Dawg Parade was started by the 2018 class of Leadership Carbondale with a mission of giving back, building civic pride and beautifying the community.

Leadership Carbondale

Led by the Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Carbondale is a program formed to build strong leaders and prepare them for leadership roles in the community. Participants gather valuable knowledge and resources through a training curriculum designed to teach how to be better leaders, network with other leaders and professionals, and learn more about the community of Carbondale.

Class of 2018:

• Katherine Burns, Director of Kids Korner, Carbondale Park District

• Brian Flath, Assistant Director of Corporate Support, WSIU Public Broadcasting

• Benjamin Craft, Banking Center Manager, Banterra Bank

• Brittany Swims, Interim Director of Operations, Boys and Girls Club

• Eli Jacobs, HVAC Technician, Jacobs Air Conditioning & Heating

• Jarin Dunnigan, Detective Sergeant, Carbondale Police Department

• Jennifer VanBrooker, Corporate Director of Marketing & Communications, SIH

• John Barnett, Commercial Lender, First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust

• Kathy Smith-Shaffer, Assistant Dean of Students, Southern Illinois University

• Lindsay Ledbetter, Regional Practice Director, SIH

• Travis Taylor, Senior Planner, City of Carbondale

• Vamsi Manne, Associate Director-Student Center Programs, Southern Illinois University

• Nic Skovgaard, Owner, AlterEgo Marketing