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Leadership Lexington:

PRESENTED BY:
McBrayer logo
PLATINUM SPONSORS:
Keeneland logo
TravelHost logo
ORIENTATION SPONSOR:
Sutherland logo
MEDIA SPONSOR:
Mahan Mutimedia
NAME BADGE SPONSOR:
Republic Bank logo
GOLD SPONSORS:
Bluegrass Comm Foundation
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HISTORY SPONSOR:
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Health & Human Services day sessionThe Leadership Lexington class members visited a variety of local nonprofits, including Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), pictured here.
LATEST SESSION: Health & Human Services Day
Recap by Christal Badour, University of Kentucky
Leadership Lexington’s December session focused on health and human services. The day began at Saint Joseph Hospital with an overview of the mission of CHI Saint Joseph Health from CHI Saint Joseph Health Foundations President Leslie Smart. This was followed by an overview of health and health care in Kentucky from Jim Musser of the Kentucky Hospital Association. Here we learned about the major economic impact health care has in our local and state economy, and the economic challenges facing hospitals in the wake of COVID-19. Next, we heard from Kathy Love, who provided an overview of the services CHI Saint Joseph Health offers throughout Kentucky as well as personal stories of impact from former patients. We were then given a tour of the Cardiovascular Center, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Access Center within Saint Joseph Hospital to get a behind-the-scenes look at how different aspects of hospital services are coordinated and delivered.
 
We next heard from Dr. Allen Brenzel, from the state Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, Cabinet for Health & Families Services who provided an overview of the growing mental health and substance use challenges facing our community, and particularly our youth. He shared information about the history of mental health services in Kentucky and where he sees critical gaps in the existing social safety net. This was followed by moving personal testimony of the impact of addiction and the experience of substance use recovery from Mark Mahan of Mahan Multimedia and Dr. Alex Elswick of the University of Kentucky and co-founder of Voices of Hope. Dr. Elswick provided the class with a crash course in the science of addiction and offered compelling evidence for the need to shift the way we think about and treat addiction in our community.
 
Finally, the class broke into four different groups to each visit two local non-profits and learn about their organizations and the services provided to the community. Non-profits included 1) United Way of the Bluegrass Waypoint Center at Black & Williams Center and Lexington Leadership Foundation Fatherhood Initiative, 2) Hope Center and Arbor Youth Services, 3) Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Children’s Advocacy Center of the Bluegrass, and 4) Greenhouse 17 and Opportunity for Work & Learning. I was part of the group that visited the Hope Center and Arbor Youth Services. Visits to each of these non-profits showcased the critical need for these organizations services to ensure that adults and youth have access to safe shelter and housing in our community. I was also struck by the clear and unwavering dedication of the staff at both of these organizations to improving the health and well-being of the people they serve. 

Celebrating 40 Years!
Reflecting on the last 40 years of Leadership Lexington, the impact on the individual participants, their businesses and the community is incredible!  As alumni, many of us have our own story of how participating in the “best class ever” changed the trajectory of our life both personally and professionally. Leadership Lexington’s first class, which graduated in 1980, to present day reminds us that with each new leader comes new challenges, but with each new class comes new solutions! Leadership Lexington focuses not on the position and title of leader, but instead teaches though action and example. While the mission of the program is to provide the participants with a better understanding of our city and prepare them for future challenges, it does even more, by becoming the fabric that weaves our local leaders together. In the coming months, join us as we celebrate the impact this program has made not only on the community, but also its participants. Special thanks to those alumni who shared their experience with us.   Join the celebration!

A Legacy of Leadership: Leadership Lexington Celebrates 40 Years
Business Lexington Article by Kathie Stamps [November 2020]

While the global pandemic may have slowed us down from hosting networking events, it hasn’t slowed the need for supporting our newest classes in scholarships and project support. Show your support for the 40th anniversary by signing up or renewing your membership to the Leadership Lexington Alumni Association.
Sign up or Rejoin today HERE. 
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Video produced by Mark Mahan, Mahan Multimedia.

Hear more about the impact Leadership Lexington from past participants. 
MEMBER TESTIMONIAL:
"Participating in Leadership Lexington was truly a life-changing experience for me. I thought that I knew my city, having lived here for about 15 years, but I learned so much about the industries and organizations that make Lexington a great place to live and work. Going through the program even inspired me to pursue a career change from professional services marketing to the nonprofit sector, because I wanted to do more to give back to our community. Not only that, it also connected me with amazing people from different professions and sectors that I might not have met otherwise. Leadership Lexington is one of the most impactful things I've done to better myself both personally and professionally.  I can't recommend it enough!"

- Lauren Parsons
Director of Strategic Initiatives & Communications
Blue Grass Community Foundation

Leadership Lexington Project Pivots to COVID Lexington Podcast
Lexington Day of Service was a project designed to encourage volunteerism through Lexington’s business community by participating in a day of service in May connecting volunteers with non-profits.  However, with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic the project group pivoted from their original project idea to the creation of a podcast for nonprofits providing information and resources related to COVID-19.  

The third episode of the COVID-19 Podcast, a project of Leadership Lexington class members, is now available:
https://www.facebook.com/COVIDLex/ 

Attention Leadership Lexington Alums: Help Us Stay Connected to You
The Leadership Lexington Alumni Association is ramping up! In order to make this association a success, we need all alums to send in any updated contact information. If you are a graduate of Leadership Lexington, please send your updated information via e-mail to Dawn Pope. Find out more at www.leadershiplexingtonalumni.com. 

ABOUT THE PROGRAM: 

MISSION: Leadership Lexington is a leadership development program sponsored by Commerce Lexington and directed toward individuals who demonstrate leadership qualities. The program gives participants the opportunity to better understand our city and to prepare for the challenges it faces by meeting with and learning from today’s leaders. Leadership Lexington is an educational opportunity that broadens perspectives and allows participants to gain increased understanding of community dynamics and public issues. The makeup of each year’s class is intended to reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of our city. 

ELIGIBILITY: Residents and individuals who work in the Lexington area are eligible to apply for Leadership Lexington. Applicants must be employed by firms or organizations that are active members of Commerce Lexington. Non-employed community volunteers may also apply. Applications are available April 15th and must be received by the deadline: May 15th.

STRUCTURE: Leadership Lexington is an eleven-month program involving an overnight Orientation in August and a full-day session lasting eight hours each month from September until June. A Get Acquainted Reception is held before the overnight Orientation retreat. The Orientation retreat is mandatory. Classes meet in different locations around the area each month exploring a major topic covered by knowledgeable speakers and panels, tours, group activities, demonstrations and class discussions. Topics addressed include media, government, growth, preservation, agriculture, education, public safety, economic development, arts, health and human services, and leadership development. At the end of the Leadership Lexington program year, a graduation is held in recognition of the class with an alumni reception following. 

APPLICATION PROCESS: For more information about the Leadership Lexington application process, CLICK HERE.

For more information about the Leadership Lexington program, contact Amy Stout at (859) 226-1610.
MEMBER TESTIMONIAL:
"Leadership Lexington is by far the best program that I have ever participated in!  The friends and connections that I have made are life-long and so rewarding!  I'm very thankful for the continued opportunities to remain active with the program.  Thank you!"

- Bradley Stevenson (Immanuel Baptist Church)

Upcoming Events:

Copyright © 2023 Commerce Lexington Inc., all rights reserved.
COMMERCE LEXINGTON® and the Commerce Lexington logo are registered trademarks of Commerce Lexington.
330 East Main Street, Suite 100, Lexington, Kentucky, 40507
Phone: (859) 254-4447  |  Fax: (859) 233-3304
  • About
    • Message from the Board Chair
    • President's Message
    • Top Investors
    • Board of Directors
    • Racial Equity Pledge
    • Staff Directory
    • Find Our Offices | Parking
    • NEWS
  • Do Business
    • Business Directory
    • Economic Development
    • Minority Business Development >
      • Minority Business Directory
      • Procurement Opportunities
    • Business & Education Network
    • Resources >
      • Start a Business
      • Relocate a Business
      • Funding & Financing
      • Member Benefits
      • Member Discounts
      • HealthSolutions >
        • Broker Toolkit
      • Publications
  • Live & Work
    • Relocation Guide
    • Job Openings
    • Getting Around
    • Demographics
    • Cost of Living
    • Lexington History
    • Lexington Rankings
    • Education >
      • Public Education
      • Private Education
    • Health Care
  • Advocacy
    • About Public Policy
    • Your Government >
      • Local
      • State
      • Federal
    • Policy Statements & Key Issues
  • Events
    • Commerce Lexington Events Calendar
    • Community Calendar
    • Submit an Event
    • An Evening With Commerce Lexington
    • EMERGE 2023
    • Leadership Visit >
      • Grand Rapids 2023
      • Tampa-St. Petersburg 2022
      • Impact
      • Past Trips >
        • Austin 2021
        • Raleigh 2019
    • Regional Summit
    • Washington Fly-In
    • Salute to Small Business >
      • Nominate a Business
      • Award Categories
      • Small Business Awards Application
      • Past Award Winners
  • Connect
    • Become a Member (JOIN)
    • Member News
    • Peer Programming >
      • Business Owners Advisory Boards (BOAB)
      • Peer Groups
    • Emerging Leaders of the Bluegrass
    • Leadership Development >
      • Leadership Lexington >
        • Application
        • Class Roster
        • Class Projects
        • Steering Committee
        • Alumni
      • Leadership Central Kentucky >
        • Class Roster
        • Board of Directors
        • LCK Alumni
    • Ambassador Program
    • Winner's Circle >
      • Upcoming WC Events
      • Online Mall