Leadership Monroe’s class of XXVI almost wasn’t. Originally scheduled to begin in October, the class was almost derailed by Hurricane Irma. But the leadership of Leadership Monroe, through Herculean effort, re-imagined the program starting with the tourism segment Nov. 3-4 in Key West (above) and the Everglades environment this past weekend. And, all 22 students elected to move forward despite the personal and community hardships the people of the Keys are facing. Leadership Monroe County is aimed at residents who are active in leadership roles within the private sector, government, or community organizations. Through a series of one-, two-, or three-day sessions over many months, participants examine fundamental public and private segments throughout the county to inform and help them make quality leadership decisions which they can incorporate into their respective companies and organizations. Leadership Monroe County is an independent non-profit, governed by a 17-member board. Current officers are President Henry Rosenthal, Vice President Sarah Cizmas, Secretary Dianne Weitz, Treasurer Yesenia Ramirez, and Program Coordinator Michael Shields.
Class XXVI members are:
Jermy Ashby — Legal Counsel/First State Bank of the Florida Keys
Yusi Bonachea — Customer Service Manager/Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority
James Cordell — Director, Support Services/Mariners Hospital
Kris DiGiovanni — Chief of Police, Key Colony Beach
Bill Doxey — Vice President/CenterState Bank
Bruce Halle — Vice Mayor, City of Layton
Douglas Helkenn — Manager, D’Asign Source
Suzanne Holt — Director of Operations, Florida Keys Outreach Coalition
Mallory Jones — BOCC Code Enforcement
Seth Lawless — Village Manager, Islamorada
Frederick Matthews — Realtor
Sara Matthis — Editor, Keys Weekly
Misha McRAE — Executive Director, Key West Botanical Gardens
Paul Patterson — Owner, Construction Inspectors & Associates
Jody Randel — Branch Manager, Centennial Bank, Key Largo
Ann Sandlin — Resource Dev. Dir., United Way
Charlene Sprinkle — Lieutenant, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
Walt Stephens — Job Training & Safety Mgr., Florida Keys Electric Cooperative
Devin Tolpin — Board of County Commissioners Planner
Jeremy Wilkerson — Director of Community Development, Wesley House
Sue Woltanski — Educator, Founder, Accountabalony.com
Joanne Zimmerman — Owner, Zimmerman & Co., CPA
CONTRIBUTED