I’ve had the tremendous opportunity to manage the Leadership Fort Collins program since I arrived at the Chamber in 2003. It is easily one of the favorite parts of my job – interacting with new and ongoing leaders in our community as they learn more about this amazing place we call Fort Collins. We announced the 2023-2024 class today!
Thirty-four current and emerging leaders were recently selected to participate in the 2023-2024 Leadership Fort Collins program. The group is a diverse mix of professions with representative from education, large and small business, not for profit and government.
Leadership Fort Collins, a program of the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce, educates and motivates leaders who are committed to shaping the future of our community while encouraging inspired and active involvement that contributes to community betterment.
Ann Hutchison, Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, announced the class on September 5. “The selection committee had a tremendous task when they were asked to select this year’s class. We had fantastic applications for the program and as a result, have an outstanding class,” she said.
The 2023-2024 Leadership Program is sponsored by: UCHealth and Front Range Community College.
The 2023-2024 class members are:
Josh Alcantar, Waypoint Bank
Marissa Allen, FirstBank
Imran Bhimani, LC Real Estate Group, LLC
Kaitlin Bjork, Respite Care, Inc.
Jordan Diede, City of Fort Collins – Golf
Angie Dixon, Colorado State University, University Advancement
Emily Felton, Kimley-Horn
Gary Floyd, Lamp Rynearson
Gregory Forte II, Barr Engineering
Nicole Goehring, UCHealth
Aaron Goodman, Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather
Lindsay Hendricks, Elevations Credit Union
Adam Hickerson, Flood & Peterson
Amy Hoeven, Hoeven, Inc.
Sierra Hopkins, City of Fort Collins
Charles Howes, KimberDigital
Tessa Jakobsson, Fort Collins Police Services
Dan Kapustka, Alpine Bank
Lori Kempter, Crossroads Safehouse
Abby Krstulic, Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity
Christine Luckasen, Larimer County/ Hello Brew Co.
Daniel Michalski, ImmunityBio Inc.
Lucy Nuremberg, The OtterCares Foundation
Doug Patmore, Colorado State University/ Real Estate Broker
Scott Phelps, City of Fort Collins
Michael Putlack, nok Recommerce
Lauren Rhoades, Hope*writers
Tammy Terwelp, KUNC & The Colorado Sound
Serena Thomas, Homeward Alliance
Todd Turney, Terracon
Peter Vlcek, Peter Vlcek Agency – Farmers Insurance
Lee Vuu, Pergamena Fine Art
Heather Young, City of Fort Collins Utilities
Aspen Zabel, VFLA Architecture + Interiors
The Leadership Fort Collins program will begin on September 14 with a day long experience at the CSU Mountain Campus and includes eight program sessions that run from October 2023 to May 2024.
Sessions for the 2023-2024 program are planned by the Leadership Fort Collins Steering Committee, which is made up of graduates from previous leadership programs. Committee members include:
Paul Baker, 970 Services
Emily Birdsall, Jolly Events
Heather Brick, Sage and Oak Massage
Heather Buoniconti, Food Bank for Larimer County
Tatum Cochran, Horse & Dragon Brewing Company
Jen Cooper, SummitStone Health Partners
Mark Culloton, Banner Health
Laurel Donahue, Colorado State University
Jess Dyrdahl, Colorado State University
Maryann Fillingim, City of Fort Collins
Jerick Flores, Colorado State University
Jill Foster, The Place Setting Company
Gretchen Gramling, Visual Health Solutions
Charles Grant, First National Bank
Huston Hoffman, RPT Realty
Ann Hutchison, Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce
Jeff Jarchow, Stratus Marketing, LLC
Mara Johnson, Habitat for Humanity
Tracy Katz, First Western Trust
Brad Laurvick, First United Methodist Church
Carley McAbee, Be Kind
Jennifer McLain, Alpha Center
Annalise Mecham, Boys and Girls Club of Larimer County
Erika Michalski, Strategically Authentic
Amanda Miller, The Place Setting Company
Ali Raza, CSU
Colan Scheidenhelm, Schure Consulting
Lauren Smiley, Coloscapes Concrete
Nick Smiley, City of Fort Collins
Gretchen Stanford, City of Fort Collins
Heidi Stevenson, UCHealth
Zachary Sumner, Cherry Creek Mortgage Company
Abe Theiss, Baker Construction
Michelle Theiss, Westfield Insurance
Brad Ward, Connexion
Meghan Willis, UCHealth