6 West Virginians to participate in ARC's Appalachian Leadership Institute

ARC is a collaboration between 13 states and the federal government. Fellows from each state will be part of the new class.

The West Virginia fellows are:

• Amelia Courts, president and CEO of The Education Alliance, Charleston

• Jennifer Hause, program coordinator of the WVU Energy Institute, Morgantown

• Jessica McDonald, director of operations of the West Virginia Land Stewardship Corporation, Morgantown

• David Michael, executive director and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of the Tri-State, Huntington

• Sara Payne Scarbro, associate vice president for external engagement at Marshall University Research Corporation, Huntington

• Stacy Thomas, community coaching program associate, WV Community Development Hub, Richwood

As a part of the Leadership Institute, each fellow will participate in an extensive, nine-month series of skill-building seminars featuring regional experts, peer-to-peer learning, and case study analysis. The program begins virtually in October and culminates with the Class of 2021-2022’s graduation in July 2022.

“I am honored to congratulate the 2021-2022 class of Appalachian Leadership Institute fellows. These phenomenal Appalachians are the driving force of change in their communities,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “Their perseverance and dedication to the region is evident, and I have no doubt that this program will aid them in continuing to help their communities grow and thrive. The work of this class of fellows — and the ones who came before — gives me hope to the future of our region and is a testament to all that can be accomplished when Appalachians work together.”

Upon completion of the program, Appalachian Leadership Institute fellows will automatically become part of the Appalachian Leadership Institute Alumni network, a peer-to-peer working group committed to Appalachia’s future.

“The Appalachian Leadership Institute offers an incredible opportunity for fellows to learn firsthand from community leaders and develop crucial skills,” said ARC States’ Co-Chair Governor Ralph Northam of Virginia. “The Institute helps build strong, local leaders who will make their communities more resilient and ensure the economic vitality of the Appalachian Region for years to come.”

Appalachian Leadership Institute fellows were chosen via a competitive application process. More than 115 qualified applications were received for this year’s program.

Other 2021-22 Appalachian Leadership Institute fellows are:

Alabama

• Hannah Arendsen, economic development specialist, Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments, Huntsville

• Derrick Gilmore, executive vice president, Stillman College, Tuscaloosa

• Britton Lightsey, community relations manager, Alabama Power, Winfield

• Gale Denise Satchel, director, Colbert County Board of Education, Sheffield

Georgia

• Marie T. Cochran, Leman Brady professor, Duke University/UNC Chapel Hill, Toccoa

• Patrick Larson, senior project manager, Georgia Mountains Regional Commission, Gainesville

• Lillie Read, executive director, Cartersville Downtown Development Authority, Cartersville

Kentucky

• Misha Curnutte, administrative dispatch clerk, Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, Prestonburg

• Brian Gupton, CEO, Dataseam, Louisville

• John Jones, medical director, Primary Care Centers of Eastern Kentucky, Whick

• Jim Tom Trent, J.D., Business Development, Rajant Corporation, Morehead

Maryland

• Leonard Jornlin, CEO & energy innovation entrepreneur-in-residence, Optimize Renewables, Frostburg

• Chandler Sagal, director of Grants and Development, Allegany College of Maryland, Cumberland

Mississippi

• Meryl Fisackerly, vice president of Economic Development, The Golden Triangle Development, Columbus

• Leon Hays, executive director, Prentiss County Development Association, Booneville

New York

• Tyre Bush, director of Academic Pathways, SUNY Corning Community College — Academic and Workforce Development Center, Elmira

• Ashleigh Madison, program director, IncubatorWorks, Corning

• Tess McKinley, executive director, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Steuben County, Bath

North Carolina

• DeWayne Barton, founder & CEO, Hood Huggers International, Asheville

• Chuck Brown, manager, NCWorks Career Center Burke, NC Department of Commerce, Morganton

• Leah Jones-Marcus, impact associate, Dogwood Health Trust, Asheville

• Gregory Minton, dean of Public Safety, Wilkes Community College, Wilkesboro

• Robyn Seamon, owner/consultant, Appalachian Healthcare Training & Consulting, Boone

Ohio

• David Kilroy, program director, Kricker Innovation Hub, Shawnee State University, Portsmouth

• Meghan Reed, director, Trumbull County Historical Society, Warren

Pennsylvania

• Athena Aardweg, Community Services manager/Social Work instructor, NEPA Alliance/Bloomsburg University, Benton

• Samantha Dye, chief development officer, POWER, Pittsburgh

South Carolina

• Trent Acker, executive director, WorkLink Workforce Development Board, Clemson

• Ken Roper, county administrator, Pickens County, Sunset

Tennessee

• Audrey Depelteau, director, East Tennessee State University Innovation Laboratory, Johnson City

• Adam Mansell, director of research, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Hilham

• Jeff Taylor, president/CEO, Greene County Partnership, Greeneville

Virginia

• Brooke Love, CXO & creative developer, Inscape Creative, Co., Radford

• Matthew S. McGraw, Ph.D., associate vice president, Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, Clifton Forge