The program 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 seven 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. The program also provides an environment for mutual awareness on community issues, which class members confront. Sessions begin September 28 in Key West, with subsequent monthly classes, throughout the Keys, culminating with graduation in April, 2019.
Led by experts and the heads of the respective fields surveyed, sessions this year 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 system, the historical and present military significance in the Keys, emergency management and emerging best practices, an expanded examination on 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, along with ongoing, intensive leadership development.
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 county-wide effective and non-partisan alliances, Leadership Monroe County is an independent non-profit, governed by a county-wide 17 member Board of Directors. Present Officers are elected LMC alumni President Henry Rosenthal, Vice-President Lynn Goodwin, Secretary Mindy McKenzie, and Treasurer Yesenia Ramirez, with Program Coordinator Michael Shields.
Class XXVII members are:
Ashley Arabal, Accounting Supervisor, Florida Keys Electric Coop
Nikki Bell, Marketing Director, Ocean Sotheby’s International Realty
Nick Bourassa, Operations Manager, Pearson Tree
Rachel Brown, Patient Care Manager, Fishermen’s Hospital
Spenser Bryan, Detective Sargent, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
Matt Bussard, Project Manager, Toppino & Sons
Dee Dee Green, Coordinator, Key West Solid Waste Management
Bonnie Helms, Circuit Judge of Monroe County, 16th Judicial Circuit
Caroline Horn, Administrator, FIRM
Steven Hudson, Deputy Chief, Monroe County Fire Rescue
Jaqueline Luhta, Vice President, Market Retail Leader, Centennial Bank
Kathleen McKinney, District Commander, Florida Highway Patrol
Mallory Morton, President, Global Health Connection
Karen Neely, Research Scientist, Nova University
Amy Pierce, Mortgage Loan Originator, First State Bank of the Florida Keys
Christine Poist, Assistant State Attorney, State Attorney’s Office of 16th Circuit Court
Brian Shea, Senior Planner, City of Marathon
David Turner, Executive Director, Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce
Phil Underwood, President, Bluewater in the Keys
Darcy Wadsworth, Financial Planner/Branch Supervisor, Labrum Wealth Mgt.
Mimi Young, City Clerk, City of Layton
Kim Youngblood, Educator, Monroe County School District
