Introducing the Ignite Louisville Class of 2026
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The Leadership Louisville Center has selected the Ignite Louisville Class of 2026, presented by Norton Healthcare. The class, which runs from October 2025 through April 2026, marks the 31st class of this award-winning program. For over 20 years, Ignite Louisville has graduated over 1,300 up-and-coming leaders, enhancing leadership skills, expanding professional networks, and equipping participants to drive greater results in their organizations and communities. This year’s class consists of 54 talented professionals from a diverse range of industries and organizations.
“We are thrilled to welcome this exceptional group of individuals to Ignite Louisville,” said Cynthia Knapek, President and CEO of Leadership Louisville Center. “Their passion, dedication, and potential are inspiring, and I’m happy to celebrate the over 50 companies who are investing in their talent today – to support their high potential leaders with tools needed to prepare them for the tough challenges ahead.”
“These leaders are paving the way for an even brighter future for Louisville,” said Russ F. Cox, President and CEO of Norton Healthcare. “We’re excited to support the Leadership Louisville Center’s Ignite Louisville program as Norton Healthcare believes in investing in new leaders to create highly networked, creative, and energized community stakeholders for tomorrow.”
Throughout the 6-month program, participants learn from leadership experts and world-class curriculum from LeadingBetter™. The experience strengthens key leadership competencies, including communication, collaboration, and strategic thinking, equipping participants to stand out and succeed. Ignite Louisville is more than a leadership program – it’s a talent accelerator and a masterclass in leading with and through others.
During the experience, participants put their knowledge into practice with the Ignite Louisville Leadership Challenge. The class is divided into Community Acceleration Teams that work with local nonprofits to develop and implement solutions for their needs. Since the first class, Ignite Louisville participants have worked on over 175 projects for area nonprofits to plan, execute, and sustain new strategies for success. The Center’s Community Acceleration Teams are presented by the Legacy Foundation of Kentuckiana.
Members of the Ignite Louisville Class of 2026 are:
Jake Ackley, Outreach Coordinator, Trees Louisville Inc.
Lori Andriot, Associate Manager, Total Rewards, Heaven Hill Brands
Mariya Baker, Director of Sales, Louisville Tourism
Caitlyn M. Barnes, Attorney, Stites & Harbison PLLC
Kennedy Bibb, Manager, Developmental Screening, Metro United Way
Ian Brandon, Specialist, Jefferson County Public Schools
Rachel Bratcher, Associate Wealth Advisor, Mercer Wealth Management
Christopher Bumann, Tourism Sales Manager, Louisville Tourism
Naveen Chaubal, Director, Hyphen Film Center
Danea Cloyd, Program Manager, Whitney/Strong
Tate Crenshaw, Athletic Director, Virginia Chance School
Steven Cull, Director of Finance and Accounting, Clearleaf Finance
Nicholas Curtis, Account Analyst, Advanced Business Solutions
Lindsay Sant Duncan, Corporate Partners Manager, Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest
Abigail Fletcher, Director of Economic Development, Greater Louisville Inc.
Laina Foushee, Controller, Greater Louisville Inc.
Dustin Gilchrist, Senior Management, DMLO CPAs
Zachary Wayne Graham, Director, Supply Chain Operational Optimization, Norton Healthcare
Adam Grannan, Physical Therapist, ProTeam
Lauren Harden, Philanthropy Officer of Major Gifts, The Healing Place
Matt Harper, Tax Manager, DMLO CPAs
Samantha Jackson, I&D Product Development Specialist, Dallas Group of America
Andrew J. Klump, Senior Managing Associate, Dentons Bingham Greenebaum LLP
Christopher Link, SVP Relationship Manager, Bank of America
Michael Maloff, Partner, Dentons Bingham Greenebaum LLP
Abigail Miles, Wealth Advisor, Cerity Partners
Veronica Miller, Executive Assistant, Louisville Metro Government
Kiri Mitchell, Technology Solutions Professional, Humana Inc.
Christie Mudd, High School Gifted Itinerant Teacher, Jefferson County Teachers Association
Sarah Nollner, Director of Marketing, Denton Floyd Real Estate Group
Selma Odobasic, Graphic Design and Web Development Coordinator, Goodwill Kentucky
Janet S. Patterson, VP of Marketing, Development and Communications, Bridgehaven Mental Health Services
Maddie Peabody, Manager, Centric Consulting
John Purcell, Partner, Gray Ice Higdon, PLLC
Gerel Richey, QC Lab Supervisor, Zeochem
Melissa Rift, Master Taster for Old Forester, Brown-Forman Corporation
Abby Riggs, Tax Associate Director, Dean Dorton
Kat Rivers, Leadership Program Manager, Leadership Louisville Center
Jessica Altes Snyder, Associate Director, Strategy, Ad Cucina
Brooke Stafford, Chief of Staff, Humana Military
Austin Taasaas, Financial Analyst, Taylor Advisors
Trent A. Taylor, Associate, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
Brooke Valentine, Membership Director, The Louisville Thoroughbred Society
Jonathan Vest, VP of Finance & Operations, Norton Healthcare
Alison Voit, Program Director – Migration and Refugee Services, Catholic Charities of Louisville, Inc.
Andrew Colin Walker, Architectural Designer, Joseph & Joseph Architects
Anthony J. Walker, Manager of Mentorship & Business Development, OneWest Corporation
Treneice L. Walton, Project Manager, Urban Strategies, Inc.
Odyssey Weathers, Program Marketing Launch Manager, Evidence in Motion
Kenneth C. Whitlock, Jr., Associate Attorney, DBL Law
Adam Wilkinson, Teacher, Kentucky Country Day
Emily Winkler, Staff Tax Accountant, Blue & Co., LLC
Andreas Wokutch, Partner, Frost Brown Todd
Eiman Zuberi, Corporate Responsibility Specialist, LG&E and KU Energy