Leadership Shawano County seeks new class members

Being a great leader is more than intuition. It’s education.

Leadership Shawano County is designed to assist in the preparation of a strong, diverse group of leaders qualified to represent the greater Shawano County area and willing to make responsible decisions affecting the public and private sectors.

Members of the class of 2024-25 are now being sought. The application deadline is July 15.

Participants connect with others on a higher level and bring their newly found skills back to the organizations they serve, making a difference for their team, their company and Shawano County.

“The Leadership Shawano County (LSC) program is such an asset to our current and emerging leaders in the area,” said Suzanne Wittman, executive director, Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce, and a graduate of the 2022-23 class. “Aside from learning valuable information about the region we live in, we also had the opportunity to build relationships with our classmates who represented numerous businesses and organizations within Shawano and Menominee counties.

“LSC challenges and engages its participants, emphasizes the need for civic and community engagement and equips individuals with for the daily interactions with employers, co-workers, clients and customers.”

The program requires a commitment of one Thursday every month for nine months.

Leadership Shawano County is a cooperative effort of the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce and the University of Wisconsin-Extension of Shawano County. The goal of the program is to build a pool of citizens with broad knowledge of the ideas, issues and concerns faced by local communities. It is hoped that as the participants become aware of the challenges and the many existing resources, they will take leadership and active participation roles in helping to meet those challenges.

Topics include:

• Collaborative leadership styles.

• Natural resources.

• Local and tribal government.

• Economic development.

• Family and diversity issues.

• Education, youth and lifelong learning.

• Health care and wellness.

• Personal engagement.

Participation is open to the general public living and working in and around Shawano County.

The cost of Leadership Shawano County is $850 per person. The tuition covers the costs of all sessions including educational materials, meals and breaks, bus transportation on field trips and graduation.

Limited scholarships are available based on financial need.

Tuition is often paid by the participant’s employer. Some employers expect individuals to personally contribute a percentage of the fee.

“The skills I have acquired through this program are already helping me in my workplace and with community involvement,” said 2018-19 LSC graduate Adam Carroll, line foreman with Shawano Municipal Utilities. “One of the greatest takeaways for me is the opportunity to build relationships with other community leaders.”

The College of Menominee Nation’s Theresa Marie Martin, one of Carroll’s classmates, also praised the program after her graduation.

“My experience as a participant in Leadership Shawano County has been phenomenal,” she said. “I’ve gained valuable information and knowledge surrounding area businesses and industries. This program has provided me with a new network of people and possible future business relationships.”

Applications are available at Leadership/ShawanoCounty.com.

For more information, contact Nancy Schultz at 715-201-0471 or nancy.leadershipsc@outlook.com or visit leadershipshawanocounty.com.