These emerging leaders were recognized for their completion of the LDWC program at a ceremony on Thursday, May 16th, in the Parkview Ballroom at the Eagles Theatre.

Patrick Sullivan, chair of the LDWC committee, offered welcome remarks to kick off the graduation ceremony and thanked the many sponsors and employers who helped this year’s cohort succeed.

Tenille Zartman, president and CEO of Grow Wabash County and LDWC program facilitator, shared an overview of some of the great opportunities and experiences presented to this year’s cohort of graduates to not only learn about the Wabash County community, but to come together to give back to that community.

The graduates had the chance to share the many ways they gave back to Wabash County through their group service projects. As a requirement for graduation, each participant had to complete at least 25 hours of community service.

Following the presentations, Dr. Leah Nellis, Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Special Projects at Indiana University Kokomo, informed the audience that in addition to completing the full LDWC program, many of the students in this year’s cohort also successfully earned a digital IU Micro-Credential in “Essentials of Leadership.”

This micro-credential is the first of its kind offered through the LDWC program as well as the first credential of its kind awarded by the Indiana University system.

Jim Smith, member of the LDWC Steering Committee, assisted Zartman in recognizing all of the program’s graduates and handing out their certificates of completion and Grow Wabash County padfolios.

Graduates for the 2023-2024 LDWC cohort include:

• Biz Bishop, Visit Wabash County
• Madyson Boyer, Beacon Credit Union
• Kathey Carney, Intertech Products
• Chrissy Chamberlain, Wabash County Government
• Doug Cox, Ford Meter Box
• Emily Frank, Honeywell Arts & Entertainment
• Blake Gribben, Wabash County YMCA
• David Haynes, Ford Meter Box
• Jackie Helser, Waypoint of Wabash
• Sarah Law, Wabash County YMCA
• Chandra Leach, Beacon Credit Union
• Trent McDonald, Wabash County Museum
• John Proffitt, Ford Meter Box
• Amanda Randel, Pathfinder Services
• Kailynn Richardson, Bridgeview Eye Partners
• Keanu Rish, Lundquist Appraisals & Real Estate
• Lindsay Swihart, The Arc of Wabash County
• Emma Thomas, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management
• Adrianna Town, Downtown Wabash, Inc.
• Amber White, Grow Wabash County
• Kris White, Ford Meter Box
• Tyler Wilson, Ford Meter Box

In addition to the graduation certificates, there were also several awards presented to members of the cohort who stood out for their various strengths.

These awards included: The Social Change Award presented to Jackie Helser; The Sunshine Award, presented to Trent McDonald; The Entrepreneur Award presented to Keanu Rish; The Best Communicator Award presented to Biz Bishop; The Servant Award presented to Adrianna Town; and the Emerging Leader Award which was presented to Kris White.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Grow Wabash County hosted its third annual LDWC alumni mixer which allowed for these new graduates to connect and network with the many years of graduates that came before them.

Grow Wabash County is thrilled to see a new cohort of leaders take what they have learned over the past several months and apply it to their respective jobs, committees, and boards in an effort to make Wabash County an even greater place to be.

Plans are already in the works for the 2024-2025 cohort of Leadership Development Wabash County and registration for this next program will begin in August 2024 with classes beginning in October 2024.

Companies or individuals interested in being placed on the waitlist for this upcoming cohort can do so by emailing Jana Thibos at [email protected].

Grow Wabash County would like to thank all the supporters and sponsors that made the 2023-2024 LDWC program an incredible success.

Core Sponsors include: Beacon Credit Union; City of Wabash; and Wabash County Commissioners.

Lunch Sponsors include: Duke Energy; Edward Jones; Josiah White’s; Heartland Career Center; NIPSCO; Real Alloy; Ruoff Mortgage; and Town of North Manchester.

Scholarship providers include: City of Wabash; Downtown Wabash, Inc.; Grow Wabash County; and Hoosier Jiffy Print.