Alumnae

Click here to check out the diverse and inspiring group of Emerge alumnae from around the country.

Cole Adams Maier is a graduate of Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky College of Law. After passing the bar exam in October 2009, she worked for the Department of Public Advocacy in the Glasgow Trial Office. Currently, she works as a Law Clerk for Chief Justice John D. Minton, Jr. of the Kentucky Supreme Court. Cole's campaign expierience includes volunteering for Congressman Ben Chandler and Justice Mary C. Noble. Though she was raised in Winchester, Kentucky, Cole currently resides in Bowling Green with her husband and two big, slobbering dogs.

Karen Angelucci

Born and raised near her grandparent’s family farm in Cynthiana Kentucky, Karen Williams Angelucci, learned to appreciate our connection to our environment. Karen’s childhood, full of outdoor exploration and hard work, has inspired her to write four gardening books for adults and children. A passionate advocate for children’s outdoor education, Karen is working with state officials to expand school curriculum toinclude outdoor learning.

Brandy Bailey

Brandy Bailey of Lexington, Kentucky is an agent with New York Life Insurance Company. She holds a mater’s degree in business administration and has nearly five years experience in the financial services industry. In 2008 she took a break from financial services to work on the Clinton campaign and then took a position during the general election working for the coordinated campaign in Colorado. Brandy stays politically active as the At-large member of the 76th legislative district for the Fayette County Democratic Party as well as volunteering for multiple campaigns.

Sheila Berman

Sheila Berman is a Louisville attorney with a general practice law office focusing on the needs of individuals and small businesses. Before opening her own practice Sheila gained invaluable experience as a Federal Prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and a trial attorney with the D.C. Attorney General's Office. Since returning to her hometown of Louisville in 2006 Sheila has participated with numerous community organizations.

Anne-Marie Brown

Anne-Marie Brown, founder of Davis Brown Consulting LLC, specializes in mental health counseling and educational consulting.

Cleopatra Buckner

Cleopatra Buckner was born in Lula, Mississippi on January 31, 1955 to Mr. and Mrs. Eddie J. Buckner. Her parents divorced when she was very young and her mother brought the family to Louisville, KY. She has two sisters, one brother living and one deceased brother. Both parents are still living. Cleopatra is single with no children but has many nieces and nephews, as well as great nieces and nephews. She has been serving our country in the Kentucky Air National Guard for over 20 years as a Traditional Guardsman. She loves meeting people, helping people, singing and cooking.

Jennifer Cave

Jennifer J. Cave was born in Frankfort, Kentucky and graduated from the University of Kentucky cum laude with a B.S. degree in Biology. Following graduation, Jennifer worked as an environmental consultant in Massachusetts and Washington state before attending law school. Jennifer graduated magna cum laude in 2004 from the Seattle University School of Law and joined Cozen O'Connor in Seattle, where she practiced environmental and insurance coverage law.

Tabatha Clemons

Tabatha was raised on beautiful Lake Williamstown and spent many long days working on her grandfather’s farm in rural Grant County. She graduated from Grant County High School in 2000 and attended Northern Kentucky University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations. Upon commencement in 2004, she worked for a marketing corporation in Cincinnati, Ohio. She gained experience before returning back home to work for the City of Williamstown as their Telecommunication Officer.

Jacqueline Coleman

Jacqueline Coleman is originally from Burgin, Kentucky, graduated from Mercer County High School. She went on to earn a B.A. in History with an emphasis in Political Science and a secondary education certification from Centre College, and an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Louisville. While in graduate school, she worked as a graduate assistant for the women’s basketball team and also worked as a graduate intern for one summer at the Woman’s National Democratic Club in Washington, D.C.

Loretta Crady

Candidate for re-election, Hardin County Circuit Court Clerk

Loretta Crady is a life long resident of Hardin County and has been married to Phillip Crady for 37 years. They have three daughters and sons-in-law, three grandchildren and one due anytime. Loretta was elected as Hardin County Circuit Court Clerk, a board member of the Kentucky Circuit Courts Trust for Life; 2nd vice-president in the Kentucky Circuit Court Clerks Association, where she serves on several committees. Loretta is a member of the Hardin County Democratic Woman’s club, a member of Zonta of Elizabethtown, and a member of Glendale Christian Church.

Sarah Cronan

Sarah Grider Cronan is a Member of Stites & Harbison based in Louisville. She is experienced in product liability litigation involving drugs, medical devices, respirators, machinery, recreational and consumer products. Her practice also involves litigation of insurance coverage actions, employment matters, fire subrogation disputes, and commercial cases. Her class action defense work concerns claims for product defects, breach of warranties and various statutory violations.

Lesa Dae

Lesa Dae is an energetic and skilled communicator. Her wide range of communication experience lends much to her preaching, teaching, trainer and consultant abilities.
Since the 1980s she has been a workshop and seminar leader for several civic organizations as well as a keynote speaker at many churches.
Lesa Dae is a free lance writer and currently writes a weekly column for The Louisville Defender newspaper called “Be Encouraged”. She previously produced and hosted a weekly radio talk show called “A New Dawning”. She was a host a local television live talk show, “WAVE 3 Listens”. She is

Wanita Elison

Former Lexington Fayette Urban County Government Councilmember

Wanita Sipe Elison from Lexington is a former Lexington Fayette Urban County Government Councilmember. She is a retired Air Force officer and a college (BCTC) adjunct instructor in political science and history and substitute teacher in the Fayette County Schools. She has been active in numerous political campaigns particularly in voter registration. She is married to John Elison and has two children and one granddaughter.

Jacqueline Ellis

Jacqueline Ellis enjoys people and life. She has earned her Associate and Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. Jacqueline is a retired employee of Ford Motor Company after 32 years of service. She now is a substitute teacher for the Jefferson County Public School System. Jacqueline is a strong union woman and is a union member of Local 862. She now is on the Retirees Executive Board. She is the Recording Secretary for the Retirees for Local 862.

Angela Ferguson

County Clerk Administrator

Angela is currently the campaign manager for the Tom Elfers campaign and Vice-Chair of the Kenton County Democratic Executive Committee. Angela received her degree in political science from Transylvania University in 2003, and has been employed with the Kentucky Court of Justice since 2004.
Dedicated to domestic violence issues, Angela is an auxiliary staff member with the Women’s Crisis Center, and a member of the Advisory Committee for CASA of Kenton County.

Dee Dee Ford

Dedra Renee “Dee Dee” Ford grew up in Campbellsville (Taylor County), Kentucky.

Courtney French

Courtney French, resident of Warsaw, is truly committed to the idea of a better Kentucky. She currently serves as Director of Scheduling to Governor Steve Beshear. Courtney has been engaged in politics on a local, state and national level. Her experience in the Governor’s Office and several campaigns has given her intimate exposure to the needs and issues that face Kentuckians near and far and has strengthened her passion and affection for this state.
Her concern for others has driven her to improve her community and state through service and political activism. She is a member of the Nort

Nicole George

Nicole George is a Certified Social Worker who specializes in the field of child welfare. After receiving certification in Kentucky’s Public Child Welfare Certification Program Nicole began her present employment with Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Through her position as an Internal Policy Analyst Nicole works to make systematic improvements to Kentucky’s child welfare system. Nicole holds a Masters in Social Work from Spalding University.

Laken Gilbert

A native to Fleming County, Laken Gilbert is a graduate of Morehead State University with a double major of government and paralegal studies. She is the Secretary of Kentucky Young Democrats and President of the Morehead State College Democrats. Laken has interned for the Office of the Attorney General of KY in the Division of Consumer Protection, the Democratic National Committee, and at the Kentucky Democratic Party, working on a gubernatorial and senate race.

Kim Glenn

Kim Glenn is passionate about making a difference in her community. A mechanical engineering graduate of the University of Kentucky, Kim resides in Fort Mitchell and is a Supervisor at Duke Energy Corporation. Knowing that political participation is a lasting way to have a positive impact, she has been involved in politics in numerous capacities. From serving as Vice-Chair of the Kenton County Executive Committee to President of the Kenton County Democratic Club to a member of the State Central Democratic Executive Committee, Kim has volunteered for candidates and the State Party. Her lead

Julia Gordon

Wanda Hammons

Candidate for Kentucky State House of Representatives District 61

Wanda Crupper Hammons resides in Dry Ridge, Kentucky and has been married for 32 years and has two sons, Brian and Craig three grandsons. Wanda is the daughter of former State Representative Clay Crupper, now Mayor of the City of Dry Ridge. Growing up her family was very involved in politics, campaign, fundraisers and taking care of the folks in the community. She recently ran her first public office campaign during the General Election 2010, as a candidate for Magistrate of the 2nd District - Grant County.

Audrey Haydon

Audrey Haydon is a native of Bardstown, Kentucky, where she was born and raised. She is a 2007 graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. where she received a B.S. in Foreign Service and a certificate in Jewish Studies. While in college, Audrey spent a summer working in fundraising for a congressional campaign.

Tracey Heflin

Mason City School Board

Elisabeth Jensen

Elisabeth Jensen’s life revolves around kids and education. Half of her life is devoted to The Race For Education, a non-profit organization she co-founded to provide opportunities for higher education for young people with significant financial need. The other half is devoted to being a great mom to her six year-old son Will. Elisabeth is also involved with an organization called Unique, which provides support for families of children with unique and chromosome disorders.

Karen Jones

Karen C. Jones is a Resource Management Analyst II, where she works in the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training as staff for grant writing. She also provides direction in planning, organizing and managing resources in support of the agency's mission. Her background includes state government, working with communities to develop need assessments and strategic plans around alcohol, tobacco and drug issues. Also she has owned and operated her consulting business for over 10 years.

Kelly Jones

Kelly Keene Jones of Wilder, is the Coordinator of Workforce Talent Solutions at the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce; Fort Mitchell, KY. Through this role she drives talent retention, attraction and development for the Northern Kentucky region. Prior, Kelly worked in the Business Development and International Trade department and got her start at the Chamber as an intern. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Relations with minors in Marketing and Business Administration from Northern Kentucky University.

Letonia Jones

LeTonia A. Jones, MSW is a native of Paducah, Kentucky. She moved to Lexington, KY in 1994 and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at the University of Kentucky in 1997. She also earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Kentucky in 2004. Over the last 13 years, Ms. Jones has worked as an advocate to end violence against women and girls. Currently, Ms.

Ellie Kerstetter

Ellie Kerstetter has been a solo practicing attorney for about 8 years, with her office located in Audubon Park in Louisville, just six or seven blocks from her home. About 80% of her clients are Spanish-speaking. She is also a board member of Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, the Center for Women & Families, the Hispanic/Latino Coalition, and Adelante Hispanic Achievers, and also serves on several other committees. This past November Ellie ran for Jefferson County District Court Judge but did not succeed; but is seriously thinking of running again.