This fall UNC Asheville’s Leadership Asheville Program will kick off its 25th year with a dynamic nine-month program for local leaders beginning September 6. Over the past two decades, the acclaimed program has built a strong tradition of leadership development and community involvement.

“While Leadership Asheville’s annual agenda may vary from time to time, the focus of this community leadership program has remained the same through its 25 years: to develop a community of engaged citizens who are committed to working together to effect positive change,” said Gerry Goertz, director of Leadership Programs at UNC Asheville.

“Leadership Asheville gives graduates a better understanding of the history and potential of Asheville and Buncombe County as well as its most critical challenges. It also helps them define their personal role and responsibility in the community’s leadership,” Goertz said.

The 42 members of the Leadership Asheville 25 class will begin the program with an opening session September 6-7. Utilizing lectures, discussions, work groups and service projects, the participants will explore a variety of topics, ranging from the environment to education, from local government to economic development.

“The program is not simply an issues forum or lecture series,” Goertz said. “It’s an opportunity for participants to hone their collaborative problem-solving skills and refine their leadership styles. It’s a leadership learning laboratory.”

Leadership Asheville has graduated more than 875 representatives of the region’s economic, service and governmental sectors. Drawing from profit and nonprofit organizations, local government officials, private industry executives, university professors, stay-at-home parents, and school district administrators, Leadership Asheville’s graduate network covers a diverse array of interests, opportunities and challenges inherent to the region.

The members of Leadership Asheville 25 and their employers are: Louise Anderson, International Economic Development Council; Kevin Baxter, Buncombe County Schools, Fairview Elementary; Joel Bender, The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa; Vicki Biggers, Buncombe County Schools, North Buncombe Middle; Barbara Biss, Asheville Savings Bank; Kirk Blackard, Christ School; Shawn Boone, The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa; La’Zendra Bossard, YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly; Maria Bryan, Junior League of Asheville; Eileen Buecher, UNC Asheville; Linda Carol, Linda Carol, P.A.; Vernon Daugherty, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College; Carlton Denning, City of Asheville, Fire Department; Sana Efird, Carolina Day School; Bart Floyd, Western Alliance Center for Independent Living; Jes Garner, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County; Hunter Goosmann, Education and Research Consortium; Shelly Houston, SunTrust Bank; Kelli Hunnicutt, Furniture Market; Alan Kirkpatrick, Junior Achievement; Leah Madamba, SUWS of the Carolinas; Jason Mann, City of Asheville, IT Services; Audrey McElwain, American Cancer Society; Judy McKnight, Chef Michael’s Catering Inc.; David Meyer, A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc.; Grant Millin, Public Fuel Cell Inc.; Nina Murrell, Domus Architecture, PA; Skye Myrick, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College; Rebecca Polhamus, RBC Centura Bank; Judd Porter, Asheville City Schools, Asheville High School; Jean Riederer, YMCA of WNC; Melody Rigdon, The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa; Brady Robinson, North Carolina Outward Bound; Maria Roloff, Mission Hospitals Inc.; Rocko Smucker, Asheville City Schools, Hall Fletcher Elementary; Tim Splain, City of Asheville, Police Department; Porter Taylor, Episcopal Diocese of WNC; Austin Tyler, Biltmore Commercial; Jen Waite, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County; Mark Whitney, Cooper House Fine Cabinetry; Ann Young, Mission Hospitals Inc.; and Evelyn Zebro, Self-Employed, Wellness Specialist.

For more information about UNC Asheville’s Leadership Programs, call 828/251-6125.