LEADERSHIP JEFFERSON COUNTY PROGRAM GRADUATES SEVENTH CLASS
Eighteen participants recognized at end-of-year celebration
MADISON, IN – The 2025 course of the Leadership Jefferson County program concluded on May 27, 2025, with a luncheon in the Business Conference Center of Ivy Tech Community College – Madison. The graduation luncheon recognized this year’s 18 participants with help from the event’s sponsor, Grote Industries. This year marks the sevents 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, Class of 2025 member Angel Snell spoke to the audience about her experiences in the program. Outgoing Leadership Jefferson County Steering Committee Chair Marta Belt was recognized for her contributions to the program, while attendees were introduced to Steering Committee member and incoming Chair Rachel Sharpe, who gave closing remarks.
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 10 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 2025 (and their employers) included: Tiffany Biesen, Norton King’s Daughters’ Health; Sayra Hoskins, German American Bank; Sarah Judy, Arvin Sango, Inc.; Merry Mattox, Madison Area Arts Alliance; Hannah McMahan, Arvin Sango, Inc.; Kennedy Napier, First Financial Bank; Emily Powers, River Valley Resources; Lyndsey Ritchie, Visit Madison, Inc.; Kalyn Robison, Jefferson County Health Dept.; Bryan Shaw, City of Madison; Taylor Shaw, Hanover College; Jacob Smith, Fairfield Inn & Suites/Historic Eagle Cotton Mill; Angel Snell, Ohio Valley Opportunities; Chip Snyder, Hanover College; Angela Spurgeon, Ohio Valley Opportunities; Kate Sutter, Ivy Tech Community College-Madison; Hannah Taylor, Grote Industries; and Amanda Thompson, Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Indiana.
The application period for the 2026 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.
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PICTURED ABOVE: 2025 GRADUATES OF LEADERSHIP JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Row 1 (front): (from left) Sayra Hoskins, Bryan Shaw, Hannah Taylor, Angel Snell, Kate Sutter
Row 2: Angela Spurgeon, Amanda Thompson, Hannah McMahan, Sarah Judy
Row 3: Emily Powers, Tiffany Biesen, Kalyn Robison
Row 4: Jacob Smith, Merry Mattox, Kennedy Napier, Taylor Shaw
Not pictured: Lyndsey Ritchie and Chip Snyder
