The Charleston Metro Chamber is proud to announce the Leadership Charleston Class of 2026, the 53rd class of its long-standing leadership program. For more than five decades, Leadership Charleston has been the region’s premier leadership development experience, offering participants a 10-month exploration of the critical issues that shape our community and its economy.
Over 70 professionals from across the Charleston region will spend the next year engaging in hands-on learning about the interconnected sectors that influence our future, including government, infrastructure, economic development, workforce, military and more. Through in-depth sessions led by regional experts, participants will gain a deeper understanding of Charleston’s challenges and opportunities while building lasting connections with a diverse network of leaders.
“Leadership Charleston has a powerful legacy of cultivating leaders who drive meaningful change in our community,” said Therese Gordon, Associate Vice President of Leadership at the Charleston Metro Chamber. “The Class of 2026 will carry forward that tradition, strengthening their own leadership impact while making a lasting difference within their organizations and across our region.”
The Leadership Charleston program has graduated thousands of alumni since its inception, many of whom have gone on to serve in key leadership roles in business, government and community organizations. The Class of 2026 now move closer to joining this distinguished network, contributing to the continued vibrancy and competitiveness of the Charleston region.
Leadership Charleston Class of 2026
Name | Organization |
---|---|
Max Adler | United States Air Force |
Jon Apgar | Charleston County Govt. – DAODAS |
Tommy Attridge | Standard Communities |
Ryan Beasley | Reveer Group |
Emily Cantwell | Encore Bank |
Reeves Connelly | Kimley-Horn |
Joseph Cook | Thomas & Hutton |
Tim Cotter | The Beach Company |
Emma Dajani | Fifth Third Bank |
Kelsie Davis | South Carolina Research Authority |
Landon Dickerson | Hutto, Preston & Associates |
Jack Duane | Iskagna |
Sam Elkin | Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum |
Ryan Ellard | Womble Bond Dickinson |
Melissa Enos-Sims | City of Goose Creek |
Emery Floyd | Belk Lucy |
Nick Fowler | Maynard Nexsen |
Malcolm Glenn | SeamonWhiteside+ |
Shawn Griffin | Stantec |
Tabitha Hobbs | Elliott Davis Advisory |
Felicia Howard | Pinnacle Financial Partners |
Courtney A. Howard | College of Charleston |
Bryan Huff | HLA, Inc. |
Anna Hyatt | Trident Construction |
Alex Jackson | Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic |
Thomas Jasper | LS3P |
Josh Johnson | OL Thompson |
Chris Jones | PMC |
Deja Knight McMillan | City of Charleston |
Crew Kosiorek | South Carolina Ports Authority |
Dustin LeBlanc | Medical University of South Carolina |
Tana Lee | Pyramid Contracting |
Adam LeZotte | South Carolina Federal Credit Union |
Jeff Livasy | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Charleston District |
Sam Lourie | Lourie Life & Health |
Matt Martin | Michael Baker International |
Kevin McCarrell | Fox Rothschild LLP |
Mary Elizabeth McDonald | South Carolina Aquarium |
Walker McLear | Greystar |
Charlie McPherson | BL Harbert International |
Jill Meyer | DWG Inc |
Ryan Mink | Synovus |
Shannon Morrison | Charleston Southern University |
Niki Mosny | Hamby Catering & Events |
Merriweather Mulé | Beacon Pointe Advisors |
Bill Olson | Real Broker, LLC |
Robert Osborne | Parker Poe |
Katherine Panke | Frampton Construction |
Kirsten Passyn | The Citadel |
Amber Paugh | Mankiewicz Coatings |
Collin Peck | K&L Gates |
Weston Peters | First Reliance Bank |
Tom Piott | Air Force, Joint Base Charleston |
Kady Preston | Charleston Promise Neighborhood |
Leo Racedo | Evans General Contractors |
Kyle Rains | Regions Bank |
Bryant Reeser | Home Telecom |
Joel Reighard | Burr & Forman |
Jaimee Salone | Atlas Tech |
Michael Samuel | SouthState Bank |
Jimmy Sciuva | South Carolina Ports Authority |
Tori Simmons | Charleston County Economic Development |
Aubree Slonecki | Terracon Consultants |
Aaron Smith | Highland Resources, Inc. |
Chelsea Speight | Kiawah Island Golf Resort |
Kris Steele | Choate Construction Company |
Heather Studer | Charleston County School District |
Tony Tassarotti | City of North Charleston |
Austin Tempest | W.M. Jordan Company |
Josh Walker | Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce |
Chito Walker | Charleston Police Department |
Morgan Wallace | Forvis Mazars |
Elizabeth White | BlueCross BlueShield of SC |
Ashley Wiggins | Boeing |