Leadership Northwest Missouri (LNWMO) recently held their 2024 graduation celebration at the Spillman Event Center in Jamesport, Missouri. The evening began with a welcome by Jennifer Jarvis, LNWMO board president and 2021 LNWMO alum. Deb Powers, Class of 2001, blessed the group with an invocation prior to dinner. Ethan Piveral, member of the Class of 2024, reflected on the class year sharing memorable moments, followed by a class video presentation. Dr. Tim Crowley shared uplifting leadership thoughts to all in attendance. Jennifer Jarvis thanked program sponsors.
Kendra Pickering, Executive Director and 2022 LNWMO alum, recognized retiring board members: Dr. Kristen Alley, Galt; Marcus Casady, Maryville; Jennifer Jarvis, Savannah; and Heather Nicholas, Burlington Junction. New board members are: Sarah Battreall, St. Joseph; Brittany Higgins, Carrollton; Machelle Skinner, Savannah; and Carolynn Sollars, St. Joseph.
Jenna Stevens, Music Jam co-chair and 2021 LNWMO alum, presented the Leadership Northwest Missouri Citizenship Award for 2024 to Shane Lynch, Practice Manager, Wright Memorial Physicians’ Group and Saint Lukes’s Mercer County Clinic. Shane, with the help of LNWMO Class of 2021, created Music Jam which is now gearing up for the fourth year. The event is LNWMO’s top fundraiser and has raised over $30,000 accumulatively and boosts local economy. This year the event established two scholarships for local high school seniors with a portion of the proceeds. In Shane’s professional role, he demonstrates exceptional leadership and volunteerism. Shane has a strong commitment to the community and collaborates with North Central Missouri College’s Athletic Department to organize a toy drive to benefit local children.
Jennifer Jarvis presented each of the 24 graduating class members a certificate for completing the program. Graduates from the 2024 class, “Pickering’s Pioneers,” represented the following 12 counties: Jeff Agnew and Ethan Piveral, Atchison County; Sarah Battreall, Isaura Garcia, Victoria Masucci, Carolynn Sollars, and Amanda Zessi, Buchanan County; Jordan Wright, Carroll County; Cydney Andrews and David Woody, Clinton County; Nicole Lynch, Daviess County; Chris Martin, DeKalb; Valarie Shisler, Gentry County; Olivia Burchett, Lauren Dannar, Nevada Fields, and Tocarra Williams, Grundy County; Rebecca TenHulzen, Harrison County; Richard Switzer, Linn County; Wes Rockwood, Vanessa Slemp, Ashley Turner, and Shelby Wood, Nodaway County; and Rachel Brown, Worth County.
Leadership Northwest Missouri is a leadership development program designed to bring together participants from throughout a 19-county region to build, strengthen and inspire leaders through training and networking experiences. This class began in January and continued through July with monthly sessions in various Northwest Missouri communities. Classes during the 2024 class year were held in Conception, Chillicothe, Savannah, Carrollton, Maryville, Tarkio, and Cameron. Each session contained instruction on various leadership skills, examination of various issues facing the region, and hands-on exercises. In addition to education, other regional issues that were addressed included agriculture, entrepreneurship, healthcare, mental health, and economic and workforce development.
