Celebrating the 159th Focus Louisville Graduating Class
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Louisville Needs Leaders Who Know Louisville
Celebrating the 159th Focus Louisville Graduating Class
The Ripple Effect of Informed Leadership
That’s the purpose of Focus Louisville — the Leadership Louisville Center’s accelerated immersion into community leadership and an introduction to the people, places, and issues shaping our region. Designed for professionals across industries and experience levels, the program builds civic intelligence, cross-sector awareness, and the skills to lead across differences in today’s complex environment.
Louisville is stronger when its leaders are connected, informed, and inspired to act. That’s exactly what happened during our February 12–14, 2026 Focus Louisville cohort, as we celebrated the 159th graduating class of this immersive 2½-day civic leadership experience.
This February cohort once again demonstrated what’s possible when leaders step outside their organizational silos and into the broader story of Louisville.
Meet the February 2026 Graduates
We are proud to recognize the professionals who completed this February session:
- Ramonia Brents, Assistant Planner, Office of Planning
- Letisha Broadus, School Counselor, Jefferson County Public Schools | JCPS
- Erika Brown, Founder & CEO, Ignite Communication
- Meghan Brown, Emergency Preparedness & Operational Resilience Coordinator, Louisville Water Company
- Derrick Carr, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Humana Inc.
- Josh Chavez, Director of Crime Reduction Programs, Louisville Metro Police Foundation
- Jacob Cooper, Vice President of State Accounts, Bamboo Health
- Lauren Cutuli, Project Manager / Owner, Lauren Cutuli LLC
- Molly Gamble, Attorney, Bricker Graydon Wyatt LLP
- Jared Goodwin, Director of Men’s Program Services, The Healing Place
- Marcus Goodwin, Director of Human Resources and Operations, Muhammad Ali Center
- DeLeisa Graham, Founder, Lavish Hope Foundation
- Trevor Greenberg, Project Manager
- Erin Gritton, News Producer, WLKY
- John Hakemoller, Associate Relationship Manager, PNC Bank
- Amy Haley, Community Engagement Manager, Louisville Ballet
- Amanda Harper, Director of Member Services, Chamber of St. Matthews
- Stephanie Henry-Ford, Executive Director, United Crescent Hill Ministries
- Elijah Humble, Digital Marketing Strategist, University of Louisville College of Business
- Haja Kamara, Family Coach, Americana Community Center
- Judi Kassebaum, City Clerk, City of St. Matthews
- Andrew King, Construction Administrator, Schmidt Associates
- Cynthia Lee, Director of Community Engagement, Amplify Startups, Amplify Louisville
- Deanna Lindsey, President, Lindsey Adventures
- Bre Long, Project Manager, Work Architecture
- David Marbaugh, Director, Community Impact, Humana Inc.
- Max Morley, Candidate for District 30, Morley Consulting
- Melissa Perez, Office Manager, Steel Technologies LLC
- Collier Phelps, Director of Development, Whitney/Strong
- Tiffany Price, Brand Home Supervisor, Angel’s Envy Distilling
- Michael Rady, Director, Early Career Supports, Lee, Inc
- Athena Richardson, Senior Business Operations Manager, Solid Light, Inc.
- Mary Rose, Human Resource Director, Jefferson County Property Valuation Administration | PVA
- Traci Simmons, Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist, Life’s Journey Counseling
- William Smith, Executive Assistant, Portland Museum
- Andrew Takami, Region Community Relations Manager, The UPS Foundation
- Lauren Thomas, Creative Manager, High10 Digital
- Sokheang Ty, Owner/Operator, Bamboo Coffee & Donuts
- Tera Walker, Director of Programs & Services, Zoom Group
- Nate Witherspoon, Account Relations Manager, Centene Corporation
- Susan Yeager, Co-Coordinator of Budget and Finance, Jefferson County Property Valuation Administration
- Megan Zabel, Health Education Specialist, Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness
Where Louisville Comes Into Focus
Focus Louisville is the Leadership Louisville Center’s accelerated 2½-day immersion into civic leadership. Designed for professionals across industries and experience levels, the program builds civic fluency, cross-sector awareness, and the skills to lead across differences in today’s complex environment.
Over 2½ dynamic days, participants:
- Engage directly with civic, economic development, and public safety leaders
- Explore Louisville’s history — including systemic challenges shaping neighborhoods today
- Tour public schools and nonprofit institutions
- Develop tools for conflict management and leading across differences
- Build meaningful relationships beyond their own industry
- Create a personal action plan for community engagement
This immersive experience builds what we call the Connected Leader Advantage — the ability to see how business, education, government, and nonprofit systems intersect, and to lead with awareness of how decisions ripple beyond one’s own organization.
Participants leave with sharper judgment and a clearer understanding of how influence travels across sectors — and why Louisville needs leaders who know Louisville.
The Impact
A recent survey of Focus Louisville graduates over the past 10 years found:
For employers, that translates to stronger retention, expanded partnerships, enhanced reputation, and leaders who think more systemically about impact.
Participant Reflections
“Many of us may have become somewhat disoriented amid the complexities of today’s geopolitical climate. Focus Louisville not only gave us the tools to find it again but also provided a space for movers and shakers from all sectors to come together and remind us of the bigger picture, of why we all do what we do. There are a few defining moments in my life, and Focus Louisville is one of them.”
“The Focus Louisville program broadened my perspective and deepened my understanding of the region in ways I had not expected—even as a Louisville native.”
“The experience has created a fire for me to get involved more in my community.”
From touring public schools and nonprofit organizations to engaging in candid conversations about polarization, economic development, and community trusteeship, participants left informed, connected, and motivated.
Why Organizations Invest: The Ripple Effect
Leadership today requires more than technical expertise. It requires systems-level thinking, cross-sector fluency, cultural awareness, emotional intelligence, and the ability to build trust. When leaders understand Louisville more fully, they make better decisions, collaborate more effectively, and strengthen both their organizations and the broader community.
Leadership that sees the full ecosystem creates ripple effects.
That’s why Louisville needs leaders who know Louisville.
Join the Next Cohort
Focus Louisville is ideal for:
- Executives and managers new to Louisville
- “Boomerang” professionals returning to the region
- Lifelong Louisvillians seeking deeper civic engagement
- Organizations investing in leadership retention and community visibility
Upcoming Cohorts:
- May 7-9, 2026 (Registration now open)
- Sept 17-19, 2026
- December 10-12, 2026
With more than 6,800 graduates since 1985, Focus Louisville remains the region’s premier accelerated entry point into civic leadership.
Congratulations to the 159th graduating class. Your leadership will ripple outward — across industries, neighborhoods, and the future of our city; helping us shape a stronger Louisville.