Leadership Kenosha to celebrate 2021-22 graduation

The Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce, where people and business succeed, is excited to celebrate the 2021-22 Leadership Kenosha (LK) graduation on Thursday (May 19) from 5 to 7 p.m. at Kenosha Country Club, 500 13th Ave.

Leadership Kenosha is a local, community-based leadership program where participants have the opportunity to explore must-have skills, including change management, communication, relationship building and problem-solving and equitable practices.

This year, 15 graduating leaders, representing 14 organizations across the higher education, nonprofit, business and government sectors, will be recognized. They are:

• Alexis Rodriguez, Educators Credit Union
• Amy Macemon, UW Madison Division of Extension
• Bill Bennett, Uline
• Candace Abbey, Herzing University
• David Capelli, Capelli Cities LLC
• Hannah Wallisch, UW-Parkside
• Hayley Treadway, UW-Parkside
• Jack Ray, Racine County Public Health Division, sponsored by KAFASI
• Katie Dembowski, Gateway Technical College
• Kevin Meagher, Building our Future of Kenosha County
• Laura Ervin, Kenosha County
• Megan Frazer, Hospice Alliance
• Raul Hernandez, ELCA Outreach Center
• Terra Wendricks, State of Wisconsin Dept of Corrections
• Wendy Cross, Shalom Center

At the event, the LK “Project of the Year” will also be announced. Throughout LK, participants work together in small teams to complete a project submitted by local businesses and organizations.

Projects can vary from helping to plan special events, creating fundraising plans and more. The “Project of the Year” is selected by a panel of LK Steering Committee members and alumni after sitting in on project summary presentations. This year’s teams worked closely together with American Legion Post 21, Shalom Center, Sharing Center and United Way of Kenosha County.

“Kenosha County is full of extraordinary leaders, and Leadership Kenosha participants are exemplary in their dedication and service to our community,” said Dave Strash, President and CEO at KACC. “There’s been a lot to celebrate in my first year as president at Kenosha Chamber of Commerce. The Leadership Kenosha graduation is an especially exciting celebration because we are congratulating existing and emerging leaders on their leadership growth.”

Lastly, Leadership Kenosha is currently accepting applications for the 2022-23 cohort, which runs from September–May. Individuals can apply to be a part of the silver anniversary graduating class at https://kenoshaareachamber.com/leadership-kenosha/ or contact the Chamber of Commerce at
info@kenoshaareachamber.com.

About the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce: Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce is celebrating over 105 years of service to the business community, with a mission to provide opportunities to engage and connect our members with the greater community and promote a culture where people and business succeed.

About Leadership Kenosha: The Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with University of Wisconsin-Parkside and a consortium of dedicated community leaders, presents Leadership Kenosha with the goal of supporting existing and emerging leaders in their leadership journeys, helping participants develop inclusive leadership by exploring must-have skills, including change management, communication, relationship building and problem-solving and equitable practices. Participants discover real-world leadership truths, explore what it takes to be an agent of change, and expand their involvement in community matters while executing a team project in coordination with a local nonprofit or business partner.