Cedar Valley of Iowa (June 10, 2014) – The 2013/2014 Cedar Valley Leadership Institute (CVLI) of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber concluded it sessions with a graduation reception at Park Place Event Center on May 28th. Employers, family and Alliance & Chamber staff and board members were on hand to congratulate the 27 graduates.

Cary Darrah, Vice President Community Development of the Alliance & Chamber reflected on the highlights of the year by saying, “This is a dynamic class of emerging leaders for the Cedar Valley. Their leadership qualities go beyond their professional commitments and will be a huge asset to our community.”

“The CVLI program is designed to produce leaders for the advancement of the Cedar Valley. The graduates are making the Cedar Valley a better place to do business and build a career by engaging in volunteer community projects or organization opportunities, and by encouraging others through their experience,” noted Steve Dust, CEO of the Alliance & Chamber. “I would also like to thank the employers/sponsors of this year’s class for investing in the leadership development of their team, as well as the future of the Cedar Valley.”

“CVLI provided an avenue un-like any other that I have traveled down before,” says Patrick Smith a graduate of the institute and Vice President, Institutional Sales at First National Bank, Cedar Falls, “It was more than just an opportunity to network with other professionals; by the end of the class we all built relationships that will extend well beyond the last nine months in the CVLI program.  I personally look forward to working along-side these talented, highly-thought of leaders, as we all grow with the Cedar Valley.”

Members of the class included:

Joshua  Anderson            John Deere Engine Works

Bethany Benner                Next Generation Wireless/Jiva Salonspa

Randy   Bennett                  City of Cedar Falls

David     Betz                       John Deere

Sarah     Bey                        UNI Regional Business Center

Nate      Clapham              UNI Foundation

David     Hansen                 Advanced Systems

Dale       Hartz                     UNI Career Services

Drew     Hektoen                John Deere Waterloo Works

Tina        Hummel               MidWest One Bank

Lisa         Johnson               John Deere Waterloo Works

Amy       Kay                         City of Cedar Falls Engineering

Heidi      Kenkel                  John Deere Waterloo Works

Kaara     Latusick                VGM Group

Kelly      Mangrich             Veridian Credit Union

Kristina Mehmen             Invision Architecture

Joshua  Moon                    Dutton, Braun, Staack, & Hellman

Tara       Sagers                   PDCM Insurance

Adam    Schaefer              US Bank

Patrick  Smith                    First National Bank

Steve    Skram                   Beecher, Field, Walker, Morris, Hoffman & Johnson

Nathan Vandegrift          John Deere Engine Works

Matt      Waller                   VGM Homelink

Cindy     Wiles                     Western Home Communities

Amy       Williams               Lincoln Savings Bank

Harley   Wilson                  CBE Companies, Inc.

Megan  Zuniga                   John Deere Waterloo Operations

Registration for the 2014/2015 CVLI will begin July 1.  Cost of the institute is $795.00 and is limited to Alliance & Chamber investor companies and organizations.

More information can be found at www.cedarvalleyalliance.com  or by contacting Cary Darrah by calling (319)232-1156 or email cdarrah@cedarvalleyalliance.com.

 

###