Leadership Marion!, a comprehensive program designed to prepare the community’s next generation of leaders, isnow accepting applications for its 2020-2021 class.
“Each year Leadership Marion! invites high-potential candidates from throughout Marion County and the surrounding area to join in a journey to understand Marion’s history, its current challenges and its future,” said Matt Carbary, President, Marion Area Chamber of Commerce.
Carbary said the class, which meets one day a month from September through May, explores essential building blocks of the Marion community, from education, business and government to health care and social services. With over 450 graduates since 1991 and last year being the largest class ever, Leadership Marion! has become a can’t-miss experience.
“We learn about Marion’s past from visits with local historians,” Carbary said, “and we see Marion’s current challenges through the eyes of the community, business and government leaders who are facing those issues every day.”
The leadership course not only gives class members a comprehensive understanding of Marion’s community infrastructure--participants also establish valuable relationships and identify meaningful ways they can get personally involved, he said. In addition, class members will have an opportunity to make an immediate impact on Marion through a service project they will identify and complete during their time together. Tuition for the nine-month program is $850 for Chamber members and $1,150 for non-Chamber members.
“Every organization needs visionary leaders to thrive…and so does our community,” Carbary said. “Our leadership class members will be better for the experience, and so will our hometown.”
Returning as program facilitator this year is John Shank. John brings a level of energy, enthusiasm and leadership expertise to our program that enables the participants to learn about Marion County while experiencing advanced leadership techniques and principals.
We are developing our cleaning and sanitizing measures and will be implementing aspects of social distancing based on the Governor’s guidelines and recommendations provided by the local health department. Our top priority is to keep everyone safe and try to provide the best Leadership Marion 2020/2021 environment possible.
Deadline for submitting applications for this year’s class is Friday, August 28, 2020. Formoreinformationaboutthe 2020/2021Leadership Marion!program including applications,contact the Chamberat chamberstaff@marionareachamber.org or 740.382.2181.Additionalinformationisavailable onlineatwww.marionareachamber.org/leadership.