On Thursday, March 19, 2026, The Chamber of Catawba County proudly recognized thirty-six business, education, nonprofit, and community leaders as graduates of the 51st class of Leadership Catawba.
Held at the Hickory Metro Convention Center, the graduation celebration brought together 150 attendees, including graduates, program alumni, sponsors, and the family members, colleagues, and mentors who supported them throughout the journey.
Since 1974, Leadership Catawba has served as The Chamber’s longest-running program—underscoring The Chamber’s strong held belief that building a strong pipeline of informed, engaged leaders is essential to shaping the future of Catawba County. Over the course of eight months, participants are immersed in areas that play a pivotal role in our community’s economic success—including local government, economic development and entrepreneurship, community amenities and tourism, workforce development and education, and our vast network of nonprofit agencies.
The Leadeship Catawba experience is more than just a community “show and tell”—participants take a deeper dive into the most pressing issues impacting our community while also exploring the opportunities that will define our future.
“Leadership Catawba is about more than learning—it’s about action,” said Kim Dahlsten, VP of Operations & Director of Leadership Catawba at The Chamber of Catawba County. “This program challenges participants to step beyond their day-to-day roles and see themselves as leaders within our broader community. The strength of Catawba County’s future depends on individuals who are willing to engage, collaborate, and lead with purpose—and this class embodies exactly that.”
Throughout the program, participants engaged with more than 140 subject matter experts and explored real-world challenges through Community Visioning Impact Projects—focused on issues such as mental health, childcare, workforce development, housing, diversity, and entrepreneurship. These projects reflect Leadership Catawba’s core mission: not just to inform, but to equip leaders to contribute meaningful solutions.
A highlight of the graduation ceremony was a joint address from class-selected speakers Maggie Murray and Will McCarrick, who delivered their remarks in a conversational, lighthearted format that reflected the spirit of the cohort.
Reflecting on the experience, they shared lighthearted moments along with the value of new connections and friendships formed throughout the program. At the same time, they spoke to the deeper impact—highlighting personal growth, increased confidence, and a stronger understanding of the community. “Leadership Catawba has truly been a life-changing experience for me,” McCarrick shared.
Their remarks captured what makes Leadership Catawba unique: a shared experience that builds both leadership capacity and lasting connections.
As graduates join a network of more than 1,300 Leadership Catawba alumni, they carry forward a legacy of leadership that has helped shape the region for more than five decades.
The program’s challenge moving forward is simple, yet powerful: Now what?
For the Class of 2026, the answer begins with continued engagement—stepping up, getting involved, and leading boldly to ensure a strong future for Catawba County.
Congratulations to the Class of 2026 Leadership Catawba Graduates:
Maureen Abernathy, True North Realty
Melissa Aldrich, Peoples Bank
Justin Allen, Smith Leonard PLLC
Tara H. Bland, CFRE, Carolina Caring
Justin M. Browning, MDI-Merchants Distributors LLC
Angela Crane, First Horizon Bank
Beverly Davidson, Smurfit Westrock-Marion
Cheyenne Denning, Family Care Center of Catawba Valley, Inc.
Chelsey Elkins, Green Park Dentistry
Justin Gardner, Richey May North Carolina
Stephanie Gates, Top Flite Home Loans, Inc.
John Hall, The Salvation Army of Greater Hickory and the High Country
Tyler Hamby, City of Conover
Jailen Howell, Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry
Brittany Huffman, Highstreet Insurance Partners
Christy Lefevers, Catawba Valley Community College
Stephanie Lipski, SERVPRO of Catawba County
Michelle Lusk, Catawba Valley Health System
Benjamin Mace, Kintegra Health
Will McCarrick, P.E., City of Hickory
Ashley Moose, WAXmd
Maggie Murray, Lenoir-Rhyne University
Paul Murray, Catawba County Government
Mark Perry, Shurtape Technologies
Nick Plemmons, Certainteed/Saint Gobain
Saulo Rangel-Orosco, Interstate Foam & Supply, Inc.
Justin Rembert, Williams-Sonoma, Inc./Sutter Street Manufacturing
Michelle Rivera, Infinity Contractors
Austin Schneider, Integrity Roofing LLC
Nick Seiler, Frye Regional Medical Center
Jonathan Tharpe, Newton-Conover City Schools
Hunter Townsend, YMCA of Catawba Valley
Lori Wagner, Skyline National Bank
Breanna Wallace, Catawba County Partnership for Children
Cassie Wilson, Martin Starnes & Associates, CPAs, P.A.
Adam Windham, Catawba County Schools
Thank you to our 2025-2026 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, Hickory Mechanical, Inc., HSM Solutions, Integrity Roofing, Marcal Manufacturing, Northwest, Richey May North Carolina
Community Leadership Sponsors: Green Park Dentistry, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Maynard Electric Company
Mission Sponsors: Alex Lee, Inc., EveryAge/Abernethy Laurels, Granite Insurance, Graystone Eye, Patrick, Harper & Dixon LLP, Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Hickory, Realty Executives–The Kilby Team
Single Session Sponsors: City of Newton, First Horizon Bank, Goodwill Industries of NWNC, Inc.-Workforce Development Center, Integrity Roofing LLC, Just Dump It – Dumpster Rentals and Junk Removal, Maynard Electric Company, NuTex Concepts, Shurtape Technologies, Tami Fox Realtor-The Temple Team, Keller Williams Realty. The HOPE Center at The Hickory Soup Kitchen, Tiffany Ramirez Realtor
Photo Credit; ©2026 Pat Appleson Studios, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Used by Permission.