Leadership Central Kentucky class kicks off 2026-27 program
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The newest cohort of the Leadership Central Kentucky program kicked off its orientation retreat August 18-19 at the Historic Boone Tavern in Madison County, marking the start of a 10-month regional leadership development initiative.
The program, presented by Kentucky Utilities, is designed for established leaders across Central Kentucky who are ready to expand their impact beyond their own organizations and communities. Following the orientation retreat, participants will attend full-day sessions on the third Wednesday of each month from September 2026 through May 2027.
Each session explores key issues shaping Central Kentucky—including transportation, education, economic development, public advocacy, quality of life, and agri-tourism—through expert speakers, engaging tours, hands-on activities, and peer-to-peer discussions. Day sessions are hosted in different Central Kentucky counties, and participants must attend all but no more than two regular full-day sessions in order to graduate from the program.
The program spans the eight-county region of Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Jessamine, Madison, Scott, and Woodford. "For going on a quarter of a century, the Leadership Central Kentucky program has strengthened regional collaboration by helping participants better understand how the economy of each county impacts the rest of our region," said Tyra Harbut, Commerce Lexington's Director of Leadership Development.
The class consists of individuals from business, education, the arts, religion, government, and community-based organizations. Tuition for the program is $1,500, with a limited number of partial scholarships available. More information is available at www.leadershipcentralkentucky.com.