Leadership Kentucky ELEVATE Class of 2026 Graduates

Press Release by Leadership Kentucky

The ELEVATE Kentucky Class of 2026 graduated on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. Twenty-six civic and community leaders from across the Commonwealth of Kentucky celebrated after three months together. 

Since 2017, ELEVATE Kentucky has provided young leaders with an in-depth personal and professional development program that fosters a better understanding of the challenges facing our Commonwealth.

This year’s program was held from April through June, in Pikeville, Owensboro, and Frankfort/Northern Kentucky. ELEVATE provided opportunities for class members to hear from thought-provoking Kentucky leaders, learn about issues and opportunities facing our state, and gain insights into personal leadership abilities. Participants also engaged in panel discussions, participated in experiential learning opportunities, gained leadership skills, and received both regional and statewide perspectives while traveling across Kentucky.

The 2026 class included 26 participants from across the state representing a variety of public and private sectors.Leadership Kentucky congratulates the following: 

• Katey Barnett, Christian County, Planters Bank Inc

• Bailey Browning, Fayette County, Stites & Harbison, PLLC

• Charles Bush, Perry County, Challenger Learning Center of Kentucky

• Anna Carmack, Oldham County, Norton Healthcare

• Katie Case, Daviess County, Owensboro Health

• Logan Clark, Jefferson County, Generation Tux

• Kira Clayton, Jefferson County, Brown-Forman

• Lauren Combs, Muhlenberg County, Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital

• Tessa Duvall, Fayette County, Lexington Herald-Leader

• Candace Gasper, Campbell County, A New Leaf

• Erica Griffie, Fayette County, U.S. Bank

• Christa Johnson, Jessamine County, Med-Save Pharmacy

• Brandi Kiser, Pike County, Community Trust Bank

• Hannah Lindon, Fayette County, Kentucky League of Cities

• Jackelyn Peake, Jefferson County, Kosair for Kids

• Justin Pruitt, Boyd County, Boyd County Fiscal Court

• Hannah Reckart, Warren County, Center for Courageous Kids

• Ashley Redmond, Bell County, Pineville Community Health Center

• Melissa Reynolds, Fayette County, CHI Saint Joseph Health - Common Spirit

• Annie Santos, Franklin County, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

• Hannah Simms, Fayette County, Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation

• Hunter Stewart, Fayette County, South Central Bank

• Christa Stringer, Harlan County, Eminence Independent Schools

• Kendall Sturgill, Fayette County, MAP Automotive Group

• Colson Thomas, Calloway County, Kosma Consul

• Kilee Weiskittel, Kenton County, OneQuest Health

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About Leadership Kentucky

Leadership Kentucky, created in 1984 as a non-profit educational organization, brings together a diverse group of people who possess a broad variety of leadership abilities, career accomplishments, and volunteer activities to gain insight into complex issues facing the state. By fostering understanding of how the state’s issues are interconnected, and by forging new relationships among community and regional leaders, Leadership Kentucky graduates bring a fresh and informed perspective to their communities and companies, serving as important participants in the unified effort to shape Kentucky’s future. The Leadership Kentucky Foundation offers four unique programs: Leadership Kentucky, ELEVATE Kentucky (for young professionals), BRIGHT Kentucky (for Eastern Kentuckians) and New Executives to Kentucky (for senior level executives who have lived in the state for less than two years). For more information, please visit leadershipky.org or email lky@leadershipky.org.