Leadership Saginaw County
Leadership Saginaw County is a 10-month community awareness program designed to familiarize existing and emerging leaders with the opportunities and challenges present in Saginaw County. The program provides participants with the opportunity to meet community leaders to gain insight and deepen their understanding of our community while fostering a network of contacts among participants and presenters.
The first 21-member class graduated in 1987. Many of the over 950 graduates of Leadership Saginaw can be found in key positions on boards and committees of community-based organizations, in elected positions in local government and practicing their acquired leadership skills within their own occupations.
The Leadership Saginaw program has been a sound investment that continues to pay excellent dividends. Consider applying for Leadership Saginaw County or encouraging a potential community leader within your organization to participate in the program.
Course Topics
Each monthly session is designed to create awareness of and stimulate interest in community issues. City and county leaders from both the public and private sectors provide information, insight and analysis of the following specific areas of interest:
The first 21-member class graduated in 1987. Many of the over 950 graduates of Leadership Saginaw can be found in key positions on boards and committees of community-based organizations, in elected positions in local government and practicing their acquired leadership skills within their own occupations.
The Leadership Saginaw program has been a sound investment that continues to pay excellent dividends. Consider applying for Leadership Saginaw County or encouraging a potential community leader within your organization to participate in the program.
Course Topics
Each monthly session is designed to create awareness of and stimulate interest in community issues. City and county leaders from both the public and private sectors provide information, insight and analysis of the following specific areas of interest:
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Sessions include on-site visits, tours and "hands-on" experiences. Program topics are reviewed annually and adjusted to incorporate emerging leadership and community issues.
Who Should Apply
Leadership Saginaw County has found that a diverse group of individuals makes for an ideal class of participants. We encourage persons from all walks of life to apply for a position in the program. This includes persons from differing occupations, industries, and organizations.
Candidate selection is based on demonstrated leadership ability and potential, including past and current community involvement. Individual accomplishments, expressed desire to assume expanded responsibilities of leadership and personal references are also considered.
Every attempt is made to select a group of participants representing a broad cross section of community interests and professions. Candidate selections will be announced in late June.
Applications for Leadership Saginaw County are accepted year round and due April 30th for consideration in the class beginning in August .
Leadership Saginaw County has found that a diverse group of individuals makes for an ideal class of participants. We encourage persons from all walks of life to apply for a position in the program. This includes persons from differing occupations, industries, and organizations.
Candidate selection is based on demonstrated leadership ability and potential, including past and current community involvement. Individual accomplishments, expressed desire to assume expanded responsibilities of leadership and personal references are also considered.
Every attempt is made to select a group of participants representing a broad cross section of community interests and professions. Candidate selections will be announced in late June.
Applications for Leadership Saginaw County are accepted year round and due April 30th for consideration in the class beginning in August .
The 39th Cohort of Leadership Saginaw - Class of 2026
On August 7 & 8, 2025, the 39th cohort of Leadership Saginaw attended the opening retreat at the Bavarian Inn Lodge in Frankenmuth. Class members include:
Kwame Akowuah - Tri-City Business Services, Bryce Anderson - TRI-CAP, Corbin Berent - Hemlock Semiconductor Operations LLC, Vanessa Daleki - Simoni Systems Inc., Shelby Davis - Morley Companies, Inc., Sara Dobis - Independent Bank, Ashley Dudek - Mannor Group, Amanda Dudek - Isabella Bank - Bay Rd., Jeff Ehrlich - Dow Credit Union, Katherine Ellison - Castle Museum of Saginaw County History, Jennifer Grigg - Saginaw ISD, Nicole Hanson, Melissa Hayes - Saginaw Defenders Office, Julie Johnson - CMU Medical Education Partners, Jesse Kapff - Great Lakes Bay Health Centers, Sam Kostrzewa - Rehmann, Ashley Kubacki - 1st State Bank, Chad Lackowski - Saginaw Valley State University, Melissa Leivo - Hierographx, Jay Lewis - Amigo Mobility International, Inc., Carly Lillard - Holy Cross Services, Kelly Martin - Bavarian Inn Lodge, Alesha Martin-Lane - Kakes The Great Popcorn Co., Quintin Meek - Saginaw Bay Underwriters, Amy Pitts - Gohm Insurance Restoration Inc., Myles Sakshaug - Spicer Group, Inc., Grace Smith - Saginaw Future Inc., Ali Smith - The ROCK Center for Youth Development, Eric Smith - Nexteer Automotive, Kristen Squires - Dow Event Center, Ron Stanley - St. Charles Community Schools, Michael Weinert - Garber Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Kristen Wuerfel - Tri-Star Trust
Kwame Akowuah - Tri-City Business Services, Bryce Anderson - TRI-CAP, Corbin Berent - Hemlock Semiconductor Operations LLC, Vanessa Daleki - Simoni Systems Inc., Shelby Davis - Morley Companies, Inc., Sara Dobis - Independent Bank, Ashley Dudek - Mannor Group, Amanda Dudek - Isabella Bank - Bay Rd., Jeff Ehrlich - Dow Credit Union, Katherine Ellison - Castle Museum of Saginaw County History, Jennifer Grigg - Saginaw ISD, Nicole Hanson, Melissa Hayes - Saginaw Defenders Office, Julie Johnson - CMU Medical Education Partners, Jesse Kapff - Great Lakes Bay Health Centers, Sam Kostrzewa - Rehmann, Ashley Kubacki - 1st State Bank, Chad Lackowski - Saginaw Valley State University, Melissa Leivo - Hierographx, Jay Lewis - Amigo Mobility International, Inc., Carly Lillard - Holy Cross Services, Kelly Martin - Bavarian Inn Lodge, Alesha Martin-Lane - Kakes The Great Popcorn Co., Quintin Meek - Saginaw Bay Underwriters, Amy Pitts - Gohm Insurance Restoration Inc., Myles Sakshaug - Spicer Group, Inc., Grace Smith - Saginaw Future Inc., Ali Smith - The ROCK Center for Youth Development, Eric Smith - Nexteer Automotive, Kristen Squires - Dow Event Center, Ron Stanley - St. Charles Community Schools, Michael Weinert - Garber Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Kristen Wuerfel - Tri-Star Trust
Congratulations Graduates of the Class of 2025
The 38th cohort of the Leadership Saginaw County program celebrated the completion of the course with drinks and dinner at Bavarian Inn Lodge in Frankenmuth in June 2025. Congratulations to each and every one of these outstanding individuals.
2025 Marsh Princing Award Recipient
Ann Marie Batkoski-Sullivan | Class of 2010
In 2001, the Marsh-Princing Award was created to honor the founders of the Leadership Saginaw County program, former City of Saginaw Mayor Henry Marsh and business owner Mary Princing. This award is presented to a graduate of the Leadership Saginaw program who has been an Alumnus for 3 or more years, displays consistent, active leadership and is a visible, positive community influence.
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Ann Marie Batkoski-Sulllivan is the current executive director for Positive Results Downtown Saginaw - P.R.I.D.E. Inc. Before accepting this role she was a P.R.I.D.E board member for three years. Ann Marie was previously the business partnerships consultant with the Saginaw Intermediate School District for six years. Previously to those roles, she worked at the director of business services and community relations for Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! and spent twenty years as a project manager in the construction industry.
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Ann Marie has been a lifelong resident of Saginaw County and attended Delta College, Saginaw Valley State University, and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Community Development from Central Michigan University.
She currently is a board member of the Saginaw County Building Authority, Friends of Hoyt Park, and the Downtown Saginaw Association. She was a Saginaw County Chamber Ambassador for six years. Ann Marie is a graduate of the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Saginaw (Class of 2010 - Best Class Ever) and the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance Institute for Leaders (2018). She has co-chaired fundraising campaigns for the Saginaw YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, as well as the Friends of the Public Libraries of Saginaw and Dow Event Center Millage.
She currently is a board member of the Saginaw County Building Authority, Friends of Hoyt Park, and the Downtown Saginaw Association. She was a Saginaw County Chamber Ambassador for six years. Ann Marie is a graduate of the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Saginaw (Class of 2010 - Best Class Ever) and the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance Institute for Leaders (2018). She has co-chaired fundraising campaigns for the Saginaw YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, as well as the Friends of the Public Libraries of Saginaw and Dow Event Center Millage.
Thank you to our Chairman's Circle Sponsors
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SILVER LEVEL
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