FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Greater Fort Wayne Inc. has named 54 individuals to be part of the Leadership Fort Wayne (LFW) Class of 2019. LFW is a nine-month program that provides an in-depth view of the many facets of the community while developing each participant’s leadership skills. By developing these skills, participants are better prepared to positively impact the community and their workplaces.
Since 1983, Leadership Fort Wayne has graduated more than 1,300 individuals, many of whom now serve on or lead nonprofit boards, hold elected office, or own their own businesses.
This year’s class, the 37th in LFW history, begins its journey this week with an orientation session. Individuals interested in participating in next year’s class can email leadership@greaterfortwayneinc.com for more information and to be placed on the waiting list.
Members of the Leadership Fort Wayne Class of 2019 are:
| Kim Barnett-Johnson Ivy Tech Community College | Ashley Benvenuti Superior Aluminum Alloys | Bonnie Blackburn-Penhollow Visiting Nurse |
| Susan Byers Purdue University Fort Wayne | Ryan Cassedy Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Wayne | Brent Clark TransWorks |
| Lisa Cotten Family Life Care | Amber Coughlin Old National Bank | Nate Davidhizar Hyndman Industrial Products, Inc. |
| Chantell Davis Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation | Jack Davis Fort Wayne Metals | Joe Edwards Steel Dynamics, Inc. |
| Bill Ennist Canterbury School | Alison Gerardot Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne | Kristin Giant Ambassador Enterprises |
| Megan Grimes MKM architecture + design | Bridgett Harper Indiana Air National Guard 122nd Fighter Wing | Tammy Hartman Fort Financial Credit Union |
| Iric Headley City of Fort Wayne / Fort Wayne UNITED | Heather Heal Journal Gazette Company | Jason Hilty Allied Payment Network |
| Kenneth Holloway Indiana Michigan Power | Jared Hufford Do it Best Corp. | John Hughey Embassy Theatre |
| Jaime Hunter Ash Brokerage | Martin Huttenlocker Bradley Company | Jessica Inniger Brotherhood Mutual |
| Allen Johnson Lincoln Financial Group | Joe Johnson City of Fort Wayne – City Utilities | Luke Labas Ball State University |
| Jim Mahan PQC | Melissa McKown Parkview Health | Nick Mehdikhan Physicians Health Plan of Northern Indiana |
| Jeremy Milliman Indiana Air National Guard 122nd Fighter Wing | Mary Moore 3Rivers Federal Credit Union | Jessica Murphy Parkview Health |
| Rebecca Neild Fort Wayne Allen County Airport Authority | Mike Niezer Design Collaborative | Joseph O'Dell 1st Source Bank |
| Alison Podlaski Barrett McNagny LLP | Corey Porter Lincoln Financial Group | Dan Rowe NIPSCO |
| Daniel Schmitz Hylant | Josey Seabolt Katz, Sapper & Miller | Rick Smith PNC Bank |
| Rob Smith Three Rivers Ambulance Authority | Carrie Snyder Sky Zone | Patrick Stone Zoeller Company |
| Natalija Trokic Wells Fargo Bank | Bob Vitoux Ambassador Enterprises | Jason Wagner Verizon Wireless |
| Shelley Walker Michelin North America | Paige Watson Fort Wayne TinCaps | Micah Wood The League |
About Leadership Fort Wayne
For more than 35 years, LFW has been building better leaders, developing skills that prepare them to support the growth and economic goals of the community and be better employees. They learn and grow together for nine months, going ‘behind the headlines’ for the real story behind Fort Wayne’s most valued treasures. Participants work in Community Action Teams, raising funds and creating partnerships to implement projects. Past projects include Operation: Riverfront, an initiative to spread awareness about possibilities for the rivers, the Giving Back Fort Wayne volunteer fair introduces citizens to nonprofits, and the city’s first Bike Share program launched in April 2016 with the City of Fort Wayne.
About Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
Greater Fort Wayne (GFW) Inc. serves Fort Wayne and Allen County, Indiana, as its primary point of contact for economic growth. GFW Inc. focuses on prosperity and community vibrancy through economic development, advocacy, programs and resources that support business success, leadership development, graduate retention and community engagement.
