Louisa County – The Louisa Forward Foundation and the Louisa County Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with Rappahannock Electric Cooperative and AWS, proudly introduces the fourth Leadership Louisa cohort, the Class of 2025. This professional development initiative, led by Program Chair and Class of 2024 President Christina Miller (Louisa County Parks, Recreation & Tourism) and fellow alumni Ramona Chapman, Tina Duval, Matt Fallon, Kaitlyn King, Julie Smith, brings together an accomplished cohort of leaders from various sectors within Louisa County.

As a Leadership Louisa alumna and program chair, Christina Miller reflects on the program’s impact: “Leadership Louisa was a transformative experience that reshaped my understanding of leadership and its community impact. It fostered my personal growth and strengthened my commitment to our community. I formed invaluable connections with local leaders and members, enhancing our collective efforts for positive change.”

The program launches on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at Cooling Pond Brewery with a dynamic session on Values-Based Leadership 101 & Insights into Individual Communication Styles. The day will feature a small business panel, networking opportunities, and team-building exercises to set the stage for the six-month leadership journey.

Meet the Class of 2025:

Brittany Anderson, Louisa County Public Schools

Joel Belnap, Clark Construction Group

Doris Bolton, Walmart Distribution Center #7016

Becky Brown, Becky's Got Your Back

Madison Chandler, Louisa County Parks, Recreation & Tourism

Christine Dereemer, Find Homes Realty

Amanda Dove, Diamond Electric, LLC

Elizabeth Eastep, Louisa County Public Schools

Chad Foster, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative

Rosemary Heflin, Child Health Partnership

Jennifer Mastro, Lake Anna Swim Company

Jonathan Peoples, Shenandoah Crossings, a Bluegreen Vacations Resort

Jim Robertson, Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC)

Thomas Rockson, Piedmont Virginia Community College

Ryan Sampson, Louisa County Fire EMS

Mitchell Sasser, The Central Virginian

Jen Skrabak, Crossroads Title Agency

Alexandra Stanley, County of Louisa

Kiara Timberlake, Blue Ridge Bank

The Leadership Louisa program is a transformative blend of relationship-building, learning, problem-solving, and community engagement. Over the next six months, participants will engage in full-day leadership sessions that explore critical topics, including values-based leadership, effective communication, building trust, and navigating conflict.

A cornerstone of the Leadership Louisa experience is the Community Action Project (CAP), which empowers participants to apply their leadership skills to address real-world challenges. Organized into teams, participants will collaborate with local organizations to identify pressing issues and craft innovative solutions, culminating in a formal pitch presentation to their partners.  Beautiful Brokenness, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Louisa, Lake Anna Rescue and LASER are the selected organization for 2025.

Leadership Louisa is made possible through the generous support of sponsors and partners, including AWS, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, Dominion Energy, Louisa Arts Center, Louisa County Public Schools, Piedmont Virginia Community College, S&N Communications and Walmart Distribution Center.