19 graduate from Leadership Whitley County
(Talk of the Town photos by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Above, Leadership Whitley County program leader Kelley Sheiss, left, presents 2010 LWC graduate Bob Sollazzo with a token gift as he prepares to ride off into the sunset! Class member Carrie Hoffman, center, cheers him on. Below, Renee Wozniak of the South Whitley Public Library gives recent LWC graduate Patty Weybright a big hug after she was recognized as a program graduate.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
On Wednesday night, the latest and greatest, newly minted batch of servant leaders celebrated their final milestone in the Leadership Whitley County program. 
Nineteen graduated the program, one of the largest classes in program's nine year history -- astounding board members who anticipated the 2009-2010 year to be a struggle considering the economy. Instead, the large class exuded optimism and its members are already making an impact on the community.
Congratulated by family members, company representatives and local business and civic leaders, the graduates included Zach Beard, John Black, Megan Burr, Mike Cook, Kyle Egolf, Robin Elsner, Carrie Garrison, Betty Graves, Angela Green, Belinda Hawn, Carrie Hoffman, Jim Landrum, Michelle Linn, Angela Maley, Mike Petersen, Sherry Sausaman, Diana Smith, Bob Sollazzo and Patty Weybright.
The keynote speaker of the evening was Stan Ziherl of Five Star Distributing in Whitley County. Ziherl gave an intriguing overview of the brewery industry and detailed how leadership initiatives within his company have set them ahead of the competition.
As each graduate's name was read, their board internship intentions were read aloud as well -- with many of the graduates looking forward to serving on a variety of non-profit boards or in a volunteer capacity with many organizations including the Whitley County United Way, The Woodlands Senior Center, South Whitley Public Library, Habitat for Humanity, the Leadership Whitley County policy council, Beds & Britches Etc., and many more.
Underwriters for this year's program included Century Link, NIPSCO and the Old Settlers Day Association.
Collaborators included J&J Insurance, Northeastern REMC's Operation Round-up, Star Financial Bank and Star Insurance.
Program mentors included ABCM Enterprises Inc. and Pro Fed Credit Union.
Other alumni and community contributors included June Keiser, Ava Lillmars, Tam Parker, Tom Rethlake, Janet Scank, RD Schrader, John Slavich, Esther Smith, Jeff Walker and Melinda Woll.