GREENFIELD — Participants in the 2019-20 Leadership Hancock County class spent much of their first day of instruction on a scavenger hunt, following clues and traveling around the county. The exercise might seem trivial, but it’s intended to teach some of the skills the program prioritizes the most: problem-solving, creative thinking and above all, teamwork.
The program, which welcomed its 24th class last week with its annual two-day retreat, is a tuition-based program for professionals, including business leaders, educators, political leaders and law enforcement, focused on learning leadership skills.
Jason Wells, Leadership Hancock County’s coordinator, said the focus of the program is on developing emerging leaders and introducing them to concepts such as servant leadership and situational leadership.
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The participants also plan and execute group projects aimed at community improvement. Examples of projects from the 2019 class, which graduated in May, included introducing the “Get Cycling” event in late May in downtown Greenfield and the creation of posters celebrating local architecture, which were installed over the summer in the Living Alley in downtown Greenfield.
Participants in the class will experience nine class days of leadership instruction covering topics like problem-solving and networking. The class members — 25 students in all — got to know each other at last week’s retreat and began discussing ideas for service projects.
The class will meet once a month. Upcoming day-long sessions will be devoted to studying community issues, business and agriculture, government and Hancock County history.
Keith Oliver, the jail commander at the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, is a member of this year’s class. He said he hoped to use the program as an opportunity to form connections between the department and other community entities.
“I’m hoping through this process that I’ll learn some new, valuable leadership skills that we can use not only in the workplace but in our personal lives as well,” Oliver said.
Danielle Farmer, a physical therapist at Hancock Regional Hospital, said the program is “a unique opportunity to actually get to know the county that you live in.”
“I work, as a physical therapist, hands-on with people who live in this county every day, and you see people from all walks of life. From that perspective, you get a little insight into the challenges that maybe this county faces, but you don’t get that big picture of what are the challenges but also how to help with those challenges,” Farmer said. “If you just are someone that always recognizes a problem but is never part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. I’d love to be a part of growth in this community.”
Donnie Munden, a lieutenant in the Sheriff’s Department and the board president emeritus of Leadership Hancock County, said networking opportunities are one of its most beneficial elements.
“Everyone here is a leader within their organization, pretty much; some of them are up-and-coming leaders, some of them are established. But if they’re the CEO of their corporation, the ability to work with people throughout the community who are also leaders in a different industry altogether, it’s nice to have that contact,” Munden said.
Munden said leaders in diverse workplaces can learn from each other on many issues, like hiring, employee retention and dealing with social issues that can affect business.
“To be able to reach out to someone that you met through Leadership Hancock County in order to see what they’re doing to combat those issues, it’s nice to be able to do that,” Munden said.
Oliver and Farmer said the ability to listen and pay attention to the concerns of colleagues is one of the most important qualities a leader can have.
“As a leader, it’s your constant responsibility to promote leadership in those people beneath you,” Farmer said. “If you’re not doing that, you’re not truly a leader.”
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Jane Barton, Daily Reporter
Danielle Farmer, Hancock Health
Chantel Fowler, Boys & Girls Clubs
Dawn Hanson, Greenfield-Central schools
Garren Harter, Hancock Health
Amy Kirkpatrick, Hancock Health
Alisha Love, NineStar Connect
Kristen Martin, Jane Pauley Community Healthy Center
Robert Mattsey, Indiana Farm Bureau
Paul McNeil, Hancock County Public Library
Ciara Nienhaus, Hancock Health
Margaret North, Hancock Health
Keith Oliver, Hancock County Sheriff’s Department
Shane Osborne, NineStar Connect
Tamra Parrish, Hancock Health
Cathy Riley, Hancock County Public Library
Metta Sanders, Greenfield Banking Co.
Tammy Settergren, Eastern Hancock School Board
Joel Shores, Joyner Homes
Rebecca Trebley, Hancock Health
Melissa Watson, Hancock Health
Theresa Werking, St. Thomas Catholic Church, Fortville
Amy West, Hancock County Sheriff’s Department
Erika Whittington, NineStar Connect
Dan Worl, city of Greenfield
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