Leadership Highlands logo - Outline of Highlands County with words Leadership Highlands, Avon Park, Sebring, Lake Placid. Surrounded by Class of 2024 above and Learning, Leading, Leaving a Legacy below

Leadership Highlands

Class of 2024

Born Learning Trail Signs
United Way logo - a yellow rainbow over an open blue hand encircling a red person with outstretched arms with words United Way of Central Florida
United Way Born Learning logo - a yellow rainbow over an open blue hand encircling a red person with outstretched arms, with words United Way Born Learning

Leadership Highlands Class of 2024,

is proud to present our class project,

Highlands County’s first

Born Learning Trail.

Born Learning is an engagement campaign of the United Way ​that helps parents, grandparents and caregivers explore ways to ​turn everyday moments into fun learning opportunities.


The Born Learning Trail is a series of 10 interactive signs that ​offer fun, active learning activities for young children and their ​families.


It helps parents, caregivers and communities create quality ​engagement opportunities when out on a stroll or visiting a local ​playground.

The Born Learning Trail is located

within the Sun ‘n Lake Recreation Complex

3500 Edgewater Drive, Sebring.


Many thanks to the Champion for Children Foundation for ​assisting with the purchase of the signs and supplies, and to the ​Sun ‘n Lake Improvement District for hosting the trail and ​assisting with installation.

Champion for Children Foundation logo - image of children surrounding a tree with words Champion for Children Foundation of Highlands County
Sun n Lake Logo - orange golf ball over a blue hole that looks like a sun setting on a lake with words Sun 'N Lake Florida's Centerpiece Community

The Born Learning Trail

is loving dedicated to the memory of

Timothy G. Lind.

photo of Tim Lind

Tim, the husband of our classmate, Liz Lind,

tragically lost his life in a traffic accident in ​February 2024.


Tim was a loving and dedicated husband and ​father, as well as being a respected youth leader ​at their church.


It is very meaningful to all of us to be able to ​honor Tim with a project that supports children ​and is connected with the United Way, where Liz ​serves as Highlands County Manager

About Leadership Highlands

group photo of class members in front of racetrack

The Leadership Highlands program has been developing local leaders since the pilot class graduated ​in 2000. The mission of the Leadership Highlands program is to develop leaders with a thorough ​understanding of, and strong sense of commitment to, Highlands County, Florida and an ​appreciation for the strength found in our County’s abundant diversity.


Leadership Highlands was founded and nurtured by the three Highlands County Chambers of ​Commerce (Sebring, Avon Park and Lake Placid) and select alumni, who comprise the Leadership ​Highlands Advisory Board. The program is coordinated through South Florida State College.


The goals of the program are:

  • to familiarize the participants with the infrastructure, agencies and economic enterprises that ​exist in Highlands County;
  • to expose the participants to the range of needs in the community and to identify the resources ​available to meet those needs;
  • to provide participants the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with each other and ​existing community leaders, so as to learn from the backgrounds and perspectives of one ​another; and
  • to encourage civic participation and volunteer involvement in the community.


Each graduating class includes an orientation in August, a retreat in September, nine monthly ​themed sessions that include an overnight trip to Tallahassee, and a graduation ceremony in June. ​Each class then designs and implements its own community service project.


For information about enrollment or participation, visit the SFSC website.

Class Members

Liz Prendergast

Liz Prendergast

Chief Executive Officer

Champion for Children Foundation

Class President

Cyndie Carman Kramer

Cyndie Carman Kramer, AICP

Planning & Zoning Manager

Highlands County

Class Vice President

Morris Adams Award Recipient

Coral Benka

Coral Benka, LCAM, CDM

Director of Finance

Sun ‘n Lake Improvement District

Mike Brod

Lt. Mike Brod

Crime Suppression Unit

Highlands County Sheriff’s Office

Kathleen Cappo

Dr. Kathleen Cappo

Dean, Health Sciences

South Florida State College

India Craske

India Craske

Accounting Manager

Kahn Citrus Management

Atama Dindyal

Atama Dindyal

Owner

HER Cottage Farm & Market

Patricia Dobiecki

Patricia Dobiecki, CPA

IT Asset Manager

Highlands County Clerk of Courts

Hope Dunihue

Hope Dunihue

Financial Operations Specialist

Highlands County Tax Collector

Jeff Fennell

Lt. Jeff Fennell

Crime Scene Unit

Highlands County Sheriff’s Office

Christian Hardman

Christian Hardman

City Clerk/Interim City Manager

City of Avon Park

John Higgins

John Higgins

Territory General Manager

Coca-Cola Bottling Florida

Jackie Hilts

Jackie Hilts

Volunteer Firefighter

West Sebring Volunteer Fire Dept.

Liz Lind

Liz Lind

Highlands County Manager

United Way of Central Florida

Christine Lopez

Christine Lopez

Managing Broker

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services

Florida Property Group

John McLaughlin

Dr. John McLaughlin

Director, Criminal Justice Programs

South Florida South College

Scott Morgan

Scott Morgan

Career & Technical Ed. Specialist

Schoo​l Board of Highlands County

Mike Napper

Mike Napper

Director, Respiratory Services

Advent Health, Sebring

David Perez-Campos

David Perez-Campos

Mortgage Loan Officer

MidFlorida Credit Union

Monique Romanik

Civil Traffic Court Manager

Highlands County Clerk of Courts

Nick Sawyer

Dr. Nick Sawyer

Director of Operations

Sun ‘n Lake Improvement District

Mark Schneider

Mark Schneider

Chief of Police

Town of Lake Placid

Emi Sheffield

Emi Sheffield

Deputy Supervisor of Elections

Highlands County Supervisor of Elections

Gabe Smoak

Gabe Smoak

Production Manager

Smoak Groves

Julie Stark

Julie Stark

Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer

Advent Health, Lake Wales

Sherry Sutphen

Sherry Sutphen

County Attorney

Highlands County

Addlyn Teague

Addlyn Teague

Director of Communications

& Community Engagement

HCA Florida Highlands Hospital

Ben Wyatt

Ben Wyatt

Vice President, Commercial Banker

Crews Bank &Trust

Class Leaders

Kris Juve

Kris Juve

(LH Class of 2010, President)

LH Program Coordinator

South Florida State College

Mike McLeod

Dr. Mike McLeod

(LH Class of 2003)

Chair, LH Advisory Board

Program

Throughout the 10 months of our program, we visited various facilities and heard from ​representatives from numerous organizations in Highlands County. Our sessions were focused on ​the following subject areas:

Criminal Justice

Economic Development

Local Government

Non-Profit Organizations

Agriculture

State Government

Public Safety & Emergency Services

Education

Health Care

Arts & Culture

Class sitting in groups with two men speaking at front of room

Team-Building Retreat at

Seven Sebring Raceway Hotel

Group standing on steps in front of courthouse

Highlands County Courthouse

Small group standing in front of Sheriff's Office logo

Highlands County Sheriff’s Office

Group sitting in City of Sebring meeting room with two men speaking at front of room

City of Sebring

Class member standing by small airplane

Sebring Regional Airport

Group standing outside in a park setting

New Testament Church & Mission

Group sitting in a theater with a woman speaking onstage

Highlands Lakeside Theatre

Class members riding a bus with cows visible outside windows

Agriculture Bus Tour

Class members standing in a greenhouse with plants

Costa Farms

Group standing in state government chambers

Florida House of Representatives

Group standing in state courthouse

Florida Supreme Court

Class members practicing CPR on mannequins

Highlands County Fire Rescue

Group standing outside building with words South Florida State College

South Florida State College

HCA Florida Highlands Hospital

Graduation at Hotel Jacaranda

Acknowledgements

Leadership Highlands logo - Outline of Highlands County with words Leadership Highlands, Avon Park, Sebring, Lake Placid. Surrounded by Class of 2024 above and Learning, Leading, Leaving a Legacy below

The Leadership Highlands Class of 2024 would like to express ​our sincere appreciation to everyone who made this experience ​possible for us:

  • Our employers who sponsored our enrollment and allowed ​us time away from work to participate in the program;
  • The individuals and organizations who hosted our class and ​took the time to share their knowledge and expertise with ​us;
  • The Leadership Highlands Advisory Board who continue to ​make this program happen every year and the class alumni ​from previous years who supported us throughout the year; ​and
  • Our fearless leaders, Kris and Mike, for your guidance, ​patience and sense of humor. We might be second last, but ​definitely not second best!

“If your actions create a legacy

that inspires others

to dream more, learn more,

do more, and become more,

then you are an excellent leader.”