The Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute has announced the 30 program participants and 15 mentors selected for this year’s Community Connect:  Mentors Inspiring Success program.

The goal of the program is to connect future leaders with mentors and, in turn, inspire the future leaders to take action in the community as a result of those relationships.

The six-week course launches Feb. 16 at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

The program participants are:

Sonia Ashe, Aaron Chittenden, Pamela Clearwater-Lovell, Kaci Conetzkey, Kelly Crosby, Judith Downs, Amber Foxworthy, Angela Gallagher, Ida Hadzisulejmanovic, Kali Hunter, Kendra Kelly, Susan Kloewer, Stacy Lage, Cody Lenz, Alyssa Marschner, Jeremy Masterson, Keshia Meissner, Laine Mendenhall-Buck, Matthew Onstot, Kyle Oppenhuizen, Nicole Peckumn, Kerri Schneider, Emily Schrad, Amy Strutt, Shannon Stump, Anne Thomas, Kelsey Tyrrell, Eric Wieland, Hanna Wolle, and Tyler Wyngarden.

Mentors are:

Kim Butler, The Private Bank; Dr. Mary Chapman, retired, Des Moines Area Community College; Sally Dix, Bravo Greater Des Moines;  Joe Gonzalez, Latino Resources and Latino Heritage Festival; Eric Idehen, Wells Fargo; Joseph Jones, Greater Des Moines Partnership; Kristi Knous, Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines; Kerty Levy, Kemin; Matt McGarvey, Telligen Community Initiative; Dana Ramundt, The Dana Company;  Jana Reiker, Bankers Trust; Katie Roth, Portico Staffing; Mary Sellers, United Way of Central Iowa; Rick Tollakson, Hubbell Realty Co.; and Steve Whitty, Principal Financial Group Inc.