Grow Wabash County graduates 24 from leadership program

Wabash County, IN – Grow Wabash County is continuing its proud tradition of developing leaders and celebrating the impact they create across the Wabash County community. 

On Thursday, May 21, Grow Wabash County hosted a graduation ceremony for the 24 members of the 2025-2026 Leadership Development Wabash County (LDWC) cohort. These emerging leaders were recognized for their completion of the LDWC program, which included sessions with professors from Indiana University Kokomo and other regional professionals, as well as at least 25 hours of community service. 

As part of the ceremony, the LDWC graduates had the chance to share the many ways they gave back to Wabash County through their group service projects. 

“As a community, our future depends on the leaders we develop today,” said Tenille Zartman, President & CEO of Grow Wabash County and facilitator of the LDWC program. “LDWC is designed to build both confidence and capability, but just as importantly, it instills a mindset of lifelong learning. These graduates are walking away not just with new skills, but with a deeper commitment to serve, collaborate and continue growing as leaders in Wabash County and beyond.” 

Following the presentations, Dr. Liz Sills, assistant professor of communications at IU Kokomo, informed the audience that in addition to completing the full LDWC program, many of the students in this year’s cohort also successfully earned a digital Indiana University Micro-Credential in "Essentials of Leadership.”  

This is the third year that LDWC graduates have had the opportunity to earn this university recognized micro-credential. 

Zartman and members of the LDWC Steering Committee then presented each graduate with their certificate of completion. 

Graduates for the 2025-2026 LDWC cohort include: Leigh Denniston, Ford Meter Box Company; Caleb Eckerly, Ford Meter Box Company; Austin Ganger, Intertech Products; Baylie Giek, Bowen Health; Carly Griffith, Crossroads Bank; Carli Henderson, Schlemmer's Fire & Outdoor; Janet Selene Hernández, Wabash County Diversity Coalition; Courtnie Holloway, Josiah White's; Catherine Krieger, Bowen Health; Alondra Loera, MPS Egg Farms; Rachel Manes, Manchester Early Learning Center; Brandi McCann, Wabash County Health Department; Trevor McNutt, Ford Meter Box Company; Judi Orr, Community Foundation of Wabash County; Kyle Porter, Ford Meter Box Company; Rylea Prosser, Halderman Real Estate & Farm Management; Jody Purcell, Jody Susan Writes LLC; Geoff Schortgen, Purdue Extension Wabash County; Beau Shenefield, Ford Meter Box Company; Kiersten Staley, Intertech Products; Caleb Vogl, Ford Meter Box Company; Mysti Welch, Beacon Credit Union; Bailey Winget, Josiah White’s; and Cooper Wolfe, Honeywell Public Golf Course. 

In addition to the graduation certificates, there were also several awards presented to members of the cohort who stood out for their various strengths.  

These awards included: Social Change Award: Brandi McCann; Sunshine Award: Jody Purcell; Entrepreneur Award: Carli Henderson; Best Communication Award: Caleb Vogl; Servant Award: Geoff Schortgen; and Emerging Leader Award: Kyle Porter 

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Grow Wabash County hosted its annual LDWC alumni mixer, which allowed these new graduates to connect and network with the many years of graduates who came before them. 

Grow Wabash County is thrilled to see a new cohort of leaders take what they have learned over the past eight months and apply it to their respective jobs, committees, and boards, making Wabash County an even greater place to live and work. 

Plans are already in the works for the 2025-2026 cohort of Leadership Development Wabash County and registration for this next program will begin in August 2026 with classes beginning in October 2026. Companies or individuals interested in being placed on the waitlist for this upcoming cohort can do so by emailing Jana Thibos at jana@growwabashcounty.com. 

Grow Wabash County would like to thank all the supporters and sponsors that made the 2025-2026 LDWC program an incredible success.   

Core Sponsors include: Beacon Credit Union; City of Wabash; Wabash County Commissioners 

Lunch Sponsors include: Duke Energy; Heartland Career Center; Intertech Products; Josiah White's; NIPSCO; Ruoff Mortgage