Leadership West Virginia annouces Class of 2011

CHARLESTON -– Fifty-two leaders from across the state have accepted invitations to participate in the 20th Anniversary Class of Leadership West Virginia. Candidates were selected from a list of nominations that was submitted in late 2010.

Leadership West Virginia (www.leadershipwv.org) is celebrating 20 years as the premier statewide education and leadership development program in West Virginia. The eight-month program identifies emerging leaders throughout West Virginia and enhances their knowledge not only of the challenges facing the state, but also the state's unique attributes and diversity.

Recognizing that the cultivation of new leadership is of utmost importance to West Virginia's future prosperity and progress, Leadership West Virginia works to develop and motivate a cross-section of leaders who will use their talents and abilities to inspire others and to foster a new spirit of energy, enthusiasm and vitality throughout the state. LWV is affiliated with the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce.

"Each year, the class participants are selected from a list of top-quality applicants from around the state. Individuals are selected into the program because they demonstrate leadership skills and -- experiences in civic activities, public affairs and in their professional careers," said Pam Farris, Executive Director of Leadership West Virginia. "We are very pleased with the quality and number of people who applied for this year's class." Farris noted that interest in being a class member continues to be a very competitive process.

Throughout this year members of the class will travel to eight different communities in West Virginia to receive broad-based education on critical topics and, at the same time, have opportunities to hone their leadership skills. The locations and topics for the training program for the Class of 2010 include:

* March 24-25, Eastern Panhandle ­­- West Virginia Hospital Association Health Care Session;

* April 26-28, Morgantown - WV Leadership Conference with guest speaker Doris Kearns Goodwin

* May 19-20, Parkersburg - Economic Development Session;

* June 16-17, Elkins - Chesapeake Tourism Session;

* July 21-22, Huntington - Energy & Manufacturing Session;

* Sept. 15-16, Wheeling - Steptoe & Johnson Justice System Forum;

* Oct. 20-21, White Sulphur Springs – Education and the Arts; and

* Nov. 17-18, Charleston - Jackson Kelly Government/Commencement Session.

"Leadership West Virginia provides graduates with the skills and the knowledge in making sound, informed decisions," added Farris. Many of the participants serve as private citizen volunteers, and many seek and serve in public office. Among the many benefits that come with being a graduate of the program is the network of alumni throughout the state. "Leadership West Virginia congratulates the individuals who were selected to this year's class and wish them the best of luck."

Members of the 2011 Class of Leadership West Virginia:

* Scott Adkins, AARP Foundation (Charleston)

* Reid Amos, West Liberty University (West Liberty)

* Troy Andes, Massey Energy Company (Julian)

* Rachelle Beckner, CAMC Foundation (Charleston)

* Deborah Berry, Fayette County Commission (Fayetteville)

* Mario Bordogna, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC (Morgantown)

* Linda Bunn, AARP (Charleston)

* Margaret Bush, Robinson McElwee PLLC (Charleston)

* Gretchen Callas, Jackson Kelly PLLC (Charleston)

* J. Thomas Clark, Lewis Glasser Cassey & Rollins PLLC (Charleston)

* Joelle Connors-Ennis, City of Wheeling (Wheeling)

* Brian Crist, Lincoln County Primary Care Center (Hamlin)

* Michele Crist, West Virginia Broadcasters Association (South Charleston)

· Mandy Curry, City National Bank (Hurricane)

· Michelle Easton, University of Charleston (Charleston)

· John Galloway, Gibbons & Kawash, CPAs (Charleston)

· Gary Geiger, ATK (Rocket City)

· James Harper, Harper Lumber and Building Supply (Buckhannon)

· Bobbie Hawkins, Alpha Associates (Morgantown)

· Pryce Haynes III, Pryce Hanes Associates (Huntington)

* Alexandria Kincaid, MedExpress Urgent Care (Charleston)

* James King, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Charleston)

* Melinda Kiss, West Virginia Office of the Insurance Commissioner (Charleston)

* Steven Koepsel, Lifetite Metal Products Manufacturers, LLC (Kenna)

* Amy LaPaglia, Protea Biosciences, Inc. (Morgantown)

* Erik Legg, Farrell, Farrell & Farrell, PLLC (Huntington)

* John Lipinski, West Virginia Wesleyan (Buckhannon)

* Jason Lunsford, Dixon Hughes Wealth Advisors (Charleston)

* Cartney McCracken, Rainmaker, Inc. (Charleston)

* Christopher Morris, West Virginia American Water (Charleston)

* Tim O'Neal, The Dow Chemical Company (South Charleston)

* James Owrey, Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia (Charleston)

* Ashley Pack, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP (Charleston)

* Amy Panzarella, American Public University System (Charles Town)

* John "Kenny" Parker, Water Stone Outdoors (Fayetteville)

* Charles Penn, Dominion (Clarksburg)

* Brandi Potock-Helms, United Way of Monongalia & Preston Counties (Morgantown)

· Chad Prather, Huntington National Bank (Morgantown)

· Laura Prisc, ALCAN Global Aerospace, Transportation & Industry (Ravenswood)

· Janet Scarcelli, Chestnut Ridge Center (Morgantown)

· Randall Reid-Smith, West Virginia Division of Culture and History (Charleston)

· Kelly Sadd, Energy Corporation of America (Charleston)

· Donna Tanner, Community Bankers of West Virginia (Beckley)

* Hilary Tarasuk, BrickStreet Insurance (Charleston)

* Kristopher Tawney, Commercial Insurance Services, Inc. (Morgantown)

* Ben Thomas, Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP (Charleston)

* Gregory Thomas, Targeted Communication Strategies (Charleston)

* John "Jack" Thompson III, Chesapeake Energy (Morgantown)

* Mitzi Miller-Vince, Volunteer West Virginia (Charleston)

* Shannon Warren, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (Lewisburg)

* Shane Whitehair, Region VII Planning & Development Council (Buckhannon)

* Linda Wigal, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of WV (Parkersburg)