News & Events - Leadership Corvallis

Posted on November 15, 2020

Leadership Corvallis Class of 2021 Kicks Off Virtual Year

Leadership Corvallis’ Class of 2021 – the program’s first virtual class – has started a 10-month exploration of the inner workings of the city of Corvallis and Benton County.

Twenty-six Corvallis-area residents are taking an active role in shaping community policy by participating in this program. Starting in September, participants began learning about the processes, agencies, institutions and people behind them that make Corvallis function and thrive.

“The COVID-19 pandemic led us to drastically change the Leadership Corvallis class this year and offer the first year-long virtual class,” said Leadership Corvallis Board President Hans Neukomm Jr. “Yet, each class day is still focusing on a crucial element of our community, building upon the previous sessions to paint the big picture of what makes Corvallis a unique place to live, work and lead.”

The class meets virtually the second Thursday of each month. Classes consist of live panel interviews, group discussions and small-group breakout chats. This new online format still provides opportunities to connect with leaders across the community and gain a deep understanding of the business community, local government and the social services that make Corvallis one of the top communities in the country to live and work.

This year’s sessions are an abbreviated version of the standard Leadership Corvallis curriculum. They also include new elements designed to help emerging leaders understand and navigate COVID-19, as well as engage in the evolving conversation around racial justice, diversity and equity in our community.

Curriculum for each day is developed and presented by community leaders who volunteer to share their professional insights to inspire the next generation of leaders in Corvallis.

Residents interested in taking part in future Leadership Corvallis classes should reach out to Chris Nordyke, Leadership Corvallis recruitment committee chair, at chris.nordyke@gmail.com.

The Leadership Corvallis Class of 2020 includes:

Zina Allen, community volunteer

Morgan Baker, Visit Corvallis

Lesa Banks, RBLB Marketing

Benjamin Blasen, Jacobs Engineering Group

Ethan Braught, Samaritan Health Plans

Norma Cardona, Oregon State University

Ireland DeRosia, Center Against Rape and Domestic Violence

Stephanie Dreiling, Samaritan Health Services

David Goodrum, Oregon State University

Michele Griffin-Campione, The Arts Center

Mica Habarad, Edward Jones

Clay Higgins. Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis

Stephanie Jensen, Intercommunity Health Network

Tatiana Leon, Corvallis Housing First

Hannah Miller, Jackson Street Youth Services

Jake Moevao, Southside Youth Outreach

Tracy Oulman, City of Corvallis

Stacia Pugh, Lumina Hospice

Ian Rollins, Samaritan Health Services

Samantha Sied, freelance writer and marketer

Hanna Valva, FinTech Executive

Michelle Waddell, Running Princess Athletic

Laura Young, Foundry Collective

Charissa Young-White, Intercommunity Health Network

Posted on October 20, 2019

New directors, officers announced for Leadership Corvallis 2019-20

Leadership Corvallis, a program known to train local citizens to become leaders in the community, has a new group of leaders of its own.

Leadership Corvallis is pleased to announce new officers and its Board of Directors for 2019-20. The following directors will serve in these positions for one year, beginning July 1.

President: Janelle Iverson, marketing and PR account manager, Samaritan Health Services
President-elect: Hans Neukomm Jr., owner, Neukomm Rock & Gem Gallery

Newly-elected to the board are Amy Yardley, Heather Maisel, Kathleen Hutchinson and Nicole Jenkins.

Continuing board members are Ben Danley, Chris Quaka, Heather Doherty, Kristen Gose, Laura Shields, Monée Johnston, Patrick Rollens, Pete Bober and Stacy Mellem.

Posted on October 19, 2019

Class of 2020 – Leadership Corvallis’ newest group of community leaders

Leadership Corvallis Class of 2020 Leadership Corvallis’ Class of 2020 is poised to take the community to a new level. Beginning in September, the newest class began a 10-month exploration in the inner workings of the City of Corvallis and Benton County.

Twenty-eight of the area’s most passionate citizens are set to take an active role in shaping community policy by participating in this program. Participants will learn about the processes, agencies, institutions and the people behind them that make Corvallis function and thrive through various site tours, presentations, panel discussions and more.

“Leadership Corvallis continues to be a rich, immersive experience for new and established community leaders,” says Leadership Corvallis Board President Janelle Iverson. “Each class day focuses on a crucial element of our community, building upon the previous sessions to paint the big picture of what makes Corvallis a unique place to live, work and lead.”

Gathering on the second Thursday of each month, Leadership Corvallis participants dive into daylong sessions covering a segment of community life in Corvallis in a curriculum keyed to Imagine Corvallis 2040, the city’s governing planning document.

Curriculum for each day is developed and hosted by community leaders who volunteer to share their professional insights to inspire the next generation of leaders in Corvallis.

This year’s curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including land-use planning, natural resources, economic vitality, education, community leadership, Corvallis culture, government and public services, health care and human services.

The Leadership Corvallis Class of 2020 includes:

Marcus Alderman, Samaritan Health Services
Katy Blye, ReMax Integrity
Eric Cardella, Oregon State University
Jenn Clemo, Center for Nonprofit Stewardship
Kira Cleveland, Neukomm Rock & Gem Shop
Daniel Duncan, Corvallis Police Department
Erin Gibson, Citizens Bank
Jeff Ginalias, Retired
Patrick Gross, Town and Country Realty
Hans Hlawaty, Jamie Hughes Accounting, LLC
Keith Hunnemuller, Benton County Sheriff’s Office
Brooke Josler, Lumina Hospice and Palliative Care
James Kaech, Corvallis Clinic
Joseph Kerby, Benton County
Miranda Miller, Samaritan Health Services
Laura Orth, Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis
Christina Rehklau, Visit Corvallis
Ashley Relf, Greenbelt Land Trust
Lynn Russell, Collaborative Employment Innovations
Jerry Sorte, City of Corvallis
Kirsten Starkey, Town and Country Realty
Kayla Steindorf, Reynolds Law Firm
Ashley Talamantes, Benton County Mental Health
Kemble Tsoi, Citizens Bank
Alan Underkofler, Giving for Good
Jes Walker-Wyse, Knight Financial
Aaron Harris, City of Corvallis
Debra Steeprow, Heartland Humane Society

Learn more about the program at leadershipcorvallis.com.

Posted on September 10, 2019

Rebecca Badger honored as 2019 Hans Neukomm Leadership Award recipient

By Laura Shields
Leadership Corvallis 2018-19 board president

Good leaders have the capability to lead from anywhere. They are willing to assume any role, whether that is out in front or supporting from behind the scenes.

That is certainly true of this year’s Hans Neukomm Leadership Award recipient, Rebecca Badger.

In her nomination, it was said, “Rebecca has an amazing quiet and confident leadership style that she brings to everything she does.

And that is evident in her extensive involvement in local organizations. Whether it is as a member of the United Way of Benton & Lincoln Counties Community Investment Council, chair of the Corvallis Arts and Culture Commission, ex-officio board member for Corvallis Young Pros, communications chair for Friends of Corvallis or a member of the Southern Willamette Valley Leadership Council for the Oregon Community Foundation, Rebecca does whatever it takes to accomplish goals.

She is both a team player and effective leader. And perhaps most importantly, is her ability to listen.

Rebecca always has the interests of the community at heart, is open and approachable, and encourages others to move ideas into action. Simply put, she makes our community stronger.

Rebecca is the 16^th person to receive this award since its inception. She joins past recipients Julie Manning, the late Scott Zimbrick, Pete Bober, Susan Poole, Biff Traber, Penny York, Kavinda Arthenayake, Dave Hamby, Ben Danley, Rick DeBellis, Helen Higgins, Mike Corwin, Mark Kalmar, Curtis Wright and Jennifer Moreland.

About the Hans Neukomm Leadership Award:

The Leadership Corvallis Class of 2004 recognized the importance of celebrating the service and accomplishments of Leadership Corvallis alumni who had returned to the community with fresh perspective and passion and used those qualities to continue to make a difference in our community. Thus, the 2004 class created and awarded the first annual Hans Neukomm Leadership Award.

Posted on August 11, 2019

Five questions with Leadership Corvallis ’12 alum Biff Traber

Biff Traber (pictured above in the center) began his first four-year term as mayor of Corvallis in January 2015, winning re-election in 2018. He served two terms on the Corvallis City Council in Ward 8 before being elected mayor, and he currently serves on the board of the Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments (OCWCOG), as well as other local and regional boards. Before entering public service, Biff was an executive in the software industry.

What did you like most about participating in Leadership Corvallis?

“By the time I took the class, I had been living in Corvallis for five years, but my work had me traveling three weeks out of each four, so I was a resident – but not really a participant in Corvallis life. The breadth of the class let me see all the aspects of the city.”

Describe your most memorable experience volunteering or serving in a leadership position in the community. Why is this experience so important to you?

“Becoming mayor of this great little city is my most memorable experience. It is the ultimate goal of my work to have an impact on Corvallis and to give back in general.”

“Becoming mayor of this great little city is my most memorable experience,” Biff says.

What is your biggest accomplishment in your current line of work?

“Given my line of work is now politician/mayor, my biggest single accomplishment since then has been re-election. The most rewarding part of the job is making progress on resolving the various challenges to the city and incrementally improving who and what we are as a community.”

What is one surprising thing about you that not many people know?

“I am really quite a shy person – an introvert – which is surprising for someone who is now a politician. Over my adult life I have learned by doing and being willing to try something when I had the opportunity. On a more mundane level, I have lived in Corvallis longer than I have ever lived anywhere. And I am still a newbie!”

If you could recommend one thing to incoming Leadership Corvallis participants, what would that be?

“Keep a broad open mind. Even if you have lived or worked here for a while, there are always new things to know. Connect with your classmates and with the presenters after the class. Encourage the presenters to explain what’s behind the information they are presenting to your class.”