T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY

The graduating ceremony for the 2025-2026 Leadership Marshalltown class was held on Thursday, May 21. Leadership Marshalltown is a nine-month course that introduces a leadership framework for individual development, organizational impact, and community progress. Participants explore topics like education, healthcare, public safety and government, entrepreneurship, advanced manufacturing, and arts and culture. Throughout the course, class members strengthened their leadership skills, expanded their professional networks, and developed a deeper understanding of the people, organizations, and opportunities that shape the Marshalltown community. This year’s class included Sandra Alcala of McFarland Clinic, Lucian Banakeng of JBS, Hunter Barnard of SportsPlus, Misty Bunn of Pinnacle Bank, Neil Dalal of Emerson, Clayton Ender with the City of Marshalltown, Brittney Fisher of Emerson, Dani Garth with Marshalltown Community College, Cortney Horbach of MARSHALLTOWN Company, Bethany Jablonski of Emerson, Kate Jarvis of Emerson, Nicole Kelley of the YMCA/YWCA, Timothy Klinge of Emerson, Benjamin LaConner with the Marshalltown Community School District, Jolie Lannin of SportsPlus, Jaymee Mann of MARSHALLTOWN Company, Alexa and Myles Mitchell of A&M Cleaning Services LLC, Katherine Mummert with the MCSD, Kya Naughton of Alerus, Angie Polley of Farmers Savings Bank, Lisa See of ServiceMaster of Marshalltown, Whitney Sowers with Marshalltown Community College, Kiel Stevenson with the Marshalltown Police Department, Patrick Streit of Moore, McKibben, Goodman and Lorenz, LLP, Jordyn Terry with the MCSD, Blair Ulery of Paxton Pro Trade LLC, Maria Vargas-Gonzalez with the Marshall County Auditor/Recorder’s office and Jessica Veren of VGM – Forbin. The teaching team consisted of Kate Bowermaster with the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce, Heidi Dalal of the Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation, Pete Drury with the Iowa Valley Community College District, Erica Finders with the MCSD, Josh Grosvenor of Emerson and Christian McMurray of United Bank & Trust.