They led the leaders

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, May 7, 2008

Story by Michael Hooper: (785) 295-1293 or michael.hooper@cjonline.com.Today, Leadership Greater Topeka marks its 25th class with 36 graduates for a total of 740 graduates in the past 25 years, said Marsha J. Sheahan, vice president of public relations with the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce. The graduation for the 2008 class is during a luncheon today at the Ramada Hotel and Convention Center, 420 S.E. 6th.

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Sheahan said the mission has evolved into a way to identify emerging leaders and teach participants leadership skills within a context of community issues and challenges. Here is a look at some of the graduates from the first class:Nancy Shaughnessy is semiretired and living in Topeka. She worked in management of nonprofit organizations for many years, including as executive director of the Volunteer Center of Topeka for 10 years. She worked as director of development and stewardship at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church and School for about six years. She started Summerfest, an annual fundraiser and parish community festival. She was instrumental in starting the Topeka Corporate Volunteer Council while at the Volunteer Center. She started Winter Wonderland while working at TARC as development director. Shaughnessy said she "learned so much about Topeka - I thought it was a wonderful opportunity,."Vince Frye has been a partner in FryeAllen Inc. since 1997 and worked in the television industry for 26 years before that. He has been very involved in the Topeka community, having served on many boards, including the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, Go Topeka, Topeka Civic Theatre, Sunflower State Games, Topeka Community Foundation, Topeka and Shawnee County Sports Council, Arts Connect, Heartland Works, Junior Achievement, Sales and Marketing Executives, Downtown Topeka Inc., Meals on Wheels and the Topeka Advertising Federation. He was inducted into the first class of the Topeka Advertising Hall of Fame last year.Nancy Perry, president and chief executive officer of the United Way of Greater Topeka, said the early Leadership Greater Topeka class toured several employers but didn't build projects together like the recent graduates have experienced. The program has one overnight experience that graduates say provides a great bonding experience with classmates. Perry is planning to retire from United Way but said she will stay in Topeka. In retirement, she said she plans to travel with her husband, Ken - they are going to China this summer - and write books for her grandchildren. She said she will continue to serve on the Stormont-Vail HealthCare and Capitol Federal Foundation boards and remain active at Grace Episcopal Church. Dean Forster, retired Topeka police chief, is director of University Police at Washburn University. Forster was appointed police chief in February 1996 by then-Mayor Butch Felker. He was police chief for five years before retiring in 2001. Forster first joined the police department as a records clerk in 1970, and in 1973 he became a patrolman. Then Forster worked his way to the top of the department. In 2003, Forster was named director of police at Washburn. Forster earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Washburn in 1974. He is a 1983 graduate of the FBI National Academy. And in 1997, Forster also completed the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development School.

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They led the leaders

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, May 7, 2008

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