Leadership Lexington announces new class

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – For more than 40 years, Commerce Lexington Inc.’s Leadership Lexington program has been cultivating Lexington leaders, producing more than 1,600 graduates from this highly informative, educational and results-oriented leadership development program.

Participants of the program have impacted our city in areas such as public art, childhood literacy, nutrition, healthy living, mentoring, financial literacy and more.

The Leadership Lexington Steering Committee announced Monday the new class of Leadership Lexington for 2021-22, which includes individuals with varied backgrounds from a variety of segments of the Lexington community.

The program provides people the opportunity to better understand our city and to prepare for the challenges it faces by meeting with and learning from current leaders.

Leadership Lexington is an educational opportunity that broadens perspectives and allows participants to gain increased understanding of community dynamics and public issues.

Amy Stout, Commerce Lexington’s Director of Leadership Development, said, “We are very excited to begin a new class of Leadership Lexington. Although last year’s program was  a challenge in the face of COVID-19, we learned a lot about adapting and adjusting to change, providing educational and informative sessions whether in-person or virtual. To ensure the safety and well-being of those in the program, we have again limited the class to reduced capacity, with 35 participants in the 2021-22 class.”

The 2021-22 program presented by McBrayer PLLC will kick off with a Get Acquainted Reception hosted by Keeneland on August 9, and then, an orientation retreat at Boone Tavern on August 12-13.

Beginning in September and through June, the class will meet in different locations around the area each month with a major program topic covered by knowledgeable speakers and panels, tours, group activities, demonstrations, and class discussions.

Sessions will cover topics, such as media, government, education, public safety, economic development, arts, equine, diversity, health and human services, and leadership development.

2021-22 Leadership Lexington Class Members:

Najwa Abu-Taha

Crank and Boom Craft Ice Cream

Natalie Appel

Junior Achievement of the Bluegrass

Keleigh Arnett

PNC Bank

Rania Belmadani

Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government

Eden Bennett

Lexington Public Library

Allie Beto

McBrayer PLLC

Emily Biggins

Morgan Stanley

Kara Covert

Transylvania University

Rachel Elam

Larry E. Botts

David Farrar

Kentucky American Water

Cam Freeman

WealthSouth

Alex Garcia

Office of the Kentucky Attorney General

Sarah Geegan

University of Kentucky Public Relations

Amy Green

Fayette County Public Schools Board of Education

Daenayia Hudson

Freeman, Mathis & Gary, LLP

Opa Johnson

Sokari & Company, LLC

Seth Lockard

Lexington Fire Department

Lindsay Mattingly

Fayette County Public Schools

Stinson Miller

WesBanco Bank

Tressa Neal

University of Kentucky

Jackie Newman

Lexington Police Department

Hunter Porter

BC Wood Properties

Dean Roethemeier

Keeneland

Jennifer Rose

UK HealthCare

Martin Schafer

FCPS Chief of Police

Dylan Schneider

MCM CPAs & Advisors

Shericka Smith

Fayette County Public Schools

Terry Snow

LG&E & KU

Adam Stuart

Aphix

Kim Thuringer

Lexmark International

Thomas Travis

Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP

Katie Williams

United Way of the Bluegrass

Kristie Woodrum

Commerce Lexington Inc.

Lin Wu

Lexmark International

Nathan Zamarron

LexArts