Celebrating 40 Years of Leadership; Bowling Green program marks milestone anniversary

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.– Local leaders past and present gathered Thursday for the 40th anniversary celebration of Leadership Bowling Green, a program that organizers say has shaped more than a thousand professionals and strengthened the community across four decades.

The event, recognized with an official proclamation, brought together graduates, current class members and community partners to reflect on the program’s legacy and its impact on Warren County.

Charles Fortney, a strategic advisor with Graves Governance Clinic and a graduate of one of the program’s earlier classes, said Leadership Bowling Green offers a deeper look at how the community works, something he didn’t fully appreciate until participating nearly 30 years ago.

“I thought I knew a lot about Bowling Green when I started,” Fortney said. “But going through those monthly sessions, I learned so much more about our community, agriculture, health care, entertainment, tourism, manufacturing, all those areas.” 

Fortney said each class takes on its own personality, drawing leaders from sectors across the city. What unites them, he said, is a shared experience and a desire to contribute.

“I think all the people in this room are contributors,” he said. “What I’d like to see in the future is a wider net, more people from different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds learning how they can be part of making our community better.” 

Kelsey Crowe, chair of the current Leadership Bowling Green class and director of finance and administration at Scott Property Management, said the program’s focus is to show emerging leaders how the city functions behind the scenes.

“It’s really about taking emerging leaders through different industries to show them how everything comes together to make our community the best place to live and work,” Crowe said. 

This year’s celebration highlights more than 1,100 graduates since the program began in 1985, alumni who have gone on to serve in boardrooms, nonprofits, and leadership roles throughout the region.

“To me, it just shows how many of our leaders have come together,” Crowe said. “I’m constantly calling on people from this group to help me through problems, to network, to form relationships. Networking can take you wherever you want to go.” 

Thursday’s event brought out alumni reconnecting with old classmates and reflecting on how their Leadership Bowling Green experience helped shape their careers.

Crowe joked she only had “one drink ticket,” but said the night was really about celebrating friendships and continued collaboration.

“It’s coming together to mingle with old friends, catch up with them, and see how we can continue helping each other and leading for those around us,” she said. 

Leadership Bowling Green’s 40th anniversary celebration highlights not just the longevity of the program, but its ongoing influence, and the community it continues to build.