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Program Enters Its 34th Year of Engaging and Building Community Leaders
The Bend Chamber and BendNEXT Foundation are pleased to announce the Leadership Bend Class of 2027, the newest cohort selected for the long-standing civic engagement and leadership development program.
A program of BendNEXT Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Bend Chamber, Leadership Bend is designed to facilitate learning, connection, and spur action among Central Oregon’s rising community leaders as they look to positively shape our community’s future.
Participants are selected through a competitive application process and represent a broad cross-section of industries, backgrounds and experiences from across the region. Each member of the cohort commits to stretching their thinking, tackling conversations on challenging issues and outlining how they can create and leverage agency to impact Central Oregon.
Since its founding in 1993, Leadership Bend has graduated 758 alumni who continue to make a meaningful impact in their workplaces and communities through board service, elected office, volunteerism, civic engagement and other leadership roles.
Leadership Bend Class of 2027 Cohort
Chris Allio — Alutiiq LLC
Ryan Archer — EC Electric
Rolf Armstrong — Cushing Terrell
Keegan Barsuglia — SELCO Community Credit Union
Katie Bearden — SAIF
Thomas Bennett — Simplicity by Hayden Homes
Amanda Bevington Drungil — Central Oregon Community College
Keeley Brownback — Mt. Bachelor
Nicole Browning — Merete Hotel Management
Aaron Burr — Lynch Murphy McLane LLP
Christina Cappy — Bend Language Institute
Jeannie D'Agostino — Brasada Ranch
Stephen Dean — Central Oregon Radiology Associates
Erin Dillon — Mid Oregon Credit Union
Andrew Ditton — Kernutt Stokes
Selah Ewert — Neil Kelly Co. Inc.
James Ferris — Skanska USA Building
Austin Gould — Systems West Engineers
Michael Hancock — Bethlehem Inn
Brett Kempski — Bryant, Lovlien & Jarvis, P.C.
Cassie Lacy — City of Bend
Rio Lingelbach — Old Mill District & Hayden Homes Amphitheater
Mindy Lyman — Central Oregon Office Interiors
Michael Neal — Taylor Northwest
Patrick Neely — Cascade Disposal
Brian Nierman — Szabo Landscape Architecture
Shelley Oberhofer — Canter HR
Kathleen Quinney — BendNEXT Foundation/Bend Chamber
Justin Sweet —City of Bend
Amber Thacher — City Club of Central Oregon
Charlie Urban — CiES Inc.
As one of Oregon’s fastest-growing regions, Central Oregon continues to face increasingly complex challenges and opportunities. The Bend Chamber believes that investing in informed, collaborative leaders is essential to strengthening the region’s business ecosystem, supporting civic engagement and preparing the next generation to help move the community forward.
“I am excited to watch this incoming cohort grow and learn together as they embark on discovering how we can collaboratively address the opportunities in front of Central Oregon. This group carries the perspective, drive and commitment needed to continue to rise as leaders in this community.” shared Chris Hart, Executive Director of the BendNEXT Foundation.
Over the course of the nine-month program, participants will engage with community leaders, decision-makers and local industry experts to expand their awareness and understanding of the region. The class will explore historical and current issues firsthand, gain insight into the unique challenges and opportunities facing Central Oregon, and build relationships across Central Oregon’s business, civic, nonprofit and public-sector communities.
Throughout the program, participants will also engage in servant leadership curriculum that strengthens individual leadership skills and culminates in a class capstone project designed to support meaningful community impact.
