Leadership Howard County announces Leadership Premier class

Leadership Howard County Inc., a nonprofit based in Columbia, has announced its latest Leadership Premier program members, adding nearly three dozen business professionals to the class of 2026. 

The organization, which aims to enable individuals to strengthen and transform their communities, accepted 34 professionals from Howard County businesses and nonprofits into the Leadership Premier program. 

Leadership Premier is Leadership Howard County’s premier program for senior-level business and community leaders. The 10-month, tuition-based program explores the Howard County community, during which participants meet with area businesses and leaders to be better informed on local issues.

According to LHC, class of 2026 members are:

• Quinton Askew, Ohana of Howard County
• Jordan Baker, HopeWorks of Howard County
• Debbie Bellamy, Howard County Library System
• Kendra Blount, Grace Community Church
• Jenny Bonilla, Luminus Network Inc.
• Chris Brandt, Community Action Council of Howard County
• John Bruns, Cyber Ready Clinic
• Bobby Cardoni, Strategic Factory
• Dwight Carr, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab
• Laura Ciccone, Dreamers Travel
• Stephen Conti, Tocar Spa
• Melissa Curtin, Community Foundation of Howard County
• Carla Gates, Reclaiming Health Learning Lab
• Jordan Grable, Howard Community College
• Valery Gutierrez, TEDCO
• Wally Hernandez, The Kahlert Foundation
• Steve Hudson, Johns Hopkins Federal Credit Union
• Zach Jones, Howard County Economic Development Authority
• Nolan Karfonta, Wagener Lee Wealth Advisors
• Tim Lattimer, Howard County government
• Jacqueline Lloyd, National Institutes of Health
• Kevin Marvel, APL Federal Credit Union
• LaKeisha McClendon, Howard County government
• Paul Merena, Multicorp Inc.
• Paige Mills-Haag, Lutheran Social Ministries of Maryland
• Amritha Mohandas, United Way of Central Maryland
• Caroline Payton, Columbia Association
• Luzi Robinson, Pfizer
• Brian Shepter, Howard County government
• Wayne Stewart, 401 Digital
• Robin Stimson, Columbia Association
• Abner Tsadick, Constellation Energy
• Brian Wallace, Howard County Public School System
• Todd Walther, Walther Advisory Group

Launched in 1985, Leadership Premier addresses countywide issues in monthly, daylong seminars where program participants meet with business, government and community services leaders, according to a release.