Graduation ceremonies will be held Thursday at The Casino at Lakemont Park for the Leadership Blair County Class of 2012. This year's 22 members bring the total number of people who have completed the program sponsored by The Blair County Chamber of Commerce to 406.
This is the 18th annual class.
The program develops and enhances community leadership by challenging and preparing individuals from diverse backgrounds to assume more active, effective roles in addressing communities' needs.
Each class selects a community service project as part of the program. This year's class project is making improvements to the bathroom, living area and four bedrooms at the Domestic Abuse Shelter in Altoona.
This year's class members are:
Jesse Auker
Residence: Altoona
Position: Project manager, Leonard S. Fiore Inc., Altoona
Community service: Operation Our Town volunteer
Bruce Baldwin
Residence: Hollidaysburg
Position: Director of sourcing, Blair Companies, Altoona
Community service: Hollidaysburg Veterans Home volunteer
James Berkhimer
Residence: Portage
Position: Audit and tax manager, Young, Oakes, Brown and Co. P.C., Altoona
Community service: Blue Knob Volunteer Fire Company and Community Center board member/secretary; Blue Knob Community Days and Blue Knob ATV "Run on the Mountain" committee member/volunteer; Mount Hope United Church of Christ member
Timothy Barber
Residence: Indiana
Position: Assistant vice president business banking officer, S&T Bank, Altoona
Community service: Open Door of Indiana County board member; Indiana Junior Baseball League coach and assistant coach; Divine Destiny Ministries youth instructor, usher and video recorder
Adana Burke-Hooten
Residence: Hollidaysburg
Position: Licensed clinical social worker, 21st Century Employee Assistance Partners, Altoona
Community service: Hollidaysburg Area YMCA volunteer; St. Michael's Church volunteer; St. Francis University advisory board member
Nancy Fellabaum
Residence: Altoona
Position: Franchisee/ owner, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, Altoona
Community service: Armed Forces Mothers member; National Association of Tax Professionals state board member; Altoona Shade Tree Commission member
Richard Flango
Residence: Zelienople
Position: Senior bridge engineer, Keller Engineers Inc., Hollidaysburg
Community service: Zelienople Little League Association coach; St. Ferdinand's Church member
Cate Fraser
Residence: Bellwood
Position: Vice president and senior branch manager, M&T Bank, Altoona
Community service: Altoona Kiwanis member
Eric Gruss
Residence: Portage
Position: Assistant vice president, information technology manager, Reliance Bank, Altoona
Community service: Portage Area Futbol Club adviser; former Portage EMS basketball coach; former Portage Area School Board director; former member of Admiral Peary Vo-tech Board of Directors
Mark Ickes
Residence: Somerset
Position: Executive director, Allegheny Mountains Convention and Visitors Bureau, Altoona
Community service: Boys and Girls Club of Somerset County volunteer
Marsha Josapak
Residence: Roaring Spring
Position: Executive assistant, NPC Inc., Claysburg
Community service: American Cancer Society Relay for Life volunteer; Roaring Spring First Church of the Brethren member
Peter Kreckel
Residence: Tyrone
Position: Pharmacist, Broad Avenue Pharmacy, Altoona
Community service: Tyrone Boy Scout Troop 300 assistant leader; Tyrone St. Gregory Council No. 1218 Knights of Columbus member
Natalie Lombardo-Beaver
Residence: Altoona
Position: Director of student recruitment, YTI Career Institute, Altoona
Community service: YTI Thanksgiving food drive volunteer; YTI Relay For Life volunteer; Making Strides Walk participant
Sherrie Markley
Residence: Roaring Spring
Position: Office assistant, P. Joseph Lehman Inc. Consulting Engineers, Hollidaysburg
Community service: Dreams Go On volunteer; Adopt a Highway volunteer
Jamie Miller
Residence: Altoona
Position: Director of employee screening services, Advantage Resource Group, Altoona
Community service: The Nehemiah Project volunteer; The Promise House board member and volunteer
Maria Preusser
Residence: Altoona
Position: Showroom coordinator/ lighting design consultant, The Hite Co., Altoona
Community service: Easter Seals Office Olympix participant; Easter Seals softball marathon participant
Carlee Ranalli
Residence: Williamsburg
Position: Director of institutional research, Juniata College, Huntingdon
Community service: Williamsburg Borough Council president; Williamsburg Women's Civic Club member; Blair County Planning Commission's Government Advisory Committee member; Blair County Adult Literacy Council member; Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Huntingdon County Advisory Council member
Lorie Smith
Residence: Roaring Spring
Position: Director of human resources, Nason Hospital, Roaring Spring
Community service: Central High School Vocational Advisory Committee member; Relay for Life Events member; Easter Seals and Salvation Army volunteer
Sherri Stayer
Residence: Hollidaysburg
Position: Practice manager, Altoona Lung Specialists, Lung Disease Center of Central Pennsylvania, Altoona
Community service: American Cancer Society Relay for Life 2010 and 2011 event chairwoman; Blair County Chamber of Commerce ambassador; Blair County Chamber of Commerce golf committee member; Lung Disease Foundation of Central Pennsylvania executive director; Buy Here, Live Here, public relations team member; Pennsylvania Relay advisory team member 2010-11; 2012 Joseph P. Rosenhamer Chamber Spirit Award recipient
Jeannine Treese
Residence: Altoona
Position: Executive director, Blair County Historical Society, Altoona
Community service: Altoona Women's Club member
Mary Ulsh
Residence: Duncansville
Position: Credit manager, U.S. Foods, Altoona
Professional interests: Pennsylvania Association of Credit Management member
Marvin Walter
Residence: Altoona
Position: Compliance officer, Altoona First Savings Bank, Altoona
Community service: The ARC of Blair County volunteer.
