One of the great privileges of Chamber work is the opportunity to watch leaders grow, connect and step more fully into their role in shaping the future of Northern Colorado.
On Tuesday, June 23, the sixteenth Leadership Northern Colorado class will complete its six-month program, and I am excited to invite LNC alumni and the public to join us for a graduation breakfast celebrating the accomplishments of this year’s class.
Leadership Northern Colorado, a joint initiative of the Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland chambers of commerce, the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado and the Weld Community Foundation, is designed to build human capacity and help leaders identify, define and address the issues facing our region.
The 2026 class has spent the past six months learning, listening and building relationships across Northern Colorado. The program began in January and will conclude June 23 with a final class session and graduation celebration for the 32 participants.
Event Details
Event: 2026 Leadership Northern Colorado Graduation Celebration
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Time: 7:30 to 9:00 a.m.
Location: Windsong Event Center
Address: 2901 Saddler Blvd., Severance, CO
Registration: $30, includes breakfast, keynote presentation and graduation celebration
A Conversation on Authentic Leadership
This year’s celebration will feature keynote speaker Dr. Erika Michalski and her presentation, Bubbles, Broccoli and Being Yourself: A Prescription for Effective Leadership.
Dr. Michalski will explore a mindset shift that I believe is deeply important for leaders: moving from “Who do I want to be like?” to “What meaningful impact am I uniquely positioned to make?”
That shift matters. The most effective leaders are not simply performing leadership. They are moving with purpose, authenticity and a willingness to make an impact in ways only they can. Dr. Erika will share why this shift can elevate a leader’s capacity for impact and offer practical strategies for leaders ready to be more strategically authentic.
Sponsored by Elevations Credit Union and EPS Group, the graduation event is a wonderful opportunity for alumni and community members to reconnect with the program while raising funds to provide scholarships for future class participants.
I am grateful to the many partners, sponsors, alumni and Chamber leaders who continue to make Leadership Northern Colorado possible. Programs like LNC remind us that regional leadership is not built in isolation. It is built through shared learning, honest conversation and a willingness to look beyond city limits toward the future of Northern Colorado as a whole.
2026 Leadership Northern Colorado Graduates
Chrissi Alvarado, Colorado State University
Jaymi Anderson, Genesis Project of Northern Colorado
Melissa Brewster, UCHealth
Trish Chapel, High Country Beverage
Julie Constance, Brinkman Construction
Jarrett Cosgrove, Double S Group | Keller Williams Realty
Ruth DeBoer, Weld Trust
Joshua Dimond, NoCO Custom Homes
Leigh Gibson, Platte River Power Authority
Lucas Gillis, Strategic Retirement Partners
Claire Havelda, Brownstein Hyatt Farber & Schreck, LLP
Tim Hendricks, GH Phipps Construction Companies
Omar Herrera, Town of Windsor
Teddy Hocum, Harmony Private Wealth
Tiffany James, Fort Collins Board of REALTORS
Greg Kushner, Hausmann Construction
Janine Ledingham, Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development
Meredith Logan, Ent Credit Union
Karen McPherson Jackson, Estes Nonprofit Network
Samantha Preston, Hot Corner Concepts
Jessica Quintana, Poudre Valley REA
Sarah Roeder, Ignite Career Consultants
Sosamma Samuel-Burnett, G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice
Brittany Schmeeckle, Weld Food Bank
May Soricelli Albrecht, Town of Berthoud
Alana Stiles, Tribe Development
Cassidy Stubblefield, Upstate Colorado Economic Development
Serena Thomas, Homeward Alliance
Robert Thompson, City of Greeley
Ernan Torrez, United Way of Larimer County
Patty Weible, Lone Tree Services, LLC
Dawit Woldu, CP2 – Coan, Payton & Payne
Congratulations to the 2026 Leadership Northern Colorado graduates. I look forward to celebrating this class and the impact they will continue to make across our region.
Steering Committee
The class is supported by a steering committee of program alumni and Chamber CEOs.
Heather Anderson, Greeley Area Chamber of Commerce
Bill Becker, Loveland Chamber
David Dishman, Coloradoan
Dave Dixon, Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County
Kim Fisher, Vision Catalyst
Jaime Henning, Greeley Area Chamber of Commerce
Lyndsey Hertz, NOCO Foundation
Ann Hutchison, Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce
Kelly Jackson, Aims Community College Foundation
Todd Karl, Ent Credit Union
Elizabeth Mahoney, Complete Professional Development
Mindy McCloughan, Loveland Chamber
Amanda Miller, The Place Setting Company
Jessi Norris, Employment Services of Weld County
Dawn Paepke, Kaiser Permanente
Larry Pakowski, Aims Community College
Sara Potter, FNBO
Ted Ray, First Interstate Bank
Scott Ready, GH Phipps Construction
Jared Reimer, The Craft Broker at Elevations Real Estate
Scott Tryggestad, Chevron
Kelly Zeillmann, CG Consulting
For more information, visit www.LeadershipNorthernColorado.com.