FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The Leadership Fort Wayne (LFW) program is officially underway for the Class of 2023. Greater Fort Wayne Inc. today introduced the 57-member class, the third-largest cohort in program history.
LFW is a nine-month program that provides an in-depth view of the Fort Wayne / Allen County community while developing each participant’s leadership skills. By developing these skills, participants become better prepared to make a positive impact in the community and their workplaces.
Since 1983, LFW has graduated more than 1,500 individuals, many of whom now serve on or lead nonprofit boards, hold elected office, or own businesses.
This year’s class, the 41st in LFW history, recently kicked off its schedule with orientation sessions at Electric Works hosted by Carr Workplaces. Starting next month, the Class of 2023 will participate in monthly program days covering such topics as community history, public safety, and inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. Program days will continue through September, with graduation scheduled for the Leadership Fort Wayne alumni breakfast in November.
“I’m excited to get to know this year’s class, and I can’t wait to learn with them—and from them,” said Meghan Short, GFW Inc.’s director of investor programs. “This is a talented group that’s bound to make a positive impact in Allen County and beyond.”
For the third consecutive year, GFW Inc. championed a fundraiser to help make LFW more accessible for leaders from all backgrounds. Contributions by AWS Foundation, CSX Transportation, community members, local businesses, and LFW alumni helped remove barriers to participation.
“Diverse perspectives create better conversations and a better learning experience for everyone,” Short said. “It’s only fitting that, as we learn about our community, our class reflects the diversity of the community,”
Members of the Leadership Fort Wayne Class of 2023 and their sponsoring individuals/organizations are:
| Brian Acheff City of New Haven | Josh Ambrose Custer Inc. | Ryan Bauer Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority |
| Jasmine Bejar One Lucky Guitar | Tony Belton Purdue University Fort Wayne | Mo Bender Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| Wayne Bennett BFGoodrich Tire Manufacturing | Jamie Berndt Lincoln Financial Group | Jill Boggs Visit Fort Wayne |
| Susan Brown Ivy Tech Community College | Willie Burton Fort Wayne Fire Department | Keiara Carr Amani Family Services Community Donors |
| Humair Chowdhry Premier Bank | Chip Clark Unified Developments Community Donors | Jerry Cunningham Schindler Elevator Corporation |
| Katie Davis Indiana Michigan Power | Shelly Detcher Camp Red Cedar | Connor Fleck Barrett McNagny LLP |
| Thad Gerardot Lincoln Financial Group | Anne Hall Community Transportation Network Community Donors | Jared Herndon Ash Brokerage |
| Brian Hickam Indiana Tech | Justin Hurtle NIPSCO | Elaine Jones Stillwater Hospice |
| Lisa Keirns STAR Financial Bank | Andrew Kopec Purdue University Fort Wayne | Ivy Kurgan Lutheran Health Network |
| Michael Landgraf Canterbury School | Jonathan Leist City of Fort Wayne | Emily Leonard Fort Wayne City Utilities |
| Aaron Madrigal Gutierrez Steel Dynamics | Mitch McKinney Fort Wayne Police Department | Fred McKissack The Journal Gazette |
| Andie Mosley AWS Foundation | Frank Navarro Sweetwater | Julie Nolan Greater Fort Wayne Inc. |
| Jessica Pater Parkview Mirro Center for Research and Innovation | Aaron Pence Indiana Air National Guard 122nd Fighter Wing | Dena Pickens AWS Foundation |
| Kylie Riecken The Lutheran Foundation | Mike Ripley Hylant | Schvalla Rivera United Front Initiative |
| Adriane Roberts Vera Bradley | Jeff Roberts Fort Wayne Community Schools | Sofia Rosales-Scatena Fort Wayne Police Department |
| D'Quan Ruth 3Rivers Federal Credit Union | Tasha Sector Metropolitan Title | David Sherman Indiana Air National Guard 122nd Fighter Wing |
| Tyler Sipe Physicians Health Plan | Eric Steenman Lake City Bank | Steven Townes CSX Transportation |
| Jenna Tyler Summit Brands | Rachel Vedder Design Collaborative | Ashley Warren STAR Financial Bank |
| John Watkins Don Ayres Honda | Josiah Wells Parkview Health | TBD Fort Wayne Fire Department |
Individuals interested in participating in next year’s class can email mshort@gfwinc.com for more information about applying.
About Greater Fort Wayne Inc.
Greater Fort Wayne (GFW) Inc. serves Fort Wayne and Allen County, Indiana, as its primary point of contact for economic growth. GFW Inc. focuses on prosperity and community vibrancy through economic development, advocacy, programs and resources that support business success, leadership development, graduate retention, and community engagement.
