New class of ARC’s economic development training program comprises 40 fellows from across all 13 Appalachian states. 

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 23, 2025—Today, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced the 40 fellows selected for the 2025-2026 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 seventh 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 Ashland, KY, 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. 

“Investing in Appalachia’s local leaders is an integral part of maintaining a strong economy for our region,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “I’m proud of the way ARC’s Appalachian Leadership Institute capitalizes on the talent already within our 13 states and empowers fellows to connect and collaborate on projects that will impact their communities and Appalachia as a region.” 

The 2025-2026 Class of ALI fellows were selected via a competitive application process to reflect the region’s wide range of economic development challenges, opportunities and strategies. The class includes: 

• Alabama
  • Christy Atkinson, Executive Director, Workshops Empowerment, Inc., Pell City 
  • Jori Chatman, Program Manager of Government & Community Relations, Tennessee Valley Authority, Florence 
  • Mary-Marshall VanSant, Director of Center for Learning & Professional Development, University of North Alabama, Tuscumbia 
• Georgia
  • Jessica Dudley, President, United Way of Hall County, Lula 
  • Noel Durant, AVP Tennessee State Director, Trust for Public Land, Chattanooga 
  • Alexander Harrison, Director of Parks & Recreation, Catoosa County GA, Ringgold
• Kentucky
  • Rachel Chambers, Supervisory Community Liaison, USDA Rural Development, Jackson 
  • Gene Detherage, Jr., Recovery Support Specialist, Bluegrass Area Development District, Morehead 
  • Tyler Stapp, Chief Operating Officer, Pineville Community Health Center, Russell Springs 
• Maryland
  • Connor Norman, Business Development Specialist, Garrett County Government, Oakland
  • Melissa Clark, Associate Director, AHEC West, Fort Ashby
• Mississippi
  • Abbie Bell, Project Manager, Three Rivers Planning & Development District, Pototoc 
  • Blake Neely, Field Representative, U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, Oxford 
  • Philip Shackelford, Executive Director & CEO, Lee-Itawamba Library System, Guntown 
• New York
  • Robin Alpaugh, Certified Business Advisor, Southern Tier Small Business Development Center, Binghamton 
  • Caitlin Croft, Executive Director, NYS Ski Racing Association, Little Valley 
  • Kimberly Ecklund, Mayor, City of Jamestown, Jamestown 
  • Kasie Foulk, Deputy Director of Housing Policy & Development, Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency, Jamestown 
• North Carolina
  • Jazmyne Baylor, Research & Instruction Librarian, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee 
  • Becky Pearson, Foundation Director, Ashe Memorial Hospital, Grassy Creek 
  • Thomas Salley, Director, Great State of Wilkes NC, Elkin 
• Ohio
  • Marty Conley, Director, Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, South Point 
  • Evan Scurti, Economic Development Director, Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association, Steubenville 
  • Jenna Stewart, Career Pathway Specialist, Building Bridges to Careers, Marietta 
• Pennsylvania
  • Sherry Dumire, ARC & EDA Director, North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning & Development Commission, Ridgway 
  • Jennifer Lasser, Director of Workforce & Economic Development, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, Pittsburgh 
  • Marwin Reeves, Pastor/CEO, Christ Community Worship Center Inc. & LIFE Child Care Learning Center, Williamsport
• South Carolina
  • Joe Lanahan, City Administrator, City of Inman, Inman 
  • Marc Metcalf, Senior Project Manager, South Carolina Power Team, Greer 
• Tennessee
  • Katie Ellis, Appalachian Regional Lead, AgLaunch, Danville 
  • Allen Foster, Cumberland County Mayor, Cumberland County, Crossville 
  • Josh Smith, Director of Consumer Advocacy, Ballad Health, Elizabethton 
• Virginia
  • Jenny Bolte, Executive Director, New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area Consortium Board, Radford 
  • Chelsey Hodge, Economic Recovery Corps Fellow, International Economic Development Council, Roanoke  
  • Virginia (Jen) Otey, Outdoor Recreation Development Manager, Friends of Southwest Virginia, Wytheville 
• West Virginia
  • Amy Baker, Vice President of Corporate Communications & Marketing, MVB Bank, Canvas 
  • Emily Hopta, Director of Digital & Social Media, Association of State & Territorial Health Officials, Charleston 
  • Cassidy Riley, Chief Program Officer, Coalfield Development Corporation, Huntington 
  • Gary Roberts, County Commissioner, Nicholas County, Craigsville 
  • Jessica Stidham, Program Director, West Virginia University, Morgantown

“In Maryland, economic growth is our North Star,” said ARC 2025 States’ Co-Chair, Maryland Governor Wes Moore. “Our ability to grow the economy across Appalachia depends on not just clear investments from the government, but also on grassroots leadership within our communities. I congratulate each of the 40 fellows selected for the 2025-2026 class and look forward to watching their success unfold throughout our region.” 

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.  

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, LLC. 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 innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.