The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation proudly announce the graduation of the 2015 Class of Emerge Owensboro.
Beth Benjamin – Owensboro Public Schools
Susan Lynn Colbert – Daviess County Public Schools
Jamie WrightKentucky – Farm Bureau
Candice Cross – Hampton Inn Owensboro – South
Lacey Cunningham – Regional Water Resource Agency
Kevin Dorth – Western Kentucky University
Corey Gant – Owensboro Fire Department/Owensboro YMCA
Lonnie Gentry – First Security Bank, Inc.
Brandon Gilles – Farm Credit Mid-America
Ben Hartz – Hartz Contracting, LLC
Faith Holley – RiverPark Center
Andrew Howard – Independence Bank
Jessica Kirk – Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce
Nicholas Knott – Domtar
Mark McAnulty – Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn, LLP
Leslie McCarty – Daviess County Public Library
Austin McLimore – Owensboro Municipal Utilities
Becca McQueen – Kentucky Wesleyan College
Jason Niehaus – South Central Bank
Wes Roberts – Assured Neace Lukens
Nikki Wimpelberg – Owensboro Community and Technical College
Barry Smith – Daviess County Sheriff’s Department
John Walker – Owensboro Family Health Care
Larry Wheatley – Blue Star Consultants
One of the graduation requirements of the class is to complete a group project which fulfills a specific need in the community. The project that was awarded first place was “Generation First” by Class Members Beth Benjamin, Corey Gant, Andrew Howard and Becca McQueen. The concept
was a comprehensive program designed to target sophomores in high school who would be first generation college students and to assist them and their parents in navigating the college process. Topics are not assigned and are conceptualized by class members. Yet all 2015 Class Presentations were focused this year on immediate need for workforce development and education programs.
“It was so refreshing that our class members all recognize the need for workforce development and education programs. These leaders are in touch with what is going on in our community. They are also in touch with the areas we need to improve. One large area of improvement in Greater Owensboro is creating our future economy by working with our current students as well as connecting graduates with opportunities here. These programs each deserve attention,” said Candance Castlen Brake, President of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. I hope the class members keep their passion for their projects and keep looking for ways to implement them.”
“After spending several class sessions with this group. It is clear that Owensboro’s future will be in very capable hands.”
The next class of Emerge Owensboro will be open for application from July 1 through July 31. For more information on the Emerge Owensboro program, please call 270.926.1860.
