Topeka (WIBW) - A group of 40 people from across the state is ready to put its leadership skills on the fast track.

The Kansas Chamber announced the members of the 2010 Leadership Kansas class Wednesday. WIBW Channels General Manager Jim Ogle is among them.

Leadership Kansas is a nationally recognized program that aims to develop and motivate future leaders in the state. In its 32nd year, the program remains committed to its original mission to inspire persons to maintain involvement in the social, business and political fabric of Kansas communities.

"The Kansas Chamber is proud to be the sponsoring entity of the Leadership Kansas program, which fosters greater awareness and understanding of statewide business, political and social issues. This program helps develop our state leaders and moves Kansas towards becoming the best place in America to live and work," said Kansas Chamber Interim President and CEO Kent Beisner (Class of '83).

Each year, more than 600 people are nominated to apply for the program and 40 are selected to participate. Leadership Kansas makes every effort to ensure geographic, racial, occupational, and gender diversity so that each class is truly representative of the state.

Class members will spend six months hearing from a variety of experts and attending educational 3-day training sessions in six different Kansas communities. Topics covered will include business; education; agriculture; public policy; societal health and development; economics; and government.

"As most of the 1,100 Leadership Kansas alumni can attest, graduates of the Program will leave well-educated and better equipped to shoulder important leadership responsibilities in there respective communities and careers," Stratton said.

The host cities for this year's program are Garden City, Kansas City Metro, Hays, Hutchinson/Wichita, Manhattan/Junction City, and Topeka.

The 2010 Leadership Kansas Class:

Benjamin Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, Ashland Health Center, Ashland

Philip Anderson, CFO / Treasurer, Spirit AeroSystems, Wichita

Grant Bannister, Legal Counsel, Knopp & Bannister, PA, Manhattan

Jarrod Bartlett, Communications/Public Relations, The Boeing Company, Cheney

Blake Benson, President, Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Pittsburg

Christopher Bierbaum, General Manager, Mobile Commerce, Sprint, Overland Park

Charles Blaser, Executive Director, Douglas Co. Community Foundation, Lawrence

Kristina Boone, Professor and Department Head, Kansas State University, Manhattan

Terry Bruce, Attorney & State Senator, Forker, Suter & Rose, LLC, Hutchinson

Roy Cessna, Public Information Coordinator, Garden City Public Schools, Garden City

Patricia Crowell, Director of Global Education Services, LSI Corporation, Clearwater

Roger Eastwood, Executive Vice President, INTRUST Bank, N.A., Wichita

Jennifer Eslinger, Chief Operating Officer, Menorah Medical Center, Overland Park

Junetta Everett, Vice President, Professional Relations, Delta Dental of Kansas, Wichita

Patrick Gideon, President, Silver Lake Bank, Topeka

Mary Hammond, Member Services Coordinator, KaMMCO / Kansas Medical Society, Hays

Julie Hower, Vice President and Trust Officer, Farmers and Drovers Bank, Council Grove

Kevin Istas, Senior VP of Operations - Western Region, Walton Construction, Bonner Springs

Nancy Jackson, Executive Director, Climate & Energy Project, Eudora

Ashley Kallman, Co-Owner, Atchison Automotive Group, Atchison

Lori Keegan, Pres./CEO, Transition By Design Inc., Topeka

Wallace Meyer, Jr., Director of Entrepreneurship Programs, University of Kansas, De Soto

Guy Mills, President, Northwest Kansas Technical College, Goodland

Jim Ogle, General Manager, WIBW Channels, Topeka

Denise Ott, Executive Director, Junction City-Geary County Military Affairs Council, Fort Riley

Randall Partington, Assistant Co. Admin./Dir. of Human Resources, Finney County, Garden City

Shala Perez, Executive Director- KHLAAC, State of Kansas- Office of the Governor, Wichita

Randy Pryor, Plant Manager, Ash Grove Cement Company, Chanute

Debra Rodenbaugh, Workforce Response Coordinator, KansasWorks, Manhattan

Erik Sartorius, Assistant City Manager/Director External Affairs, City of Overland Park, Topeka

Monica Scheibmeir, Dean, School of Nursing, Washburn University, Topeka

Alan Soldan, Director of Operations J3, Kansas Army National Guard, Topeka

Diane Stiles, Executive Director, Norton City/County Eco. Develop., Norton

Tracy Streeter, Director,Kansas Water Office, Valley Falls

Chadwick Taylor, District Attorney, Shawnee Co. District Attorney's Office, Topeka

Ross Vogel, President, LBD, INC/Vogel Properties, Galena

Marlou Wegener, COO for the BCBSKS Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, Berryton

David Whetstone, Managing Veterinarian, Countryside Pet Clinic, Howard

Brent Wiedeman, President/CEO, Farmers & Merchants Bank of Colby, Colby

Terrance Wilson, Director, Customer and Community Relations, Westar Energy, Lawrence