Leadership Monroe County, the premier educational non-profit community leadership organization, announces its twenty-ninth year of programs with the selection of Class XXIX.
The LMC program is aimed at residents who are active in leadership roles within the private sector, government, or community organizations.
Through a series of single or multi-day sessions over eight months, participants examine the fundamental public and private segments throughout the county. The program also provides participants the opportunity for mutual awareness and discussion of issues affecting the Keys. These experiences help participants grow as Monroe County residents and leaders.
Sessions will begin Friday, Oct. 1 in Key West with subsequent monthly classes throughout the Keys, culminating with graduation in May 2022. Sessions are led by experts and leaders in the respective fields covered in each session. The nine sessions include focusing on the challenges and opportunities that confront the dynamic tourism industry and the Keys economy; vital environmental issues from the Everglades to Florida Bay and the coral reefs; the Monroe County education system; the multi-levels of government; the judiciary and law enforcement system; the historical and present military significance in the Keys; emergency management and emerging best practices; an examination of the Keys health care and human services; the increasing impact of the arts and creative industries; the non-profit sectors, and the rapidly changing media platforms that inform the citizenry and affect and influence public policy.
Established in 1992 to address the rapidly changing needs and concerns of the county, develop a group of well-educated leaders, help guide the community in a positive direction, and foster countywide effective and non-partisan alliances, Leadership Monroe County is an independent non-profit, governed by a countywide alumni member board of directors. Officers are president Chuck Licis-Masson, vice president John Johnson, secretary Bruce Shea and treasurer Bruce Halle, with program coordinator Michael Shields.
Class XXIX members are:
Amber Acevedo, coordinator/community relations & professional development, Monroe County School District
Nancy Alvarez, lieutenant, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
Tyler Blanton, detective, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
Brandi Card, owner, Island Pilates and Massage
Paul Davis, drector, Parks and Recreation, City of Marathon
Lindsey Fast, executive director, Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys Marianne Finizio, VP, Community Health of South Florida
Patricia Hann, owner, Florida Keys Marketing Group
Brad Lutz, AVP, commercial lender, First State Bank of the Florida Keys
Mandy Miles, editor, Key West Weekly
Greg Oravec, village manager, Village of Islamorada
Levi Pattinson, VP, First Horizon Bank
Buddy Pinder, mayor, Village of Islamorada
Nick Rodriguez, GM, Mrs. Macs Kitchens
Michelle “Mick” Walsh, College of the Florida Keys
Pang Xiong, patient care manager, Baptist/Fishermen’s Community Hospital
