The Leadership Institute at Purdue Northwest awarded certificates to the 2022-2023 Leadership Northwest Indiana program graduates on May 11.
“We are simply delighted at the level of progress and growth exhibited by this year’s LNI graduates,” said Mekisha Richardson, assistant director of the Leadership Institute at Purdue University Northwest, in a press release.
The program's team includes professors from the Purdue Northwest College of Business and other leaders. It met once a month for eight months and included a 360 assessment and coaching. LNI focuses on teaching leadership skills for work and life.
“Watching our LNI participants grow during our eight months together is really inspiring. They learn to strengthen their ‘leadership muscle' while adding useful skills to their toolbox to make them more authentic and effective leaders,” said Sheila Matias, executive director of the Leadership institute at Purdue Northwest. “We are really proud of the time and effort they have put in on their personal and professional development.”
The 29 2022-2023 graduates include:
- Jillian Ashley, Michigan City Police Department, captain
- Katherine Balkema, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Lake Michigan Coastal Program grant specialist
- Amanda Benik, Hammond Group Inc., environmental health and safety director
- Andrew Bennett, Precision Maintenance Solutions, chief of operations
- Dean Botts, Hammond Group, Inc., plant manager
- Eric Bowman, Heartland Wellness Center, community relations director
- Daniel Bruhn, Purdue University Northwest, executive director of client services
- Rocio “CC” Copado Payne, Family Focus Inc., executive director
- Marty Corley, Michigan City Police Department, chief of operations
- Lisa Derico, Hammond Group Inc., human resources director
- Netta Doughty, Syde by Syde Changes LLC, owner
- Orlando Drummond, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana, director of program quality
- Chantelle Johnson, Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, community relations consultant
- John Kennedy, American Structurepoint Inc., business development director
- Amanda Lahners, La Porte County Health Department, administrator
- Daniel Leensvaart, Summers Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, general manager
- Daniel Loosemore, Hammond Group Inc., plant manager
- Scott Parsons, Purdue University Northwest, senior director of facilities and grounds
- Iris Sanchez, Purdue University Northwest, director of Hispanic-Serving Institution initiatives
- Kaitlyn Schultz, General Insurance Services, personal lines service manager
- Jimmy Scott, Summers Plumbing Heating & Cooling, general manager
- Sean Steele, United Way Northwest Indiana, development director
- Lisa Taylor, Tonn and Blank Construction LLC, controller
- Monique Thomas, LaPorte County government offices, interim HR director
- Ryan vanWaardenburg, Tonn & Blank Construction LLC, project manager
- Cesar Villicana, Dutch Farms, distribution center manager
- Leah Wareyko, Dutch Farms, senior accounts receivable manager
- Julie Wendorf, Crown Point Community Library, director
- Alan Whipps, 1st Source Bank, banking center manager
The Leadership Institute is taking applications for the 2023-2024 Leadership Northwest Indiana program, which starts in September through May 2024.
Caption: Twenty-nine professionals representing various industries and organizations from Northwest Indiana completed the Leadership Northwest Indiana program, hosted by the Leadership Institute at Purdue Northwest. (Provided by The Leadership Institute at Purdue Northwest)
