2015 Leadership McPherson Class Announced
The McPherson Chamber of Commerce Leadership Board of Trustees announced the 2015 class for Leadership McPherson, a skills based leadership program that provides hands on training. Members of the 2015 Leadership McPherson Class are:
- Todd Martens- City of McPherson Police Department
- Katie Young- Jayhawk Pipeline
- Jay Corwin- Hospira
- Zack Singleton- Central States Marketing & Mfg.
- Daniel Schwindt- Central Christian College
- Turner Polzin- Adams, Brown, Beran, & Ball Chtd
- Zane Raber- McPherson Family Life Center
- Jackie Christiansen- NCRA
- Kendra Oakes- Sunflower Bank
- Anne Kirchner- United Way of McPherson County
- Rebecca Lewis- Circles of McPherson County
- Chad Hitt- Board of Public Utilities
- Jonathan Rothrock- Home State Bank
“Leadership McPherson brings individuals together from all sectors of the community that perhaps would not ordinarily have met let alone had the opportunity to work and learn together. The program introduces participants to new leadership concepts and their emerging roles in the community,” said Jennifer Burch, Executive Director of the McPherson Chamber of Commerce.
Since 1982, the McPherson Chamber of Commerce has offered Leadership McPherson, as community based program. Leadership in a community is vital to its ongoing success and that is why the Chamber is involved. If McPherson is going to continue to be successful in the next century, McPherson must have community leaders at all levels. Leadership McPherson is a 5 month program that consists of a two-day retreat (overnight) and 8 class sessions between January and May. Sessions include 21st Century Leadership Skills, Learning, Thinking, Working Styles, Collaboration, Facilitation, Visioning, Steps to a Performing Community, Civic Leadership training, discussions, and community exposure.
“Those most connected to their community value their journey as well as their destination. For all the obstacles they face, they derive satisfaction from the people they meet, the challenges they engage, the lessons they learn and the knowledge that they’re staying true to their beliefs.” – Paul Rogat
Using the leadership skills and concepts, the class members will plan and execute a class project that benefits the youth of McPherson. Past projects of Leadership McPherson have been; Back Pack Program Food for Kids, Mt Hope’s Children’s Reading Room, Heart 2 Heart Equipment , CHIPS, 6th Grade Leadership, MacCare Packs, just to mention a few. The Class project will make their announcement at the Leadership Class Celebration scheduled on May 5, 2015.