Rowan County Chamber of Commerce officials kicked off the 16th year of Leadership Rowan.
The 24-member class was introduced at a reception and dinner held at the Country Club of Salisbury on Thursday. Approximately 90 class members, Chamber board members, employers and guests attended.
Leadership Rowan Steering Committee Chair Deb Young (city of Salisbury) served as master of ceremonies for the evening as each member of the new class introduced and told the audience a little about themselves.
Class members are:
Bruton Allen, Community One Bank; Donna Barnes, Citizens South Bank; Maggie Blackwell, The Curious Writer; Cam Campbell, Rowan Helping Ministries; Leslie Cathey, Greg Edds State Farm Insurance; Lennie Cooper, Rowan County Emergency Services; Toi Degree, N.C. State Cooperative Extension; Michele d’Hemecourt, The Land Trust for Central N.C.; Carol Dunlap, Prevent Child Abuse Rowan; Jaime Garrett, Wachovia Bank; Myra Heard, city of Salisbury; Tyler Holden Jr., First Bank.
Roger Leonard, Shat-R-Shield; James McDermott, SunTrust Bank; John Pruitt, Rowan Regional Medical Center; Jill Rufty, Carolina Beverage-Cheerwine; Rebecca Smith, Rowan-Salisbury School System; Edward Smith, Livingstone College; Elizabeth Steele, Alan F. Burke, CPA; Candace Williams, Community Bank of Rowan; Louise Wooten, Rowan Partners for Education; Karen Yousey, Partners In Learning; and Elaney Hasselmann, Salisbury Parks and Recreation.
Class members are scheduled to go on a two-day retreat and then will attend a full-day session each month from September through May to enhance their leadership skills and knowledge of Rowan County.
Leadership Rowan is a leadership development program sponsored by the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce. It is designed to prepare people to assume leadership roles in the county and to further enhance the abilities of existing leaders.
John Casey, chairman of the Chamber board, said, “This program has proven itself many times over. Graduates of Leadership Rowan can be seen serving in positions of leadership all over Rowan County. We look forward to another great class.”