Missouri’s premier leadership program announces 2026 class

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry has selected 28 leaders from companies and organizations across the state for the 2026 Leadership Missouri class.

For more than 35 years, Leadership Missouri has helped develop the state’s current and emerging leaders by strengthening their leadership skills and deepening their understanding of the state.

The 2026 class will kick off July 8 in St. Louis, beginning a five-month journey. Class members will explore Missouri’s economy, infrastructure and political system while gaining firsthand knowledge of its opportunities and challenges. In addition to visiting St. Louis, the 2026 class will visit Joplin and Neosho, Jefferson City, Kansas City and the Lake of the Ozarks region.

This year’s participants represent a diverse range of industries, organizations and public-sector employers, bringing perspectives from business, education, health care, government and nonprofit leadership.

“Leadership Missouri is an opportunity to see our state through a different lens,” said Kara Corches, president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber. “This program gives participants a deeper understanding of Missouri and a network they can rely on long after the program ends.”

Learn more about Leadership Missouri here.

2026 PARTICIPANTS

• Lochlyn Adrian, Missouri House of Representatives, Jefferson City
• Amy Ames, State Technical College of Missouri, Linn
• Paula Benne, C&S Employment Solutions, Jefferson City
• Ashley Curry, Missouri Coalition of Homeschool Cooperatives and Microschools, Wentzville
• Leslie Fischer, Missouri Small Business Development Center, Columbia
• Sarah Granath, Gilmore & Bell, P.C., Kansas City
• Steve Halter, Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce, Poplar Bluff
• Kendra Hanauer, Missouri Hospital Association, Jefferson City
• Rachel Heisten, LifeWork Talent Consulting, Seneca
• Chance Hepola, Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jefferson City
• Zac Johnson, Alliance Water Resources, Columbia
• Crystal Jones, Perry County Economic Development Authority, Perryville
• Christine Kamp, Mercy Go Health, St. Louis
• Rachel Kohman, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla
• Kayla Kueckelhan, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Jefferson City
• Vicky Kulikov, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Kansas City
• Sal Maniaci, Missouri Partnership, Kansas City
• Amanda Nemeth, Missouri REALTORS, Pacific
• Jessica Passeri, Edward Jones, Strafford
• Amy Peebles, Ozarks Technical Community College, Springfield
• Nick Perryman, Greater St. Louis, Inc., St. Louis
• Ben Qualls, Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Jefferson City
• Miles Sandler, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Kansas City
• Shauna Stephanchick, STEP Up, Lee’s Summit
• Colby Thrift, Mora Technologies LLC, Warrensburg
• Alisha Trammell, Dexter Chamber of Commerce, Dexter
• Scott White, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Eldon
• Jared Williams, MKEC Engineering, Inc., Lee’s Summit