Thirty-four current and emerging leaders were recently selected to participate in the 2026 Leadership Northern Colorado program. The group includes a diverse mix of professions, with representatives from education, large and small businesses, nonprofits and government. Leadership Northern Colorado, a joint initiative of the Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland Chambers of Commerce, the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado and the Greeley Community Foundation, is designed to build human capacity and identify, define and address the issues facing the Northern Colorado region.
“The diversity and quality of applications was outstanding, and we are thrilled to offer this opportunity to 34 exceptional community members,” says Ann Hutchison, president and CEO of the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce.
The class members will begin their experience at the Leadership Northern Colorado Orientation on Jan. 9 at the Visit Fort Collins Welcome Center in downtown Fort Collins, followed by a Leadership Northern Colorado Alumni Happy Hour. Registration will be available after the new year.
The first all-day session for the class participants will take place Jan. 27. Leadership Northern Colorado is a six-month interactive development program that will focus on regional issues, regionalism and regional leadership skills. The program is designed to educate and motivate leaders who are committed to shaping the future of Northern Colorado. The 2026 program is sponsored by Elevations Credit Union.
The 2026 Leadership Northern Colorado Class members are:
- Chrissi Alvarado, Colorado State University
- Jaymi Anderson, Genesis Project of Northern Colorado
- Tricia Anthony, ANB Bank
- Melissa Brewster, UCHealth
- Trish Chapel, High Country Beverage
- Julie Constance, Brinkman Construction
- Jarrett Cosgrove, Double S Group | Keller Williams Realty
- Ruth DeBoer, Weld County Workforce Center
- Joshua Dimond, NoCO Custom Homes
- Leigh Gibson, Platte River Power Authority
- Lucas Gillis, Strategic Retirement Partners
- Claire Havelda, Brownstein Hyatt Farber & Schreck, LLP
- Tim Hendricks, GH Phipps Construction Companies
- Omar Herrera, Town of Windsor
- Teddy Hocum, Harmony Private Wealth
- Tiffany James, Fort Collins Board of REALTORS
- Greg Kushner, Hausmann Construction
- Janine Ledingham, Larrimer County Economic and Workforce Development
- Meredith Logan, Ent Credit Union
- Karen McPherson Jackson, Estes Nonprofit Network
- Stefanie Merrell, Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce
- Samantha Preston, Hot Corner Concepts
- Jessica Quintana, Poudre Valley REA
- Sarah Roeder, Ignite Career Consultants
- Sosamma Samuel-Burnett, G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice
- Brittany Schmeeckle, Weld Food Bank
- May Soricelli Albrecht, Town of Berthoud
- Alana Stiles, Tribe Development
- Cassidy Stubblefield, Upstate Colorado Economic Development
- Serena Thomas, Homeward Alliance
- Robert Thompson, City of Greeley
- Ernan Torrez, United Way of Larimer County
- Patty Weible, Lone Tree Services, LLC
- Dawit Woldu, CP2 – Coan, Payton & Payne
The class is supported by a steering committee of program alumni and the chamber CEOs:
• Heather Anderson, Greeley Area Chamber of Commerce
• Bill Becker, Loveland Chamber
• David Dishman, Coloradoan
• Dave Dixon, Boys & Girls Clubs of Weld County
• Kim Fisher, Vision Catalyst
• Jaime Henning, Greeley Area Chamber of Commerce
• Lyndsey Hertz, NOCO Foundation
• Ann Hutchison, Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce
• Kelly Jackson, Aims Community College Foundation
• Todd Karl, Ent Credit Union
• Elizabeth Mahoney, Complete Professional Development
• Mindy McCloughan, Loveland Chamber
• Amanda Miller Nye, The Place Setting Company
• Jessi Norris, Employment Services of Weld County
• Dawn Paepke, Kaiser Permanente
• Larry Pakowski, Aims Community College
• Sara Potter, fnbo
• Ted Ray, First Interstate Bank
• Scott Ready, GH Phipps Construction
• Jared Reimer, The Craft Broker at Elevations Real Estate
• Scott Tryggestad, Chevron
• Kelly Zeillmann, CG Consulting
