Building on the success of its inaugural year with 29 graduates, Leadership Alexandria held its opening retreat on Aug. 27 and 28 for 32 participants who will complete the program in May 2005.
In 2003, the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce created Leadership Alexandria, a program whose mission is to be the catalyst for leadership development as well as to serve and unify the Alexandria community.
The individuals chosen to participate come from a variety of backgrounds and work in many different sectors of Alexandria including small business, city government, educational institutions, civic associations, media, and religious institutions.
The 2004-2005 participants are: Kevin Beekman, The CrossBrook Organization, LLC; Kelly Bell, Virginia Commerce Bank; Nancy Belmont, Belmont Designs, Inc.; Sandra Bryant, Regent University; Kristen Clark, Hammond Middle School; Erik Dorn, Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Co.; Andrew Duncan, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization; Frank Fannon, SunTrust Mortgage, Inc.; Mark Feldheim, JMW Settlements, Inc.; Michael Geissinger, Alexandria Guide Magazine; John Giancola, DeVry University; Margaret Gullen, Wachovia Bank N.A.; Paul Hartley, SunTrust Bank; Donna Walker James, Walker Real Estate/ Going2Work; John Keegan, DeHart & Deming, Inc.; Jody Keenan, George Mason University - Enterprise Center; Barbara Lord, Alexandria Chamber of Commerce; Katherine Madrigal, Communities in Schools of Northern Virginia; JoAnn Maldonado, City of Alexandria; David Martin, Gold Works; Scott McGeary, Washington Gas; Pat Miller, Freedom's Answer; Merrie Morris, Alexandria Convention & Visitors Association; Nora Partlow, St. Elmo's Coffee Pub; Marilyn Patterson, Shiloh Baptist Church; Veronica Santos, Comcast Cable; Sharon Scranton, Inova Alexandria Hospital; Kim Sheridan, Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry; Christopher Sicks, Alexandria Presbyterian Church; Trudi Van Dyke, Torpedo Factory Art Center; Renata Varmall, The Varmall Group, and Sheila Whiting, Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities City of Alexandria.