ShawneeDispatch.com

Leadership Kansas, a flagship leadership growth program of The Kansas Chamber of Commerce, recently chose 40 emerging state leaders for its 2007 class activities, including a Shawnee resident, the superintendent of a local school district and a local state representative.

The 40 individuals selected for the Class of 2007 to participate in this year's program will be engaged during six statewide conferences by a variety of experts in the critical issues facing Kansas business and government. Individuals chosen for Leadership Kansas have records of success in their businesses and communities and a desire to strengthen their state, communities and employers. Class members are chosen based on leadership contributions in their professions and communities and their willingness to contribute to Kansas' future progress.

The Kansas Chamber's 2007 Leadership Kansas Class includes Shawnee resident Erin L. Pogue, manager of safety and technical training for Kansas City Power & Light; Rep. Stephanie Sharp, D-Lenexa, whose 17th District also covers portions of southern Shawnee; and Sharon Zoellner, superintendent of the De Soto School District.

The class will graduate in October following participation in a number of programs planned throughout Kansas to inform the class of key business and government issues facing the state and to inspire them to become activists in creating future solutions.

The Class of 2007 was approved by the Leadership Kansas Board of Directors, chaired by J. Russell Jennings, Commissioner, Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority, Class of 1998. John Federico, Class of 1997, is the Leadership Kansas executive director.

For more on The Kansas Chamber visit www.kansaschamber.org. For more on Leadership Kansas visit www.leadershipkansas.org.