Leadership Greater Topeka Announces Alumni Award Recipients Ahead of 2024 Graduation and Gala
Leadership Greater Topeka (LGT), a program of the Greater Topeka Partnership, will celebrate its 2024 LGT graduating class, composed of 36 aspiring and established leaders who have been together for the past five months to gain fresh perspective on the community, learn adaptive leadership concepts, and build a lifetime network they can lean on to activate and support their personal and professional goals. The ceremony also marks 40 years of the LGT program.
The celebration, being held this Thursday, May 23 at Prairie Band Casino & Resort, will include recognition of local leaders honored for their involvement and leadership in the community. Among awards being presented is the esteemed Marsha Sheahan Legacy Award, which recognizes one individual for their long-standing commitment to leadership in the Topeka-Shawnee County community. The 2024 leadership honorees include:
Rising Star Award (2 recipients)
Rene Cabrera – Washburn University Student and Owner of Sueno’s Shop, LGT Class of 2020
Jennifer Goetz – Creative & Strategy Director for Compass Marketing & Advertising Partners, LGT Class of 2020
Activator Award (2 recipients)
Pamela Johnson Betts – Executive Director of the Topeka Public Schools Foundation, LGT Class of 1990
Greg Schwerdt – President of Schwerdt Design Group Inc., LGT Class of 1990
Marsha Sheahan Legacy Award
Vince Frye – Retired DTI President, LGT Class of 1984
Business Partnership Award
Barlett & West
“For a community to grow and progress, it must have strong leaders willing to tackle tough challenges head on. Our alumni award recipients this year are individuals with a passion for doing just that,” said Michelle Cuevas-Stubblefield, The Partnership’s senior vice president of strategy and LGT program director. “These honorees are also committed to helping Topeka’s next generation of leaders succeed. We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate them this week, as we recognize the outstanding class of 2024. LGT is 40 years strong, and we look forward to seeing this initiative continue to build thoughtful leaders for decades to come.”
The event details are as follows:
What: Leadership Greater Topeka 2024 Graduation & Gala
When: Thursday, May 23, 2024, 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Where: Prairie Band Casino & Resort
Leadership Greater Topeka Class of 2024
Shane Warta
Ashley Bergquist
Makayla Girodat
Troy Simoneau
Jill Martin
Caitlyn Halsey
Michael Odupitan
Jason Smith
Andrew Wright
Sheryl Dick
Carmen Romero-Nichols
Nadia Arbelo
Payton Kolling
Eric Patterson Jr.
Amy Pinger
Dr. Sarah Lucero
Vidal Campos
Zach Frank
Cola White
Rob Gregory
Cassie Richardson
Phelica A. Glass
Leann Brungardt
Andrew Tague
Jade Kerr
Danielle J. Martin
Damon Shore
Stephanie Norwood
Joe Beasley
Paula Sanders
Janice Gilmer-Gentry
Alex Adame-Bipes
Lucas Ryan
Jackie Fox
Wrylie Guffet
Jason Tyron
