Leadership Louisville Center Announces Leadership Louisville Class Of 2027, Presented By Humana/Centerwell

Press Release: Leadership Louisville

Sixty-five leaders selected for the region's premier civic leadership experience

The Leadership Louisville Center has selected 65 leaders to participate in the Leadership Louisville Class of 2027, presented by Humana/CenterWell. Representing organizations across business, government, education, healthcare, and the nonprofit sector, the class will spend the next ten months exploring the opportunities, challenges, and relationships that shape the future of Greater Louisville.

Now entering its 48th year, Leadership Louisville is the Leadership Louisville Center's flagship program and one of the nation's longest-running community leadership experiences. Participants gain an in-depth understanding of the region through immersive learning, candid conversations with civic and business leaders, and firsthand experiences that deepen their perspective on the issues affecting the community. The program challenges participants to think beyond their own organizations, strengthen cross-sector relationships, and lead with greater purpose and impact.

"Leadership Louisville has always been about preparing leaders to see the community through a broader lens," said Cynthia Knapek, President and CEO of the Leadership Louisville Center. "This class represents an extraordinary group of leaders who are committed to learning, building meaningful relationships, and helping shape a stronger future for our region."

Humana/CenterWell joins the Leadership Louisville Class of 2027 as presenting sponsor, reflecting its commitment to developing leaders who strengthen our organizations, our community, and our region.

"At Humana and CenterWell, we believe strong communities are built by strong leaders," said Carolyn Tandy, SVP, Chief Inclusion and Engagement Officer for Humana Inc. "That's why we're proud to serve as the presenting sponsor of Leadership Louisville and to invest in a program that has helped shape generations of leaders who are making a difference across our city. As a company with deep roots in Louisville, we're committed to developing the talent, connections, and civic leadership that will help our community thrive for years to come. We congratulate this year's Leadership Louisville class and look forward to the impact they'll have on the future of our region."

This year's class reflects the breadth of leadership across Greater Louisville, bringing together executives, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, educators, healthcare professionals, and public servants who share a commitment to making a meaningful difference in the community.

Members of the Leadership Louisville Class of 2027 are:

• Carolyn Allen, Partner, Bubalo Law PLC

• Elizabeth Archer-Nanda, Clinical Director, Norton Healthcare

• Jon Blandford, Associate Provost, Bellarmine University

• Jacqueline Brill, Sr. Director, Communications & PR, Atria Senior Living

• Michael A. Brown, Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Sustainability, EFP, LLC

• Matt Brown, Director, DLMO CPAs

• Laura Carpenter, Chief Human Resources Officer, Hardscuffle, Inc. | American Life & Accident

• Lakisha Cathey, Director of Smoketown Programs, Blueprint502

• Luke Chase, Executive Director, Hand in Hand

• Eric Clark, System VP of Health Policy and Government Affairs, Norton Healthcare

• Apryl Clark, Immediate Past President, GLABSE

• Jacob Cooper, VP, State Accounts, Bamboo Health

• Bob Cuthbertson, Special Forces Branch Chief, U.S. Army

• Michael Davis, Founder and Lead Coach, Learn & Lead Group

• Todd Earwood, Managing Director, Half Court Ventures

• Gabriel Fritz, VP, COO, The Housing Partnership, Inc.

• Michael Gardner, Chief Multifamily Housing Development Officer, New Directions Housing Corporation

• Kevin Gardner-Sinclair, Senior Pastor, Broadway Baptist

• Jeffrey Goldberg, President Elect, Greater Louisville Medical Society | GLMS

• Chelsea Granville Reed, Partner, Dentons

• Morgan Grubbs, Chief Tree Officer, TreesLouisville, Inc.

• Greta Gudmundsson, Associate Director, Dean Dorton

• Eric Gunderson, CEO, High 10 Digital

• Adam Haley, Senior Director of External Affairs, Goodwill Kentucky

• Emilie Hall, Office Manager, IBEW Local Union #369

• Christy Hartman, Vice President, Finance & Accounting, Prime Development

• Ronda Hogan, Associate Director of Real Estate Mergers and Acquisitions, Humana Inc.

• Adam Hornek, Partner, Cerity Partners

• Mary-Rose Hulsey, Senior Commercial Banking Officer, Republic Bank & Trust Company

• Emily Karem, Director, Jean Frazier Leadership Institute, Sacred Heart Schools

• Leah Kelly, SVP, Foundation and Strategy, One Louisville

• Ryan Lee, Investment Advisor, Fifth Third Bank

• Walter Malone, Vice President of Student Affairs, Simmons College of Kentucky

• Ramiah Martin, Vice President of Operations, HJI Supply Chain Solutions

• Carrie Mattingly, Partner, FBT Gibbons

• Drew McCombs, Director Regulatory Accounting, PPL Corporation

• Pamela McKnight, Chief AI Officer, Louisville Metro Government

• Kimberly Morales, Regional Assistant Superintendent High Schools, Jefferson County Public Schools | JCPS

• Kimberly Moss-Linnear, Senior Advisor to the University Provost, University of Louisville

• Rachel Nally, VP, Environment, Health, Safety & Sustainability, Heaven Hill Brands

• Bryan Nusky, SVP, Corporate & Institutional Banking, PNC Bank

• Allison Ogle, Co-CEO & Co-Founder, I Would Rather Be Reading

• Terri Paige, CEO, Medical Transformation Center

• Kerri Richardson, President, Connexus Public Relations LLC

• Matt Riggle, Chief Administration Officer, LPX Group

• Kelley Runyon, Director of Operations, Waterfront Park

• Myka Rusnak, Managing Director, Audit, EY | Ernst & Young

• Jackie Rust-Schmidt, Director of Plant Operations, Zeochem

• Keith Seales, Account Executive, Office Resources, Inc. | ORI

• Derek Selznick, Chief Community Officer, Maryhurst, Inc.

• Emily Sledge, Homeplace Manager, Old Forester Distillery, Brown-Forman Corporation

• Jasmina Smailhodzic, Vice President Treasury Management Officer, Peoples Bank

• Jennifer Smith, Senior Operations Manager, Amazon

• Michael Struck II, Treasurer, Farm Credit Mid-America

• Whitney Taylor, Director, Mentoring Tomorrow’s Rising Professionals, University of Louisville

• Michele Terry, Senior Manager, HR Operations, GE Appliances, a Haier Company

• Claire Tidmore, SVP, Director of Client Partnership, Doe-Anderson

• Trevor Timmerberg, Assistant Superintendent, Archdiocese of Louisville

• Kassandra Turpin, VP, Communication & Brand Management, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

• Jeremy Vokurka, Business Development, Miranda Construction, LLC

• Thomas Williams, Senior Director of Programs, Thrive by 5 Louisville

• Becky Wolf, Vice President of Developmental Services Division, Seven Counties Services Inc.

• Kenya Young, President and CEO, Louisville Public Media

• Marcy Young, Partner, Big Solutions

• Stephanie Zimdahl, Member, McBrayer PLLC

About the Leadership Louisville Center

The Leadership Louisville Center develops and connects leaders who are equipped to strengthen their organizations and our community. Through nationally recognized leadership programs, professional development experiences and community engagement initiatives, the Center inspires and equips leaders to be better and do better. Since 1979, thousands of graduates have gone on to lead businesses, nonprofits and civic organizations throughout Greater Louisville and beyond.