Leadership Kentucky Announces ELEVATE Kentucky 2026 Class
FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 20, 2026)— Leadership Kentucky is proud to announce members of the ELEVATE Kentucky Class of 2026. Launched in 2017, ELEVATE Kentucky provides young professionals with an in-depth personal and professional development program that fosters a better understanding of challenges facing our Commonwealth.
The class participates in three sessions, taking place April through June, in Pikeville, Owensboro, and Georgetown/Northern Kentucky. Class members will hear from thought-provoking Kentucky leaders, learn about issues and opportunities facing our state, and gain insights about personal leadership abilities. Class members will also engage in panel discussions, participate in experiential learning opportunities, gain increased leadership skills, and receive both regional and statewide perspectives while traveling across Kentucky.
“ELEVATE has really inspired me to be a part of the change that will continue to move this great state forward for future generations,” said Josh Ryan, ELEVATE Class of 2026, “I am so proud to now call this place home, and myself a Kentuckian!”
Participants of the ELEVATE Kentucky program return to their organizations and communities with more skills, knowledge, perspective, and a new statewide professional network. These leaders are better prepared to be catalysts in their companies and communities to ELEVATE Kentucky.
This year’s class includes 26 participants from across the state representing a variety of public and private sectors:
• Katey Barnett, Christian County, Planters Bank Inc
• Bailey Browning, Fayette County, Stites & Harbison, PLLC
• Charles Bush, Perry County, Challenger Learning Center of Kentucky
• Anna Carmack, Oldham County, Norton Healthcare
• Katie Case, Daviess County, Owensboro Health
• Logan Clark, Jefferson County, Generation Tux
• Kira Clayton, Jefferson County, Brown-Forman
• Lauren Combs, Muhlenberg County, Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital
• Tessa Duvall, Fayette County, Lexington Herald-Leader
• Candace Gasper, Campbell County, A New Leaf
• Erica Griffie, Fayette County, U.S. Bank
• Christa Johnson, Jessamine County, Med-Save Pharmacy
• Brandi Kiser, Pike County, Community Trust Bank
• Hannah Lindon, Fayette County, Kentucky League of Cities
• Jackelyn Peake, Jefferson County, Kosair for Kids
• Justin Pruitt, Boyd County, Boyd County Fiscal Court
• Hannah Reckart, Warren County, Center for Courageous Kids
• Ashley Redmond, Bell County, Pineville Community Health Center
• Melissa Reynolds, Fayette County, CHI Saint Joseph Health – Common Spirit
• Annie Santos, Franklin County, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
• Hannah Simms, Fayette County, Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation
• Hunter Stewart, Fayette County, South Central Bank
• Christa Stringer, Harlan County, Eminence Independent Schools
• Kendall Sturgill, Fayette County, MAP Automotive Group
• Colson Thomas, Calloway County, Kosma Consul
• Kilee Weiskittel, Kenton County, OneQuest Health
###
About Leadership Kentucky
Leadership Kentucky, created in 1984 as a non-profit educational organization, brings together a diverse group of people who possess a broad variety of leadership abilities, career accomplishments, and volunteer activities to gain insight into complex issues facing the state. By fostering understanding of how the state’s issues are interconnected, and by forging new relationships among community and regional leaders, Leadership Kentucky graduates bring a fresh and informed perspective to their communities and companies, serving as important participants in the unified effort to shape Kentucky’s future. The Leadership Kentucky Foundation offers four unique programs: Leadership Kentucky, ELEVATE Kentucky (for young professionals), BRIGHT Kentucky (for Eastern Kentuckians) and New Executives to Kentucky (for senior level executives who have lived in the state for less than two years). For more information, please visit leadershipky.org or email lky@leadershipky.org.
