# Leadership Owensboro announces Class of 2027 as program reaches 45-year milestone **Published:** 2026-09-04T16:42:59.000Z **Source:** [Lane Report (KY Business)](https://www.lanereport.com/189281/2026/09/leadership-owensboro-class-2027/) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/leadership-owensboro-announces-class-of-2027-as-program-reaches-45-year OWENSBORO, Ky. — The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce has announced the [Leadership Owensboro Class of 2027](https://chamber.owensboro.com/leadership-owensboro/), marking a milestone anniversary for one of Kentucky's oldest chamber talent development programs. The 2027 class represents one of the largest cohorts in the program's history, according to the chamber, which continues its mission to cultivate business and community leaders throughout the Owensboro region. "We're excited to welcome one of the largest classes in Leadership Owensboro history," said Dave Kirk, president and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, in a statement published by [The Lane Report](https://www.lanereport.com/189281/2026/09/leadership-owensboro-class-2027/). "Leadership Owensboro is one of the oldest Chamber talent programs in the Commonwealth, and I'm proud of our team for continuing to innovate and grow the program." The nine-month program, running from September through June, brings together emerging leaders across diverse sectors including business, healthcare, government and nonprofit organizations. Participants attend full-day sessions each month focused on major community issues including economy and innovation, education, health care, local government, justice, human needs and services, arts and culture, and philanthropy. Through site visits, discussions with regional leaders and community engagement activities, class members gain insight into the institutions and organizations that shape Greater Owensboro. Julia Kimbrell Brooks, director of talent programs, emphasized the program's role in building connections. "Leadership Owensboro is an opportunity to step outside of your day-to-day role and gain a deeper understanding of the people, organizations, and issues that shape our community," Brooks said. "Through meaningful conversations, hands-on experiences, and connections with community leaders, class members are challenged to see Owensboro from new perspectives." The program has cultivated more than 1,000 alumni who serve in civic, business and education leadership roles throughout the region. The 2027 class includes professionals from organizations such as Owensboro Health, the Owensboro Fire Department, Owensboro Community and Technical College, and numerous other regional employers and institutions. ## Sources - [Lane Report (KY Business)](https://www.lanereport.com/189281/2026/09/leadership-owensboro-class-2027/) - [Leadership Owensboro program information from Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce](https://chamber.owensboro.com/leadership-owensboro/) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Lane Report (KY Business), enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://www.lanereport.com/189281/2026/09/leadership-owensboro-class-2027/.