The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce has selected the Leadership Chattanooga class of 2017-2018.

These 40 men and women were selected from the program’s most competitive process to date, according to a news release.

Chamber President Bill Kilbride said the participants have a wide variety of backgrounds, from big business to small, and represent a range of industries.

“We have some class members who have already achieved a great deal and others who are early in their careers,” he said in a prepared statement. “But they all have a love for our community in common-and a desire to learn more and to make an impact.”

Leadership Chattanooga, established in 1984, is the region’s premier leadership development program and boasts almost 1,200 alumni. As one of the chamber’s flagship programs, it provides participants and alumni with substantial access to and support from the region’s business and civic leadership networks, according to a news release.

The class of 2018 includes representatives from business, government and nonprofit sectors.

The Leadership Chattanooga program year kicks off in August with orientation and retreat sessions, continues with monthly sessions and project work, and culminates with graduation the following May.

“Leadership Chattanooga can be a transformational experience for members of our community who desire to be and do more,” Vice President of Policy and Education David Steele said in a prepared statement. “We provide class members with unique exposure and experiences, with particular skill sets and tools, and with a dynamic network.”

Members of the 2017-18 class are:

• Bergen Aldahir, Partnership for Families, Children and Adults

• Jared Bigham, Chattanooga 2.0

• John Bilderback, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department

• Susan Cowden, Southeast Tennessee Development District

• John Douglas, Pinnacle Financial Partners

• Connie Fernandez, Skye Strategies

• Chelsea Garcia, Henderson Hutcherson & McCullough PLLC

• Joey Greer, EPB

• Susan Harris, See Rock City Inc.

• Jeff Hollis, Vision Hospitality Group Inc.

• Miles Huff, Spire Labs Inc.

• Shea Jefferson, city of Chattanooga

• Angela Johnson, Girls Preparatory School

• Althea Jones, TVA

• Amy Katcher, Hamilton County Department of Education

• Kevin Kruchinski, Tennessee American Water

• Courtney Krueger, First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga

• Alexa LeBoeuf, UnifiEd

• Sande Lambert, Signal Centers Inc.

• Albert Leavengood, Cigna

• Sammy Lowdermilk, The Enterprise Center

• Stefanie Mansueto, Chase Commercial Banking

• Lisa Maragnano, CARTA

• Jeremy Martinez, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

• KeeKee Mathis, Volkswagen Group of America

• Patrick Miles, La Paz Chattanooga

• Donald Mueller, Children’s Hospital at Erlanger

• Strat Parrott, Juncture LLC

• Meg Scarbrough, Chattanooga Times Free Press

• Darian Scott, Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce

• Meagan Shinn, River City Co.

• Tyler Siira, Unum

• Krista Stephens, Volkswagen Chattanooga

• Michael Stone, Public Education Foundation

• Jennifer Summerlin, Inline Electric Supply

• Maggie Tanner, Synovus Banking Co./Synovus Bank

• Amanda Thompson, U.S. Xpress Enterprises Inc.

• James Tyson, EMJ Corp.

• Nathan Vaughn, Chattanooga Police Department

• Justin Whitaker, United Way of Greater Chattanooga