News release
TOPEKA — The Kansas Chamber this week announced its 2021 Leadership Kansas class, including two members from northwest Kansas.
Leadership Kansas, or LK, is a nationally recognized program focused on developing and motivating Kansas leaders from across the state.
Kansas Chamber President & CEO Alan Cobb said the Kansas Chamber is excited to welcome the newest Leadership Kansas class — one of the most diverse classes in the program's 42-year history.
Class members include Joseph Leroux, Victoria, operations manager of Hess Services Inc., in Hays, and Tamara Clymer, Brewster, president/CEO of Colby/Thomas County Chamber of Commerce.
"As one of the oldest and most prestigious statewide leadership programs in the country, Leadership Kansas has a long history of fostering greater awareness and understanding of statewide economic, business, and political issues. The program helps develop our state leaders to make Kansas a stronger and more vibrant business engine," said Cobb.
Leadership Kansas received more than 600 nominations for the 2021 program. After a thorough and thoughtful application and selection process, the selection committee chose 42 individuals for the 2021 class. The committee and the Leadership Kansas Board of Advisors make every effort to ensure the class reflects the state in regard to geographic, ethnic, occupational, and gender diversity.
The program begins in April with an orientation session in Lawrence and ends with graduation in October after the completion of seven sessions.
The other cities the 2021 class will visit for this year's program include Garden City, Overland Park, Olathe, Lenexa, Kansas City, KS, Leavenworth, Hays, Pittsburg, Hutchinson, Wichita, El Dorado, Manhattan, and Topeka.
Throughout the six-month program, the class interacts with a variety of experts and community leaders through three-day educational training sessions. The diverse discussion topics include business, education, agriculture, public policy, societal health, economic development, and government.
"Participants in the Leadership Kansas program contribute their unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to the LK program. They receive once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to meet the business and government leaders of Kansas, who help them become better leaders in their businesses and communities," said Stan Rasmussen, LK Board of Advisors Chairman (Class of 2007) Leadership Kansas has more than 1,400 alumni.
Jeff "Chappie" Chapman (Class of 2012) serves as the Executive Director of the Leadership Kansas program.
Click hereto see a complete list of the 2021 Leadership Kansas class.
About the Kansas Chamber
The Kansas Chamber, with headquarters in Topeka, is the leading statewide pro-business advocacy group moving Kansas towards becoming the best state in America to live and work. The Chamber represents small, medium and large employers all across Kansas. The mission of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce is to continually strive to improve the economic climate for the benefit of every business and citizen and to safeguard our system of free, competitive enterprise. For more information on the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, visit www.KansasChamber.org.
About Leadership Kansas
Established by the Kansas Chamber Education Foundation at the encouragement of former Governor of Kansas Robert Bennett, Leadership Kansas is supported and administered by the Kansas Chamber. The program is entering its fifth decade of educating and motivating Kansas leaders from across the state. It has more than 1,400 alumni. Visit www.LeadershipKansas.org to learn more about the program.