United Way of Central Indiana Announces Leadership United Class of 2020

INDIANAPOLIS – Leadership United kicked off its 34th year of programming and welcomed 35 participants to the Class of 2020 with its opening retreat last Friday at Ivy Tech Community College’s downtown campus. Leadership United is United Way’s community leadership and board development program, which combines learning and practical experiences to help individuals develop leadership skills, increase their knowledge of the community and acquire the skills needed to serve as board members and community leaders. “The depth of experience in this year’s class shows us how hungry professionals are to engage in the community in meaningful ways. This is a critical time for us to leverage the talent of passionate, civic-minded leaders to be involved in their communities,” said Maggie Phelps, Leadership Initiatives and Corporate Volunteerism Senior Manager. “Leadership United takes the strengths and interests of these individuals and builds the skills they need to be successful board members while building a pipeline for strong leadership in our Central Indiana community.” During the program’s nine-month term, participants commit to 75 hours of leadership and board development training to explore the community’s most pressing human services needs and prepare them to serve their community as decision-makers. This year’s cohort will participate in powerful learning experiences throughout the program, ranging from an immersive poverty simulation, an experimental board fellowship placement and volunteer activities that support United Way’s community partners. After a competitive application process, the individuals listed below were selected to join the program. Sandy An, Kiwanis International, Kiwanis Children’s Fund Development OfficerRobyn Baker, AYS Inc., Northern Regional Program ManagerJessica Barrett, Eli Lilly and Company, Associate Brand ManagerJake Bates, Fifth Third Bank, Associate Relationship ManagerNicole Bohannon, Community Health Network, Network Director, Risk and RegulatoryJami Burdine, Gregory Appel Insurance, Vice President and Manager of Human ResourcesBenjamin Cox, Fifth Third Private Bank, Vice President – Wealth Management AdvisorErika Cuadrado, Gregory and Appel Insurance, Director of MarketingErin Drake, Browning Investments, Director of MarketingJoseph Duran, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Vice PresidentKatie Ellis, RJE Business Interiors, Marketing DirectorWhitney Fields, United Way of Central Indiana, Program OfficerTristan Fretwell, Taft, Stettinius, & Hollister, Associate AttorneyNokwakhe Fuyana, Department of Child Services, Family Case ManagerErin Gasway, Eli Lilly and Company, Associate Consultant – US Public PolicyJennifer Hashem, United Way of Central Indiana, Public Relations ManagerKaty Jenkins, KSM Consulting, Senior ConsultantMaris Kancs, First Internet Bank, FVP – Director of STL FinancingJoel Kaul, The Capital Group, Retirement Plan Services ManagerJennifer Knotts, Aqua Indiana, Inc., Executive AssistantTraycee Lane, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Master’s in Philanthropic Studies and Nonprofit Management Certificate StudentSteven Latterell, Ice Miller LLP, Attorney at LawJesse Luke, Fusion Alliance, Solution Director – Measurement and SEO (Technology Consultant)Benjamin Malott, Eli Lilly and Company, Manager – IT, Digital Trial & Digital BiomarkersKaity McGuire, The National Bank of Indianapolis, Research and Development AnalystJohn Meehan, Citizens Energy Group, Manager of User ExperienceStephanie Nader, Community Health Network, Director of Behavioral EducationJessica Parks, Managed Health Services, Community Relations Representative IIKasey Polk, Lewis Kappes, Associate AttorneyHeather Rudicil, Community Health Network, Practice AdministratorAlexis Sowder, KSM Location Advisors, Multistate Project ManagerSamuel Swafford, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, Associate AttorneyTerencia Turner, Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center, Community School CoordinatorChelsea VanHoecke, Indiana Business Advisors, Marketing DirectorLaura Merrifield Wilson, University of Indianapolis, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Director of the Gender Center MEDIA CONTACT:Jennifer Hashem | Public Relations Manageroffice: 317-921-1313 | cell: 563-271-4385jennifer.hashem@uwci.org