Leadership Kentucky Announces Class of 2026
Leadership Kentucky announced today the 52 members of the Leadership Kentucky Class of 2026.
Leadership Kentucky’s 2026 flagship program consists of seven, three-day sessions, where participants gather to gain insight on the Commonwealth of Kentucky, its challenges and opportunities. Throughout the sessions, class members meet with many of Kentucky’s current leaders and explore the state’s unique communities and resources. Participants come away from the program having formed lifelong connections.
The June through December program will bring the class across the state, starting with Berea in June, followed by Louisville, Bowling Green, Hopkinsville, Murray, Somerset, Lexington, Frankfort, and Northern Kentucky. Throughout the program, sessions will cover topics ranging from business and economic development, arts and tourism, natural resources and the environment, education, healthcare, social issues, agriculture, and government.
This year’s class includes 52 participants from across the Commonwealth representing a variety of public and private sectors. Leadership Kentucky congratulates the following members:
- Aaron Bivens, Thoroughbred Architects & Engineers, Fayette County
- Dina Byers, Murray State University, Calloway County
- Michelle Campbell, Paducah McCracken County Convention & Expo Center, McCracken County
- James Clark, PBT Bancorp, Powell County
- Nick Covault, Kentucky Performing Arts, Jefferson County
- Jen de Ridder, The Center for Courageous Kids, Allen County
- Kelly Emerine, Cerity Partners, Hardin County
- Angela Evans, Fayette County Attorney's Office, Fayette County
- Cam Freeman, Truist, Fayette County
- Cate Gaddis, RiverValley Behavioral Health, Daviess County
- Alisa Gray, Kentucky Humane Society, Jefferson County
- Lelan Hancock, City of Owensboro, Daviess County
- Jamie Harrison, Community Trust Bank Inc., Laurel County
- Dan Hawk, LG&E and KU, Jefferson County
- Raina Helton, East Kentucky Network LLC d/b/a Appalachian Wireless, Morgan County
- Betsy Herndon, Commonwealth Credit Union, Franklin County
- Melinda Hill, CASA of South Central Kentucky and City of Bowling Green, Warren County
- Larry Horn, Amplify Louisville, Inc., Jefferson County
- Ryan Howell, Kentucky Power Company, Floyd County
- Lindsey Jasinski, University of Kentucky, Fayette County
- Ray Justice, BWB Enterprise, Pike County
- Alex Kerns, Baptist Health, Shelby County
- Mel Kimmel, Kentucky American Water, Fayette County
- Amanda Lich, AT&T, Edmonson County
- Daryl Love, Everent Health, Fayette County
- Chad Mathis, UofL Health, Jefferson County
- Allen McDaniel, Downtown Lexington Partnership, Fayette County
- John Middleton, Commonwealth of Kentucky, Kenton County
- Gil Mischel, Owensboro Health, Inc., Daviess County
- Libby Morris, Brown-Forman, Jefferson County
- Sawyer Noel, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Franklin County
- Katherine Paisley, Exacta Systems, LLC, Fayette County
- Jake Pepper, Planters Bank Inc., Caldwell County
- Rolf Provan, Luckett & Farley Architects and Engineers, Oldham County
- Josh Quinn, meetNKY, Boone County
- Julie Raia, OneQuest Health, Kenton County
- Michelle Rainey, Pikeville Medical Center, Pike County
- Gary Reckart, Reckart Enterprises, Warren County
- Mary Reed, Aetna Better Health of Kentucky, Oldham County
- Regan Satterwhite, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, Franklin County
- Tanelle Sawyer, Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Woodford County
- Tish Shade, Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce, Franklin County
- Tyler Smith, University of the Cumberlands, Whitley County
- Susan Strack, Norton Healthcare, Jefferson County
- Matt Swendiman, Key Bridge Compliance, LLC, Kenton County
- Jill Switzer, Century Aluminum Company, Daviess County
- Christine Tarquinio, Goodwill Kentucky, Jefferson County
- Layne Taylor, Humana, Jefferson County
- Eryn Walker, Kentucky Science Center, Jefferson County
- Emmy Woosley, Foundation for Daviess County Public Schools, Daviess County
- Terry Wooten, CHI Saint Joseph Hospital, Fayette County
- Rewa Zakharia, Kentucky Office of the Attorney General, Franklin County
