A Greensboro Chamber of Commerce program is celebrating a half-century of developing local leaders with the start of its 50th anniversary class.
Leadership Greensboro began in 1976 with the goal of helping participants better understand Greensboro, build relationships across the community and prepare to take an active role in the city’s future.
Since then, more than 1,800 people have graduated from Leadership Greensboro.
The program has also changed considerably over those five decades: What began largely as a way for participants to learn about Greensboro and make connections has developed into a hands-on leadership program focused on local issues, leadership skills, relationship-building and community projects.
Leadership Greensboro participants and alumni have also played roles in the creation of a number of community organizations and programs – including Other Voices, the Greensboro Children’s Museum, the Teacher Supply Warehouse and the Guilford Nonprofit Consortium.
The program has also maintained a longstanding partnership with the Center for Creative Leadership.
Leadership Greensboro Director Laura Lorenz said this week that the program has evolved along with the city.
“Leadership Greensboro has changed over the last 50 years because Greensboro has changed,” Lorenz said. “The reason for the program is still pretty simple. We want people to know Greensboro, build relationships with people they may not otherwise meet, and leave the program better prepared to lead in this community.”
The 50th Leadership Greensboro class began Monday, Sept. 21.
During the program year, the group’s participants will learn about the people, organizations and issues shaping Greensboro, while working on their own leadership skills and collaborating on community projects.
The anniversary year will culminate with the graduation of the 50th class and an alumni celebration on March 19, 2027, at the UNCG Alumni House.
Leadership Greensboro alumni from throughout the program’s history will be invited to attend the event and celebrate both the newest class and the program’s 50-year history.
The milestone comes as the Greensboro Chamber prepares to celebrate its own 150th anniversary in 2027.
Members of the 50th anniversary Leadership Greensboro class are:
Mia Alsup, Greensboro Power Studios
Jamie Athas, Cone Health
Michelle Black, United Way of Greater Greensboro
Precious J. Bradley, NC A&T State University
Mike Bundy, Cone Health
Edmundo Cepeda, Procter and Gamble
Stephanie Clifford, Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum
Kelly Dawson, NC for Community and Justice (NCCJ)
Demetreis Dorsett, Allegacy Financial
Andy Edwards, Pinnacle Financial Partners
Jeremiah Foster, Core Technology Molding Corporation
Jon Gordy, Volvo Financial Services
Jennifer Gregory, Guilford County Partnership for Children
Erin Hartwick, Well-Spring Life Plan Community
Autumn Hollifield, Autumn Hollifield Creative
Jason Holt, Brady Integrated Security
Janet Howard, Bringing Out the Best at UNCG
Madison Jaimes, Atlantic Union Bank
Kim Janiszewski, CPL Architecture, Engineering & Planning
Tim B. Johnson, Southern First Bank
Sara Jones, Skyla Credit Union
Clarisa Lemke, Lincoln Financial
Kaitlyn Lingard, OneDigital
Samantha Loy, Always Best Care Senior Services
Carl Mattacola, UNC Greensboro
Natashia McEachern, Guilford Technical Community College
Tiffany Morris, NC A&T State University
Jerald Neely, Guilford College
Mark Noe, VF Corporation
Claire O’Brien, Brooks Pierce McLendon Humphrey & Leonard
Isaac O’Hare, Landmark Builders
Donnie Priest, City of Greensboro
Emily Purcell, Freeman’s Grub & Pub
Ranata Reeder, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Anjali Shah, Piedmont Triad Airport Authority
Britney Sink, GTCC Foundation
Cordon Smart, Fox Rothschild, LLP
Lauren Stalls, RSM US, LLP
Daphne Thompson, United HealthCare
Shannon Trapp, NC A&T State University
Eli Saavedra-Villatoro, Ready for School, Ready for Life
Veronica Wardsworth, Kontoor Brands
Nick Wilkinson, Cone Health
Patrick Willis, Smith Leonard
Victoria Young, Replacements Ltd.
i need more info in order to meet them & ‘build relationships’. are permits & inspections involved ? licenses, sureties, bonds . . . do they know their mailman, garbage man plumber urban planners ?
Looks like a feel-good list of names to be recognized and remembered as an ad campaign.
Where do these faux do-gooders gather to “Celebrate” their feel-goodness? Can I come by and maybe get a meal, and help with the fireworks?
An excuse for the local elites to rub shoulders and help each other out more like.
we don’t need an excuse & i rubbed more than shoulder while u spectated ?
.
What a load of ****.
Now, be nice. ‘Member, this is a public forum. Adult children may be offended.