Leadership Wilmington has announced that 34 Wilmington business and community leaders will compose its 2016 class and will plan and conduct the program's single-day volunteer activity, Work On Wilmington. This year's program kicked off Aug. 13 with an orientation session at the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce office.
 
Sponsored by the Wilmington Chamber Foundation, the 10-month-long program is designed to educate, challenge and motivate leaders and future leaders to use their skills to enhance the community, the release stated, adding that the class project, Work on Wilmington, is a hands-on event that “provides the class members an opportunity to put their leadership, decision-making and teamwork skills to work.”

Following a retreat at the beginning of the program, the class will meet one full day each month, beginning in September and continuing through April. Each session focuses on a different aspect of the community, touching on such elements as government, public safety, infrastructure, economic development, arts and culture and education.
 
The 2016 Class of Leadership Wilmington participants are:

Ben Atkins (Longley Supply Company)
Suzanne LaFollette-Black (AARP-NC)
Jesica Blake (NC Coastal Land Trust)
Elizabeth Boardman (Lanier Property Group)
Adam Cook (New Hanover Regional Medical Center Foundation)
Laura Courtney (North Carolina State Ports Authority)
Molly Crawford (Trader Joe’s)
Rick DeCrescente (Alliance Credit Union)
Rob Feamster (South State Bank)
Marisa Henry (PPD)
Emily Henson (Duke Energy)
Nichole Herring (The Home Depot)
Alexis Hinds (Sea Coast Staffing Inc.)
Darion Jeralds (GE Hitachi)
Michael Jones (SBJ Homes/Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage)
Corey Knight (City of Wilmington)
Nick Lauretta (McKim and Creed)
Leanne Laurence (LS3P Associates LTD)
Elaine Leggett (Barker Jones & Co.)
Thad Leister (GE Hitachi)
Sheryl Mays (New Hanover County–Cape Fear Museum)
Lindsay Miller (Corning Inc.)
Anne Murray (GE Hitachi)
Lauren Page (Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP)
Melissa Pressley (SAJ Media/GWBJ/WILMA)
Cliff Pyron (North Carolina State Ports Authority)
Jodi Rich (New Hanover County–Parks & Gardens)
Elisa Roels (Keller Williams Realty)
Greg Sager (U.S. Cellular)
Andy Scheid (WSFX—TV Fox Wilmington)
Sara Sloan (McGladrey LLP)
Paul Stavovy (Cape Fear Community Land Trust)
Robert Turner (Cape Fear Community College)
Ken Vafier (New Hanover County–Planning)