The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the participants selected for the 29th Leadership Paducah Class. Class members will take part in a nine-month educational course that began with a weekend retreat in August and ends with their graduation in June 2016.  

Members of the 2015-16 Class #29 are: 

Shelly Aspery                                                 Independence Bank

Anna Berlekamp                                            Kalleo Technologies

Angela Birney                                                Lourdes Hospital

Terry Bradley                                                 Paducah Bank and Trust Company

Teresa Cash                                                  Baptist Health Paducah

Steve Christmas                                            Fluor Paducah Deactivation Project

Andrew DuPerrieu                                         BlytheWhite

Maggie Gigandet                                           Whitlow, Roberts, Houston & Straub, PLLC

Emerson Goodwin                                         KentuckyCare

Teresa Grubbs                                              Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering/Marcum Engineering

Jill Harper                                                      Capstone HR Services, Inc.

Tina Hayes                                                    McCracken County Public Schools

Becky Hunt                                                    Peel & Holland

Austin Kennady                                             Bryant Law Center

Brian Laird                                                     Paducah Police Department

Kevin Latta                                                    Computer Services, Inc.

Michael Love                                                 McDonald's

Roy Lowdenback                                          Baptist Health Paducah

Terri Lundberg                                              Lundberg Medical Imaging

Justin Mason                                                Whitetail Properties Real Estate

Nick Morris                                                   HDR | ICA Engineering, Inc.

Jonas Neihoff                                               Socially Present

Charlie Nichols                                             TAG Truck Center

Donna Reeder                                              Heartland CARES, Inc.

Kirby Sexton                                                 A & K Construction, Inc.

Dan Suazo                                                    US Bank

Sarah Suitor                                                  US Bank

Molly Tomasallo                                            City of Paducah

Ross Wagner                                                Wagner Enterprises

Brett Watson                                                  FNB Bank, Inc.

Patrick Whalen                                              Williams, Williams & Lentz, LLP

Dawn Wientjes                                              Falconite Development, Inc.

Established in 1984, Leadership Paducah is a program of the Chamber that develops the leadership potential of men and women in the Paducah/McCracken County area. The classes are comprised of individuals with diverse backgrounds who have demonstrated a talent and commitment for leadership. Through this program they become acutely aware of social and economic changes and the impact of such changes in the local community. Leadership Paducah is designed to foster an in-depth understanding of the inner-relationships and complexities of the Paducah/McCracken County area through a series of face-to-face discussions with community and state leaders.

Classes meet in different locations around the community each month exploring a major topic covered by knowledgeable speakers and panels, tours, group activities, demonstrations and class discussion. Class members will benefit from:

• Learning how the community runs for a broader and deeper perspective of the community and the role of individuals
• Visiting local sites and facilities
• Meeting local and state leaders
• Developing and expanding network of contacts
• Building friendships and working relationships with class members
• Giving back to the community as an individual volunteering and through involvement with the group project

Participants are expected to earn a minimum of 20 “volunteer points” through individual participation in community service. As a full class, they work together to organize a community service project. Classes in the past have chosen a Chamber member non-profit organization to receive funds from a project/event organized by the class. Class #28 chose the Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center to receive funds raised at their “Howl at the Moon” event and presented the Merryman House with a total of $42,200.       

The Leadership Paducah experience does not end at graduation. The graduates of the program are encouraged to join the Leadership Paducah Foundation, Inc. (LPF) – a community resource of men and women capable of directing important community activities. The LPF provides an informational network and a mechanism for maintaining contact with other alums. Their website provides more details: www.paducahchamber.org

Applications for Leadership Paducah are accepted in May of each year. The class is selected by a committee made up of members appointed by the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Leadership Paducah Foundation Board of Directors. Leadership Paducah is a competitive opportunity.