The Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the 37th Leadership Gainesville Class. Leadership Gainesville (LG) is a year-long community leadership program designed to identify, educate and develop leadership skills. Each year approximately 40 individuals are selected to participate in the program following completion of a competitive application process.
LG allows this diverse group of community leaders to interact with decision makers in Alachua County in order to be more knowledgeable about the issues and opportunities the community faces. Many graduates of the program have gone on to hold elected offices in Gainesville or Alachua County as well as be appointed to seats on Citizen Advisory Boards. All give back to the community in some way.
During the program, the class will have sessions focused on social services, education, economic development, state and local government, public safety, medical issues and more.
LG 37 launched Aug. 20 with Opening Night at Haile Village Plantation Hall. Classmates were welcomed by Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce President Brent Christensen and LGAA President Scott Costello.
The following morning, LG 37 gathered at the Chamber for the Class Retreat with Simsoc Director Dr. Larry G. Peppers.
The LG introduction continued with a community bus tour of Gainesville’s innovation economy. The class was welcomed by County Commission vice-chair Lee Pinkoson before an Innovation Gainesville presentation by iG Vice President Ann Collett.
The class toured east Gainesville, Archer, Newberry, High Springs, Alachua and Hawthorne and met with local leaders to learn about each city’s economic challenges and their plans for growth. During the tour, LG 37 visited Progress Corporate Park and ultimately wound up at Gainesville Technology Enterprise Center (GTEC) for a presentation from Booker Schmidt, GTEC executive director.
While it was a long day, participants agreed that there was much more to the county than they realized, and the stage was set for much more learning to follow.
“We were introduced to some amazingly effective leaders that succeeded in completely transforming some element of their communities,” said Alison Law of Pam Burns CPA and Associates. “In that, I feel especially honored to be part of the tour and part of LG.”
Mason Alley - Writer
Michael Blank - UF Student
John Bonacci - Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Travis Butcher - FloridaWorks
Donna Carroll - Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Rudy Castano - A Personal Elf
Devon Chestnut - Cox Communications
Arthur Clark - Haven Hospice
Lesley Cox - Sebastian Ferrero Foundation
Michael Curry - Santa Fe College
Trish Everitt - City of Gainesville
Ginger Gibson - Santa Fe College
Eric Godet - Godet Industries
Jennifer Grinnan - Robinshore Incorporated
Greg Grisson - Merchants & Southern Bank
Tyler Guynn - Perry Roofing Contractors
Lee Hall - PPI Construction Management
Troy Hart - SantaFe HealthCare, Inc.
Billy Holdsworth - Jeff's New York Deli
Steve Jeppson - Florida Credit Union
William Johnson - Forest Meadows Funeral Home
Reggie Keith - Carpet Systems Plus North Florida
Don Kellogg - PPI Construction Management
David Knop - Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation
Allison Law - Pam Burns CPA & Associates
Trey Long - James Moore & Co., P.L.
Krista Mitchell Cornell - Meridian Behavioral Healthcare
Eugene Morris - Alachua County Sheriff's Office
Sarah O'steen - Florida Food Service, Inc
Tracy Riggins - RTI Biologics
Robin Rimes - New Horizons Computer Learning Center
April Schroeder - Junior League
Stephanie Sims - Office of Sustainability
Debbie Sorgi - Advantage Publishing
Kim Stroman - Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce
Rhonda Stroman - Alachua County Housing Authority
Adam Towers - Bogin, Munns & Munns, PA
Jennifer Tyler - UF Performing Arts
Margot Wilder - Child Advocacy Center, Inc.