Leaders in Action

Published July 21, 2009

Leaders in Action is a series of articles showing how Leadership Louisville Center programs help produce tangible results by connecting people, places, and resources in our community.

Leadership Louisville Center connections help with launch of Mill Creek Leadership Academy

Michelle Pennix (IL '07) (right), principal of Mill Creek Elementary school, finds her Leadership Louisville Center experiences played a key role in transforming her school into the Leadership Academy magnet. Through her connections in Ignite Louisville and through a visit from Focus Louisville participants, Michelle received expert branding support and formed a key partnership with the Louisville Science Center, both of which were critical touch points in shaping the new direction of the school.

Sometimes all you need to move forward is the right connection

Michelle met Kirsten Hawley (BF '09, FL '07) (left) of Brown Forman in the Ignite Louisville program when Kirsten shared her expertise on the power of personal branding with the young professionals in the class. When the Mill Creek school board began the process of transforming the school into a leadership academy magnet, Michelle contacted Kirsten for help. 

“Kirsten helped with brand architecture for the academy by helping us get to our soul and who we are as a school. My background is in education, and without my Ignite Louisville experience, I wouldn’t have had access to an expert on branding,” Michelle said. “Along with Kirsten, my Ignite Louisville classmates and professionals available through the Leadership Louisville Center gave me a wealth of human resources to tap into throughout the transition.”

Sharing the vision attracts more key connections

Focus Louisville participants visited Mill Creek in February 2009 and Michelle shared with them her ideas and plans for the Leadership Academy. One of the participants, Jo Haas (LL '10, FL '09)(left) executive director of the Louisville Science Center, became immersed in Michelle’s vision and immediately saw a connection between leadership and science education. She knew she wanted to get the Science Center involved.

After the visit, Jo started brainstorming ideas with fellow participant, Dion Dunn (FL '09) (shown below reading to Mill Creek Elementary students), senior manager with Ernst & Young. Dion said, “We were blown away by Michelle Pennix and the kids we met at Mill Creek.”

By the end of the 2 ˝ day Focus Louisville session, Jo and Dion had plans to contact Michelle Pennix suggesting a program for Mill Creek students onsite at the Louisville Science Center, complete with a proposal for funding from Ernst & Young. At this writing, plans are well underway for a program involving Mill Creek fourth graders which is expected to kickoff in late fall. (Additional funding is still needed for this initiative. Contact Jo Haas at The Louisville Science Center if you want to help.)

A great vision is contagious

Plans for Mill Creek Leadership Academy include a weekly convocation series in which local, national and possibly international leaders will speak to students about obstacles they’ve overcome and how they use leadership today. Leadership Louisville Center members, including some of Michelle’s fellow Ignite Louisville ’07 graduates and several Focus Louisville graduates, including Dion Dunn, have agreed to speak to students as part of the series.

Learn more about Ignite Louisville

Learn more about Focus Louisville