Learn. Grow. Lead.
Print
EmailAdvance your personal and professional success through county leadership programs.
Having a network of meaningful connections in one’s community positively impacts personal and public success, as defined by the Harvard Business Review: “When you trade information or skills with people whose experiences differ from your own, you provide one another with unique, exceptionally valuable resources.”
How can you tap into these resources, without the tools to do so? By joining a county-wide leadership program, you will understand what each community offers, build your leadership abilities, and make personal and professional connections through mentorship and interaction with other professionals. These programs are applicable at any stage of career development, or community settlement and involvement.
Throughout the state of Michigan there are many county-wide leadership opportunities encompassing several months of professional development and intensive community involvement. Participants hone leadership skills and collaborate together to impact their communities. These organizations are made possible through the generous support of community sponsors and local chambers.
Leadership Charlevoix County began as a coalition of three local chambers of commerce in Charlevoix County who ran the program--Charlevoix Area, East Jordan Area, and Boyne chambers; later partnering with the Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce.
The nine-month course was modeled after Emmet County’s program, Leadership Little Traverse as well as Leadership Oakland; both of which are designed by a Steering Committee of community partners and maintained by a Board of Directors who construct the curriculum and plan each of the nine sessions.
Sessions are led by community professionals who become network contacts for each participant throughout the program and beyond. Each participant is paired with a mentor who guides them through the class Community Leadership Project (fully fund-raised and planned by the participants), Personal Leadership Plan, as well as cheering on their mentees in their personal and professional endeavors.
Leadership provides participants with the tools and contacts needed to land that new job or promotion, take on a new role, and understand and promote their communities’ resources. Contact your local chamber to learn more about possible leadership opportunities and programs in your county.
MSU Extension has had a unique relationship with the regional economic development organization Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA) for more than 20 years. Recognizing the strength of combining resources, this partnership focuses on economic development, entrepreneurship growth and community infrastructure throughout a four-county region in the northwest Lower Peninsula, specifically Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Emmet counties. As a result, the NLEA utilizes resources offered through MSU Extension as it provides leadership to state-wide programs sponsored by MSU Extension.
