April 21, 2004

LEADERSHIP KANSAS SELECTS 2004 CLASS

It was announced recently that Ron Appletoft, Manager of Internal Audit and Governmental Affairs Coordinator, WaterOne, was selected as one of the 35 individuals to participate in the 2004 class of Leadership Kansas, a nationally recognized program that aims to develop and motivate future leaders for the state.

Leadership Kansas, an affiliated program of the Kansas Chamber, is one of the oldest and most prestigious statewide leadership programs in the country.  Established by former Governor Robert Bennett and Gary Sherrer, and supported and administered by the Kansas Chamber, the Program is entering its 26th year of educating and motivating Kansas leaders from all four corners of the state.  The Leadership Kansas Program remains committed to its original mission to inspire persons to maintain involvement in the social, business and political fabric of Kansas’s communities.

Each year close to 400 people are nominated to apply for the program.  Upon the conclusion of a thorough application and selection process, 35 individuals are selected to participate in the Class.  The Leadership Kansas Program makes every effort to ensure geographic, racial, occupational, and gender diversity so that each class is truly representative of the state.

Once selected to participate in Leadership Kansas, the 35 members of the Class are exposed to a variety of recognized experts and engaged in educational and informational training sessions in six different Kansas communities.  The host cities for this year’s Program are Garden City, Manhattan, Hutchinson/Wichita, Kansas City, Independence and Topeka.  The diversity of the discussion topics, including: business; education; agriculture; public policy; societal health and development; economics; and government, helps to further shape each Class member’s personal and professional development.