FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 14, 2015
Contact: Jeff Bollig, Director of Communications
Office (913) 764-1050; cell (913) 449-1635; email jbollig@olathe.org;
Olathe Chamber of Commerce announces 2016 Leadership Olathe class
OLATHE, Kan.—The Olathe Chamber of Commerce has announced the members of its 2016 class for Leadership Olathe, a program designed to foster civic leadership by developing the skills of emerging and potential leaders from all sectors of the community. There will be 33 participants, including six students from Olathe high schools. The program, which consists of eight full-day sessions, runs from January to the end of May.
The incoming Leadership Olathe class members are (# indicates high school students):
Bessie Bauman, Olathe Northwest High School#
Christina Beaird, Harmon Construction
Jeff Bennett, Nabholz Construction
Jeff Bollig, Olathe Chamber of Commerce
David Boschma, Olathe Northwest High School#
Tim Brady, Olathe Public Schools
Elizabeth Cowan, Bank of the Prairie
Andrea Cronin, Olathe North High School
Nancy Damron, MidAmerica Nazarene University
Mike Fields, Olathe Community Center
Pam Flick, Terracon Consultants, Inc.
Chris Grunewald, City of Olathe
Katie Hazen Olathe South High School#
Trisha Hestand, Shawnee Mission Health
Katherine Horton, Olathe East High School#
Steve Hunter, Simmons First Bank
Lacey Kane, Olathe Medical Center
Stephanie Landis, Johnson County Community College
Hunter Larson, Olathe South High School#
Shulammite Lim, Olathe North High School#
Ann Melton, GBA Architects + Engineers
Shayna Miller, McCownGordon Construction, LLC
Jay Novacek, Olathe Northwest High School
Josh Parrish, Olathe Fire Administration
Jeff Prussia, Shawnee Mission Health
Mike Rauscher, Robert Brogden Buick GMC
Chad Roberts, Olathe Chamber of Commerce
Jon Roberts, Custom Storefronts, Inc.
Johnny Roland, Olathe Police Department
Christine Splichal, Kansas State University – Olathe
Chris Torres, Enterprise Bank and Trust
John Williams, Olathe Police Department
Nicole Woods, Shafer Kline & Warren
Since its inception in 1982, Leadership Olathe has been identifying, educating, inspiring and engaging leaders, and to date, there are more than 850 alumni making a difference in their communities, careers, churches, schools and organizations.
“Leadership Olathe is one of the oldest leadership programs in the state,” said Beth Felski, director of the program. “We are pleased to provide a cutting edge leadership program which gives participants the resources and skills to be an effective leader in the workplace, at home, and in the community.”
Five full student scholarships and one partial adult scholarship were granted from the Olathe Chamber of Commerce Foundation Fund to participants of the 2016 Leadership Olathe class. The partial scholarship was awarded to a participant representing a not-for-profit organization. Additional foundation funds were also allocated to the Olathe Public Schools 21st Century Soft Skills Seminar and ALL (Avid Lifetime Learners) Scholarship Support Program, and two Olathe high school robotics team on behalf of the Leadership Olathe program.
Program sponsors are the City of Olathe, Garmin International, Olathe Public Schools and Terracon. Scholarship sponsors include A Connecting Pointe, John Deere and Terracon.
Candidates were chosen by the alumni review committee based on recommendations and information provided through an application process. The respective Olathe high school administrators nominated student participants.
About the Olathe Chamber of Commerce
The Olathe Chamber of Commerce is the largest chamber in Johnson County and the second largest chamber in the Kansas City metropolitan region. It has received Five-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – a designation obtained by only 1 percent of the nation’s chambers. Its vison is to be the voice of business that advances the economic well-being and quality of life in Olathe. Its mission is to foster a progressive community through inspired leadership, balanced economic growth, highest educational opportunities and responsive government to ensure a quality family business environment. Follow us on Twitter @OlatheChamber and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/OlatheChamber.
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