Leadership Albany, Inc. held its annual alumni reception and orientation Thursday evening at the Albany Museum of Art.  The 24 members of the Class of 2016 were honored with a reception hosted by alumni, followed by an orientation focusing on their imminent experience over the next 9 months.  These class members will:

• Learn about themselves
• Build relationships with other community leaders
• Gain understanding of community assets, issues and institutions

The mission of Leadership Albany is to develop effective community leaders working together for the common good.

Leadership Albany’s Director, Mary Ligon says “through team building, retreats, experiential activities, small group discussions as well as hearing from a variety of other community leaders, participants begin to know more about themselves, others, and the community.  These shared experiences and respectful discussions with diverse perspectives develop relationships where participants care about one another and our community.  Serving with others to address issues in our community is a result of knowing and caring thus the theme – knowing, caring, serving.”

Ligon believes “You cannot lead a community you don’t love and you cannot love a community you don’t know.”  With this premise, class members are exposed to a variety of organizations and issues facing our community.    

Leadership Albany’s vision states “Albany is a diverse community; full of leaders all working together to address issues that enable the community to be the good life city for everyone.”  

Members of the Leadership Albany Class of 2016 are:

Tina Battle – Georgia Legal Services

Karen Baynes-Dunning – Attorney/Consultant

Michele Coney – Mars Chocolate NA

Jeffrey Cooley – Government Accountant

Tonya Curles – Darton State College

Hal Gobin – Marine Corps Logistics Command

Dominique Hall – Dougherty County

Reedi Hawkins – Albany Dougherty Economic Development Commission

Jay Montgomery – Prime Tech International

Charlice Noble-Jones – Dougherty County School System

Damali Orozco – Procter and Gamble

Milan Pate – Indusa Investments

Jeretha Peters – SunTrust Investment Services

William Peterson – Phoebe Putney 

Steven Ramey – Albany Area Primary Health Care

Matt Reed – Georgia CEO

Heidi Roe – Marine Corps Logistics Command

Izzie Sadler – SOWEGA Council on Aging

Gary Sanders – First Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church

Daniel Stone – Synovus

Geoffrey Sudderth – Deerfield Windsor School

Jackie Teemer – City of Albany

Denise Ward – MillerCoors

Nicole Williams – Albany Area Arts Council

Brief bios of the 2016 class members can be found on the news tab at LeadershipAlbany.org.  Connect with Leadership Albany through Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.