The Leadership Durant Class for 2026-2027 was introduced Aug. 17 during a reception at Shamrock Bank.
Leadership Durant was founded in 2003 by the Durant Area Chamber of Commerce. It is a yearly class for professionals who desire to learn more about their community and develop or enhance their leadership skills. Individuals exit the class having identified and molded their specific leadership qualities.
The class begins each summer and is completed the following summer with graduation. The class meets for one day each month except for December. They participate in activities ranging from teambuilding exercises to visiting and meeting area media, city council, and state officials. They also tour area schools, hospitals, major employers, and other areas of interest such as museums and the Oklahoma City State Capitol. Additional activities and events are scheduled throughout the year to help raise money to donate to a deserving non-profit organization. Leadership Durant also volunteers for various events and organizations throughout the year.
Participants and their employers must commit to this program for it to be effective for each student.
Former class members include vice presidents of banks, business owners, teachers, managers, professors, attorneys, administrative personnel, and more.
Chamber CEO Kara Byrd thanked everyone for attending and supporting this year’s Leadership Durant class.
She also recognized chamber board members.
“The Durant Area Cham- ber of Commerce is the one who puts on this program and without the support of our board, we would not be able to do this to develop the leaders that we have for tomorrow, the generations to come,” Byrd said. “So, thank you guys for allowing us to have the opportunity to invest in our future leaders.”
Byrd thanked employers for allowing their employees to be a part of the Leadership Durant class.
“Thank you, guys, for making the investment in your team member,” Byrd said. “I can tell you that they have had a long day and today was their orientation day and you would be very proud of them in the way that they represented you. I am looking so forward to this class. They leaned in, they engaged, they already started building relationships and there’s 14 of them. “I just wanted to thank you for the investment you’re making in them. Not only financially, but the ability to let them come out of the workplace and spend a day with us to learn about the community of Durant, how they can better themselves and how they can shape the future of our community. So, thank you guys for that. We know that’s an investment that you’re making.”
Byrd said learning and growth are things that do not stop.
“It’s something that we do over a lifetime and I’m so honored to get to present this class to you and I want to thank each and every one of you in this room for supporting them on their journey as they are learning not only about Durant and the communities they live, work or serve, but also their own self for the personal and professional development that they’re doing,” Byrd said.
This year’s class members are, John Adams, chaplain, Heart to Heart Hospice; Hunter Chapa, assistant rolling mill manager, CMC; Blake Allen, executive director for marketing and communications, Southeastern; Nathan Peterson, president, Faithson Solutions; Bailey Terrell, relationship banker II, First United; Sandi Fomby, marketing & content coordinator, Candid Creative; April Fletcher, executive administrative assistant to city manager, City of Durant; Brittney Dick, program director, Durant Family Medical Clinic, Shelley Dunham, business development director, Sherman Medical Center; Crystal Rhodes, operating director, Cornerstone Caregiving; Katy Pickens, regional program director, Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits; Laney Hoffman, director of membership, Durant Area Chamber of Commerce; Jessie Ingram, chief retail officer, First Texoma National Bank, and Crystal Davenport, program director, 2MS, Choctaw Cultural Center.
