Celebrating the 2025 Leadership Louisville Class, presented by Republic Bank
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On May 6, we proudly celebrated the graduation of the Leadership Louisville Class of 2025 presented by Republic Bank — a group of 65 remarkable leaders who completed one of our region’s most transformative leadership experiences.
This year’s class not only completed the program with purpose — they made history. For the first time in the 45-year history of the Leadership Louisville program, we reached 100% participation in scholarship giving, with the Class of 2025 raising more than $26,000 to support future leaders. This incredible milestone is a testament to their generosity and commitment to making this experience accessible for others.
“The 65 members of the 2025 Leadership Louisville class embarked on a transformative experience,” said Cynthia Knapek, President and CEO of the Leadership Louisville Center. “The Leadership Louisville program is designed to prepare leaders to better understand the complexities and challenges of our community, so they can go back to their organizations and their personal lives with the abilities to impact the greater good.”
“Republic Bank was delighted to return as the presenting sponsor of the Leadership Louisville program,” announced Logan Pichel, President and CEO of Republic Bank. “Enabling our community to thrive is central to Republic Bank’s mission. We understand our profound responsibility to empower and support the leaders who will shape our community’s future. Through fostering a culture of civic engagement and providing essential resources, we aim to inspire individuals to step forward, make a difference, and create a legacy of positive change that transcends generations.”
The 2025 Class included leaders from the highest levels of organizations of all kinds, from all sectors. It also included the third recipient of the Charles F. Herd Scholarship, Lieutenant Colonel, Timothy M. Schumacher, Division Chief for Special Management Division of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command. The Charles F. Herd Scholarship was created in memory of Charles F. Herd, a dedicated community leader and one of the founders of the Leadership Louisville Center.
“Once again the Herd Family is honored to have such an impressive Soldier as the recipient of this endowment,” said Colonel (Retired) Walter Herd. “LTC Tim Schumacher is just the kind of proven combat leader that our father would have loved to bring to Louisville.”
The sixty-five members of the Leadership Louisville Class of 2025 are:
Chad Barras, Director, Learning & Development | Republic Bank & Trust Company
Tracilia Beacham, Community Outreach Director | Restorative Pain Institute
Samantha Betton, Ph.D., Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs | Simmons College of Kentucky
Andrea Denise Bolden, Chief Diversity Officer | Spalding University
Diane G. Bruce, Ph.D., Dean, Rubel School of Business | Bellarmine University
Jillian Cantu, Executive Vice President | Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana, Inc.
Gregg Carter, Director of Finance & Grants Administration | Jewish Heritage Fund
Matthew Cerra, Director, Finance | Baptist Health
Marcus A. Davis, Director of Communication | Blueprint502
Bradley Scott Gordon, Sr. Director Partnership Development | LouCity/Racing Louisville FC
Rev. Dr. Kilen K. Gray, Chief Operating Officer, Program Coordinator | Creative Spirits Behavioral Health
Eric Gurevich, Director of Community Relations | Parks Alliance of Louisville
Tyler Hampton, Principal Workplace Solutions | Cerity Partners
Thomas S. Higgins, Jr., M.D., President | ENT Care Centers
Shermiah Holland, Owner | Peach Cobbler Factory
Erica Holloway-McDaniel, Senior Director of Corporate Relations | Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana
Pamela Holwerda, Investment Advisor | PNC Bank
Sharise Horne, Chief of Equity & Community Partnerships | Louisville MSD
Emily Irwin, Partner | Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP
Megan Jacobs, Global Marketing Director, Colours | Givaudan Sense Colour
Doug James, Advertising Director | Louisville Business First
Jamiera Johnson, Director, Choice Zone Programs | Jefferson County Public Schools | JCPS
Laela Kashan, Director of Advocacy and Engagement | Kentucky Nonprofit Network
Stacey Langan, VP, People Operations and Development | Bamboo Health
Tim Lawson, Director of Client Services | Tandem Public Relations
Jakeeva J. Lee, Chief Executive Officer | Greater Louisville Association of Realtors
Patrick Lewis, President & CEO | The Filson Historical Society
Linette Lowe, Executive Director | Central Louisville Community Ministries
Brian J. Massey, CFO | LDG Development
Kristin E. McCall, Partner | Dentons Bingham Greenebaum LLP
Erica McDaniel, Senior Director of Corporate Relations | Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana
Holly A. McGuire, Director, Office of Continuing Education for Priests and Lay Ecclesial Ministers | Archdiocese of Louisville
Shawn McWhorter, Assistant Director of Safety | Transit Authority of River City | TARC
John Miller, Dean of Kent School of Social Work and Family Science | University of Louisville
Anne Monell, Executive Director | Legacy Foundation of Kentuckiana
Jazzma Moore, Director, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging | Norton Healthcare
Daniel George Mudd, Partner | Frost Brown Todd
Jacqueline Suzanne Norman, Business Agent and Organizer | IBEW Local Union #369
Matt O’Mara, SVP, Executive Media Director | Doe-Anderson
James Racine, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | Kentucky Country Day
Kumar Rashad, Math Teacher, Vice President | Jefferson County Teachers Association
Veena Reddy, Project Architect | Sustainability Leader | Associate | Schmidt Associates
Christopher Reynolds, Director, IT Programs | Atria Senior Living
Benjamin Riddle, Member | Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Catina Rivera, Assistant Director | Louisville Metro Government
Lorri A. Roberts, Executive Director | Brightside
Katie Rogers, VP, Patient Care Services, Chief Nursing Officer | Norton Healthcare
Derrick Russell, Director, Change Management & Digital Enablement | LG&E and KU Energy
Timothy M. Schumacher, Lieutenant Colonel, Division Chief for Special Management Division | U.S. Army Human Resources Command
Brett Shepherd, Chief Development Officer | Fund for the Arts
Andrea Stahlman, News Director | WLKY
Liz Stearman, Behavioral Health Director | Humana Inc.
Max Stefka, Group Product Director | Heaven Hill Brands
Kristen Taylor, Assurance Director | Dean Dorton
Nadareca Thibeaux, Executive Director | LOUMED | Louisville Medical & Education District
Robert R. Thompson, General Manager | Vector Security
Eric Bowen Towell, Senior Wealth Advisor | Mariner Wealth Advisors
Jim Trujillo, Principal | Cerity Partners
Nick Volz, Executive Director Chase Business Banking | JPMorgan Chase
Terra Watkins, Controller | Farm Credit Mid-America | Rural 1st
Kristen Wemer, Chief Technical Officer | Flavorman
Kevin N. Wigginton, Senior Director, Housing and Neighborhood Impact | Knowledge is Key
Ruth Wimsatt Trautwein, Director of Portfolio Management | Stegner Investment Associates, Inc.
Thomas Wissinger, Vice President of Jewish Community of Louisville | Chief Operating Officer of Trager Family Jewish Community Center
Staci Woods, Chief Growth Officer | Trilogy Health Services LLC
Adal Yousef, Chief Financial Officer | Denton Floyd Real Estate Group
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