Commerce Lexington Inc. Announces Selection of 44th Leadership Lexington Class; 2024-25 Program Begins This Week

​For more than four decades, Commerce Lexington’s Leadership Lexington program has been cultivating local leaders, producing more than 1,800 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, business leadership, nutrition, healthy living, mentoring, financial literacy and more.

The Leadership Lexington Steering Committee is proud to announce the new class of Leadership Lexington for 2024-25 comprised of 50 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 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.

New Director of Leadership Development, Tyra Harbut addresses the 2023-2024 Leadership Lexington class on graduation day.

We are so excited to welcome the 2024-2025 Leadership Lexington class. This group represents a broad range of industries and key sectors for our city, and we owe a sincere thank you to our Steering Committee for their hard work in selecting these outstanding individuals. I understand the significant impact each leadership class has on our community and I am privileged to collaborate with our team at Commerce Lexington in supporting the development of these future leaders, and I can’t wait to see the incredible impact this class will make."
-​Tyra Harbut
Commerce Lexington, Director of Leadership Development

2024-2025 Leadership Lexington Class:

Joe Anderson
Lieutenant - Bureau of Patrol
Lexington Police Department
 
Rosie Green Ballinger
Interim Executive Director
Teach For America Appalachia
 
Gene Barber
Commercial Finance & Marketing Manager
R. J. Corman Railroad Group
 
Ryan Benjamin
Director of Campus Center and Event Services
Transylvania University
 
Tim Bickel
Healthcare Compliance
McGregor and Associates
 
Troy Black
Administrative Specialist
LFUCG
 
Amy Campbell
Owner
Amy Campbell Photography
 
Rachel Clark
Director of Employer Engagement
University of Kentucky
 
Ashlee Collins
Development Director
Lexington Children's Theatre
 
AnnaMarie Cornett
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Lexington Public Library
 
Sydney DeLong
Community Relationship Manager
WLEX-TV
 
Brent Eisele
Attorney/Partner
Dentons
 
Tara Estes
Community Reentry Advocate
Mayor's Office
 
Eamonn FitzGerald
Family/Community Early Childhood District Liaison
First 5 Lex /Fayette County Public Schools
 
Lesley Fluke
Central KY Regional President
Field & Main Bank
 
Melanie Franklin
Senior Manager, WW Hardware & Supplies Demand Planning and WW Annuities Financial Planning
Lexmark
 
Beverly Gamrat
Senior Construction Project Manager
Baptist Health System
 
Katie Glass
Member
Stites & Harbison, PLLC
 
Jonathan Hawley
Director - Retail Sales
NEOGEN

Lou Hirsch
Assistant Professor
University of Kentucky
 
Shermiah Holland
Owner
Peach Cobbler Factory

​Chance Hudnall
Audit Manager
Cherry Bekaert LLP
 
Maureen Malles
Attorney
Sturgill, Turner, Barker & Moloney, PLLC
 
Josh McCurn
Director of Communications and Business Development
Haymaker Company
 
Rodney McFarland, Jr.
Lead Pastor
First Baptist Bracktown

Valerie Michael
Associate Attorney
McBrayer

Angie Milton
Sr. VP Finance
Commerce Lexington
 
Prenell Mitchell
General Manager
Jostin Construction
 
Paige Montgomery
Corporate Communications Lead
Valvoline Inc.
 
Kay'mon Murrah
Community Arts Associate
LexArts Inc
 
Jeffrey Newcomb
Senior Manager, Rates and Regulatory
Kentucky American Water
 
Stephanie Niece
Nurse Manager of Heart Institute Short Stay and Cardiac Rehab
CHI Saint Joseph Health
 
Jaydan Norris
Executive Director
NAMI Kentucky
 
Leonel Ocasio
Program Manager, Multilingual Department
FCPS
 
Maria Oney
Assistant Chief
Lexington Fire Department
 
Kathryn Perry
Executive Director
Bluegrass Care Navigators
 
Steven Pickarski
Financial Services Manager
Kentucky League of Cities
 
Jyre Richardson
Founder/President
From Here to There
 
Ryessia Russell
Director of Gatton Honors Pathway Program
UK Gatton College of Business & Economics
 
Hannah Sawyer
Event Manager
Keeneland
 
Rachel Skinner
Business Outreach Coordinator
Bluegrass Greensource
 
Kristin Tarrence
Vice President/ Loan Officer
Traditional Bank
 
Adina Tatum
Executive Director
Northside Common Market
 
David Urekew
Plant Manager
Graham Packaging
 
Chris Van Brackel
Lieutenant
Lexington Division of Police
 
Zach White
Relationship Development Officer
Blue Grass Community Foundation
 
Kristopher Williams
IT Administrator
Estepp Energy
 
Jordan M. Wilson
Financial Advisor
Baird
 
Morgan Wilson
Director of Finance and Human Resources
Lexington Christian Academy
 
Trina Yack
Vice President/Branch Mgr./Lender
Community Trust Bank

​The new class will kick off with an Orientation Retreat at Boone Tavern in Berea on August 1-2. Beginning in September and running 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 government, education, public safety, economic development, arts, equine, diversity, health and human services, and leadership development.

​Find out more on-line at www.leadershiplexington.com.