The Henderson Chamber of Commerce Foundation recently graduated the Leadership Henderson class of 2019, which featured 31 local community and business leaders. During the program, which began last fall, students received more than 30 hours of professional leadership development training and met with Southern Nevada’s decision-makers to learn about Henderson’s key topics and infrastructure.
The Leadership Henderson program works to strengthen and educate community leaders by providing participants with in-depth insights into a variety of issues impacting residents of Henderson and Southern Nevada.
The 2019 Leadership Henderson graduating class includes: Verabella Aster, owner of Aster Signing Services; Hazel Branch, senior manager of human resources at Levi’s Strauss & Co.; Sgt. Anthony Branchini, Henderson Police Department; Asia Dean, director of strategy and business development, Dignity Health; Melisa Eichbauer, general manager for Findlay Volkswagen; Melissa Eure, senior director, deputy chief human resources officer at G.C. Garcia Inc.; Eric J. Gilliland, director and chief human resources officer at Nevada State College; Paul Haber, business development for XIT Solutions; Katrina Hone, director of operations, H1 Law Group; Surya Katikireddy, process engineer for VSR Industries; Shakita Kirkland, adult services lead, Henderson Libraries; Daniel Lake, director of security and emergency management, Dignity Health; Kim MacClafferty, assistant vice president, relationship manager for Bank of Nevada; Melanie Marcano, resource development manager, Miracle Flights; Christina Martin, owner of Diced Kitchen; Christopher Martin, site director for RDI Corp.; Royal Marty, CEO, Substrata; Elizabeth Mercier, tax manager for Campbell Jones Cohen; James Millington, COO, Shop247.com Inc., Escapology; Christopher Molina, attorney for McDonald Carano LLP; Kristine Neiman, human resources partner, city of Henderson; Dave Reichart, Realtor, DG Realty; Sue Rodrigues, owner of My Coach Sue; Alexa Salter, branch manager for Wells Fargo; Amanda Stanek, partner, Encore Group; Wade Takashima, owner of Creative Fit; Jamie Thalgott, assistant city attorney, city of Henderson; Jonathan Via, business banking officer for Nevada State Bank; Steven Weggeland, owner of WIIFM Inc.; Leticia Wells, assistant director, College of Southern Nevada; and Lorraine Williams, director of business development, Opportunity Village.
In the past, Leadership Henderson classes have partnered with organizations to raise thousands of dollars to fund projects and help make a stronger community. This year, the 2019 class members donated more than $72,000 to Living Grace Homes. The class raised more than $12,000 in one week through a social media campaign. A few of the class members contributed even more to the campaign with individual fundraising efforts in their offices. The class also collected auction items for Living Grace Home’s Gala. Living Grace Home is planning to use the donations toward the renovation of the facility’s backyard and the kitchen.
Leadership Henderson is governed by the Henderson Chamber Foundation Board and guided by a steering committee. The majority of the participants have been identified and recruited by alumni of the program and all were chosen through a selective application and interview process.
For more information on the Leadership Henderson program, contact Kelly Green, executive director of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce Foundation, at 702-565-8951 or hendersonchamber.com.
Leadership Henderson is a nonprofit organization that operates under the Henderson Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
The Henderson Chamber of Commerce Foundation is a nonprofit corporation organized to manage and distribute funds and resources to further the development of the community through activities that are exclusively charitable, scientific or educational. The Foundation is responsible for the creation and success of the Henderson Business Resource Center (a business incubator) and the Leadership Henderson program.