Leadership Greater Topeka Class of 2024 Announced
Founded in 1984, Leadership Greater Topeka, a Greater Topeka Partnership program, identifies aspiring and established leadership from the community to participate in a competitive annual leadership training course.
Class members attend a retreat and nine day-long sessions that begin in January and continue through May. During these classes, participants will increase their capacity to lead as they learn about challenges facing Topeka and Shawnee County and how they can work to influence important community issues.
The class of 2024 was selected from more than 160 nominations. Congratulations to the following:
Alex Adame-Bipes
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Professional
FHLBank Topeka
Nadia Arbelo
Interim Regional Director
Kansas SBDC @ Washburn
Joe Beasley
Assistant Vice President, Trust Officer
BOK Financial
LeAnn Brungardt
Youth Services Supervisor
Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
Vidal Campos
Sergeant
Topeka Police Department
Sheryl Dick
SVP Member Services/Chief Retail Officer
Azura Credit Union
Jackie Fox
Project Manager
HTK Architects
Zach Frank
Dean, School of Applied Studies
Washburn University
Janice Gilmer-Gentry
Manager, CMS Programs
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
Makayla Girodat
Realtor, Entrepreneur
Genesis Realtors LLC, self employed
Phelica Glass
Clinical Social Worker (LSCSW, GCCA-C, FAAGC, CSOTP, SPARC)
Phelicia Glass, LSCSW, LLC
Rob Gregory
AVP, CISO
Security Benefit
Wrylie Guffey
Animal Curator & Elephant Manager
Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center
Caitlyn Halsey
Founder/Employment Services Director
Dialogue Coffee House
Jade Kerr
Accounting Director/Controller
Capitol Federal Savings Bank
Payton Kolling
Senior
Washburn Rural High School
Sarah Lucero
Director of Title Services
USD 437
Jill Martin
VP of Life Operations
Advisors Excel
Danielle Martin
TV Host/Producer
Advisors Excel
Stephanie Norwood
Director, Entrepreneurship & Small Business
GO Topeka
Michael Odupitan
CEO & Founder
Omni Circle Group
Eric Patterson
Marketing Consultant
WIBW
Amy Pinger
Sr. Community Engagement Manager
Harvesters - The Community Food Network
Cassie Richardson
Senior Vice President-Marketing Manager
CoreFirst Bank & Trust
Carmen Romero-Nichols
Operations Manager
ECI Services
Lucas Ryan
Regulation and Policy Specialist
Kansas Department of Health & Environment
Paula Sanders
Director Magnet & Clinical Excellence
Stormont Vail Health
Damon Shore
Continuous Improvement Engineer
MARS Wrigley
Troy Simoneau
Director of Operations
Kansas Gas Service
Jason Smith
Director of Volunteer Engagement and Events
Topeka Civic Theatre
Andrew Tague
Associate Attorney
Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds & Palmer, LLP
Jason Tyron
Deputy Director of Public Works
City of Topeka
Steven Vickery
Senior Talent Acquisition Partner
MARS Wrigley
Shane Warta
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Topeka Community Foundation
Cola White
Finance Manager
Cornerstone of Topeka
Andrew Wright
Delivery Group Leader
Bartlett & West
