Founder of the Leadership Corvallis program Hans Neukomm has died at age 74 after a battle with cancer.

Hans founded Leadership Corvallis in 1992 and served as its president until 2003. He subsequently served as president emeritus and managed the organization’s advisory board.

“Hans was the leader of leaders in Corvallis,” said Deb Rose, Leadership Corvallis Board President. “It is a fitting tribute to his legacy that on the day he passed away, a mayor and city council member were sworn in, both of whom were Leadership Corvallis Alumni. Leadership Corvallis mourns his passing. We remain dedicated to continuing his legacy for years to come.”

Hans’ vision sparked development of a program that gives participants a better understanding of how our community works so they can be more effective in the workplace and community. More than 300 individuals have benefited from Leadership Corvallis.

“The only way for a community to be a better place to live is for its citizens to understand and accept their personal responsibility for what happens,” Hans said.

In addition to Leadership Corvallis, Hans was extremely active in many community organizations and committees.

• Hans joined the Corvallis Rotary Club in 1982, served as President in 1998/99 and chaired several club service and special project committees. He was a graduate of the District 5110 Leadership Academy. He and his wife Adele are Paul Harris Fellows, Rotary Benefactors and Major Donors. He served as Assistant District Governor for the year 2001-2002 and was selected as Governor for Rotary District 5110 for the year 2003-2004.

• Professionally, he represented CH2M HILL on the Board of Directors of the Western Electric Power Institute, an organization that serves private and public power companies in the 11 Western States and 3 Provinces in Western Canada. In 1992 Governor John Kitzhaber appointed Hans to the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council for a 4-year term. In 1998, the Oregon Senate reconfirmed Hans for a second 4-year term.

• His community volunteer work included service on the Board of Trustees of the Good Samaritan Hospital and Linn-Benton Community College Foundations. He was a Board member and Past Chairman of the Corvallis-Benton County Economic Development Partnership, a Vice President of the Oregon Trail Council and Past Chairman of the Benton District, Boy Scouts of America. Additionally, he served on numerous Boards and Committees of other organizations such as the Benton County Budget Committee, the Vineyard Mountain Water District and the Benton County Republican Central Committee.

In recognition for his contributions and leadership in community, charitable and service organizations, Hans received many awards and accolades – among them First Citizen of Corvallis in 1995 and the prestigious Silver Beaver Award of the Boy Scouts of America in 1996. In 2002, Oregon’s Governor recognized Hans with the State of Oregon’s Economic and Community Development Award for Outstanding Community Leadership. He also was the Senior First Citizen of Corvallis in 2008.

The Leadership Corvallis board, alumni and class members mourn this loss and our thoughts are with his wife, Adele and his family. When it is available, we will post information about Hans’ memorial service and how donations may be made in his name to support future Leadership Corvallis participants.

Twenty-eight area residents have been accepted into Leadership Corvallis, a 10-month program that equips citizens to take an active role in shaping community policy. Presentations, site tours and panel discussions educate participants about the institutions, agencies and processes that make Corvallis work.

The second Thursday of each month, participants gather for a daylong session covering one segment of community life in Corvallis in a curriculum keyed to Vision 2020, the city’s governing planning document.

This year’s curriculum covers human services and public safety, the central city and where people live, economic vitality, education, governing and civic involvement, health care, cultural enrichment and recreation, the environment and natural resources, and community leadership.

Tuition for the program, often paid by a sponsoring employer, is $550. Download an application for next year’s class.

The Leadership Corvallis Class of 2011 includes:

• Heidi Anderson, US Forest Service, Fish Biologist
• Emily Betts, Heartland Humane Society, Volunteer/Outreach Coordinator
• Kevin Bogatin, 509J Corvallis School District, Assistant Superintendent
• Maria Chavez-Haroldson, CASA Voices for Children, Executive Director
• Douglas Cochran, OSU, Career Services Director
• John Croy, Edward Jones, Financial Advisor
• Michelle Davis, OSU Alumni Association, Regional Network Director
• Joan Demarest, ASOSU Legal Advising Office, Attorney
• Greg Gerding, Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services, Micro Business Program Manager
• Dave Henderer, Henderer Design & Build, Owner
• Aileen Hood, Community Alliance for Diversity/OSU Rec. Sports, Director/Facilitator
• Pam Hood-Szivek, Corvallis Children’s Therapy, Occupational Therapist
• Ed Kruskamp, Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis, Resource Development Director
• Jessica Kneisel, Second Glance Annex, Store Manager
• Jeff Lesmeister, Business & Technology Consultant
• Roger Lizut, Retired
• Kenneth Ray Lowe, Jr., Community Outreach, Social Services Director
• Dan Mattson, ATS Oregon, Supply Chain Director
• Denise McCoy, The Little Gym, Owner
• Jessica McDonald, Greenbelt Land Trust, Director of Development
• Lauri Morris, Strands, Executive Assistant
• Jennifer Nitson, Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Public Relations/Marketing
• Dennis Pearson, CH2MHill, Associate Engineer – Structural
• Diana Rabago, Benton County Jail, Corrections Facility Manager, AIC Lt.
• Shawn Steiner, Corvallis Sport & Spine PT Clinic, Physical Therapist
• Elizabeth Westland, Van Buren Court, Owner
• Charlene Yager, The Corvallis Clinic, Patient Service Clinical Manager

• Kriste York, Inavale Community Partners, Board Member

For additional information, please contact:
Deborah Rose
President of the Board
Leadership Corvallis
541-207-1866
or
Curtis Wright
Public Relations Committee Chair
Leadership Corvallis
541-738-6525

Participants finish 10-month program that introduces community leadership opportunities

Corvallis, Ore., (July 6, 2010) – Twenty-six Leadership Corvallis class members completed a 10-month program of learning about the Corvallis area on June 10. Their introduction to people and places that impact Benton County was designed to encourage participation on boards of non-profits, local government committees, volunteer task forces, and other areas where citizen involvement can make a difference. An additional component of the class was networking opportunities with community leaders.

Throughout the year, these 26 men and women visited 34 different venues in Benton County and heard from a total of 146 speakers, hosts, facilitators and presenters, all over a 10 day leadership training class.

Graduates of the Leadership Corvallis class of 2009-2010 are:

• Eric Alexander, Oregon State University
• Rod Aust, The Corvallis Clinic
• Heather Boright, The Arts Center
• Cody Castellano, Corvallis Gazette- Times
• Beth Crawford, The Reynolds Law Firm, PC
• Kris DeJong, City of Corvallis
• Nicole Dodson, community volunteer
• Dana Evans, Benton Hospice Service
• Michele Gazica, community volunteer
• Tammy Jaquith, US Bank
• Hank Johnson, Anderson Group CPAs, LLC
• Mark Kalmar, Corvallis Radiology/Medical Information Management
• Anna Lopez, Heartland Humane Society
• Molly Marcum, Samaritan Health Services
• Lacey McNeely, OSU College of Business student
• Heather O’Connor, Samaritan Health Services
• Dawson Officer, United Way of Benton and Lincoln Counties
• Alison Olson, The Corvallis Clinic
• Cindy Pratt, Community Services Consortium
• Brian Robertson, Willamette Investment Advisors
• Cynthia Roelofs, Ashbrook Independent School
• Stephanie Spann, Coldwell Banker Valley Brokers
• Larina Warnock, Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services
• Kari Whitacre, Community Outreach
• Shauna Wilson, Amazon Consulting Inc.

• Lonny Wunder, Benton County Fair

Applications are currently being accepted for the class of 2010-2011. Interested participants can learn more about the program and download an application or contact the Corvallis-Benton Chamber Coalition at (541) 757-1505. Completed applications must be returned by July 31.

Leadership Corvallis was created in 1992 to identify Corvallis’ and Benton County’s “best and brightest” citizens and offer a 10-month program that equips them to provide leadership within their own community. An advisory board comprising community leaders helps develop topics and interacts with participants as guest speakers and session facilitators.

(Corvallis, Ore. – June. 15, 2010) – Leadership Corvallis, a 10-month training program which equips citizens to provide leadership within the community, elected a new Board of Directors for the 2010-2011 year.

The members of the Leadership Corvallis Board of Directors include: Deb Rose, president; Todd Washington, president-elect, nominations committee chair; Cindy Hallett, secretary; Kristen Gose, treasurer, finance committee chair; Stacy Mellem, past president; Helen Higgins, curriculum committee chair; Kavinda Arthenayake, vision committee chair; Jaimee Colbert, recruitment committee chair; Marilyn Lesmeister, alumni committee chair; Curtis Wright, public relations committee chair; Nick Filker, graduation committee chair; Scott Jackson, community service project chair; Patrice O’Brien, board member at-large; Biff Traber, board member at-large; and Hans Neukomm, president emeritus/advisory board liaison.

“We are excited to welcome such a diverse and experienced team to guide our future growth,” said Deb Rose, board of director’s president of Leadership Corvallis. “We rely solely on volunteers to help promote and execute our program, from serving on a committee of the board to facilitating a class day or even acting as one of our 100+ speakers throughout the course of the 10-month program.”

Leadership Corvallis was created in 1992 to identify Corvallis’ and Benton County’s “best and brightest” citizens and offer a 10-month program that equips them to provide leadership within their own community. An advisory board comprising community leaders helps develop topics and interacts with participants as guest speakers and session facilitators. For more information about the organization or to apply to be a part of the 2011 class, see our Application page.

Leadership Corvallis seventh annual leadership award given to OSU’s Kavinda Arthenayake

Corvallis, Ore., (June 10, 2010) – Kavinda Arthenayake, a 2004 graduate of Leadership Corvallis who will go on to serve the organization as the vision committee chair, was honored Thursday evening as the seventh Hans Neukomm Award winner.

“We are thrilled to recognize Kavinda with this award and celebrate his sense of volunteerism,” said Leadership Corvallis past president Stacy Mellem. “Kavinda is a driving force for leadership and influences successful change in the many organizations he is involved in.”

Arthenayake, who works as director of Community and Conference Services at Oregon State University, is an active community volunteer, dedicating his time and talent to many organizations. A partial list of his volunteerism includes: the United Way of Benton and Lincoln Counties, where he’s served as the organization’s two-term president; the da Vinci Days Festival, where he currently serves as president; the Association of Collegiate Conference and Event Directors International, where he serves as current board member; Corvallis Tourism, where he served as a past board member; Corvallis Economic Vitality Partnership, where he served as a member of the strategic planning group; and Pop Warner Football, where he served as a parent volunteer.

Established in 2004, the Hans Neukomm Award is named for the founder of Leadership Corvallis and is given to a past class member who has made a significant impact in the community. The six prior recipients are: Julie Manning, the late Scott Zimbrick, Pete Bober, Susan Poole, Biff Traber and Penny York.

Leadership Corvallis was created in 1992 to identify Corvallis’ and Benton County’s “best and brightest” citizens and offer a 10-month program that equips them to provide leadership within their own community. An advisory board comprising community leaders helps develop topics and interacts with participants as guest speakers and session facilitators.