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Area leaders speak at WKCTC President's Leadership Academy 2025 class graduation

Paducah, KY (05/10/2025) — The 2nd West Kentucky Community and Technical College President's Leadership Academy finished on May 9 with a final session featuring a panel discussion of Paducah and campus leaders discussing the qualities of leadership, their careers and successes.

The President's Leadership Academy was created in July 2022 with the goal of cultivating talent and providing professional development opportunities for a dynamic mix of new and current leaders at the college. The first class finished in spring semester, 2023.

The academy addresses both retaining the existing talent at the college, and helping to bring new employees in. "I believe that to maximize institutional culture, it is important to simultaneously keep a close eye on how you are onboarding people, as well as recognizing their talents and skills to let them blossom, and then provide support for our existing employees," said WKCTC President Anton Reece. "With this academy, the intentionality of the sort of activities they have been engaged in is a holistic overview of managing and leading people."

At Friday's session the academy participants heard from four panelists on the topic of leadership, and facing both adversity and celebrating successes.

The panelists were:

W. David Denton, a prominent legal and civic leader in Paducah for over five decades. As a business leader, Denton has founded, managed, and directed several successful ventures, including Charter Hospital, Turner Publishing, Paducah Bank Shares, and multiple real estate development companies. He also led the fundraising and formation of the UK College of Engineering at the WKCTC Paducah Campus, which has now been offering degrees for over 25 years.

Terri Lundberg, a respected regional leader, entrepreneur, certified executive coach, and fractional CEO with Wiser360, Terri also serves on the boards of The Chamber's Leadership Center, the Western Kentucky Workforce Board, and Sprocket Innovation Hub.

Steve Powless, recently retired CEO of Computer Services Inc. (CSI), and active in the community serving on boards for Lifeline Recovery Center board, Paducah Bank, the Paducah/McCracken County United Way Endowment, and the Paducah Diversity Advisory Board.

Sandra Wilson, president and CEO of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, and serving her 6th consecutive term on the Paducah City Commission and her fourth term as Paducah Mayor Pro Tem. She joined the Paducah Chamber in June 2013 after a 26-year career at the NewPage Paper Mill in Wickliffe career as Public Affairs Manager.

In addition, WKCTC cabinet members presented their ideas and experience with leadership to the group. Panelists were: Ashley Burns, Director of Community, Workforce & Economic Development; Chase Durrance, Dean of Students; Tammy Maines, Dean of Enrollment Services; Shay Nolan, Vice President of Campus Operations Services; Dr. Kate Senn, Vice President of Academic Affairs; Jennifer Tubbs, Vice President of Business Services; Whitney Walker, Director of Marketing & Communications; Geelyn Warren, Director of Institutional Planning, Research & Effectiveness; and Andy Wilson, Vice President of Institutional Advancement & Executive Director, PJC Inc., Foundation.

At the end of the workshop the participants were presented with plaques recognizing their work by Dr. Reece. This year's academy class included: Amanda Anderson, Hillary Bell, Mindy Bell, Brooke Brown, Melissa Burgess, Joel Cates, Molly Dowell, Mellisa Duncan, Neda Gilbert, Mary Beth Head, Crystal Jackson, Juanita Killebrew, Meghan Ramsdell, Krissie Robinson, Kim Russell, Amanda Scheidegger, Calista Self, Ayesha Smith, Mark Smith, Sharla Sparks, Amy Sullivan, and Jason Willoughby.

West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) has been recognized in 2024 as the Barefoot & Gardner top community college in the nation by the Gardner Institute, and has been named an Aspen Prize Top 10 Community College five times by the Aspen Institute, and named a Finalist with Distinction three times. Offering more than 200 degree, diploma, and certificate options, WKCTC has been consistently recognized for providing students with vital job training and continuing higher education opportunities, for achieving high completion and transfer rates, and for providing strong employment results for its graduates. For more information, visit westkentucky.kctcs.edu

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