Program Welcomes Next Cohort of Community Leaders

Leadership Central Penn (LCP) has been in existence for nearly 30 years to educate and empower the future community leaders. LCP is a 9-month leadership program for aspiring leaders representing multiple industries. On August 18th, the program welcomed the members of its 23rd cohort.

The objectives of this program are to provide professional development on capacity building skills including organizational leadership, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, leading change and more. Additionally, community-based topics include: human services available in our area, workforce and economic development, the state of education, local government, healthcare, as well as learning about volunteer opportunities in our community.

Following orientation, the class of 2022 was introduced to 20 nonprofits that serve the area. The Nonprofit Mixer was held at Maria Joseph Continuing Care Community. The event was an opportunity for the class members to hear from those on the frontline of our area’s greatest needs. Part of the program required teams to select a nonprofit serving Columbia and/or Montour counties as a partner on a community impact project that will be executed over the following nine months of the program.

LCP Class of 2022

Kevin Ball, Geisinger

Scott Bellum, SEKISUI KYDEX

Tiffany Bienkowski, First Keystone Community Bank

Lisa Brelsford, Columbia Child Development

Audra Briggs, Bloomsburg Carpet

LuCinda Craig, Rural Business Innovation Corp.

Taryn Crayton, Press Enterprise

Daniel Diehl, First Columbia Bank & Trust

Benjamin Gonzalez, Geisinger

John Harahus, Geisinger

Brian Houser, PPL

Trygve Jensen, Geisinger

Hamid Khan, Autoneum North America

Holly Madden, Hope Enterprises, Inc.

Christopher Matthews, First Keystone Community Bank

Alyssa Meyers-Sanonu, Berwick YMCA

Dawn Orzehowski, Maria Joseph

Jessica Pastuszek, Geisinger

James Pensyl, Girton Manufacturing

Angela Prajzner, Autoneum North America

Kristy Strain, Geisinger Health Plan

Melisa Thomas, Service 1st Federal Credit Union

Danielle Velkoff, United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties

Rebecca White, Columbia Child Development Head Start

Phillip Yoder, Columbia County EMA