The Class of 2015 Leadership Butler County has started its nine-month program.

Beginning this month, the participants will be exposed to issues, resources and opportunities for service in the Butler County area during their 12 program sessions.

Here are this year’s class members: Amy Badger-Witenski, director of Intellectual Disabilities and Early Intervention Programs with Butler County; Mark Buchek, vice president of commercial lending at Northwest Savings Bank; Richard Carlantonio, program manager at U.S. Office of Personnel Management; and Chris Cole, director of the Robert M. Smith Student Center and Conference Services at Slippery Rock University.

Also, Scott Covert, training coordinator at Penn United Technology; Debbie Crum, director of membership recruitment and development at the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau; Kyle Hilfiger, branch manager with Farmers National Bank; and Kierston Hobaugh, director of results and performance at the United Way of Butler County.

Also, Martha J. Hughes, program manager at U.S. Office of Personnel Management; Morgan Lambert, production assistant at Frames & Pixels; David Means, reporter/editor of Butler County Business Matters; Steve Powers, safety specialist at Calumet/Penreco; and Morgan Rizzardi, assistant director of admissions at Butler County Community College.

Also, Cassie Sarvey, retail manager at NexTier Bank; Becky Shaw, executive administrator at Penn United Technologies; Phil Shaffer, deputy warden at the Butler County Prison; Robert Stamm, senior operations manager, ARMSTRONG Utilities; Scott Sukits, senior mechanical engineer at Stantec; Daniel Swartz, first vice president of marketing at ESB Bank; and Ryan Trulick, vice president of credit administration, Mars National Bank.

Also, Heather Thomas, AVP business banker-manager at Huntington Bank; Cynthia Trautzsch, organizational development liaison at Butler Health System; and Ellen Weber, vice president with NexTier Insurance Services, LLC.

The program ends with graduation at the September 2015 Celebrate Business Annual Chamber Dinner.

Board members elected

The leadership program also elected directors and officers for 2014-15.

The board chairman is Lynne Motyl from Slippery Rock University, and the vice chairman is Frank Girardi from Northwest Savings Bank. Mike Johnson with the Butler Family Y is the treasurer.

Newly elected directors are Mindy Dunkerley, Butler Health System; Brad Smith, Calumet/Penreco; and Mallory Starr, Maher Duessel.

Other directors are Jack Cohen, Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau; Nicole Duncan, Stantec; Jennifer Dunnaway, Butler Health System; Jeff Francona, Washington Financial Bank; Tom Graham, Frames & Pixels; Janine Kennedy, Community Action; Sue Kushnereit, NexTier Bank; Jessica Matonak, Butler County Community College; Lisa Howard-Sommers, C.W. Howard Insurance Agency; Leslie Osche, United Way of Butler County; Charlene Perhacs, ARMSTRONG; Jill Swensen, Stantec; and Jen Whitmoyer, Lifesteps.

This program is affiliated with the Butler County Chamber of Commerce. It is run in partnershipwith BC3, SRU, the county tourism bureau and the United Way.