CHARLESTON AREA ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES 2025-26 LEADERSHIP KANAWHA VALLEY CLASS

Regional Leadership Program Welcomes 30 Participants

Charleston, West Virginia – The Charleston Area Alliance is excited to announce the participants of the Leadership Kanawha Valley Class of 2025-26. Program participants include 30 professionals from around the Kanawha Valley. Throughout the eight-month program, the class will meet monthly to hear from guest speakers, attend exclusive tours throughout the region, and discuss community challenges and initiatives.

For over 20 years, the Alliance has offered this highly sought-after professional development opportunity, and more than 480 individuals have joined the Leadership Kanawha Valley alumni network. Through community immersion and interactions with diverse leaders, Leadership Kanawha Valley cultivates leaders and ignites the advancement of the region. The following individuals are participating in the 2025-26 program:

· Carli Berkhouse Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau

· Crystal Brinkley City National Bank

· Jacob Burns GAI Consultants, Inc.

· Jennifer Casebolt Fifth Third Bank

· Shante Ellis Element Federal Credit Union

· John Fitzpatrick YMCA of Kanawha Valley

· Kevin Forget Brown, Edwards & Company, LLP

· Allison Francis Pray Construction

· Tarren Holcomb Holcomb Insurance Agency

· Kristen Kelley CAMC Foundation

· Jak Kuhl Pray Construction

· Brian Lake Fifth Third Bank

· Olivia Laverty WV Child Advocacy Network

· Andy Maxwell KOMAX Business Systems

· Vanessa Maynard Poca Valley Bank

· Jo McMinn Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

· Casey Mosrie City National Bank

· Jeff Munson Peoples Bank

· Candace Nelson Capitol Market

· Hannah Pack HealthNet Aeromedical Services, Inc.

· Samantha Payton The Dow Chemical Company

· Amy Petry Kanawha County Commission

· EJ Price DJEJ

· Sergio Rodriguez West Virginia State University

· Micah Steenburgh WVU Thomas Hospitals

· Wallace (Trey) Suttle III Suttle & Stalnaker, PLLC

· Thad Taylor Morgan Stanley

· Maria Terrell Charleston Area Alliance

· Robin Watson Appalachian Power/AEP

· Tina White Providence Insurance Agency, LLC

“We remain continually impressed by the dedication our Leadership Kanawha Valley participants demonstrate — both to personal development and to serving their community,” said Susie Salisbury, Sr Vice President of Community Development for the Alliance. “We sincerely thank these emerging leaders and the organizations that support their involvement in this important program.””

Leadership Kanawha Valley has exposed emerging and existing community leaders to the issues that face our region while challenging and engaging participants to strengthen the community through service and leadership. The Charleston Area Alliance would like to thank WVU Medicine Thomas Hospitals and Fifth Third Bank for their continued support of Leadership Kanawha Valley. For questions about the Leadership program, please contact Susie Salisbury at ssalisbury@charlestonareaalliance.org.