GFW Inc. Announces Leadership Fort Wayne Class of 2019

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Greater Fort Wayne Inc. has named 54 individuals to be part of the Leadership Fort Wayne (LFW) Class of 2019. LFW is a nine-month program that provides an in-depth view of the many facets of the community while developing each participant’s leadership skills. By developing these skills, participants are better prepared to positively impact the community and their workplaces.

Since 1983, Leadership Fort Wayne has graduated more than 1,300 individuals, many of whom now serve on or lead nonprofit boards, hold elected office, or own their own businesses.

This year’s class, the 37th in LFW history, begins its journey this week with an orientation session. Individuals interested in participating in next year’s class can email leadership@greaterfortwayneinc.com for more information and to be placed on the waiting list.

Members of the Leadership Fort Wayne Class of 2019 are:

Kim Barnett-Johnson
Ivy Tech Community College
Ashley Benvenuti
Superior Aluminum Alloys
Bonnie Blackburn-Penhollow
Visiting Nurse
Susan Byers
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Ryan Cassedy
Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Wayne
Brent Clark
TransWorks
Lisa Cotten
Family Life Care
Amber Coughlin
Old National Bank
Nate Davidhizar
Hyndman Industrial Products, Inc.
Chantell Davis
Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation
Jack Davis
Fort Wayne Metals
Joe Edwards
Steel Dynamics, Inc.
Bill Ennist
Canterbury School
Alison Gerardot
Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne
Kristin Giant
Ambassador Enterprises
Megan Grimes
MKM architecture + design
Bridgett Harper
Indiana Air National Guard 122nd Fighter Wing
Tammy Hartman
Fort Financial Credit Union
Iric Headley
City of Fort Wayne / Fort Wayne UNITED
Heather Heal
Journal Gazette Company
Jason Hilty
Allied Payment Network
Kenneth Holloway
Indiana Michigan Power
Jared Hufford
Do it Best Corp.
John Hughey
Embassy Theatre
Jaime Hunter
Ash Brokerage
Martin Huttenlocker
Bradley Company
Jessica Inniger
Brotherhood Mutual
Allen Johnson
Lincoln Financial Group
Joe Johnson
City of Fort Wayne – City Utilities
Luke Labas
Ball State University
Jim Mahan
PQC
Melissa McKown
Parkview Health
Nick Mehdikhan
Physicians Health Plan of Northern Indiana
Jeremy Milliman
Indiana Air National Guard 122nd Fighter Wing
Mary Moore
3Rivers Federal Credit Union
Jessica Murphy
Parkview Health
Rebecca Neild
Fort Wayne Allen County Airport Authority
Mike Niezer
Design Collaborative
Joseph O'Dell
1st Source Bank
Alison Podlaski
Barrett McNagny LLP
Corey Porter
Lincoln Financial Group
Dan Rowe
NIPSCO
Daniel Schmitz
Hylant
Josey Seabolt
Katz, Sapper & Miller
Rick Smith
PNC Bank
Rob Smith
Three Rivers Ambulance Authority
Carrie Snyder
Sky Zone
Patrick Stone
Zoeller Company
Natalija Trokic
Wells Fargo Bank
Bob Vitoux
Ambassador Enterprises
Jason Wagner
Verizon Wireless
Shelley Walker
Michelin North America
Paige Watson
Fort Wayne TinCaps
Micah Wood
The League

About Leadership Fort Wayne

For more than 35 years, LFW has been building better leaders, developing skills that prepare them to support the growth and economic goals of the community and be better employees. They learn and grow together for nine months, going ‘behind the headlines’ for the real story behind Fort Wayne’s most valued treasures. Participants work in Community Action Teams, raising funds and creating partnerships to implement projects. Past projects include Operation: Riverfront, an initiative to spread awareness about possibilities for the rivers, the Giving Back Fort Wayne volunteer fair introduces citizens to nonprofits, and the city’s first Bike Share program launched in April 2016 with the City of Fort Wayne.

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.