Leadership Northwest
A Northwest Chamber Program
Leadership Northwest is a program developed by The Northwest Chamber and coordinated with an Advisory Board of graduates of the program. Since its inception in the early 1990′s, more than 150 people have participated in the program. Leadership Northwest helps participants learn about the cultural, social and economic forces that impact business and the community and encourages its graduates to get involved
One of the primary goals of the program is to inform, motivate and better prepare its graduates to then take on leadership roles in service to the community. From September to May, the Leadership Class attends monthly sessions focusing on education, public safety, economic development, health care, government and non-profit organizations to gain an awareness of the challenges and opportunities that exist in this community, as well as to discuss and develop potential solutions.
Each Leadership Class creates a special service project in service to the community. Past class projects include remodeling a shelter room for the Oklahoma City YWCA’s Domestic Violence Shelter, creating a school fundraiser night for at-risk students, and an update for the Northwest Chamber office. This year’s class raised funds in support of The Children’s Center in Bethany.
A graduation celebration is held each year in May upon completion of the program to recognize and honor the graduates of the year’s Leadership Class.
Members of the 2013 Class of Leadership Northwest:
Luis Aita – First Bethany Bank & Trust
Liz Haralson – Prosperity Bank
Andy Harrison – Allegiance Credit Union
Monique Jackson – Oklahoma Fidelity Bank
Katie King – Southern Nazarene University
Kevin Richardson – Southwestern Christian University
Michael Taylor – Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan’s Office
Members of the 2012 Class of Leadership Northwest:
Marla Mercer Cole – Mercer Adams Funeral Service
Kai Gerkey – Deaconess Hospital
Arlita Harris – Southern Nazarene University
Todd Krout – First Bethany Bank & Trust
Nancy Morgan – The Morgan Real Estate Group
Chris Reed – Coppermark Bank
Natalie Waggoner – TeamLogicIT
Members of the 2011 Class of Leadership Northwest:
Denton Blevins – Francis Tuttle Technology Center
Janet Connel – First Bethany Bank & Trust
Mike Crandall - Sandler Training Oklahoma
Marcia Doom - First Bethany Bank & Trust
David Gordon - Vatterott College
Lynn Johnson - Putnam City Schools
Mary Jones - Southern Nazarene University
Michelle Keylon - Francis Tuttle Technology Center
Kathy Larsen - Bethany City Council
Jill McCartney - Northwest Chamber
Ted Withrow - State Farm Insurance
Leadership Northwest Class of 2009
Lillian Brejda – Juice Plus+
Randy Dunn – Presort First Class
Glenn Gee – Tan N Go
Jeffery Groves – Coppermark Bank
Gary Mercer – Mercer-Adams Funeral Service
Janet Oden – Putnam City Academy
Charlie Phillips – County Clerk’s Office
Valarie Shed - Remax Preferred
Cathy Wandel – The Northwest Chamber
