Igniting leaders with the skill development to make an impact in your organization and community.
PROGRAM PURPOSE
The purpose of the Ignite program is to expose participants to skills, ideas, and established area leaders, offer a space to explore personal and professional leadership development, and catapult emerging leaders into situations that create value and impact.
PROGRAM DETAILS
- A cross-sector, diverse cohort of emerging, regional leaders who are curious to develop soft skills around self awareness, building teams, conflict management, networking, and presenting.
- A forum, guided by experienced practitioners and regional leaders, designed for self discovery and practical applications for personal and professional development.
- An opportunity for a hands on development of leadership and civic engagement skills in a high-impact team service project with one of Volunteer Arlington's nonprofit partners
- Access to an alumni base of 1,500+ graduates.
TIME COMMITMENT
The Ignite program consists of 8 half-day sessions, held once a month from October through April, and concludes with a Leadership Summit in May. Program days are from 12:00 - 5:00 p.m.
WHO SHOULD APPLY
- Up-and-coming or emerging leaders from the region who are eager to grow.
- Community-minded leaders who are seeking to make a difference in their communities.
SELECTION PROCESS
The Selection Committee seeks a diverse cohort of established leaders who demonstrate a commitment to personal growth, civic engagement, and community impact.
If you would like to discuss the program, please contact Lisa Fikes at lfikes@leadercenter.org.
CLASS OF 2026
The Ignite Class of 2026 will begin in October 2025.
- Pinky Advani, Ballston Business Improvement District
- Lucas Alexander, Arlington County Government, Department of Management & Finance
- Monte Ali, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
- Gwyneth Alteneder, Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington
- Luis Alvarado, National Parent Teacher Association
- Josue J. Bastidas, Columbia Pike Partnership
- DJ Batchelor, Arlington Chamber of Commerce
- Leigh-Ann Carter Sinclair, Arlington Free Clinic
- Heidi Cleric, Chain Bridge Bank, N.A.
- Rebecca Cuba, CRi (Community Residences Inc)
- Julee Doyle, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
- Destiny Hall, Aspire Afterschool Learning
- Donald Herndon, Phoenix Bikes
- Jared Husketh, National Capital Treatment and Recovery
- Derek Judd, Strategic Engineering Solutions
- Chloe Koenen, The Craddock Group
- Leah Martinez, Arlington County Fire Department
- Aubrey Mason, CRi (Community Residences Inc)
- Jenna McAllister, Washington Workplace
- Saira A. Mehmood, formerly with National Institutes of Health
- Sierra Moraven, Lexipol
- Claire Morris, Read Early And Daily (R.E.A.D.)
- Peter Nachtwey, The Craddock Group, LLC.
- Thuy-Linh Nguyen, Arlington County Office of the Commissioner of Revenue
- Jasmine Oates, Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute
- Margaret Phalen, Arlington Public Library
- Yonatan Pineda, Dominion Energy
- Cassandra Ransome, Animal Welfare League of Arlington
- Olivia Scheuer, NASA
- Ana Schneider Jerez, Chain Bridge Bank, N.A.
- Dawn Smith, Arlington Public Schools
- Chrissy Wallace, Psychotherapist
- Jessica T. Washington, Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley & Walsh, P.C.
- Samuel Whippo, Chain Bridge Bank, N.A.
- Percilla Wills, Flaherty Family Foundation
- Calla Zane, Logistics Management Institute (LMI)
SCHEDULE
Classes will meet in Arlington on the following days from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 9, 2025
- Thursday, November 6, 2025
- Thursday, December 4, 2025
- Thursday, January 15, 2026
- Thursday, February 5, 2026
- Thursday, March 5, 2026
- Thursday, April 16, 2026
- Thursday, May 7, 2026 - Leadership Summit & Reception (1:00 - 6:30 p.m.)
TUITION DETAILS
$3,000
Leadership Center of Arlington encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of financial status.
Tuition covers the monthly programs, one ticket for the Leadership Summit & Reception, and access to our alumni directory and ongoing alumni resources and networking opportunities.
We provide partial scholarships to small nonprofit and small business applicants, based on need and funds available. Scholarship requests are not a factor in the selection process.
Scholarship applications are due by Friday, May 23, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. (at the same time as the program applications). Scholarship applications will not be accepted after this date.
QUESTIONS
If you would like to discuss the Lead program, please contact Lisa Fikes at lfikes@leadercenter.org.
MENTORS
Marty Almquist (Lead '99)
Christina Dietrich (Lead ’23)
Will Flagler (Lead '17)
Takis Karantonis (Lead '10)
Kris Krider (Lead '19)
Rupal Lamorena (Lead '19)
Matt Owens (Lead '21)
Scott Reamy (Lead '19)
Mike Richardson (Lead '13)
Debby Taylor (Lead '99)
Diana Waller (Lead '18)
PRESENTERS
Mary-Claire Burick
Stacy Cook (Lead '19)
Scott Nycum (Lead '14)
Mary Ellen Payne (Lead '11)
Kristine Wood (Lead '15)
PROGRAM DAY SPONSORS
Managing Teams
Lunch Sponsor
“Being in a leadership position, you don’t always have the resources to connect with people who are in similar situations in different sectors. It was really cool to be in the room with like-minded individuals who were going through similar things to what I was going through.”