Graduates of the Leadership Cleveland Class of 2021-2022 (Jennifer Sheely not pictured)
The 2022 Leadership Cleveland Graduation and Alumni Association Scholarship Luncheon was held at the Cleveland Country Club, where 17 professionals graduated from the program.
Keynote Speaker Joel Henderson encouraged the class. Mr. Henderson noted that integrity, vision, concern, creativity, results orientation and courage are characteristics that cultivate a great leader.
“Becoming a great leader is a lifelong journey,” said Mr. Henderson.
Mr. Henderson serves as executive director for Volunteers in Medicine and has spent much of his professional career in some component of leadership, with a focus and passion for healthcare and community betterment.
An alumnus of Leadership Cleveland, in addition to four other Leadership programs, he is a recipient of multiple professional awards and is highly involved in community boards and organizations.
The Graduating Class of 2021-2022 includes: Brad Alexander, Bowater Credit Union; Matt Bolt, Cleveland Utilities; Jeremy Chastain, Cleveland Utilities; Hunter Duggan, Capstar Bank; Kelsey Hall, Bowater Credit Union; Sharon Howard, BancorpSouth; Sara Jones, Life Bridges; NaCole Massengill, Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland; Jack McNeely, Cleveland Daily Banner; David Parris, Rackley Roofing Company Inc.; Michael Patel, Super 8 Motel; Brad Perkins, Raymond James & Associates/Cooper & Cooper; Barsha Pickell, Cleveland State Community College; Corey Samples, First Horizon Bank; Jennifer Sheely, United Way of the Ocoee Region; Tasha Sullivan, Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce; and Terry Winstead, Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough PLLC.
Mr. Alexander, Mr. Bolt, Mr. Chastain, Ms. Massengill, Mr. Parris, Mr. Perkins, Ms. Pickell, Ms. Sheely and Ms. Sullivan received awards for perfect attendance for the nine-month program.
Executive Vice President of the Chamber and Leadership Cleveland Alumnus Bernadette Douglas hosted the event and presented the class with graduation plaques and attendance awards alongside Chamber President and Leadership Cleveland Alumnus Mike Griffin.
The Class of 2022 nominated Mr. Perkins, financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates/Cooper & Cooper, to speak on behalf of the class at the graduation event.
In the weeks leading up to his speech, Mr. Perkins polled the class by email, including class favorite memories and things learned. Mr. Perkins' speech included both funny and serious memories and things learned from many classmates.
Also included in Mr. Perkins’ email, he asked classmates how they would respond to someone thinking of joining Leadership Cleveland, and included many of their answers in his speech. The most notable response being, “Do it!” Though, many responses were more eloquently worded.
Classmates agreed that Leadership Cleveland taught them a lot about aspects of Cleveland they otherwise would have not come into contact with, such as inside factories, the Wastewater Treatment Plant, lawmaking and government organizations and more.
Leadership Cleveland 2022-2023 will begin accepting applications this summer. For information on applying, email Lisa Fain at Lfain@clevelandchamber.com.
Adam Osborne, partner at Henderson, Hutcherson & McCullough and president of Leadership Cleveland Alumni spoke to the room about the benefits of joining Leadership Cleveland Alumni to continue their leadership development journey.
For more information, contact Tasha Sullivan at Tsullivan@clevelandchamber.com or 423-472-6587.