The Fountain Hills Leadership Academy (FHLA) held its opening ceremony and welcoming reception for its incoming Class VIII Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Fountain Hills Community Center.

This year’s class consists of 13 individuals who were selected through an extensive application and interview process, according to a press release.

The 2024 class is made up of a diverse group of emerging leaders, including Kay Baumgartner, Joanne Colella, Christine Colley, Peter Gallagher, Nic Grieve, Nicole Keller, Karen Logan, Marisol Miller, Nathan Moses, Nick Proctor, Margot Richardson-Corlett, Frank Robinson and Tiffany Titus.

The program is offered through the non-profit I Love Fountain Hills and is designed to develop better-informed citizens.

The eight-week course is an immersion into the town’s governmental processes, civic and community services, public safety and environmental management.

Classes will be held every Thursday from mid-September through mid-November and will conclude with a graduation ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 13.

Alumni from Class VII Frank Colella and Will Hurst were the co-chairs of the planning committee for the 2024 program and hosted the opening event.

In his remarks, Colella congratulated the new class and told them that, upon completion of the program, they will join 104 alumni who have gone through the academy since its inception in 2016.

The new class also heard speeches from Fountain Hills Mayor Ginny Dickey who stressed the importance of civic leadership in our community.

Class I alumnus Vicky Derksen gave the keynote address.

“The Leadership Academy is a local matchmaking ritual between you and our community. Your experienced chaperones will introduce you to the intimate workings of our town, and it’s your job to pay attention to what ignites you inside,” Derksen said.

Also in attendance at the reception were several town government and business leaders, as well as many alumni from the previous seven classes and some of the sponsors for this year’s program.

David Corlett, chair of the Fountain Hills Leadership Academy Board, noted, “Each participant brings a unique skill set to the Leadership Academy and all share in the desire to give back to the Town of Fountain Hills.”

The Leadership Academy challenges participants to bring forth their leadership skills to help improve the community. During the course, participants will identify an issue or challenge that affects the Town of Fountain Hills and develop a project proposal that offers a solution.

These projects will be presented at the graduation ceremony in November.

Previous projects that have been implemented and benefited the town include addressing wrong-way drivers, creating a downtown arts district, establishing an intern fair for high school students and highlighting the school district’s Stellar Students.

To learn more about the program, visit ilovefountainhills.org/leadership-academy/.