Mesa Leadership selects 23 for Class of ‘26

The Mesa Leadership Training and Development Program recently announced its new 23-person Class of 2026. They represent a cross section of local small and big business, city of Mesa departments, nonprofits and other community organizations.

In May 2026, the graduates will become part of more than 900 Mesa Leadership alumni, many of whom are serving in public office, on nonprofit boards or city commissions, and donating their time and energies in a variety of ways to benefit the city of Mesa and its residents.

The 10-month program began with its first monthly class on Friday, Aug. 1. The program includes a variety of activities, including tours, leader shadowing; ride-alongs with Mesa Police, Fire, and Code Enforcement; and a class project benefiting a local nonprofit organization. Graduation will be held May 1, 2026.

The nonprofit organization, which is supported by the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, was inaugurated in 1981 with a mission to educate and train potential leaders who are seeking the opportunity to serve in the community and who need exposure to information, organizations and leaders to make that service possible.

Mesa Leadership’s Class of 2026 includes:

• Alicia Boe — Visit Mesa
• Ashley Stwertnik — Visit Mesa
• Bailey Norling — The Boeing Co.
• Brandy Andersen — City of Mesa, Business Services
• Bridget Fitzgibbons — Modern Medicine
• Chris Gonzalez — Eastmark
• Courtney Gooch Riggins — Freelife Wellness Center
• Dani Vernon — The Arizona Museum of Natural History
• Diego Kommunik — Davis Entertainment
• Donna Tucker — Truwest
• Isaiah Garfias — AZ Army National Guard
• Jacob Newman — Aster Aging
• Jeannie Hernandez — House of Refuge
• Jonathan Lister — Gallagher & Kennedy, P.A.
• Kyle Maskule — The Boeing Co.
• Lindsay Meyer — Concord General Contracting
• Margaret Golka — Arizona Public Service
• Mary Teresa Marshall — Arizona Children Association
• Natalia Smith — SRP
• Nate Gauthier — SRP
• Rachel Patel — The Boeing Co.
• Sherri Collins — First Things First
• Spencer Tippetts — Rain Forest Plumbing

For information, visit https://mesaleadership.org/