LEADERSHIP JEFFERSON COUNTY PROGRAM GRADUATES EIGHTH CLASS
Twenty participants recognized at end-of-year celebration
MADISON, IN – The 2026 course of the Leadership Jefferson County program concluded on May 19, 2026, with a luncheon in the Business Conference Center of Ivy Tech Community College – Madison. The graduation luncheon recognized this year’s 20 participants with help from the event’s sponsor, Grote Industries. This year marks the eighth graduating class of the program.
“We had a very diverse group of participants coming from many employment sectors and backgrounds,” said Bill Barnes, a member of the Leadership Jefferson County Steering Committee. “We appreciate their participation in the program and hope they will take what they’ve learned about our county and continue to make a difference in our community.”
During the recognition luncheon, Leadership Jefferson County Steering Committee Chair Rachel Sharpe shared the history of the program and thanked the many volunteers and sites that made the year’s session possible. After the graduates were recognized, Class of 2026 member Amy Whittaker spoke to the audience about her experience in the program and how she will take the knowledge she gained and put it inot action for the community.
Leadership Jefferson County is an action project that evolved from Envision Jefferson County housed at the Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County. The course consisted of 11 bi-weekly session. These sessions gave the participants a better understanding of resources and relationships within Jefferson County. Topics covered in sessions included: Government Agencies & Organizations, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Education, Community Health, Social Services, Business & Entrepreneurship, Industry & Economic Development, Tourism, History, and Nonprofits & Volunteerism. Throughout the course, community members and experts were invited to speak to share their insights on the topics presented.
Members of the Class of 2026 (and their employers) included: Sarah Alexander, Jefferson County Commissioners’ Office; Susan Anderson, Indiana Department of Child Services; Dustin Bentz, Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County; Bartell Berg, Hanover College; Allison Boldery, Southeast Indiana Transitional Resources; Anthony Bullard, Ivy Tech Community College – Madison; Clarissa Guillen, La Casa Amiga Friendship House/River Valley Resources; Lindsay Holley, Madison Main Street Program; Michelle Kimmel, Ohio Valley Opportunities; Macy Lyons, Fairfield Inn & Suites/Historic Eagle Cotton Mill; Caley Mahoney, German American Bank; Beth McRoberts, Madison Pediatric Wellness Center; Lauren Mix, Jefferson County Youth Shelter; Sheri Pflieger, Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Indiana; Ellen Stevens, EXP REalty; Abby Suiter, Waltz Animal Clinic/Madison Heights Apartments; Ashley Wells, Madison Area Chamber of Commerce; Trent Whaley, Lydia Middleton Elementary/Madison Consolidated Schools; Amy Whittaker, Grote Industries; and Sara Willis, First Financial Bank.
The application period for the 2027 session of Leadership Jefferson County will be announced in the fall. For more information about Leadership Jefferson County, contact Kelley Hoagland at (812) 265-3327, email [email protected], or visit the program’s webpage at www.cfmjc.org/ljc.
###
PICTURED ABOVE: 2026 GRADUATES OF LEADERSHIP JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Row 1 (front): (from left) Allison Boldery, Amy Whittaker, Ellen Stevens, Dustin Bentz
Row 2: Bartell Berg, Susan Anderson, Sheri Pflieger, Caley Mahoney
Row 3: Lindsay Holley, Abby Suiter, Ashley Wells, Michelle Kimmel
Row 4: Beth McRoberts, Sara Willis, Clarissa Guillen, Lauren Mix
Row 5: Macy Lyons, Anthony Bullard, Trent Whaley, Sarah Alexander