GREENFIELD — After a year off due to COVID-19, Leadership Hancock County is returning with its annual leadership program that will help participants develop the skills they need to steer their organizations in the right direction.
Nicole Mann, president of the Leadership Hancock County board, said the organization was disappointed in 2020 when the board could not figure out a way to safely go ahead with the program, which features monthly daylong seminars. Last year would have been the 25th anniversary of the program, but Mann said that will be celebrated this year with its 25th class.
The program will remain mostly the same as in previous years, except that class gatherings will not, as they have in the past, take place in a variety of different places around the community. Instead, the class will meet consistently in the conference room at Ninestar Connect’s Main Street campus in Greenfield.
“We’ll still have our speakers that come in, and we’ll try to make it just as interesting,” Mann said.
Classes also typically accept about 25 people, but the number will be limited to 20 this year.
Participants meet for a team-building retreat in September, followed by a series of seven meetings that cover leadership skills along with a number of other topics that will help participants be more connected and active in the Hancock County community, including local history and government; business and agriculture; and community issues.
Most Leadership participants are sponsored by their employers, but individuals can apply for themselves as well. The goal of the program, Mann said, is to help people develop skills and connections that will be helpful to them as community leaders, from meeting prominent community members and learning about locally available resources to exploring their own leadership styles.
“It’s a program for any leader in the county,” Mann said.
Each Leadership Hancock County participant also completes a community service project based on ideas that are generated by participants. Since the first class in 1996, classes have completed well over 100 community service projects. Mann said the projects have been a major contribution to the community.
“I think it’s had a substantial impact,” Mann said.
Greenfield Main Street director Debra Smith, who was part of the 2019 class, said it helped her make connections when she was new to the area and that she would always encourage others to apply.
“For me, it was a great way to meet people, especially since I’m not from Greenfield,” Smith said.
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Sept. 16-17: Team-Building Retreat
Oct. 6: Leadership I Day
Nov. 3: Business, Commerce, & Agriculture Day
Dec. 1: History Day
Jan. 5, 2022: Government Day
Feb. 2: Community Issues Day
March 2: Leadership II Day
April 6: Leadership III Day
May 4: Graduation, project presentations
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Applications for this year’s class are now being accepted and must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Aug. 6. The team-building retreat will kick off the program on Sept. 16-17. Most sessions are held on the first Wednesday of the month starting at 8 a.m. and end by 5 p.m. In the event of cancellation, the following Wednesday will be the makeup day. Participants will graduate from the program on May 4, 2022.
To apply for the program, visit leadhc.org to download an application that can be emailed to [email protected].
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