2026 Leadership Central Kentucky Class Concludes Program With Graduation

The 2025-26 Leadership Central Kentucky program presented by Kentucky Utilities concluded with a luncheon and graduation ceremony on May 21, 2026, sponsored and hosted by R.J. Corman Railroad Group. (Photo by Shelly Dawn Images)

Commerce Lexington Inc. is proud to recognize the latest class of graduates from the 2025-26 Leadership Central Kentucky program presented by Kentucky Utilities.  Since its inception 26 years ago, this regional leadership program has helped to build a network of informed citizens connected across the eight-county region, including Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Jessamine, Madison, Scott, and Woodford counties. Curriculum provides leadership development, education on issues facing Greater Lexington, relationship-building opportunities, and a chance to gain awareness of the uniqueness of each county within the region.

Director of Leadership Development, Tyra Harbut, said, “It is my honor to congratulate our Leadership Central Kentucky graduates. This class is a strong collection of 29 regional leaders that was very engaged from start to finish. The discussions we had, and ideas shared made it a special group as we learned about each individual county and how they impacted the Greater Lexington region. I am humbled and honored to be surrounded by such encouraging and inspiring leaders every day in this position.”

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​The ten-month program kicked off with an Orientation Retreat last August, followed by day sessions each month in a different county. The sessions focused on community and regional topics such as transportation, education, economic development, quality of life, public advocacy, and agri-tourism. The topics were covered by knowledgeable speakers and panels, tours, interactive exercises, and class discussions.  Class members concluded the program with a graduation ceremony on May 20 at R.J. Corman Railroad Group in Jessamine County.

The keynote speaker was Kentucky Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe. (Photo by Shelly Dawn Images)

​Applications are currently being accepted for the 2026-27 Leadership Central Kentucky program at www.leadershipcentralkentucky.com. The deadline for submitting applications is Monday, June 8. Applicants must either work or live in any of the following eight counties: Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Jessamine, Madison, Scott, or Woodford.
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2026 Leadership Central KY Graduating Class:

​Paul Anthony Allen
Fayette County
Vice President, Public Policy
Commerce Lexington
 
Devin Belleville
Clark County
Office Manager
Stock Yards Bank & Trust
 
(Kenneth) Bryan Berry
Bourbon County
Director of Accounting, CPA
Hunt Advantage Group LLC
 
Brett Bibb
Fayette County
Director of Marketing
Commerce Lexington
 
Dani Bradley
Woodford County
Business Development Director
Rising Sun Developing Construction Management
 
Brian Chellgren
Fayette County
Partner
Dentons
 
Stephen Craycraft
Clark County
Owner & President
Spectrum Photography
 
Eric Del Valle
Fayette County
VP of Sales
CK Tactical Security
 
Melody Flowers
Fayette County
Assistant Vice President, Economic
Development & Real Estate
University of Kentucky
 
Susan Foster LaCoe
Fayette County
Owner & CEO
Fostering Leaders LLC
Samantha Gonda
Fayette County
Operations Strategy & Execution Manager
NiSource Inc. (Columbia Gas of Kentucky)
 
Brandon Grant
Madison County
Business Development Manager
V.C. Veterans Contracting LLC
 
Jeanette Hart
Fayette County
Health Impact & Community Engagement Manager
Lexington-Fayette County Health Department
 
Kara Heissenbuttel
Fayette County 
Sr. Director of Community Relations
Keeneland Association
 
Morgan Humphries
Fayette County
Nesting Supervisor
Valvoline

​Christie Jackson
Franklin County
Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant
Hanna Resource Group
 
Mel Kimmel
Fayette County
Senior Principal Director of Business Development
Kentucky American Water
 
Jackson Kirn
Fayette County
Government Affairs Manager
R.J. Corman Railroad Group
 
Katherine Leigh
Clark County
Assistant Administrator
Georgetown Community Hospital
 
Megan Martin
Fayette County
Marketing Manager
VisitLEX
 
Lori Matthews
Scott County
Foundation Executive
Baptist Health Foundation Lexington
 
Amanda Ping
Franklin County
Mortgage Processor II
Commonwealth Credit Union
 
Jyre Richardson
Fayette County
Founder
From Here to There
 
Shauna Smith
Franklin County
Retired KY Teacher and School Administrator
 
Elizabeth Soto
Fayette County
Sales Executive
City Wide Facility Solutions
 
Jarvis Terrell
Fayette County
Program Consultant
Kentucky Department of Education
 
Austin Thore
Jessamine County
Manager Engineering - Project Delivery
Kentucky American Water
 
Dawn Walker
Clark County
Section Supervisor
Kentucky Horse Park
 
Heidi Wilcox
Woodford County
Associate Director of Communications
Bluegrass Care Navigators