FROM STAFF REPORTS

HOOVER – Leadership Hoover has announced its class for 2019-20, along with new appointments to its board of directors.

Leadership Hoover began in 2017 as an initiative of Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato. Formed as a nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors, the program accepts applications from people who work, live, or have other interests in the city of Hoover, and applicants must have been nominated by an alumnus of the program.

The program lasts from September through May, and classes are held once per month. The class members spend one day each month learning about a different aspect of Hoover, from small business awareness to education to nonprofits to local government and other topics. The class concludes with a graduation ceremony in May.

Members of the 2019-20 class were selected from more than 60 applicants. They are:Brooke Adams, Reginald Arnold, Ryan Blackenburg, Kathy Boswell, Karen Bruce, Jennifer Campbell, Laysea Chasteen, Jason Cobb, Kenneth Cox, Jr., Kechia Davis, Shannon Driver, Brian David Edwards, Bernadette B. Forrest, Donna Francavilla, Brian Hale, Jason Henderson, Angela Jarrett, Jessica Johnson, Tyler Lipe, Guy Locker, Rusty Lowe, Jonathan Millican, Leslie Schiffman Moore, Jarrod Morgan, Kerry Pate, Rohen Porbanderwala, Curt Posey, Melanie Posey, Kela Pryor, Cherinita Reese, Ben L. Reynolds, Tim Self, Blake Shultz, Alison Howell Steineker, Reggie Torbor, and Brandon Wilson.

Leadership Hoover also appointed new board members, including:

• Tynette Lynch, executive director of Aldridge Gardens, who has served as a board member since Leadership Hoover’s founding. She was appointed to a one-year term, and she will remain as executive vice president of the board.
• Jerome Morgan, owner of Oncort Professional Services, who has served as a board member since Leadership Hoover’s founding. He was appointed to a three-year term.
• Jennifer Whisenant, executive director of the Birmingham Automobile Dealers Association. She was appointed to her first three-year term.
• Diana Knight, partner and CEO of Sovereign CPA Group. She was appointed to her first three-year term.
• Chastity Stevenson Westry, retired from PepsiCo and Frito-Lay. She was appointed to her first three-year term.
• Kyle Puchta, Regions Corporate Security. He was appointed to his first one-year term.