The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce has selected the Leadership Chattanooga class of 2017-2018.
These 40 men and women were selected from the program’s most competitive process to date, according to a news release.
Chamber President Bill Kilbride said the participants have a wide variety of backgrounds, from big business to small, and represent a range of industries.
“We have some class members who have already achieved a great deal and others who are early in their careers,” he said in a prepared statement. “But they all have a love for our community in common-and a desire to learn more and to make an impact.”
Leadership Chattanooga, established in 1984, is the region’s premier leadership development program and boasts almost 1,200 alumni. As one of the chamber’s flagship programs, it provides participants and alumni with substantial access to and support from the region’s business and civic leadership networks, according to a news release.
The class of 2018 includes representatives from business, government and nonprofit sectors.
The Leadership Chattanooga program year kicks off in August with orientation and retreat sessions, continues with monthly sessions and project work, and culminates with graduation the following May.
“Leadership Chattanooga can be a transformational experience for members of our community who desire to be and do more,” Vice President of Policy and Education David Steele said in a prepared statement. “We provide class members with unique exposure and experiences, with particular skill sets and tools, and with a dynamic network.”
Members of the 2017-18 class are:
Bergen Aldahir, Partnership for Families, Children and Adults
Jared Bigham, Chattanooga 2.0
John Bilderback, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department
Susan Cowden, Southeast Tennessee Development District
John Douglas, Pinnacle Financial Partners
Connie Fernandez, Skye Strategies
Chelsea Garcia, Henderson Hutcherson & McCullough PLLC
Joey Greer, EPB
Susan Harris, See Rock City Inc.
Jeff Hollis, Vision Hospitality Group Inc.
Miles Huff, Spire Labs Inc.
Shea Jefferson, city of Chattanooga
Angela Johnson, Girls Preparatory School
Althea Jones, TVA
Amy Katcher, Hamilton County Department of Education
Kevin Kruchinski, Tennessee American Water
Courtney Krueger, First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga
Alexa LeBoeuf, UnifiEd
Sande Lambert, Signal Centers Inc.
Albert Leavengood, Cigna
Sammy Lowdermilk, The Enterprise Center
Stefanie Mansueto, Chase Commercial Banking
Lisa Maragnano, CARTA
Jeremy Martinez, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
KeeKee Mathis, Volkswagen Group of America
Patrick Miles, La Paz Chattanooga
Donald Mueller, Children’s Hospital at Erlanger
Strat Parrott, Juncture LLC
Meg Scarbrough, Chattanooga Times Free Press
Darian Scott, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce
Meagan Shinn, River City Co.
Tyler Siira, Unum
Krista Stephens, Volkswagen Chattanooga
Michael Stone, Public Education Foundation
Jennifer Summerlin, Inline Electric Supply
Maggie Tanner, Synovus Banking Co./Synovus Bank
Amanda Thompson, U.S. Xpress Enterprises Inc.
James Tyson, EMJ Corp.
Nathan Vaughn, Chattanooga Police Department
Justin Whitaker, United Way of Greater Chattanooga