The 2015-2016 Leadership Fort Collins class will receive their diplomas on May 12 at the Rio Grande Agave Room. Leadership Fort Collins, a program of the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored by Soukup, Bush & Associates, is designed to educate and motivate leaders who are committed to shaping the future of our community while encouraging inspired and active involvement that contributes to the betterment of the community.
Thirty-four current and emerging leaders from throughout the Fort Collins area were selected to participate in the 2015-2016 program, which began in September 2015 and will conclude on May 12. Participants came together on the second Thursday of the month for a day-long session to learn more about Team Building, Government and Transportation, Economy and the Environment, Education and our Community, Social Capital, State Government, Health and Emergency Service Providers and Social Infrastructure.. The graduating class is a diverse mix of professions with representative from education, large and small business, not for profit and government.
In addition to attending eight all day educational sessions, members of the class were also challenged to complete a service learning project in the community. The 2015-2016 Leadership Fort Collins Class has planned and produced five difference class projects benefiting the Fort Collins area.
The Leadership Fort Collins graduation will include recognition of individual class members and a keynote addresses by City of Fort Collins Mayor Wade Troxell. The graduation event, sponsored by Austin’s American Grill and The Place Setting Company, will be held May 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the Rio Agave Room.
Graduating members of the class include:
Grace Abbott, Brinkman Partners
Stephanie Ashley, Old Town Media
Kindra Bielefeld, Quality Inn & Suites
Matt Brooksmith, Neenan Archistruction
Mark Christensen, Brinkman Partners
Christina Cooper, United Way of Larimer County
Ashley Dees, Columbine Health Systems
Dan DeVries, Pillar to Post Home Inspectors
Erin Edelstein, Colorado State University
Nicole Ellis Walusis, FirstBank
Kelly Evans, Neighbor to Neighbor
Brandon Garcia, Poudre Fire Authority
Lea Hanson, Left Lane Communications, LLC
Dr. Nalo Johnson, City of Fort Collins
Eric Jones, Bohemian Foundation
Tim Klippert, UCHealth – North (PVH)
Megan Kushner, Fresenius Medical Care
Eric Larsen, Fort Collins Coloradoan
Torrey McCoy, Columbine Health Systems
Lorri McGregor, Heritage Title Company
Joslyn McGriff, Synergos AMC
Jen McLain, Alpha Center
Emily Peddicord, Mortenson Construction
Samantha Preston, Hot Corner Concepts
William Rich, Brown & Brown of Colorado
Shannon Richardson, Community Banks of Colorado
Jenna Riedi, Boys & Girls Club of Larimer County
Jenn Rieskamp, SLiCE CSU
Dan Sapienza, RMSI Group Consulting
Heidi Wagner, City of Fort Collins
Rob Wagner, UCHealth
Katie Watkins, BASE Camp
Kristy Wygmans, Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce
Derek Young, RB+B Architects
The program was produced by the Fort Collins Area Chamber with assistance from a steering committee:
Kate Baker, Brinkman Partners
John Berkhausen, Cache Bank and Trust
Melinda Brown, Melinda Brown Events
Heather Buoniconti, Food Bank for Larimer County
Gary Clark, Century 21 Humpal
Jen Cooper Miller, SummitStone Health Partners
Mark Culloton, Austin’s American Grill
Shannon Hein, Mantooth Company
Lauren Ives, Brinkman Partners
Diane Jones
Amy Kolczak, UCHealth
Sarah Kruse, Kruse Control
Meg Olsen, UCHealth
Donna Reiser, CSU Alumni Association
Jodie Riesenberger, Bohemian Foundation
Teresa Sedlak, SummitStone Health Partners
Brad Ward, FRII
Dan Weinheimer, City of Fort Collins
Applications for the 2016-2017 Leadership Fort Collins program will be available in mid-June. Anyone interested in learning more about the program or applying should contact Ann Hutchison at (970) 482-3746 or [email protected].
About the Fort Collins Area Chamber
The Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce is the leading membership-based organization in northern Colorado, dedicated to helping businesses succeed. Investing in the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce puts members in contact with more than 1,143 business owners and managers in the market. For more than 100 years, the Fort Collins Area Chamber has influenced efforts to maintain and grow the business community in Fort Collins. For more information about the Chamber call (970) 482-3746 or visit www.FortCollinsChamber.com.
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