Wichita Metro Chamber Selects 2009 Leadership Wichita Class

Twenty-four Wichita area citizens have been chosen to participate in the 2009 Leadership Wichita class, a leadership training program presented by the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Leadership Wichita participants are identified through a nomination process followed by submission of a formal application to the program’s Board of Trustees for selection.

The mission of Leadership Wichita is to identify, inform and inspire leaders in the community. The 2009 class will participate in eight sessions that cover issues such as economic development and the future vision for Wichita, workforce development and the impact of ensuring a highly educated workforce in our community, the importance of consensus within government, along with building leadership skills through real-life examples, group discussions and collaboration.

"Leadership Wichita offers participants a unique opportunity to learn from each other and from leaders from all sectors of our community who graciously volunteer their time to share their insights and experience," said Derrick Nielsen, Chair of the 2009 Leadership Wichita Board of Trustees. "Participation is about more than learning. The twenty-four classmates will be challenged to get involved, to share their talents, as well as the skills that they learn through the program, to make Wichita a great place to live, work and play."

The 2009 Leadership Wichita class begins Thursday, September 10 and concludes on Tuesday, November 24.

Class of 2009 members:

Mr. Noel Y. Anderson, Chief Development Officer, Midway-Kansas Chapter, American Red Cross
Mr. Keith D. Ayotte, Project Manager, MKEC Engineering Consultants, Inc.
Ms. Frankie M. Brown, Director of Human Resources, Wichita State University
Mr. Troy Bruun, Deputy CFO, Sedgwick County Government
Mr. Allen Clouse, Vice President, Nimlok Kansas/The Design Center
Capt. Jeffrey Easter, Captain, Wichita Police Department
Ms. Vicki L. Forbes, Division Supervisor, Wichita Fire Department
Mr. Michael Garvey, President, Builders, Inc.
Mr. Joseph M. Jabara, Support Group Commander, Kansas Air National Guard, 184th Intel Wing
Ms. Brooks G. Kancel, Associate Attorney, Fleeson Gooing Coulson & Kitch L.L.C.
Ms. Cynthia Lafleur, VP Rehabilitation Services & Administration Our Lady of Lourdes Campus, Via Christi Wichita Health Network
Mr. Mark J. Meier, Assistant Vice President, INTRUST Bank, N.A.
Mr. Brady Miller, Sales Associate, Occidental Management
Mr. Terrence Moser, Program Manager, Boeing
Mr. Abe A. Rodriguez, Officer - Private Banking Group, Commerce Bank, N.A.
Mr. Brian Rose, Director - Sales & Marketing, Preferred Health Systems
Ms. Sierra Scott, Producer and Host, It's All Good Productions
Ms. Shelbye L. Smith, Human Resources Manager, iSi Environmental Services
Mr. Paul Sook, Vice President - Wichita Business Unit, Key Construction
Mr. Michael L. Stover, Undersheriff, Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office
Ms. Jill Taylor, Vice President, Bank of America
Ms. Candace Wilson, Marketing Coordinator, Kennedy and Coe, LLC
Ms. Charlene Denise Wren, Assistant Superintendent - High Schools, Wichita Public Schools
Mr. Alexander A. Yermonsky, Director - Global Engineering, Spirit AeroSystems, Inc.

(bolded members are members of YPW)