Contributed byLeadership Columbia

The Leadership Columbia program announced 49 business and community leaders have graduated from the 2004–05 Leadership Columbia program. Leadership Columbia is a nine–month program sponsored by the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce. For one full day a month, class members attended sessions where local leaders in business, government, education, environmental issues, community development, health and human services, and the arts and culture arenas share their knowledge through lively discussion and activities that highlight real situations, needs, and opportunities within the Midlands.

This year’s graduates are Ann Akerman, Ronald McDonald House of Columbia; Kristin Alexander, ProLogistix; Laura Baker, Junior League of Columbia; Beth Bauknight, Bauknight Pietras & Stormer, PA; Keri Bennington, American Diabetes Association; Bridget Bennon-Lytton, Colonial Supplemental Insurance; David Berezin, Grant Thorton LLP; Rob Bethea, Ellis, Lawhorne & Sims, P.A.; Brian Blackwelder, First Citizens Bank; Laurin Boggero, Palmetto GBA; Marc Brewer, General Electric Healthcare; Steve Burlison, The State; Bianca Crawford, Carolina First Bank; Veronica Del Castillo, Palmetto GBA; Raiessa de’Wein, BlueCross BlueShield of SC; Kristi Evans, Bank of America; Tim Grow, Elliot Davis, LLC; Season Hurley, Regions Bank; Rod Johnson, Palmetto GBA, LLC; Ashley Jones Brewer, USC; Jake Knight, Real Estate Appraisers & Consultants, LLC; Lisa Langberg, Gasque Marketing & Advertising; Macon Lovelace, First Citizens; Jackee McAllister, Doctor’s Care; Lee McElveen, BlueCross BlueShield of SC; Denise Moore, Robinson McFadden & Moore, P.C.; Cindy Nixon, Communicare; Donna Northam, Colonial Supplemental Insurance; Sarah Patrick, Girl Scouts of the Congaree; Cory Pfrommer, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; Keith Powell, Childs & Halligan, PA; Sharon Pratt, Time Warner Cable; Amy Reilly, Johnson Controls; Elizabeth Render, Huff Law Firm, LLC; Marisa Reynolds, Companion; Stephanie Rice Jones, Chernoff Newman; Matt Ritchie,The Loxcreen Company Inc.; Keely Saye, USC; Tom Schlictman, Columbia College; Anne Shivers, Carolina Collegiate FCU; Benjamin Simons, Bollin Lignon Walker Realtors; Deirdra Stewart, Turner Padget; Jessica Trotter, Gotta Dance Ltd.; Tige Watts, Campaign Research and Strategy, Inc; Greg Webb, Palmetto Health Richland; Kevin Werner, Miller-Valentine Group; Brandon Whitacre, Carolina First Bank; Byron Williams, Morgan Stanley; and Tara Williams, Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce.