LEADERSHIP JEFFERSON COUNTY PROGRAM GRADUATES 2025 CLASS

18 participants recognized at end-of-course celebration

MADISON, IN - The 2025 course of Leadership Jefferson County concluded on May 27, 2025, with a luncheon in the Business Conference Center of Ivy Tech Community College-Madison. The graduation luncheon recognized this year’s 18 participants with help from the event’s sponsor, Grote Industries. This year marks the seventh graduating class of the program.

“We had very diverse group of participants coming from many employment sectors and backgrounds,” said Bill Barnes, a member of the Leadership Jefferson County Steering Committee. “We appreciate their participation in the program and hope they will take what they’ve learned about our county and continue to make a difference in our community.”

During the recognition luncheon, Class of 2025 member Angel Snell spoke to the audience about her experiences in the program. Outgoing Leadership Jefferson County Steering Committee Chair Marta Belt was recognized for her contributions to the program, while attendees were introduced to Steering Committee member and incoming Chair Rachel Sharpe, who gave closing remarks.

Leadership Jefferson County is an action project that evolved from Envision Jefferson County housed at the Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County. The course consisted of 10 bi-weekly sessions to give participants a better understanding of resources and relationships within Jefferson County. Topics covered in sessions included: Government Agencies & Organizations, Nonprofits & Volunteerism, Education, Community Health, Social Services, Business & Entrepreneurship, Industry & Economic Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Tourism, and History. Throughout the course, community members and experts were invited to speak and share their insights on the topics presented.

Members of the Class of 2025 (and their employers) include: Tiffany Biesen, Norton King’s Daughters’ Health; Sayra Hoskins, German American Bank; Sarah Judy, Arvin Sango Inc.; Merry Mattox, Madison Area Arts Alliance; Hannah McMahan, Arvin Sango Inc.; Kennedy Napier, First Financial Bank; Emily Powers, River Valley Resources; Lyndsey Ritchie, Visit Madison, Inc.; Kalyn Robison, Jefferson County Health Dept.; Bryan Shaw, City of Madison; Taylor Shaw, Hanover College; Jacob Smith, Fairfield Inn & Suites/Historic Eagle Cotton Mill; Angel Snell, Ohio Valley Opportunities; Chip Snyder, Hanover College; Angela Spurgeon, Ohio Valley Opportunities; Kate Sutter, Ivy Tech Community College-Madison; Hannah Taylor, Grote Industries; and Amanda Thompson, Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Indiana.

Applications for the 2026 session of Leadership Jefferson County will be available in the fall. For more information about Leadership Jefferson County, contact Bill Barnes at (812) 265-3327, email bill@cfmjc.org, or visit the program’s webpage at www.cfmjc.org/ljc.