FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 22, 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:
1. Aaron Bivens, Thoroughbred Architects & Engineers, Fayette County
2. Dina Byers, Murray State University, Calloway County
3. Michelle Campbell, Paducah McCracken County Convention & Expo Center, McCracken County
4. James Clark, PBT Bancorp, Powell County
5. Nick Covault, Kentucky Performing Arts, Jefferson County
6. Jen de Ridder, The Center for Courageous Kids, Allen County
7. Kelly Emerine, Cerity Partners, Hardin County
8. Angela Evans, Fayette County Attorney’s Office, Fayette County
9. Cam Freeman, Truist, Fayette County
10. Cate Gaddis, RiverValley Behavioral Health, Daviess County
11. Alisa Gray, Kentucky Humane Society, Jefferson County
12. Lelan Hancock, City of Owensboro, Daviess County
13. Jamie Harrison, Community Trust Bank Inc., Laurel County
14. Dan Hawk, LG&E and KU, Jefferson County
15. Raina Helton, East Kentucky Network LLC d/b/a Appalachian Wireless, Morgan County
16. Betsy Herndon, Commonwealth Credit Union, Franklin County
17. Melinda Hill, CASA of South Central Kentucky and City of Bowling Green, Warren County
18. Larry Horn, Amplify Louisville, Inc., Jefferson County
19. Ryan Howell, Kentucky Power Company, Floyd County
20. Lindsey Jasinski, University of Kentucky, Fayette County
21. Ray Justice, BWB Enterprise, Pike County
22. Alex Kerns, Baptist Health, Shelby County
23. Mel Kimmel, Kentucky American Water, Fayette County
24. Amanda Lich, AT&T, Edmonson County
25. Daryl Love, Everent Health, Fayette County
26. Chad Mathis, UofL Health, Jefferson County
27. Allen McDaniel, Downtown Lexington Partnership, Fayette County
28. John Middleton, Commonwealth of Kentucky, Kenton County
29. Gil Mischel, Owensboro Health, Inc., Daviess County
30. Libby Morris, Brown-Forman, Jefferson County
31. Sawyer Noel, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Franklin County
32. Katherine Paisley, Exacta Systems, LLC, Fayette County
33. Jake Pepper, Planters Bank Inc., Caldwell County
34. Rolf Provan, Luckett & Farley Architects and Engineers, Oldham County
35. Josh Quinn, meetNKY, Boone County
36. Julie Raia, OneQuest Health, Kenton County
37. Michelle Rainey, Pikeville Medical Center, Pike County
38. Gary Reckart, Reckart Enterprises, Warren County
39. Mary Reed, Aetna Better Health of Kentucky, Oldham County
40. Regan Satterwhite, Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, Franklin County
41. Tanelle Sawyer, Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Woodford County
42. Tish Shade, Frankfort Area Chamber of Commerce, Franklin County
43. Tyler Smith, University of the Cumberlands, Whitley County
44. Susan Strack, Norton Healthcare, Jefferson County
45. Matt Swendiman, Key Bridge Compliance, LLC, Kenton County
46. Jill Switzer, Century Aluminum Company, Daviess County
47. Christine Tarquinio, Goodwill Kentucky, Jefferson County
48. Layne Taylor, Humana, Jefferson County
49. Eryn Walker, Kentucky Science Center, Jefferson County
50. Emmy Woosley, Foundation for Daviess County Public Schools, Daviess County
51. Terry Wooten, CHI Saint Joseph Hospital, Fayette County
52. Rewa Zakharia, Kentucky Office of the Attorney General, Franklin County
Nominations and applications for the Leadership Kentucky Class of 2027 will be available online at leadershipky.org in January 2027.
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 next generation Eastern Kentucky leaders) 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.
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