Fall 2026 Edition — Current Issue
Public Statement — Board President Daniel J. Sanidad
Leadership Morgan Hill is proud to celebrate this year’s leadership class and their extraordinary class project, “Many Stories, One Morgan Hill.” Their work reflects something fundamental about leadership: meaningful impact is rarely created in a single moment. It is built through consistent action, relationships, curiosity, and a willingness to contribute.
Last year, as Leadership Morgan Hill celebrated its 30th anniversary, we embraced the message “Honoring the Past, Inspiring Our Future.” As I reflected on that milestone and this year’s accomplishments, I kept returning to a quote from George Van Valkenburg:
“Leadership is doing what is right, when no one is watching.”
In a world where so much is highly visible and instantly measured, it can be easy to overlook the accumulated work behind meaningful accomplishments. Nine months of commitment. Countless conversations. Emails, text messages, meetings, decisions, challenges, adjustments, and collaboration. Much of that work will never be seen publicly, yet every action helped bring this class and its project to where they are today.
I believe leadership is a practice of behavior. It is demonstrated through the consistency of our actions and the value those actions create over time. That belief is also at the heart of why Leadership Morgan Hill matters. Our program empowers local leaders and fosters meaningful community connections, but its impact reaches further. We create opportunities for people to understand their community, engage with one another, build relationships across organizations and perspectives, and turn those relationships into positive and lasting impact throughout Morgan Hill.
As we celebrate this year’s class, I encourage each of us to continue practicing leadership: stay curious, engage with one another, do the work that matters, and intentionally build the legacy we want to leave behind. For those inspired to take the next step, Leadership Morgan Hill is now recruiting for the Class of 2027. And to everyone who continues to give their time, energy, ideas, and leadership toward strengthening our community: thank you. Together, our many stories continue to shape one Morgan Hill.
Congratulations to the Leadership Morgan Hill Class of 2026!
The Leadership Morgan Hill Class of 2026 officially graduated on Monday, September 14 at Guglielmo Winery surrounded by friends, family, and community members! Their nine months of learning, connecting, and serving the Morgan Hill community culminated in their class project “Many Stories, One Morgan Hill,” a permanent self-guided history trail for the public to experience Morgan Hill’s rich local heritage beginning at the historic Votaw Building, with the trailhead sign stationed at the Third Street Plaza:
- 19 Permanent Historic Stops: 10 walking stops and 9 driving stops featuring plaques with QR codes linking to historical stories and photographs at morganhillhistoricalsociety.org/history-trail.
- Ribbon Cutting & Graduation: Officially launched on Saturday, August 29 with remarks from class members and project stakeholders followed by a guided tour of the first six stops, and celebrated at the Class of 2026 graduation at Guglielmo Winery on Monday, September 14.
Class of 2026 Graduates: Anja Hamilton, Ashleigh Bittle, Auxilia William, Carol Sheets, Heather Gallegos, Jeremy Medeiros, JoAnne Markowska, Reina R. Gonzalez, Sharon Wagner, Shellee Fisher, Sue Coakley, Tina Weinberger, Vanesa Fernandez, and Wendelyn Scherbart. (See the full Class of 2026 profile & project showcase →)
“[People] had just wonderful things to say about [Leadership Morgan Hill], how much you learn, how involved you get, the people that you work with and that it’s just a wonderful experience and so I thought you know what I’m going to do it, I don’t know if this opportunity will come up again so I’m doing it and I’m very glad I am.” — Shellee Fisher, LMH Class of 2026
“A lot of that success that we see as a city is based on volunteerism and people who have a passion for serving… so Leadership Morgan Hill is a great starting point to learn about where [you] can get involved beyond that.” — Mark Turner, Mayor of Morgan Hill
Upcoming & Recent Events and Ways to Get Involved
- LMH First Fridays at Bubbles & Brew (Upcoming): First Friday of every month at 6:00 PM at Bubbles & Brew (beginning again on October 2 at 6:00 PM)—stop by to connect with fellow LMH members and bring anyone interested in Leadership Morgan Hill.
- LMH History Banners (Sunday, August 9): LMH created and displayed large banners on poles along Monterey Road in downtown Morgan Hill showcasing important moments, places, and people in Morgan Hill history with images provided by the Morgan Hill Historical Society.
- LMH Information Sessions (August 26 & September 24): Held at the Community & Cultural Center for prospective future class members; email recruiting@leadershipmorganhill.org for information on future sessions.
- Apply for the Class of 2027: Classes run January through September throughout Morgan Hill (including an early January overnight retreat, monthly Monday evening and Friday sessions, an overnight State Government session in Sacramento, a class community project, and September graduation at Guglielmo Winery; limited scholarships available). Learn more about Our Program or submit your Class of 2027 Application.
- Serve on the LMH Board of Directors: Passionate about giving back and helping shape the next generation of leaders in Morgan Hill? Apply for the LMH Board of Directors or email info@leadershipmorganhill.org.
- Opportunities in Morgan Hill — Morgan Hill Historical Society Board: The Morgan Hill Historical Society is seeking community members with an interest in local history to serve on its Board of Directors (morganhillhistoricalsociety.org/volunteer).
- Support Leadership Morgan Hill: Tuition covers less than half the cost of the program. Help build community in Morgan Hill by donating or sponsoring online or by check/money order to Leadership Morgan Hill, P.O. Box 1316, Morgan Hill, CA 95038.