Bingham Fellows Class of 2026

Fifty-two influential leaders selected for Bingham Fellows Class of 2026

From a highly competitive pool of applicants, fifty-two senior-level professionals have been selected to participate in the Leadership Louisville Center’s Bingham Fellows Class of 2026.

The 2026 cohort will examine the topic: “Tech-Driven, Human-Centered: Louisville’s Strategy for the AI Age.”

As artificial intelligence and emerging technologies rapidly reshape industries, workforce demands, and community systems, Louisville faces a defining moment. The Bingham Fellows Class of 2026 will explore how the city can leverage innovation responsibly and strategically – ensuring technological advancement strengthens economic growth, expands access to opportunity, and keeps people at the center of progress.

Each year, the Leadership Louisville Center selects a mission-critical topic that represents both a challenge and an opportunity for the region. The Bingham Fellows program convenes accomplished leaders from business, government, education, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial sectors to develop actionable solutions through deep research, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative problem-solving.

Key focus areas for the 2026 cohort

  • Build a future-ready workforce for the AI economy
  • Strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems
  • Modernize public sector and community systems
  • Expand equitable access to technology and opportunity
  • Position Louisville for sustained competitive advantage

“The AI age is not coming, it is already here,” said Cynthia Knapek, President & CEO of the Leadership Louisville Center. “What matters now is how cities choose to lead. The Bingham Fellows Class of 2026 brings together extraordinary leaders with the credibility, curiosity, and courage to ensure Louisville’s future is both innovative and human-centered.”

The 2026 class reflects the program’s legacy of assembling leaders with diverse expertise, perspectives, and influence – creating a powerful engine for civic impact.

Members of the Bingham Fellows Class of 2026

  • Ibrahim Alshammaa, Director of Programs, Educational Justice
  • Gauri Bhalerao, VP of IT, Goodwill Kentucky
  • Sarah Bhatia, Director of AI Product Innovation, Slingshot
  • Melissa Bork, Partner, Dentons Bingham Greenebaum LLP
  • Beth Broughton, President, Firefish
  • Ann Brown, Chief People Officer, Dare to Care Food Bank
  • Deena Carey, Head of School, Kentucky Country Day
  • Logan Coffey, Manager IT Business Partner and Process Transformation – Finance, Brown-Forman Corporation
  • Tamekka Cornelius, Director, Inclusion & Strategic Partnerships, The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts
  • Rasean Crawley, Project Lead, RxBenefits
  • Scott Dingle, Financial Advisor, Ameriprise Financial
  • Leslie Dover, Vice President of Customer Success, Redeapp
  • Deanna Durrett, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, El Toro LLC
  • Audra Eckerle, Judge, Jefferson County Judicial Center
  • Adam Elias, Assistant Provost for Online & Innovative Learning, Bellarmine University
  • Kevin Frey, Head of Application Development, Farm Credit Mid-America
  • Lance Gilbert, Managing Partner, Net Results Group
  • Julia Goins, IT Project Manager, Trilogy Health Services LLC
  • Ankur Gopal, CEO, Interapt
  • Jeff Guan, Associate Dean for Programs, University of Louisville College of Business
  • Matt Gunn, Partner, Gunn Menefee LLC
  • Angela Hagan, Executive Director, Louisville Visual Art, Inc.
  • Holly Hartman, Collaboration Systems Architect | Founder, The Pop Agency
  • Melissa Hicks, Tax Director, Dean Dorton
  • Eric Hoffmann, Chief Data Officer, Farient Advisors LLC
  • Keturah Jenkins, Associate Vice President Learning and Development, Humana Inc.
  • Faye Jones, Associate Vice President for Health Affairs, Professor and Vice Chair Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville
  • Lisa Keels, Manager, Regulatory Programs, LG&E and KU Energy
  • Monica Lakhwani, Language Access, Louisville Metro Government
  • Sharis Lattimore, Founder/CEO, The Girl Geek
  • Paul Lilla, Director, ERP Consumer Operations and Parts Microenterprise, GE Appliances, a Haier company
  • Stephen Lin, Co-Founder, Sagebird Consulting
  • Katie Litanga, Chief Operating Officer, Jewish Family & Career Services | JFCS
  • Lee Look, CEO, Guthrie Opportunity Center Foundation
  • Henry Lynch, CTO, Vsimple
  • Alisia McClain, Executive Director/Founder/Principal Strategist, TECH-Nique Inc.
  • Kenny Moyer, SVP, Director of Profitability, Pricing, & Performance Management, Republic Bank & Trust Company
  • Ashley Murray, Director of Mission Advancement, St. John Center
  • Chris Nation, Vice President, Mirazon
  • Ellen Oost, VP of Revenue, Louisville Public Media
  • Jason Perkey, Founder/President, The Perkey Group
  • Katie Pfeifer, Partner, Cerity Partners
  • David Ray, Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, Galen College of Nursing
  • Daniel Robinson, VP, HR Business Partner, Humana Inc.
  • London Roth, Chief of Staff to President, Enterprise Growth, Humana Inc.
  • Eric Satterly, Chief Information Officer, Jefferson County Public Schools | JCPS
  • Brad Savko, VP Corporate Banking RM, Old National Bank
  • Chris Seidt, Chief Information Officer, Louisville Metro Government
  • Corrie Shull, Chair, Jefferson County Public Schools/ Pastor, Burnett Avenue Baptist Church
  • Hollie Spade, Director of External Affairs, AT&T Kentucky
  • Matt Whitaker, Manager of Web Development, Norton Healthcare
  • Don Woolridge, Director of Leadership Development, Leadership Louisville Center | LeadingBetter

Together, these Fellows represent Louisville’s civic problem-solvers – leaders committed not only to professional excellence, but to shaping the city’s future.