Twenty-nine leaders from around the region graduated this week from Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities that inspires, educates, and engages citizens to better serve their communities. The graduation was held Wednesday, June 11, at Harpoon Brewery in Windsor.

“The modern models of leadership that are most widely embraced in the world are inclusive and creative. They are problem solving and solution seeking,” said Opera North Executive Director Pamela Pantos, Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2010 alumna and this year’s commencement keynote speaker. “Graduates of Leadership Upper Valley are well-prepared to provide this kind of leadership, whether in their workplace or the broader community. It is a way of life that breeds success in everyone with whom we come in contact.”

Established in 2007, Leadership Upper Valley engages participants in ten day-long sessions from September through June focused on key aspects of community life in the region. Topics include Economic Development, Education, Government and Politics, Arts and the Creative Economy,  Health and Human Services, Environment, Transportation, Justice, Community and Civic Engagement.

This year’s graduates include:

Anibal Sepulveda, Hypertherm

Beth Vessicio, Mascoma Savings Bank

Betsy McClain, Town of Hanover

Cathee Clement, Chrysalis Properties LLC

Chris Mazurek, West Lebanon Feed & Supply

David Brooks, City of Lebanon

Ellie Tsetsi, Good Beginnings of Sullivan County

Ericka Gray, Kendal at Hanover

Gary Laperle, Dartmouth Printing Company

Hailey Wetherbee, Kendal at Hanover

Ham Gillett, COVER Home Repair

Jacqueline Hill, Morgan Stanley

Janet Miller Haines, Northern Stage

Jason Dacier, Co-op Food Stores

Jaye Olmstead, David’s House

Justin Provost, Claremont Savings Bank

Kari Jo Grant, Dartmouth College

Kevin Kober, Ledyard National Bank

Laurie Tostenson, Dartmouth-Hitchcock

Linda Miller, Dartmouth-Hitchcock

Lucinda Walker, Norwich Public Library

Mike Kenney, Dartmouth-Hitchcock

Mollie Naber, Self-Employed

Richard Hoffman, Hartford School District (HACTC)

Sarah Simonds, Vital Communities

Sue Bryan, Lake Sunapee Bank

Susanne Abetti, Geobarns LLC

Sylvia Provost, Henderson’s Tree Service LLC

Tom Yurkosky, TPY CFO Services

Including this year’s graduating class, there are now more than 150 Leadership Upper Valley alumni. The Class of 2015 will begin in September.