The 41st cohort included 27 people from throughout the community
KOKOMO, Ind. — Twenty-seven community leaders in business, industry, healthcare, non-profit service, and education were honored recently as Leadership Kokomo (LK) celebrated the completion of its 41st cohort in the nine-month leadership development program. The graduates were honored at a celebration in Hingst Hall on the Ivy Tech Kokomo campus, joined by their families, sponsors, LK alumni, and other community leaders.
Presiding over the event, Leadership Kokomo Director Liz Kerns said the 27 graduates joined more than 900 professionals who have gone through the program in the past 41 years, gaining critical leadership skills and community awareness of countless non-profit, civic, religious, and governmental agencies across Howard County.
Members of Leadership Kokomo’s Class of 2023 include:
- Melissa “Mimi” Amos
- Allison Ault
- Sensuous Balfour Alexander
- DeAndra Beard-Ingram
- Laura Bruist
- Cornelia “Nita” Campbell
- Naketa Catchings
- Cassandra Clingler
- Sheryl Collins
- Andrea Freeman
- Jodi Hartzler
- Renanda Hoosier
- Tashona Jones
- Madison King
- Heather Law
- Allison Lyons
- Jamie Martin
- Bailley Maxwell
- Trisha Metz
- Taylor Mills
- Jenna Mongosa
- Courtney Smith-Powell
- Derick Steele
- Scott Taber
- Amber Thompson
- Andrea Wright
- Sandra Young
Leadership Kokomo is led by Ivy Tech Community College with support from these partners: the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance, the City of Kokomo, and the Kokomo Thriving Center Indiana Wesleyan University. In a year-long program, it aims to bring together a diverse group of existing and emerging leaders to empower them to become resourceful stewards of the community.
Kerns is an LK graduate who now serves as director of Venture Development for the Kokomo Thriving Center at Indiana Wesleyan University. As director of the LK program, she works closely with Katie Loman, Amy McCloud and Bonnie Devers of Ivy Tech Kokomo’s Ivy+ Career Link office.
Laura Hapner, vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at Ivy Tech Kokomo, welcomed guests to the event and presented the certificates of completion to the graduates. Graduates Scott Taber and DeAndra Beard-Ingram represented the class in presenting examples of this year’s Leadership Kokomo projects aimed at understanding selected local non-profits and offering suggestions for improved policies and processes.
Leadership Kokomo alumna Sherry Rahl, who now serves as executive director of Kokomo Urban Outreach, gave spirited remarks on the challenges, opportunities and joys of servant leadership and Kokomo Mayor Tyler Moore encouraged the group to use what they’ve learned for the betterment of their community.
Loman announced applications are being accepted for the next cohort of Leadership Kokomo, which will begin in August. Review of applications will begin June 10. For more information on the Leadership Kokomo, go to www.LeadershipKokomo.com. The 42nd cohort will run from August 2023 to May 2024 and will include 100 contact hours of leadership training and community engagement.
IVY TECH KOKOMO SERVICE AREA NEWS 