Leadership Bay Class 44 Begins Nine-Month Community Leadership Experience

Leadership Bay Class 44 participants listen during the 2026–27 program Orientation.

Leadership Bay Class 44 Begins Nine-Month Community Leadership Experience

By Bay County Chamber of Commerce

9/23/2026

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Leadership Bay Class 44 officially launched its program year on Sept. 23, welcoming 26 professionals from across Bay County for an experience designed to deepen their understanding of the community, strengthen their leadership skills and build relationships across industries.

This year's class brings together professionals representing a broad cross-section of Bay County's business and community landscape, including education, nonprofits, engineering, government, communications, marketing, human resources, finance, media, sales, banking, construction, real estate, legal services and more.

That diversity is an important part of the Leadership Bay experience. Over the next nine months, participants will have opportunities not only to learn more about the community they call home, but also to build connections with people and organizations they may not otherwise encounter in their professional lives.

During Orientation, Leadership Bay Chairman Matt Hutt and Vice Chairman Chris Ackerman welcomed Class 44 and provided an overview of the program and what participants can expect throughout the year.

The class also heard from Bay County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Al McCambry and Chamber Chairman Allen Armstrong, who welcomed participants and spoke about the importance of leadership and engagement within the Bay County community.

Class 44 will officially begin its Leadership Bay experience with a two-day retreat on Oct. 1 and 2. The retreat serves as an opportunity for participants to begin building relationships with one another and lays the foundation for the nine months they will spend learning about Bay County together.

Throughout the program year, Class 44 will explore different aspects of the community through a series of program days designed to provide participants with greater insight into the organizations, industries and institutions that help Bay County operate and grow.

Leadership Bay has graduated 43 classes and nearly 1,000 professionals, creating a network of alumni who have gone on to serve and lead throughout Bay County. The program continues to strengthen that network by connecting emerging and established leaders while giving participants a broader understanding of the community and the role they can play in its future.

Leadership Bay is a program of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce Foundation and is designed to cultivate informed, connected and engaged community leaders.