Lincoln – Thirty Nebraska leaders were recognized for completing Class XII of Leadership Nebraska with certificates and commemorative awards at a commencement last Thursday.

The graduates are current and emerging leaders from communities throughout Nebraska. The program enhances their leadership skills and deepens participants’ knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing the state.

Leadership Nebraska is dedicated to the development of informed leaders who understand issues, define problems, develop solutions and achieve positions of higher responsibility in Nebraska.

“Leadership is the most important component to thriving communities and economic development,” Bryan Slone, president of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry said in a statement. “Leadership Nebraska helps develop and connect a future generation of great leaders throughout the state.”

The program includes six, two-day sessions held in various locations across Nebraska. Topics include health care, economic development, agriculture, education, government and policy.

The Leadership Nebraska Class XII members who graduated are:

• Misty Ahmic, Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska, Lincoln

• Janell Anderson Ehrke, GROW Nebraska Foundation, Orleans

• Ben Baumfalk, First Five Nebraska, Lincoln

• Edward Boone, State Senator Tom Briese, Lincoln

• Jarid Childears, First National Bank of Omaha, North Platte

• Jordan Colwell, Western Nebraska Community College, Scottsbluff

• Dustin Favinger, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney

• Travis Flodine, CIT Bank, Omaha

• Barb Fowler, Polk County Rural Public Power District, Stromsburg

• Justin Gould, Black Hills Energy, Kearney

• Patrick Hanrahan, Nebraska Public Power District, York

• Jennifer Heaton, Nebraska Bankers Association, Lincoln

• Norine Howard, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, Omaha

• Caitlin Jerabek, Beyond Blueprints, St. Paul

• Curtis A. Johnson, DLR Group-Architecture Engineering Planning Interiors, Omaha

• Angie Lauritsen, Lauritsen Ventures, Gretna

• Deborah Neary, Mentor Nebraska, Omaha

• Wade Regier, Pinnacle Bank, Aurora

• Peggy Reisher, Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska, Lincoln

• Becky Ries, Valley County Health System Foundation, Ord

• Derek Rusher, Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, Kearney

• Melissa Scott-Pandorf, KBRWyle-Houston, Kearney

• Heather Siebken, Omaha Public Power District, Omaha

• Emma Stokely, Franciscan Care Services, West Point

• Justin Suhr, Great Plains Communications, Blair

• Paul Ternes, Peter Kiewit Foundation, Omaha

• David Verkler, Exmark Manufacturing, Beatrice

• Mark Way, York State Bank, York

• Marsha Wilkerson, BD Construction Inc., Kearney

• Steve Wobken, Ash Grove Cement Company, Omaha

Applications for the next class may be submitted until April 17.

For more on the Leadership Nebraska, contact Roberta Pinkerton at 402-474-4422 or go online to leadershipnebraska.com.