New class of ARC’s economic development training program comprises 40 fellows from across all 13 Appalachian states.
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 29, 2026—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced the 40 fellows selected for the 2026-2027 class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute (ALI), a training opportunity that equips Appalachian community leaders to use economic development as a tool to drive positive change. The eighth ALI class comprises a network of public, private and nonprofit leaders from all 13 Appalachian states.
The eight-month program, which kicked off with an orientation session in Huntsville, AL, this week, is anchored by six multi-day seminars across the Appalachian Region. Each seminar focuses on one of ARC’s strategic investment priorities and will prepare these fellows to build effective economic and community development strategies, integrate their local assets into wider regional development strategies, and use new connections to forge strong regional partnerships.
“Strong communities begin with empowered local leaders,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “By investing in the Appalachian Leadership Institute, ARC is investing in the people who know their communities best and giving them additional tools to help turn their ideas into meaningful action. I’m inspired by the way our fellows learn from one another and work together to creating lasting economic progress across our region.”
The 2026-2027 Class of ALI fellows were selected via a competitive application process to reflect the Appalachian region’s wide range of economic development challenges, opportunities, and strategies. The class includes:
Alabama
Denzel Bell
Katie Bottoms Jones
Candace Johnson
Terra Mortensen
Georgia
Will Chappell
Dyana Costello Banks
Shaylan Johnson
Kentucky
Camila Moreno
Celesta Riffe
Joshua Rister
Maryland
Lindsay Butler
Courtney Thomas-Winterberg
Mississippi
Maddie Ludt
Amanda McBride
Lindsay Mitchell
New York
James Allard
Cynthia Falk
Trisha Hiemstra
North Carolina
Kevin Baxter
Sadie Simpson
Ohio
Bonnie Barker
Jennifer Crawford
Andrea Mahone Blackmon
Anna Shields
Pennsylvania
Bobby Hughes
Christina Koren
Matthew Platz
South Carolina
Jordan McCall
Chase Smithwick
Darin Thomas
Raven Thompson
Tennessee
Jessie Beth Miller
Michael Robinson
Virginia
Richard Johnson
Charlie Jones
West Virginia
Bradley Harris
Tricia Kingery
Kayleigh Kyle
Courtney Neese
Katie See
“Appalachia’s greatest strength has always been its people,” said ARC 2026 States’ Co-Chair, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves. “The Appalachian Leadership Institute helps strengthen and develop the next generation of leaders who will invest in our communities, grow our economies, and create more and better opportunities for the people across our great region. By bringing together individuals from across the 13 Appalachian states, partnerships will be built that drive economic growth and ensure Appalachia remains a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
Upon completion of the program, fellows will continue to build and share knowledge with hundreds of other leaders in the Appalachian Leadership Institute Alumni Network, a peer working group fostering collaborative solutions to build a stronger economic future for Appalachia.
To learn more about the program, visit: arc.gov/leadership.
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About the Appalachian Leadership Institute
The Appalachian Leadership Institute is a comprehensive economic development training program for regional leaders developed by the Appalachian Regional Commission in partnership with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Tuskegee University; and Collective Impact. Learn more at www.arc.gov/leadership.
About the Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development entity of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to invest and partner to strengthen economic development in Appalachia to help the region reach its full economic potential.