Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce: The Chamber’s Leadership Fredericksburg program graduated its seventeenth class during a May 17th ceremony at the Stevenson Ridge in Spotsylvania.
Donna Kraus, a graduate of LF 2010, was the keynote speaker for the event. Donna shared her leadership journey and how the program helped shape her into the leader she is today. Jaime Garza from Ignite Cinemas is the 2024 Class President. Jaime shared an inspiring message about the 2024 class’s experiences over the past nine months.
The 2024 class was led by five faculty with extensive experience with leadership development and training: Dr. David Corderman (Academy Leadership Associates), Dr. J.R. Flatter (Flatter, Inc.), Susan Spears (FRCC), Janel Donohue (Rappahannock United Way and Dr. Kimberly Young (University of Mary Washington). Over nine months the class met in different business locations throughout the region. They learned key leadership content and took two assessments. They met with community, business, nonprofit, and educational leaders, who offered the fellows insights about their personal leadership journeys. Each fellow was paired with a trained mentor from the business community who supported their progress throughout the program.
Prior to graduation, four teams from the class of 32 presented the results of their Community Action Projects for two local non-profits, the 516 Project and Fairy Godmother Project. Each team presented their deliverables during the Project Presentations at Germanna Community College on Thursday May 9th, 2024.
Leadership Fredericksburg 2024 Fellows:
- Kellee Akers, Germanna Community College
- Paul Covill, Burke and Herbert Bank
- Binita Desai, Mary Washington Healthcare
- Krissy Donahoe, Fredericksburg Christian School
- Heather Flores
- Jennifer Fousek, CIP Finishes
- David Fraser, Fraser Wood Elements
- Carter Garrison, Atlantic Builders
- Jaime Garza, Ignite Cinemas
- Allison Graves, REDCO
- Veronica Gutierrez, Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation
- Autumn Hayes, Atlantic Union Bank
- Ronni Hess, LifeCare Medical Transports
- Nikki Jackson, Stafford County Public Schools
- Werner F. Jansen, Bloomia
- Joe Jennings, Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center
- Amy Jindra, Rappahannock Area Community Services Board
- Wesley Kinsey, Germanna Community College
- Brian Lam, Collage Spa
- Stephanie Lambertson, Premier Eyecare
- Cyndi Mack, Universal Dynamics
- Brittany McBride, Cary Street Partners
- Reno McCormick, Flatter, Inc.
- Michael Middleton, University of Mary Washington
- Abhijeet Nakave, Smart Prime Care
- Takiya Reavis-Benjamin, Mary Washington Healthcare
- John Palmer, Stafford County Government
- Victor Podbielski, Fredericksburg Fire Department
- Amanda Roane, SimVentions, Inc.
- David Stallard, Riphean Hospitality
- Andrew Sulser, Fredericksburg Technology
- Luca Tondin, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative
Applications for the 2024 Class are available now the Chamber’s website, HERE. The application deadline is Monday, July 1 at close of business. There will be an in-person information session about Leadership Fredericksburg 2025 held at the Chamber office on Wednesday, May 29 at 3:30 p.m. Find out more here HERE