Leadership Clarksville

09/11/2026

09/09/2026

Class of 1989 - Thanks to Jeff Bibb for the picture.

Dear Leadership Clarksville Alumni,

Next year, Leadership Clarksville will celebrate a remarkable milestone, 40 years of developing leaders and building connections throughout our community.

To celebrate this anniversary, we’re creating a special coffee table book that will capture the history, memories, people, and experiences that have made Leadership Clarksville what it is today. And we want our alumni to be a part of it.

We’re asking you to share your favorite memories from your Leadership Clarksville experience. Maybe it was a memorable class day, a meaningful conversation, a special friendship, a community project, or simply a moment that stayed with you long after the program ended. We’d also love to see any photos you may have from your LC experience.

Your story doesn’t have to be long or polished. We simply want to hear what Leadership Clarksville meant to you and how your experience has remained a part of your journey.

Please take a few minutes to share your story and any photos you’d like us to consider for inclusion in the book.

https://form.jotform.com/261946943448168

Thank you for being part of the Leadership Clarksville family. For 40 years, our alumni have been at the heart of this program, and we can’t tell its story without you.

For more information, please contact Emily Tardiff at [email protected]

We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you!

Warm regards,

Michael Kasitz
Executive Director
Class of 2021

09/03/2026

A Message to Alumni from Board President O'Neal Wiggins

Dear Leadership Clarksville Alumni,

I want to take a moment to personally thank you for being part of the Leadership Clarksville family.

Leadership Clarksville has always been about more than a program. It is about developing leaders, building relationships, and bringing together people who care deeply about the future of our community. That commitment does not end when you complete the program. You become part of a growing network of alumni who continue to lead, serve, and make a difference throughout Clarksville and Montgomery County.

One of the most important ways our alumni can help strengthen Leadership Clarksville is through annual alumni membership. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has paid their membership dues this year, and we are especially thankful to those who chose to give above the minimum membership level. Your generosity helped us maximize the matching funds made available through Jack Turner, allowing your contribution to go even further in supporting Leadership Clarksville.

For those who may not know, your alumni membership dues directly support Leadership Clarksville and its programs in several important ways.

First, your membership helps us provide complimentary events and opportunities exclusively for Leadership Clarksville alumni. These gatherings give us an opportunity to reconnect, build new relationships, and continue the sense of community that began during your Leadership Clarksville class.

Your membership also helps support our current Leadership Clarksville class by allowing us to keep program tuition as affordable as possible. At the same time, your support helps sustain Youth Leadership Clarksville and allows us to keep tuition accessible for the next generation of emerging leaders in our community.

We also want your alumni experience to continue growing. We are exploring additional ways to engage our alumni, including professional development opportunities, networking events, and potentially refresher program days that allow alumni to revisit some of the experiences, relationships, and community issues that made their Leadership Clarksville experience so meaningful.

The strength of Leadership Clarksville has always been its people. Our organization is only as strong as the alumni who make up this incredible network. Whether you completed the program last year or many years ago, you are an important part of the Leadership Clarksville legacy.

If you have not been active with Leadership Clarksville in recent years, we would be honored to reconnect with you. There is a place for you in this organization, and we hope you will consider becoming involved again.

Thank you for believing in Leadership Clarksville, investing in the future of our community, and continuing to be part of the Leadership Clarksville family. Your membership, your involvement, and your continued support truly make a difference.

Together, we can continue building an organization that develops leaders, strengthens our community, and creates a legacy that will benefit Clarksville and Montgomery County for generations to come.

We look forward to reconnecting with you and continuing this journey together.

Sincerely,

O'Neal Wiggins
Board President
Class of 2017

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/leadership-clarksville-alumni

09/01/2026

Last night was a special night for our Leadership Clarksville family as 11 of our alumni took the oath of office and began a new chapter of service to our community. We couldn’t be more proud.

These are people who have chosen to invest their time, talents, and hearts in Montgomery County. Long after their Leadership Clarksville class ended, they’ve continued to show up, serve, lead, and make a difference. Now, they have the opportunity to serve our community in an even greater way.

Please join us in celebrating these Leadership Clarksville alumni:

Joshua Beal ’18
Renee Bruens ’26
John Gannon '97
Wes Golden ’26
David Harper ’05
Rashidah Leverett ’20
Erin Poland Nolder ’09
Julie Runyon ’24
Chris Trawinski ’20
Kimberly Wiggins ’18
Walker Woodruff ’22

From the Class of 1997 to the Class of 2026, these leaders represent what we hope Leadership Clarksville inspires in every class, a lifelong commitment to making our community stronger, better, and more connected.

We are grateful for your willingness to serve. We are proud to call you alumni. And we are excited to see what you’ll accomplish in this next chapter.

Congratulations to all of you! Clarksville and Montgomery County are better because of leaders like you.

The new County Commission was sworn in Monday, along with our new sheriff, School Board members and other county officials.

08/21/2026

Leadership Clarksville congratulates Michelle Newell, APR, Class of 2018 and Brendalyn Carpenter Player, APR, Class of 2024, who recently earned the professional distinction of Accreditation in Public Relations.

Michelle and Brendalyn were pinned with their official APR pins in a special ceremony during the Public Relations Society of America – Nashville Chapter's 40th Annual Parthenon Awards on Aug. 20.

Michelle, Clarksville-Montgomery County Green Certification Program
Manager, and Brendalyn, founder of Brendalyn Player Communications, home of Unapologetic Introvert, embarked on this journey together as friends and accountability partners in fall 2023 – making every milestone, and ultimately earning their accreditation, even more meaningful.

Accreditation in Public Relations advances the profession by recognizing practitioners who have demonstrated broad knowledge, experience, and professional judgment.

The rigorous program measures fluency in strategic communication, research, planning and evaluation, management of issues and crisis, ethics and law, leading the PR function, and communication theory. Candidates must have several years of professional experience to earn the designation “APR.”

The APR program is overseen by the Universal Accreditation Board and administered
by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Today, more than 4,500 active
accredited practitioners hold this distinction worldwide – fewer than 2 percent of all
public relations professionals.

08/10/2026

Thank you to our newest Above & Beyond Alumni Members! 🎉

Please join us in recognizing:

⭐ Lisa McClain '03
⭐ Marilyn Hand '89

We now have 40 alumni who have gone Above & Beyond. We are so grateful for your generosity.

08/03/2026

Thank you to our newest Above & Beyond Alumni Membership members! 🎉

Please join us in recognizing:
⭐ Jeff Harris '05
⭐ Chris Lanier '23
⭐ April Consulo '22
⭐ Jay Albertia '97
⭐ Jimmy Terry Jr. '19
⭐ Ross Hicks '88
⭐ James Perras '21
⭐ Stefanie Miller '24
⭐ Pam Powell '23

Your continued support strengthens our alumni community and helps ensure Leadership Clarksville remains connected, engaged, and thriving for years to come.

We're grateful to everyone who has renewed their Alumni Membership at every level.

Thank you for investing in the future of our alumni network. We couldn't do it without you!

07/30/2026

Reconnect. Network. Celebrate.

Join fellow Leadership Clarksville Alumni on Thursday, August 20, 2026 at The Mailroom for an evening of conversation, connections, and community.

Admission is free for alumni who are current on the dues. If you have not renewed yet, go to: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/leadership-clarksville-alumni

Space is limited to around 50 attendees, so register early to secure your spot. Register at: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/alumni-mixer--2026

We can't wait to see you there!

07/27/2026

This is the final week for Alumni to pay your dues at the Plus or Above & Beyond membership levels and have your contribution qualify for the Turner Match!

A big thank you to our newest Above & Beyond members:

🎉 Chris Travis '21
🎉 Arye Boutwell '24
🎉 Liane Wilson '22

Join them, maximize your impact, and help us make the most of the Turner Match before the deadline. Don't miss out!
Renew here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/leadership-clarksville-alumni

07/24/2026

Introducing the Leadership Clarksville Class of 2027!

Leadership Clarksville is pleased to announce the members of its Class of 2027, welcoming a distinguished group of local professionals representing a wide range of industries and organizations throughout the Clarksville-Montgomery County community.

Now entering its 39th year, Leadership Clarksville continues its tradition of developing informed, engaged leaders through an immersive program that provides participants with firsthand access to the institutions, organizations, and decision-makers shaping the region's future. Throughout the year, class members will explore topics including local government, economic development, education, healthcare, public safety, infrastructure, business, nonprofit leadership, and the arts.

"Each class brings together individuals with unique experiences and a shared commitment to making our community stronger," said Michael Kasitz, executive director of Leadership Clarksville. "The Class of 2027 reflects the depth of talent and leadership found across Clarksville and Montgomery County. We're excited to watch these participants build meaningful relationships, broaden their understanding of our community, and grow as collaborative leaders."

The Leadership Clarksville Class of 2027:

Danielle Adair, Judicial Administrative Assistant, TN Administrative Office of the Courts

Suzanne Adkisson, Account Manager, Blood Assurance

Chad Brooks, Dean of the Graduate School, APSU

Christopher Colburn, Owner / Operator, C&D Tool & Storage

Mitchell Cordova, Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs,
APSU

Peyton Craft, Financial Wellness Director, Fortera Credit Union

Alexandra Guerra, Branch Manager / Banking Officer, Planters Bank

Jennifer Hawkins, Operations Manager, Slate Farms

Marlon Heaston, Chief Executive Officer, New Purpose

Suzanne Hogan, Administrator, TN State Veterans Home

Deleann Holt, Owner / Director, Acro Dance Express, LLC

Hana Hyams, Commercial Real Estate Advisor, SVN Accel Commercial Real Estate

Kristen Jaggers, Regional Manager Community Impact, United Way of Greater Nashville

Rebecca Lyons, Senior Program Director, Clarksville Area YMCA

Antonio McCarver, Leader, Customer Delivery, Cisco Systems, Inc.

John McConnell, Dean of the College of Education, APSU

Blake Monroe, Senior Director of Sales, Visit Clarksville

Jill Moore, Chief Experience Officer, Tiberon Services

Teya Moore, Resource Juvenile Coordinator, Montgomery County

Erin Morton, Sr. Director of Corporate Relations & Strategic Alliances, APSU

R. Wayne Pinckley, Principle Consultant, Elire, LLC

Eve Rice, Director of Nursing, APSU

Cynthia Richards, Assistant Director, Montgomery County Adult Probation

JaCenda Robinson, Assistant VP & Chief Human Resources Officer, APSU

Ramanjit Sahi, Professor, APSU

Bo Sibal, Site Manager, Waste Connections

David D. Smith, Director – Veterans Treatment Court, Montgomery County

Whitney Swallows, Director of Admissions, Clarksville Academy

Clarissa Tucker, Program Manager – Neighborhood & Community Services, City of Clarksville

Elizabeth Vincent, Director of Continuous Improvement, CMCSS

Cassie Wheeler, Finance Director, Montgomery County

Angela Whittley, Executive Pastor, Christian House of Praise, Inc.

Rob Yates, Risk Advisor, Higgins Insurance

Analosa Young, Deputy Director, Clarksville Housing Authority

Leadership Clarksville has long served as a catalyst for civic engagement by connecting emerging and established leaders with the people, challenges, and opportunities that define the community. Alumni of the program continue to make significant contributions across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

"Our participants don't just learn about the community, they become part of the conversations and partnerships that help shape its future," Kasitz said. "We look forward to seeing the impact this class will make both during the program and for years to come."

For more information about Leadership Clarksville or future class opportunities, contact Michael Kasitz at 931-645-3322, email [email protected], or visit www.leadershipclarksville.com.