Leadership Niagara announces new class for 2015

Leadership Niagara has selected 41 regional leaders across all industries to participate in its 12-month leadership development program, which begins in January.

"Leadership Niagara is focused on a new generation of leaders and class members who have an inclination to rock the boat and transform their environment," said Executive Director Molly Anderson. "We specifically look for change agents and people and places where we can build leadership competencies and capacity."

Leadership Niagara's class members represent business, nonprofit, education, military, law enforcement, health care, the arts, and media in Western New York, Canada and Buffalo.

Leadership Niagara Class of 2015

• Cassandra Barnes, coordinator for special education, Orleans-Niagara BOCES
• Natalie Beilein, school counselor, Niagara Catholic High School
• Sandra Besecker, human resources and safety manager, Niagara Gazette
• Brooke Burrows, coordinator, Grigg Lewis Foundation
• Liam Curry, chief engineer, Covanta Energy
• Jennifer D'Andrea Terreri, founder, S.E.R.V. Niagara
• Gretchen Doty, senior services coordinator, The Dale Association
• Thomas Fisher, teacher on special assignment - dean of students, Niagara Falls School District
• Jessica Foscolo, attorney, Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak
• Michael Freedman, associate director of public relations and manager of online content, Niagara University
• Nancy Freischlag, regional branch manager, Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union
• Mark Gallo, professor of biology, Niagara University
• Julie Gilbert, director of marketing and communications, Niagara Tourism
• Matthew Green, director of operations, Element Development Group
• Stacey Gross, manager of operations, First Niagara Bank
• Marc Guizzo, director of facilities, Calamar
• Darlene Gurnett, senior dispatcher, Niagara County Sheriff's Department
• Paulette Hamilton, special education coordinator, Orleans- Niagara BOCES
• Kyle Heath, licensed relationship manager, KeyBank
• Scott Hiddie, planner, General Motors
• Kimberly Hubert, director of residential services, Heritage Christian Services
• Robert Kilgore, colonel, 107th Airlift Wing
• Tod Kniazuk, executive director, Arts Services Initiative of WNY
• Mary Knotts, community volunteer, Calspan Corp.
• John Lapham, chief of department, City of North Tonawanda Fire Department
• Brian Literman, engineer, General Motors
• Chris Marra, VP/senior branch manager, M&T Bank
• Brendan McIntyre, director of development, Niagara Hospice
• Darius Myles, owner, DMYLES Inc.
• Daniel Norton, director of psychological health, 914th Airlift Wing
• Diane Phelps, French teacher, Niagara-Wheatfield
• Kristin Rhodes, coordinator of leadership development, Community Services for the Developmentally Disabled
• Franca Romeo, president, Romeo Accounting
• Maggie Russell, ecommerce manager, Sheraton at the Falls
• Jaime Ruggiero, president, Jobena Bar & Restaurant Essentials
• Ryan Sinatra, security supervisor, NYPA
• Brian Smith, vice president of business development, Greater Lockport Development Corp.
• Sue Swiatkowski, director of marketing, Global Spectrum
• Jennifer Traver, medical administrative officer, 107th Airlift Wing
• Michael Zimmerman, planning and development coordinator, Lumber City Development Corp.
• CMSgt Michael Zimmerman, loadmaster superintendent, 914th Airlift Wing

The Class of 2015 will be the largest class in the organization's history. In the upcoming year, 140 people will graduate from Leadership Niagara's programs.

Leadership Niagara participants complete a graduate-level program by partaking in seminars, retreats and daylong sessions. Throughout the program, participants engage with industry experts in discussions about economic development, tourism, workforce development, manufacturing, agribusiness, criminal justice, poverty, health care and education. Participants develop their understanding of leadership by studying and experiencing leadership concepts and principles, coaching and mentoring, change/transformation, creativity/innovation and organizational development.

Leadership Niagara is recipient of the national Association of Leadership Programs 2014 Innovation Award for Outstanding Work in Creating Value and Impact through Innovative Strategies.

Leadership Niagara is the longest running community leadership development organization in New York. Since 1984, more than 1,400 participants have graduated from the program. Leadership Niagara's mission is to strengthen regional leadership. For more information, visit www.leadershipniagara.com.