Leadership Centre County’s vision is for a vibrant community built upon robust servant leadership.

What We Do

Leadership Centre County is a community leadership development organization. We have been creating leaders qualified to serve since 1991. Our mission is to educate participants about the needs, available services, strengths, opportunities, and current issues in our community. Our overall goal is to increase the leadership pool within the county with folks who are well informed, networked, and qualified to lead. We accomplish this goal through our Community Leadership Program and signature events.

What We Believe

We believe that when individuals in a community have the right tools, their impact on that community is exponentially greater. Our goal is to transform ordinary citizens into extraordinary civic leaders through routine, strategic, and systematic programs and workshops designed to help individuals contribute to a thriving community. We believe that effective leaders improve the quality of life for their communities. We work to cultivate leadership through the dynamic exchange of information, resources, and networking.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Leadership Centre County is to increase the community’s pool of servant leaders by bringing diverse individuals together for networking, education, and exposure to community issues, opportunities, and needs; encouraging increased participation for leadership in civic service; and creating a support network for present and future leaders.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Leadership Centre County is to increase the community’s pool of servant leaders by bringing diverse individuals together for networking, education, and exposure to community issues, opportunities, and needs; encouraging increased participation for leadership in civic service; and creating a support network for present and future leaders.

History

Leadership Centre County was founded in 1991 as a 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to the development of qualified leaders within the community. The establishment of the organization was a cooperative effort of the Chamber of Business & Industry of Centre County, the Bellefonte Intervalley Area Chamber of Commerce, the Moshannon Valley Economic Development Partnership, and the Pennsylvania State University. The first class began in September 1992 and graduated the following May.

Leadership Centre County is a self-sustaining organization governed by a board of directors. It is one of more than hundreds of similar programs across the country. Since its founding, the program has graduated 1,167 class members from its flagship Community Leadership Program who now serve as volunteers, committee chairs, and board members of more than 600 Centre County organizations.

The evolution of Leadership Centre County’s logo through the years.

Executive Director

Denise Sullivan (Class of 2022)       
Executive Director

BOARD OFFICERS

Kendra Kielbasa  (Class of 2023)       
Board President
Downtown State College Improvement District
Retail and Commercial Business Advocate

Tara Shaffer  (Class of 2018)
Immediate Past Board President
AmeriServ Financial
SVP/Area Executive

Keri (Miller) Kenepp  (Class of 2024)
Board Vice President
College Township Industrial Development Authority
Executive Director

Danyell Bundy  (Class of 2022)
Board Secretary
Penn Highlands Healthcare
System Fund Development Executive Director

Kate Tosto  (Class of 2018)
Board Treasurer
RE/MAX Centre Realty
Broker/Co-Owner

BOARD MEMBERS

A. Christian Baum  (Class of 2018)
A Christian Baum LLC
Entrepreneur

Karen Brewster  (Class of 2021)
Penn State University
Chief of Staff and Director of Business Operations, College of Education

Amy Caputo (Class of 2013)
Communications/PR Consultant
Senior Advisor, Light Leadership Group

Christopher M. Daher (Class of 2022)
Kish Bank
AVP, Commercial Relationship Manager

John Hanratty  (Class of 2021)
PNC Bank
Branch & Business Banking Center Assistant Manager

Ronald S. Haring
Lifetime Emeritus Director
Northwest Bank, Retired

Lisa Harrington  (Class of 2016)
Foxdale Village
Director of Residency Planning/Marketing

Cindy Kolarik
The Jared Box Project
Executive Director

Bob Langton (Class of 2022)
Keller Williams Realty
Realtor

Denise McCann  (Class of 2012)
Centre Helps
Executive Director

Chris Ortiz (Class of 2017)
Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center
Team Development Center Director

Bruce Richter, Ph.D.  (Class of 2022)
Restek Corporation
VP of Research & Development