When Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kurt Zende looked out at the faces that made up the 2025 class of Leadership Wheeling, he admitted they weren’t as familiar as in the past. And that, he said, is a good thing.

“That’s a testament to the youth in the community,” Zende said. “There’s a turnover in business leadership and I think a class like this will enhance that leadership.”

The 2025 class came together for the first time Tuesday night at the Stifel Fine Arts Center for a launch reception. There, class members and their supervisors learned about Leadership Wheeling and the expectations for this class.

Leadership Wheeling is a Chamber of Commerce program that brings together 26 leaders from throughout the local business community for leadership development. The 14-week course will allow class members to explore key aspects of civic engagement, including economic development, education, healthcare, government and nonprofits.

Zende said he also wants the 2025 class to learn more about the history of Wheeling, and that knowing the past of the city in which they work will help them in the future.

“A lot of folks don’t know about the history of Wheeling,” Zende said. “And when we go to different venues, they learn a little bit about what that venue was and how it became that.

“And when you learn traditional leadership, coupled with new techniques, I think that just enhances everyone’s value in the community.”

The 2025 Leadership Wheeling Class includes Aleshia Schramm, WVU Medicine; Allicia Wade, WVU Medicine; David Ullom, McKinley Architecture; Elizabeth Griffith, Youth Service Systems; Grace Elizabeth George, Steptoe and Johnson; J. Michael O’brien, Mckinley Carter Wealth; Jayden Starks, Belmont Savings Bank; Jayla Robinson, Paull Associates and Ask Yourself Why Not Podcast; Jessica Osmianski, Augusta Levy; Jon Smith, WesBanco; Karen Dixon, Oglebay; Kayla Graham, City of Wheeling; Kehinde (Kenny) Iyaomolere, Oglebay; Kyle Kull, Laborers’ International Union of North America; Logan Tucker, The Health Plan; Madison Carol, McPhail Law; Nathan Butts, Project BEST; Nicholas Sparchane, Main Street Bank; Riley Carpenter, Wheeling Heritage; Rochelle Barry, City of Wheeling; Ross Salvatori, Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce; Ryan Garrison, WesBanco; Scott Campbell, WesBanco; Sonja Thoms, Wheeling Symphony Orchestra; Stephanie Kappel, West Virginia Northern Community College; and Tabitha Kinneer, West Virginia Northern Community College.