Meet the 2011-2012 Fellows
Meet the 2011-2012 Fellows
Our inaugural group of Fellows were not only pioneers in their fields, but pioneered our first cohort of Fellows. And they knocked our socks off. New funding, national media attention and even our first national political candidate – these innovators continue to wow us daily with their passion, ideas, and ability to change the world.
In just the first six months of our pilot year, six programs were replicated community to community, more than $500,000 in new funds were raised as participants shared program proposals and made introductions for each other, and leadership development enabled some participants to ask for help and others to show more strength.
Anthony Flaccavento
Founder, SCALE, Inc., Abington, Virginia
Anthony is an organic farmer and has been working on community environmental and economic development in central Appalachia for the past 25 years. SCALE, Inc, is a private consulting business... [Read More]
Jamee Haley
Executive Director, Lowcountry Local First, Charleston, South Carolina
Since 2007, Jamee Haley has been responsible for developing the “Directory of Local Independent Businesses,” has produced five successful Buy Local annual campaigns, worked with... [Read More]
Elissa S. Hillary
Executive Director, Local First West Michigan, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Elissa Hillary has served as executive director of Local First since 2007, her tenure marked by a period of unprecedented organizational growth. A graduate of the Community Leadership program at... [Read More]
Leanne Krueger-Braneky
Director, Fellowship & Alumni, BALLE, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Leanne Krueger-Braneky is the Executive Director of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN Philadelphia), a 400+ member business organization working to build a just, green and... [Read More]
Kimber Lanning
Executive Director, Local First Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona
Kimber Lanning is an entrepreneur and economic specialist who works to cultivate strong, vibrant communities and inspire a higher quality of life throughout Arizona. Lanning is actively involved... [Read More]
Derek Long
Executive Director, Sustainable Connections, Bellingham, Washington
Derek has a track record of entrepreneurism and program development in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Most recently, he co-founded Sustainable Connections in 2002 and is the... [Read More]
Vicki Pozzebon
Principal, Prospera Partners, LLC, Santa Fe, New Mexico 
Vicki's background includes arts administration, nonprofit development, marketing, and public relations. Honors include Young Careerist ’06, and 40 under Forty Business Executive by New... [Read More]
Jessie Radies
Founder, Live Local, Edmonton, Alberta
As the founder of Live Local Alberta, Jessie has a vision for Alberta as a diverse, vibrant and sustainable region. Live Local Alberta is dedicated to educating consumers on the benefit of... [Read More]
Ellen Shepard
Executive Director, The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce and Andersonville Development Corporation, Chicago, Illinois
Ellen Shepard, BALLE Board Secretary, has been executive director of the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce and Andersonville Development Corporation in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood... [Read More]
Kimberlee Williams
Cofounder and Marketing Director, FEMWORKS LLC and Forward Ever Sustainable Business Alliance, Newark, New Jersey
Kimberlee Williams is a leader in Newark where she is CEO and Marketing Director her consulting firm FEMWORKS, an accomplished media and marketing strategy firm. She is a pivotal leader and liaison... [Read More]
