APRIL 11, 2018 - The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce announced the 37th graduating class of the Leadership Jackson program. Leadership Jackson is the professional development program run by the Chamber to support up and coming business and community leaders and give them to the tools to succeed and thrive in their business while helping lead the Jackson community. Throughout the seven-month course, participants learn from community, education, business, and government leaders on topics ranging from Business Communication and Teamwork, to Personal Branding and Nonprofit Governance. Participants are also required to take part in learning opportunities outside of the classroom.The Leadership Jackson Graduation takes place Thursday, April 12A new addition to the class this year is group service projects. Each person was broken up in to three groups that chose a nonprofit organization to partner with. The nonprofits picked this year were the Cascades Humane Society, Community Action Agency, and the Dept of Health and Human Services. This provided a hands-on experience for participants to know and understand the needs and innerworkings of a local nonprofit. “We hope these experiences offer confidence to find their passion in support of the community.” said Matt Swartzlander, Director of Events and Legislative Affairs for the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce.
2017-2018 Participants
Nicole Banister/Automated Logistics System, LLC
Jennifer Miller/Baker College of Jackson
Cory Hurley/C P Federal Credit Union
Stephen Best/C P Federal Credit Union
Amy Kinder/Cascades Manor
James Lakatos/ Commonwealth Associates, Inc.
Casey Zonts/ Community Choice Credit Union
Bridget Simone/Community Choice Credit Union
Kira Hotchkiss /Culver's Restaurant
Elli Blonde/Exchange Club of Jackson
Katie Osman/Flagstar Bank - W. Michigan
Sarah Allison/Henry Ford Allegiance Health
Kelly Froedtert/Jackson Community Foundation
Calvin Battles/Jackson District Library
Marie Page/Jackson Magazinze
Salida San Miguel/Junior Achievement of the Michigan Edge, Inc.
Philip Hoffman/LifeWays Community Mental Health
Cassie Watson/LifeWays Community Mental Health
LaDena Fredette/Michigan Works! Southeast
Joseph Rizzolo/OmniSource Michigan
Kevin Reeve/Production Realty
In addition, Georgia Fojtasek, CEO of Henry Ford Allegiance Health, will be recognized as the 2018 Leadership Jackson Distinguished Past Graduate Award Recipient.