Chamber Announces 2025-2026 Excellence in Leadership Class
Excellence in Leadership, the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce’s adult leadership development program, kicked off this year’s class on August 19 at The Magnolia Room in Decatur. The class consists of 34 professionals from businesses, industries, healthcare providers, municipalities, colleges and non-profit organizations. Chamber members nominate individuals from their own workforce to participate in the program.
The Excellence in Leadership program was established more than 30 years ago to identify, educate, develop and network existing and emerging leaders with the goal of enhancing growth in the area business community.
The class will meet once a month, with day-long sessions focusing on single topics including healthcare, economic development, education, tourism, city and county government, state government, law enforcement and social services. The class also includes a community service project, where members select an area non-profit to support. The program will wrap up with a graduation event in May 2025.
More than 1,300 professionals have graduated from the program. The presenting sponsor of Excellence in Leadership is Nucor Steel Decatur.
The 2025-2026 class members, and their employers are:
(from left to right in photo)
Nathan Adams, Tucker, Scott, Bell & Marthaler, LLC
Chris Adkison, Redstone Realty Solutions
Kylie Bolyard Sanchez, NARCOG
Karen Bowling, Integration
Jeremy Childers, Morgan County Schools
Dana Davidson, Community Free Clinic of Decatur-Morgan County
Jeremy Dorrance, Decatur Utilities
Lauren Erb, Bank Independent
Karen Follmann, Heavy Machines, LLC
Jesse Gonzalez, Community Action Partnership of North Alabama
April Hall, Morgan County Board of Education (Not in photo)
Andrea Hamlett, Morgan County Commission
Nita Harris, City of Decatur
Addie Johnson, Patrick Johnson-State Farm
Ambra Johnson, Community Action Partnership of North Alabama (Not in photo)
Melissa Ledbetter, Calhoun Community College
David Lively, River Bank & Trust
Kassie Mathis, Calhoun Community College
Jaxson McAnally, Pugh Wright McAnally, Inc.
Mike McGowen, United Launch Alliance
Tyler Mendoza, Shottenkirk Honda Decatur
John Mims, Decatur Fire Department (Not in photo)
Drake Montgomery, Pepsi Cola of Decatur
Gabe Peluso III, Renasant Bank
Kimberly Ray, United Way of Morgan County
Cheyenne Sanchez, Decatur Morgan Hospital
Samantha Sanders, Morgan County 911
Jeremy Sherrill, City of Decatur
Joey Sivley, Morgan County 911
Hannah Smith, Jackson Plumbing Heating Cooling Electrical & Septic, an ACE Hardware Company
Lorie Spitzer, City of Decatur
Sarah Welborn, Morgan County Board of Education
Amanda White, River Bank & Trust
Mark Wigington, Community Action Partnership of North Alabama