On Thursday, March 20, 2025, The Chamber recognized the achievements of thirty-five business, education, nonprofit, and community leaders who graduated from The Chamber’s 50th Class of Leadership Catawba.
Since 1974, Leadership Catawba has educated and equipped hundreds of Catawba County residents about the critical issues facing our community. Over the 8 month duration, participants are immersed in community issues and challenges that we position ourselves to directly address in the areas of Reinventing Community, Telling Our Story, Serving our Community, Building for Jobs, Workforce Connectivity, and Small Business and Entrepreneurship. The program challenges each participant not only to be an effective and influential leader within their own organization, but to lead within our greater community through personal commitment and involvement.
Congratulations to the Class of 2025 Leadership Catawba Graduates:
Jeannette Anthony, feetures
Tyler Baker, Merchants Distributors, Inc.
Andrea Beatty, The Salvation Army of Greater Hickory
Whitney Beck, First Citizens Bank
Ian Bumgarner, Catawba County
Walter Cantwell, Habitat for Humanity of Catawba Valley
Collin Carlton, Your Journey Financial Advisors at Thrivent
Marisa Carlton, Catawba County Partnership for Children
Will Carter, RYGID
Stacey Coffey, MSN, RN, Gastroenterology Associates, P.A.
Rebekah Dancy, Highstreet Insurance Services Southeast Inc.
Alex Fox, Skyline National Bank
Vanessa Furches, Patrick, Harper & Dixon, LLP
Robbie Gonzales, Royal Canin USA
Kelly Gooderham, Martin Starnes & Associates, CPA’s, P.A.
Jeanette Hall, Peoples Bank
Ali Hay, Catawba Valley Engineering and Testing
Kate Keller-Hinson, Frye Regional Medical Center
Gavin Kelly, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Foothills
Stephanie Killian, HSM
Linda Long, WHKY, LLC
Jonathan Loss, Catawba Valley Community College
Hanna Marada, CommScope
Jeremy Mauck, Integrity Roofing LLC
Justin Merritt, Catawba County
Charlotte Page, Green Park Dentistry
Lexie Phillips, Catawba Valley Health System
Dr. Beth Penley, Newton-Conover City Schools
Amy Randall, Shurtape Technologies
Jimmy Schiltz, Hickory Shows
Casey Stafford, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Alex Stanco, Williams Sonoma, Inc.
Michael Stevens, Smith Leonard PLLC
Kalia Vang, Corning
Whitney Williams, Carolina Caring
Thank you to our 2024-2025 Leadership Catawba Sponsors:
Legacy Leadership Sponsor: Shurtape Technologies, LLC
Sustaining Leadership Sponsor: Landmark Roofing
Business Leadership Sponsors: Catawba County, Catawba Valley Health System, City of Hickory, CommScope, Corning Incorporated, Frye Regional Medical Center, Hickory Mechanical, Inc., HSM Solutions, Integrity Roofing, Marcal Manufacturing, People Bank
Community Leadership Sponsors: Alex Lee, Inc., Green Park Dentistry, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Maynard Electric
Mission Sponsors: EveryAge/Abernethy Laurels, Granite Insurance, Graystone Eye, Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Hickory
Single Session Sponsors: Catawba Valley Community College, Catawba Valley Health System, Cintas Hickory, City of Newton/Downtown Newton Development Association, First Horizon Bank, Goodwill Industries of NWNC, Inc.-Workforce Development Center, NuTex Concepts, Realty Executives-Dawn Kilby, Skyline National Bank, Tami Fox Realtor-The Temple Team, Keller Williams Realty, Trinity Ridge.
Prospective applicants are invited to attend the Leadership Catawba Informational Meeting on May 6, 2025 from 3:30-5:00 PM at the Catawba County Library – Main Library Lower Level Meeting Room. Registration required here.
Join Leadership Catawba Graduates in small group roundtable rotations as they share individual stories of how the program impacted their leadership development journey and what advice they give those considering applying for the 2025-2026 cohort.
Online applications will open on May 20th at 9:00 AM for the 2025-26 Leadership Catawba cohort. Program inquiries and questions may be directed to Kim Dahlsten, Director of Leadership Catawba and Vice President of Operations for The Chamber of Catawba County.
Access all our event photos here or watch the video below for a recap: