Leadership McPherson 2025 Concludes with Celebration, Community Commitment
The Leadership McPherson Class of 2025 concluded its nine-week journey of learning, growth, and connection with a celebratory luncheon at the McPherson Opera House on April 23. This intensive community leadership program of the McPherson Chamber of Commerce is built on the belief that leadership is an activity—not a position—and that anyone can lead. It begins with personal initiative and fosters the kind of leadership that inspires positive, visionary action to strengthen and uplift our community.
This year’s cohort included:
Ryan Bauer (McPherson Police Department),
Angela Brunk (STEPMC),
Lisa Crough (The Cedars),
Tammi Field (McPherson Center for Health),
Hayden Foster (Peoples Financial),
Billy P. Jamison, Jr. (McPherson College),
Katie Krier (McPherson Convention & Visitors Bureau),
Leslee Miller (Mid Kansas Dental),
Kaela Moore (Farmers Alliance Mutual Insurance),
Jessi Moors (Peoples Bank & Trust),
Cade Pacey (PEM),
Anika Polzin (CHS),
Heather Reissig (City of McPherson),
Katelynn Sovde (Mid Kansas Dental),
and Jessica Toledo (McPherson Center for Health).
Throughout the program, participants engaged in transformative learning experiences, including the Kansas Leadership Center’s When Everyone Leads and the immersive two-day workshop Your Leadership Edge. These sessions were supported and enhanced by guidance from local community facilitators, reinforcing the KLC’s dynamic leadership framework and bringing their unique leadership experiences to the forefront. A special thank you to Abigayle Morgan (McPherson College), Chet Buchman (Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk & Loyd), LaMonte Rothrock (The Cedars), Logan Schrag (Peoples Financial), John Worden (The University of Kansas Health Systems), Amy Beckman (McPherson College), and Debbie Hawkinson (McPherson Chamber of Commerce).
While the formal class sessions have concluded, the group continues to work collaboratively on their class project: the Smile Forward Program. This initiative aims to build confidence and improve the well-being of K–8 students by coordinating efforts between local schools and dental offices to provide critical care in oral health. The class is working with the elementary and middle school nurses in McPherson and have commitment of participation from Yowell Dental Group and Mid Kansas Dental with aspirations to expand the program to additional dental providers and county wide schools.
Introduced to the Leadership McPherson curriculum in 2000, class community projects have been a cornerstone of the program, benefiting youth across McPherson County for the past 25 years. The Smile Forward Program follows in that tradition. Working with school nurses in USD 418, dental offices will receive referrals for students in need. Once a child receives critical care, the dentist may report any further needs, with additional costs, ideally covered through the class fund and community donations.
Congratulations to the Leadership McPherson Class of 2025. We commend your dedication and look forward to the positive impact your work will continue to have on the youth and future of our community.
About Leadership McPherson
Leadership McPherson has been an impactful program of the McPherson Chamber of Commerce since 1982. It is designed to develop leadership capacity that inspires visionary, positive action, to motivate and strengthen the community.