FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The Leadership Fort Wayne (LFW) program is officially underway for the Class of 2024. Greater Fort Wayne Inc. introduced the 60-member class this past Thursday, the forty-second and second-largest cohort since the start of the program.
LFW is a nine-month program that provides an in-depth view of the Fort Wayne / Allen County community while developing each participant’s leadership skills. By developing these skills, participants become better prepared to make a positive impact in the community and their workplaces.
Since 1983, LFW has graduated more than 1,500 individuals, many of whom now serve on or lead nonprofit boards, hold elected office, or own businesses.
This year’s class recently kicked off its schedule with orientation sessions at the Historic Woman’s Club hosted by the University of St. Francis. Starting next month, the Class of 2024 will participate in monthly program days covering such topics as community history, public safety, as well as inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. Program days will continue through September, with graduation scheduled during the Leadership Fort Wayne alumni breakfast in October.
“As we kick off the 42nd cohort of Leadership Fort Wayne, it’s both exciting and humbling to welcome one of our largest classes ever. This milestone not only represents the growing interest in community leadership but also showcases the boundless potential within Fort Wayne and Allen County,” said Meghan Short, Director of Investor Programs at GFW Inc.
GFW Inc. is intentional about making LFW more accessible for leaders from all backgrounds. Contributions by AWS Foundation, Journal Gazette Foundation, WGU Indiana, James Foundation, community members, and LFW alumni helped remove barriers to participation.
“Our participants bring diverse perspectives and skills, setting the stage for an impactful journey,” Short said. “We are eager to see how each member will grow their influence and leave a lasting impact on our community. This cohort is not just about leadership development; it’s about shaping the future of our vibrant region.”
Members of the Leadership Fort Wayne Class of 2024 and their sponsoring individuals/organizations are:
Kirstie Bailey
Ash Brokerage
LaRae Bane
Allen County Public Library
Timothy Boggs
Three Rivers Federal Credit Union
Stephanie Brickley
Lincoln Financial Group
Joseph Brown
Fort Wayne Community Schools
Halie Brown
The League
Rachel Bruce
Hylant
Nathan Burnell
Lake City Bank
Jessa Campbell
Visit Fort Wayne
Corey Clark
MKM architecture + design
Matthew Cloud
Canterbury School
Brittany Derengowski
East Central Fire and EMS Protection Territory
Alyssa Ehinger
Parkview Health
Sherif Elfayoumy
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Derek Fahrer
L3Harris Technologies
Jonathan Flickinger
Fort Wayne Fire Department
Nikeshia Fomby
City of Fort Wayne / SEED
Kristen Ginder
Don Ayres Honda
David Godwin
Indiana Air National Guard, 122nd Fighter Wing
Melissa Gratz
Manchester University
Spencer Haber
Indiana University Fort Wayne
Jared Harvey
Indiana Tech
Mark Heine
Steel Dynamics, Inc.
Ryan Heine
Summit Brands
Tesa Helge
Allen County Prosecutor’s Office
Angela Hormann
Parkview Health / PVPMG
Adam James
Design Collaborative
Andrew Jones
Liberty Group Realty & AM Group Investments
Lloyd Jones
Life Adult Day Academy
Shubitha Kever
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Mark Klinger
Premier Bank
Nitish Kulkarni
Sweetwater
Jesse LaFromboise
Indiana Michigan Power
Emily Lahr
Stillwater Hospice
Brok Lahrman
Lake City Bank
Tara Ledet
L3Harris Technologies
Jacqueline Lonis
PNC Bank
Richard Lower
City of New Haven
Kyla Madison
STAR Financial Bank
Curtis Metz
Farmers & Merchants State Bank
Alison Miyauchi
University of Saint Francis
Marty Oehlhof
JH Specialty
Lisa Otis
NIPSCO
Matt Pettit
Lutheran Health Network / Community Health Systems
Emmanuel Rodriguez
Fort Wayne Fire Department
Eric Ruppert
Fort Wayne City Utilities
Matt Saines
Do it Best Corp.
Justin Scheumann
Indiana Air National Guard, 122nd Fighter Wing
Heather Schillinger
Supportive Behavior Services, LLC
Andrew Skillman
1st Source Bank
Justin Sklenar
Pacific Impressions
Erica Smith
Brotherhood Mutual
Tracina Smith
Ivy Tech Community College Fort Wayne
Kaicey Stubbings
3DE Schools by Junior Achievement
Amber Targgart
Early Childhood Alliance
Justin Treft
Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority
Cynthia Wellman
Lincoln Financial Group
Kimi Wilder
Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
Elaine Wilson
Saint Anne Communities
Kelli Witter
Michelin North America / BF Goodrich
Individuals interested in participating in next year’s class can email mshort@gfwinc.com for more information about applying.
