Leadership Memphis has announced the newest members of its Executive Program Class of 2027.
The association that has been promoting community leadership and civic engagement since 1979 released a list of 50 local CEOs, community leaders, business owners, government officials, managers, directors and principals that will participate in this year's classes.
Dr. Reginald Porter Jr., president and CEO of Leadership Memphis, said the program is all about bettering Memphis and the surrounding area.
“For over 40 years, Leadership Memphis has offered this premier civic leadership experience," Porter said, "and we are proud to continue to bring together leaders from every sector
to expand their impact and strengthen Memphis and the surrounding areas, including Arkansas and Mississippi."
Some notable names in this year's class include YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South President & CEO Brian McLaughlin, Peer Power Foundation CEO Cortney Richardson, WMC TV Chief Meteorologist Ron Childers, and ALSAC Area Executive Direct Robin Samuel, to name just a few.
Leadership Memphis's Executive Program is a nine-month long course that "develops, connects and mobilizes leaders" to create meaningful change across Shelby County. Those nine months include eight full class days held once a month from September through April.
Those sessions include "solutions-focused" dialogue covering some of the biggest issues facing Memphis, panels ofcommunity and nonprofit leaders and community action projects that groups of class members actively participate in.
Graduates join the 4,300-member Leadership Memphis Alumni Network.
"Our programs are designed to develop, connect and mobilize leaders to create positive change across our city and the Mid-South, and our goal for the Leadership Memphis Executive Program is to teach executive leaders how to use their knowledge, network and experiences to amplify impactful and meaningful change,” said Lori J. Evans, director of programs for Leadership Memphis in a statement. “We look forward to working with the Class of 2027 to strengthen Memphis and the surrounding areas through service, mentorship and collaboration.”
Here is the full list of all 50 participants in Leadership Memphis's class of 2027.
- Shara Ayers – Memphis Rise Academy, Network Director of Operations
- Colby Barrom - Amazon.com, Senior Operations Manager
- David Blankenship – Renasant Bank, Managing Director - Private Client
- Reginald Boyce – City of Memphis, Director of Community Affairs
- Toria Brown - Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Manager, The Pursuit Center
- Vonzella Bryant, MD – University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Associate Professor of Emergency
- Medicine and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs
- Tiffany Burton – US Bank, Account Executive
- Antwone Cameron – University of Memphis, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students
- Ron Childers – WMC TV, Chief Meteorologist
- Charity Cole – City of Memphis, Operations Manager
- Antwanette Crutcher – Jasper Float Spa & Wellness Center, LLC, Founder & CEO
- Alfred Degrafinreid – Leadership Tennessee, President & CEO
- Brian Diggs – Power & Tel, Director of Credit
- Jaime Dunn – First Horizon Bank, SVP, Director of Total Rewards
- Marquita Evans – Juvenile Court of Memphis & Shelby County Deputy CAO
- Gwendolyn Gavin - Eagles Nest Family Services, Director
- Anthony Glenn - Fedex, Pilot
- CeCe Glenn - Chick-fil-A Uptown Memphis, Owner/Operator
- Samantha Hammonds - Alliance Healthcare Services, Senior Vice President of Compliance, Grants, and Outpatient
- Rhonda Hooks – New Salem Baptist Church of Memphis, Chief of Staff/General Counsel
- Justin Hunter, MD – Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare, Medical Director of Vascular And Endovascular Surgery
- Cassie Jones – International Paper Company, Manager of Technical Services
- Katie Lea - Methodist University Hospital, Vice President/Chief Nursing Office
- Nichole Love – Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority, Director of Human Resources
- Nicole Lowe – Regional One Health, Vice President of Post-Acute Services
- Dorothy Mays – Pinnacle Financial Partners, Financial Advisor
- Brian McLaughlin - The YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South, President & CEO
- Taylor McPherson – Lehman-Roberts, A Granite Company, Director of Communications and Engagement
- Keesa Mitchell – Memphis Medical District Collaboration, Vice President
- Kindle Nance – Shelby County District Attorney's Office, Chief Prosecutor
- Jenikka Oglesby - The Big We, Chief of Staff
- Mark O'Mell – Economic Development Growth Engine, Manager, Economic Development
- Monica Patel - Provisions Group, Senior Delivery Manager
- Lara Payne – Preserver Partners, Director of Operational Risk Management
- Miajenell Peake – CHOICES, Midwifery Nurse Coordinator
- Elayne Perry – Regional One Health, Director, Patient Financial Services
- Cortney Richardson - Peer Power Foundation, CEO
- Jaron Roux – FedEx/Spitfire Elite Consulting, 767 First Officer / Chief of Staff
- Robin Samuel – ALSAC. Area Executive Director
- Racheal Shantel – Mane Up Memphis Inc, Executive Director
- Alan Sawyer - WATN (ABC24) / WLMT (CW30), Director of Sales
- Todd Shaffer - Memphis Shelby County Schools, Principal
- Franklin Stewart – FedEx, Managing Director Audit
- C’sara Strong – APAC Mississippi/Tennessee, Occupational Health Manager
- Eugenya “Mickki” Tisdale - Fedex Express, Senior Ops Manager
- Marcus J. Taylor - Sports Sanitizers, LLC, CEO
- Shelby Thomas – Alliance Healthcare Service, Chief Financial Officer
- Matthew Szalaj - Shelby County Board of Commissioners / Special Assistant for Policy to Mayor Young
- Tiffany Wiley – Riko’s Kickin Chicken LLC, Owner and Operator
- Glover Wright – Shelby County Public Defender, Supervising Attorne
Jacob Wilt is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal covering Dining, Retail and Real Estate in the Memphis area. You can reach him at jacob.wilt@commercialappeal.com.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Leadership Memphis announces 2027 Executive Program Class
