Congratulations to our 2025-26 Leadership Tigard graduates! We celebrated the completion of their nine-month leadership program with a graduation ceremony held at Broadway Rose Theatre Company. Our 2026 graduates included:
Brad Dillingham
Jeanette Shaw
Karen Lewis
Katie Cook-Popenuk
Luis (Savi) Rivera
Malaina Kinne
Nick Long
Rebecca Hathaway
Sabrina Hiatt
Samuel Monsivais
Shannon Huggins
Terra Wheeler
Trisha Ausbie
The goal of Leadership Tigard is to inspire emerging leaders to actively engage in and contribute to the Tigard community. Through meaningful connections with local and regional leaders, participants gain a deeper understanding of how our community functions, the opportunities and challenges it faces, and the impact of collaborative leadership. The program fosters a lasting commitment to civic engagement and empowers participants to make a meaningful difference through leadership and service at every level of the community.
Beyond the monthly program sessions, each Leadership Tigard cohort works together on a community impact project. This year’s class created Feeling Fresh is Fundamental, a collaborative initiative that brought together local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and community members to collect hygiene supplies and raise funds for local shelters and families in need. The project showcased what is possible when people unite around a common goal – creating meaningful change and strengthening the community they serve.
Rebecca Hathaway from the City of Tigard noted that, “One of the greatest gifts of this program is connection. Not just networking in the traditional sense, but genuine relationships. You spend months learning alongside people who care deeply about this community, and those connections don’t end at graduation. They become resources, collaborators, advocates, and friends.”
Thank you to our Program Sponsors NW Natural, Edge One Media, and Cloudminders for your continued support!
Are you ready to grow as a leader? We are now accepting applications for the 2026-27 Leadership Tigard cohort on our website. The deadline to apply is September 14th, 2026. If you have any questions about the program, we’re happy to help. Please contact our office for more information.