Leadership Louisville Center announces 43 emerging leaders selected for 28^th Ignite Louisville Class

Forty-three emerging leaders have been selected for the Leadership Louisville Center’s Ignite Louisville Class of Spring 2023 that will run from October 2022 – April 2023. This is the 28^th class of the award-winning program, presented by Norton Healthcare, which has graduated over 1,200 up-and-coming leaders, preparing next-generation talent for expanded roles in their organizations and in the community.

The Ignite Louisville experience grows high potential professionals by developing the key components of leadership, with core curriculum developed by the Leadership Louisville Center and partners including Norton Healthcare, Brown-Forman Corporation, and the U.S. Army. The class puts these lessons to work through the Ignite Louisville Challenge, which is an opportunity to be part of one of the Center’s Community Acceleration Teams and work with a local nonprofit to develop and implement solutions for their needs. The teams compete to do the most good for their nonprofit, gaining hands-on experience performing on a diverse team and serving the community. Since the first class graduated in 2005, Ignite Louisville participants have worked on 166 projects for area nonprofits to plan, execute and sustain new strategies for success.

“It is critical for companies to invest in their talent today, to better engage and support their emerging leaders, as well as prepare them to take on the tough challenges ahead,” said Cynthia Knapek, president and CEO of Leadership Louisville Center. “Ignite Louisville is our premier talent development program and we’re excited to announce the leaders selected for our newest class as well as celebrate the over 30 companies who are modeling investment in their talent and our community, including our long-time partner and presenting sponsor Norton Healthcare.”

Members of the Ignite Louisville Class of Spring 2023 (Oct. 2022 – Apr. 2023) are (click for photo roster):

Shelby Babcock, Chief of Staff, ARGI Financial Group

Michelle Bartoszek, Transportation Manager, Waste Management

Ashley Byrum, Grant Developer, Jefferson County Public Schools | JCPS

Jessica Childress, Associate Director, Process Improvement, Humana Inc.

Whitney Conely, Experience Strategy & Transformation Lead, Humana Inc.

Megan Cooper, Executive Director, Camp Hendon – Kentucky Diabetes Camp for Children

Mera Corlett, Community Engagement Coordinator, Seven Counties Services Inc.

Danielle Dilger, Risk Management Lead, Humana Inc.

Courtney Evans, Director of Advancement, Jewish Family & Career Services | JFCS

Michael Fetter, Director of Marketing, Louisville Tourism | LCVB

Nathaniel Troy Fowler, Managing Associate, Frost Brown Todd LLC

Mandela Gapala, Employment Services Manager, Kentucky Refugee Ministries

Ashleigh Hazley, Senior Manager of Programming and Community Engagement, Muhammad Ali Center

Abby Jacobs, entralized Scheduling Director, Confluent Health

Nick Jewell, Group Leader – EDO Emerging Technology Engineering, LG&E and KU Energy

Gabrielle Jones, Vice President of Content, Louisville Public Media

Amanda Keller, Senior Physician Recruiter, Norton Healthcare

Heather Kelley, AVP Retail Sales Manager, Eclipse Bank

Cassie Lyles, Teacher, Jefferson County Public Schools | JCPS

Kelsey Magnine, Sr. Director, Strategic Partnerships & Client Success, Confluent Health

Lauren Martin, Director of Housekeeping, Omni Louisville Hotel

Ashtan Moriarty, Regional Finance Director, Confluent Health

Ryan Mudd, Senior Manager, EY | Ernst & Young

Meghan Murphy, Digital Marketing Analyst, Jack Henry & Associates

Carman Napier, Director of Development, Day Spring

Hannah Oiler, Assistant Vice President, PNC Bank

Andrew Patterson, Financial Center Manager, Fifth Third Bank

David Payne, Assistant General Counsel, Confluent Health

Lanisha Porter, Director of Ministries, St. Stephen Baptist Church

Justin Richards, Communications Manager, Appraisal Institute

Sara Ruiz Esparza Morales, Global Quality Assurance & Continuous Improvement Manager, Brown-Forman Corporation

Caroline Clementine Shoenberger, Area Sales Manager, The Al J. Schneider Company | AJS Hotels

Mclean Shutt, Sales Support Specialist, Mercer LLC

Abra Sickles, Director, Physician Development, Norton Healthcare

Eva Snadon, CEO/President, POWER2 Consulting

LaShonna Thompson, Clinic Manager, New Hope Services, Inc.

Dominique Wales, Area Business Manager, Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals

Janine Webb, Corporate Counsel, Yum! Brands, Inc.

Sarah Weedman, District Resource Teacher: Deeper Learner, Jefferson County Public Schools | JCPS

Lauren Wernert, Director of Benefits, Confluent Health

Jordan Wiehebrink, Director of Enrollment Strategy and Innovation, Bellarmine University

Ashlie Woods, D&I Program Coordinator, Transit Authority of River City | TARC

William Wright, Innovation Program Manager, Louisville MSD

ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP LOUISVILLE CENTER

The Leadership Louisville Center is the region’s most valuable resource for leadership development and civic engagement. With a purpose to inspire and equip leaders to be better and do better, it has graduated over 15,000 through its programs since 1979. The Center is recognized as a national best practice and is known for its dynamic programming and strong community connections. Programming includes five social impact leadership programs (Leadership Louisville, Focus Louisville, Ignite Louisville, Bingham Fellows and Encore Louisville), cohort programs for women and employee resource group leaders, leadership skills training courses presented through partner brand LeadingBetter™, and events designed to connect leaders and motivate positive change. Learn more at www.leadershiplouisville.org.

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