energy
• Kimberley Bennett from Georgetown employed at Beam Suntory
• Julie Bergin from Louisville employed at Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates
• David Best from Harrodsburg employed at Mercer County PVA
• Tim Bischoff from Lexington employed at KET
• John Blanton from Salyersville employed at Kentucky State Legislature
• Janet Calhoun from Hopkinsville employed at Planters Bank, Inc.
• Sean Cochran from Pikeville employed at City of Pikeville
• David Deborde from Ashland employed at Members Choice Credit Union
• Barry Denton from Louisville employed at Masonic Homes of Kentucky
• Steve Doan from Lexington employed at Governor's Office of Ag Policy
• Jim Dudley from Paducah employed at KeeForce
• Kim Ellis from Louisville employed at Anthem
• Timothy Feld from Lexington employed at KEMI
• Dave Forney from Bowling Green employed at Logan Aluminum
• Jim Gardner from Lexington employed at Sturgill, Turner, Barker & Moloney
• Tonita Goodwin from Hazard employed at Hazard-Perry County Economic Development Alliance
• Michael Halligan from Lexington employed at God's Pantry
• Brandi Harless from Paducah employed at Mayor of Paducah
• Dawn Harlow from Versailles employed at Kentucky League of Cities
• Merle Heckman from Walton employed at Regal Beloit America, Inc
• Sara Hemingway from Owensboro employed at The Marilyn and William Young Charitable Foundation
• Chris Hungerford from Louisville employed at Brown-Forman Corporation
• Cara Jarrell from Crestwood employed at Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
• Alan Keck from Somerset employed at Somerset Recycling
• Cindy Kelley from Mortons Gap employed at Madisonville CTC
• Michael Kleinert from Louisville employed at Stites & Harbison, PLLC
• Thomas Kmetz from Louisville employed at Norton Healthcare
• Greg Ladd from Lexington employed at Kentucky Personnel Cabinet
• Todd Lanham from Louisville employed at USI Insurance Services
• Larry Luebbers from Union employed at Central Bank
• Bernard Mazaheri from Frankfort employed at Morgan & Morgan
• Kathie McDonald-McClure from Louisville employed at Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP
• Cassie Mitchell from Lexington employed at Bluegrass Care Navigators
• Rosanne Nields from Florence employed at St. Elizabeth Healthcare
• Claire Parsons from Union employed at ASWD Law
• Rich Prewitt from Williamsburg employed at Cumberland Valley RECC
• Joe Putnam from Lexington employed at Bluegrass Hathaway LLC
• Erica Radhakrishnan from Lexington employed at Bluegrass Veterinary Specialists + Animal Emergency
• Shana Seng from Upton employed at Monument Chemical
• Kate Shanks from Frankfort employed at Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
• Clif Slaton from New Haven employed at Makers Mark
• Leslie Smart from Louisville employed at KentuckyOne Health
• William Summers from Louisville employed at Republic Bank
• Kim Sweazy from Frankfort employed at Toyota
• Jessica Tretter from Louisville employed at AFB Wealth Management
• Joseph Tucker from Louisville employed at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
• Eric Walker from Bowling Green employed at US Bank
• Paul Weis from Louisville employed at LG&E KU
• Julie Whitis from Fort Thomas employed at Kenton County Schools

Nominations and applications for the Leadership Kentucky Class of 2018 will be available online at leadershipky.org in October. The Leadership Kentucky Foundation offers three unique programs: Leadership Kentucky, Elevate Kentucky (for young professionals), and New Executives to Kentucky (for senior level executives who have lived in the state for less than two years). For more information, please visit leadershipky.org.