The 41st incoming class of the Leadership for Five Seasons (LFS) program’s 2023-2024 year has been announced.
A total of 35 individuals, representing different businesses and industries around the metro area, were chosen based on their application and a panel interview consisting of LFS alumni.
Nearly 1,400 business professionals have passed through LFS since the program began in 1983.
“LFS empowers participants with a comprehensive understanding of our community’s challenges and opportunities, while also providing broader knowledge of our region and the role future leaders can play as engaged citizens,” said Doug Neumann, executive director of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, which sponsors the LFS program. “Seeing emerging leaders come through the LFS program and continuously engage with the community beyond graduation is one of the many reasons it has been successful.”
The Adult LFS program, a 10-month experience that runs from August through May, is limited to 35 selected applicants each year. Adult participants spend one Friday each month, outside of work, participating in customized leadership training and traveling within the city to learn about different aspects of the community, called “industry days.”
Those days include Agriculture Day, Human Needs Day, Arts & Culture Day, Entrepreneurial Day, Health & Wellness Day, Economic Development Day, Government Day and Education Day.
Industry days are planned by LFS alumni who work within those industries. Each class kicks off with an overnight retreat and culminates with a service day and graduation.
The 2024 LFS class includes Justin Allendorf of Holmes Murphy & Associates, Laura Booth of the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, Kristin Clague of the City of Cedar Rapids, Lee Coblentz of CRST The Transportation Solution, Jacob Cournoyer of OPN Architects, Brett Dobesh of Travero, Amy Evans of Transamerica, Britta Felland of F&M Bank, Jessica Fergesen of the Cedar Rapids Kernels, Benjamin Fiedler of Benchmark Inc., Bob Gaffney of Rinderknecht Associates Inc., Ryne George of Linn Area Credit Union, Malia Gudenkauf of Little Miss Finance, Miranda Hammes of New Leader Manufacturing, Kim Hanna of YPN – Young Parents Network, Kara Hinzie of CRST, Cody Jandik of GreatAmerica Financial Services, Megan Johnson of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Corridor, Lacy Lampe of McClure Engineering Company, Anne Laugen of the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, Denise Lewis of Folience, Julie Parisi of NewBo City Market, Kristin Parrott of Bankers Trust, Jacob Pipkin of TrueNorth Companies, Drew Powell of Simmons Perrine Moyer Bergman PLC, Barbara Rawson of the Kirkwood Corporate Training Center, Alison Robinson of the Kirkwood Community College Foundation, Cynthia Stier of First Interstate Bank, Rogan Stoops of Mount Mercy University, Colton Storla of North Risk Partners, Katelyn Tungland of Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, Greg Usher of Nazette Law Firm, Erin Watts of Van Meter Inc., Lauren White of Willis Dady Homeless Services and Jeffrey Wozencraft of the City of Cedar Rapids.
Leadership for Five Seasons encourages diverse candidates from all backgrounds and industries to apply for the program each April. Click here for more information about the program and how to apply.
