Leadership Cattaraugus proudly announces the graduation of 25 professionals from its 2024 leadership development program.
Over the course of ten months, participants from various industries and sectors engaged in immersive learning experiences designed to enhance their leadership skills, foster personal growth, and promote community engagement.
The 2024 cohort includes:
Derrick Askey – Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office
Rich Barie – Hedley Brook Agency
Donald Bentley – Eaton Corporation
Jody Blackwell – Cattaraugus County DSS
Jennifer Castellano – Cattaraugus County Bank
Aubrey Coast – Connecting Communities in Action
Scott Eaton – Holiday Valley
Peter Ebert – CA BOCES
Eric Everetts – Eaton Corporation
Kristen Jedrosko – Cutco Corporation
Donna Hatzell – Intandem
Roger Johnson – Jamestown Community College
Brian Kelly – Kelly Design and Development
Jasmine Killingbeck – Cattaraugus County DSS
Abigail Luzier – Cornell Cooperative Extension Cattaraugus County
Tiffany Mager – Cattaraugus-Allegany Workforce Development Board
Paul Majot – Cutco Corporation
Justin Malpiedi – Siemens Energy
Mason Maynard – Connecting Communities in Action
Caitlin Metler – Directions in Independent Living
Susan Ostrander – Total Senior Care
Larry Selph – Cutco Corporation
Sarah Swinko – Southern Tier West
Hiryu (Mike) Waseda – St. Bonaventure University
Desiree Wesley – High Point Federal Credit Union
Throughout the program, the cohort explored opportunities for team building, mentorship, and networking while gaining insight into the challenges and opportunities within Cattaraugus County.
The program emphasizes the importance of developing well-rounded leaders equipped to support local businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations.
This year’s graduation ceremony took place at Woodside Tavern on the Range, where participants, their guests, and alumni celebrated the group’s accomplishments.
Board member and 2014 alum Kathleen Martel opened the evening and encouraged graduating members to reflect on and appreciate their growth through the year.
“Be a positive influence, practice a new skill, be a mentor, promote a local business,” Mrs. Martel said, enjoining the cohort to use their new leadership skills.
“We’re grateful to all those who made this program possible and to everyone who shared this journey with us,” said Larry Selph, 2024 cohort speaker. “Looking back on some of our best moments together, I realize how much this experience has grown from what I thought it would be to what it truly became: a deeper understanding of our community, its needs, and our potential impact. There is so much work to be done, and countless volunteer opportunities to pursue right here in Cattaraugus County. I hope we all remain open to these opportunities and remember to share what we’ve learned, the stories we’ve created, and the perspectives we’ve gained. I believe these experiences will continue to shape our lives and inspire those around us.”
From there, Mr. Selph turned the tables and asked each of the cohort members to share a reflection on the group’s experience.
Leadership Cattaraugus 2022 cohort alum and board member Julie Hall served as the event’s keynote speaker. In her remarks, she highlighted the importance of lifelong leadership development and the power of staying connected within the Leadership Cattaraugus network, emphasizing our county’s treasures are our people.
Applications for the 2025 Leadership Cattaraugus program, which runs from January through October, are now open. Companies and individuals are encouraged to apply early, as enrollment is capped at 25 participants. For more information, visit www.leadershipcattaraugus.org or call 716-201-0253.