The Bend Chamber and BendNEXT Foundation are pleased to announce the Leadership Bend Class of 2027, the newest cohort selected for the long-standing civic engagement and leadership development program.
A program of BendNEXT Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Bend Chamber, Leadership Bend is designed to facilitate learning, connection, and spur action among Central Oregon’s rising community leaders as they look to positively shape our community’s future.
Participants are selected through a competitive application process and represent a broad cross-section of industries, backgrounds and experiences from across the region. Each member of the cohort commits to stretching their thinking, tackling conversations on challenging issues and outlining how they can create and leverage agency to impact Central Oregon.
Since its founding in 1993, Leadership Bend has graduated 758 alumni who continue to make a meaningful impact in their workplaces and communities through board service, elected office, volunteerism, civic engagement and other leadership roles.
Leadership Bend Class of 2027 Cohort
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Chris Allio — Alutiiq LLC Ryan Archer — EC Electric Rolf Armstrong — Cushing Terrell Keegan Barsuglia — SELCO Community Credit Union Katie Bearden — SAIF Thomas Bennett — Simplicity by Hayden Homes Amanda Bevington Drungil — Central Oregon Community College Keeley Brownback — Mt. Bachelor Nicole Browning — Merete Hotel Management Aaron Burr — Lynch Murphy McLane LLP Christina Cappy — Bend Language Institute Jeannie D’Agostino — Brasada Ranch Stephen Dean — Central Oregon Radiology Associates Erin Dillon — Mid Oregon Credit Union |
Andrew Ditton — Kernutt Stokes Selah Ewert — Neil Kelly Co. Inc. James Ferris — Skanska USA Building Austin Gould — Systems West Engineers Michael Hancock — Bethlehem Inn Brett Kempski — Bryant, Lovlien & Jarvis, P.C. Cassie Lacy — City of Bend Rio Lingelbach — Old Mill District & Hayden Homes Amphitheater Mindy Lyman — Central Oregon Office Interiors Michael Neal — Taylor Northwest Patrick Neely — Cascade Disposal Brian Nierman — Szabo Landscape Architecture Shelley Oberhofer — Canter HR Kathleen Quinney — BendNEXT Foundation/Bend Chamber Justin Sweet —City of Bend Amber Thacher — City Club of Central Oregon Charlie Urban — CiES Inc. |
As one of Oregon’s fastest-growing regions, Central Oregon continues to face increasingly complex challenges and opportunities. The Bend Chamber believes that investing in informed, collaborative leaders is essential to strengthening the region’s business ecosystem, supporting civic engagement and preparing the next generation to help move the community forward.
“I am excited to watch this incoming cohort grow and learn together as they embark on discovering how we can collaboratively address the opportunities in front of Central Oregon. This group carries the perspective, drive and commitment needed to continue to rise as leaders in this community,” shared Chris Hart, executive director of the BendNEXT Foundation.
Over the course of the nine-month program, participants will engage with community leaders, decision-makers and local industry experts to expand their awareness and understanding of the region. The class will explore historical and current issues firsthand, gain insight into the unique challenges and opportunities facing Central Oregon, and build relationships across Central Oregon’s business, civic, nonprofit and public-sector communities.
Throughout the program, participants will also engage in servant leadership curriculum that strengthens individual leadership skills and culminates in a class capstone project designed to support meaningful community impact.
Celebrating 100 years in 2026, the mission of the Bend Chamber is to create an environment where businesses, their employees and our community excel together through collaboration, advocacy, resources and leadership to meet Bend’s business challenges.
The BendNEXT Foundation, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation of the Bend Chamber, supports leadership development and civic engagement opportunities that help prepare and connect Central Oregon’s current and future community leaders.
Leadership Bend is a community leadership development program designed to identify, educate, train and connect willing and committed citizens to leadership roles in our community. With the graduation of the 2026 cohort, there are now more than 750 Leadership Bend alumni continuing to have a significant positive impact on their communities and workplaces through board service, elected office, and more. Leadership Bend is made possible by Taylor Northwest, Taylor Development, Hayden Homes and more like-minded businesses that recognize the vital role informed, collaborative leaders play in the success of our region.
