LEXINGTON, Ky. — Commerce Lexington Inc. has recognized 51 graduates from the 2025-26 Leadership Lexington program, the latest cohort in a nationally recognized initiative that has been cultivating community leaders for nearly five decades.

Since 1979, the program has produced more than 1,800 graduates who have shaped Lexington's development in areas including youth mentoring, public art, healthy living, hunger relief and community engagement. Tyra Harbut, Commerce Lexington's Director of Leadership Development, praised the 2026 class for its collaborative spirit and commitment to community service.

"The Leadership Lexington Class of 2026 is an engaged, collaborative, and community-minded group of leaders who have demonstrated a strong commitment to personal and professional growth throughout the program year," Harbut said. "Their passion for leadership, service, and the future of our kids and the community has been inspiring."

TJ Maxberry of The Brokerage KY received the Distinguished Leader Award, which has been presented annually since 1998 to recognize outstanding community commitment. Maxberry led GenLex, a project designed to help young adults build financial confidence and long-term wealth-building habits through workshops at The Learning Center.

The graduating class undertook several community initiatives during the 11-month program presented by Community Trust Bank. Other projects included Birdie Buddies of the Bluegrass, a 12-week golf mentorship program for youth, and LexSupport, which aims to advance dialogue on philanthropy as a strategic community investment. A third project, Lexington Land Bank, researched approaches to address dilapidated properties in the local housing market.

Class members concluded their program with a final session on June 4 at Transylvania University's W.T. Young Campus Center. Following project presentations and a leadership development review, graduates attended a ceremony where Fayette District Judge Melissa Moore Murphy, herself a 2016 Leadership Lexington graduate, served as keynote speaker.

The competitive program accepts roughly 50 participants annually from the greater Lexington area. Participants must be employed by Commerce Lexington member companies and commit to an intensive schedule beginning with an August orientation retreat and continuing through monthly day-long sessions and community project work.