The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Owensboro program is beginning its 44th year of cultivating leaders in the community.
Candance Castlen Brake, chamber president, said, “Leadership Owensboro continues its tradition as the chamber’s proven talent development program. For more than four decades, this experience has challenged its participants to step forward as leaders who help shape the future of our community.”
The program runs from September through June with full day sessions each month covering key topics including economy and innovation, education, healthcare, local government, justice, human needs and services, arts and culture and philanthropy.
“This program gives class members a front-row seat to our community’s most pressing issues and its greatest strengths,” Ashtin Warren, director of talent programs, said of Leadership Owensboro.
She said, “They gain knowledge, engage in thoughtful dialogue, and explore community challenges alongside classmates, local leaders, business owners and community advocates. Along the way, they also build lasting relationships and learn how to collaborate across industries to serve, to lead, and to inspire others long after the program ends.
The Leadership Owensboro Class of 2026 includes Rhonda Bergstrom, Owensboro Health Regional Hospital; Kyle Best, Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline; Sgt. Joni Bocianoski, Daviess County Detention Center; Jake Boswell, Independence Bank; Morgan Brown, Regional Water Resource Agency; Nico Bustamante Aguirre, Old National Bank; Capt. Alex Coomes, Daviess County Sheriff’s Office; Sheila Crowe, Pinky’s Snow Cones.
Emily Davis, Owensboro Municipal Utilities; Robyn Edgell, Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service; Tara Estes, Baird Trust Co (The Settles Group); Kyler Fannon, Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport; Drew Frey, Owensboro Health Regional Hospital; Zach Gilles, Alltech Inc.; Katy Hart, Valor Oil; Richard Hayden, Owensboro Health Regional Hospital; Mandie Hicks, Kentucky Farm Bureau.
Logan Johnson, Owensboro Public Schools; Nick Jones, Owensboro Health HealthPark; Julia Kimbrell Brooks, Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce; Bryan Kennedy, Green River Area District Development; Lisa Knott, Owensboro Health Regional Hospital; Jarrod McCarty, Daviess County Public Library; Grant Miller, RiverValley Behavioral Health; Lakeia Nard, Melanin Children Matter, Inc.
Michelle Nobles, RiverValley Behavioral Health, Todd Palmer, Brescia University; Jacqueline Russell, Owensboro Health Regional Hospital; Khaibar Shafaq, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Owensboro; Cory Smith, Morley; Nina Solis, RiverValley Behavioral Health; Samantha Taylor-Kaai, Audubon Area Community Services; Carsten Tindle, Senior Community Center of Owensboro-Daviess County; Brigette Wayne, Owensboro Municipal Utilities; Kristi Winkler, Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc.; and Lt. Courtney Yerington, Owensboro Police Department.
By: Keith Lawrence Messenger-Inquirer