Leadership Bartow Class of 2014
February 25, 2014
Leadership Bartow Class of 2014
By Sabrena Parton
With 900 scholarly definitions of leadership, there is much to study about improving one’s leadership style. Despite varied definitions, the Leadership Bartow Class of 2014 agrees on one common definition, “Leadership is influence.” The ability to influence people to become involved in meeting the needs of its community leads to an improved quality of life for everyone.
Each year, a 30-member Leadership Bartow class comprised of business and civic leaders are selected through a nomination and interview process conducted by the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce and the Leadership Bartow Steering Committee. For one intense day a month for nine months, members will study leadership, lead service projects, and examine nonprofit and for-profit organizations and their impact within the community.
Another key element of the Leadership Bartow program is leading service projects. This year’s participants are engaged in service projects, many of which will continue even after this class graduates. Some of these include benefiting children and schools through literacy projects and mentoring programs, supporting government affairs, and building a Shakespearean Garden at Legion Theater.
In addition to service projects, the members talk with other community leaders and visit their operations to gain an in-depth understanding of how effective leadership influences employees, customers, and the overall community. Each day of the leadership development program revolves around a different facet of the community. Education Day involved touring local schools to observe use of technology and learn how obstacles to quality education can be overcome. International Business Day included meeting owners of Phoenix Air and touring their hangers, planes, and offices. Discussions were also held with Small Business Development Center leaders, and heads of Daiki, voestalpine, and Terry Reid Hyundai. Agriculture Day included meeting with owners of small- and large-scale farms and traveling to a cattle farm, bee farm, and Petit Creek Farms to see the variety of needs of each and how each farm also meets a community need. Health and Wellness Day included meeting directors of The Hope Center, Bartow Health Access, Cartersville Medical Center, Livingood Labs, CAIR, and LakePoint Sports Development Group. Members enjoyed seeing how the expansion of the hospital and the equipment at the Hope Center are being used to improve the healthcare of the community. Local Government Day included eating in the county jail – at just .92 per person! – and touring and learning how the fire and police departments effectively manage. These are only highlights of the extensive study of the organizations that make the Cartersville-Bartow County area such a quality region to live.
While members are traveling and meeting with community leaders and leading service projects, they also come together as a class to participate in simulations and scholarship discussions on leadership. One day that stands out in the minds of members is the day devoted to roleplaying different types of socioeconomic classes and how leaders can meet the needs of all while still growing and developing. Details of the day are kept secret so as not to spoil the experience for future classes of this outstanding leadership development program sponsored by the Chamber. Other leadership lessons revolved around personality types and their strengths and weaknesses, identifying core values, understanding generational differences among employees, learning the types of listeners and learners, understanding global diversity, as well as leadership lessons on trust and communication skills.
Past and present members agree that the bonds formed during their leadership class experiences are lasting. Many members comment they now know where they can turn when they need an idea, encouragement, and most importantly, a partnership. These partnerships are the result of relationships formed through Leadership Bartow. The ability to influence is formed through relationships and leadership is the ability to influence. Thankfully, Leadership Bartow members share the common goal of being responsible for the community’s quality of life.
Nominations are now being accepted for next year’s Leadership Class of 2015. For more information, visit www.cartersvillechamber.com or call 770-382-1466.
Thank you to The Daily Tribune for publishing
By Sabrena Parton
With 900 scholarly definitions of leadership, there is much to study about improving one’s leadership style. Despite varied definitions, the Leadership Bartow Class of 2014 agrees on one common definition, “Leadership is influence.” The ability to influence people to become involved in meeting the needs of its community leads to an improved quality of life for everyone.
Each year, a 30-member Leadership Bartow class comprised of business and civic leaders are selected through a nomination and interview process conducted by the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce and the Leadership Bartow Steering Committee. For one intense day a month for nine months, members will study leadership, lead service projects, and examine nonprofit and for-profit organizations and their impact within the community.
Another key element of the Leadership Bartow program is leading service projects. This year’s participants are engaged in service projects, many of which will continue even after this class graduates. Some of these include benefiting children and schools through literacy projects and mentoring programs, supporting government affairs, and building a Shakespearean Garden at Legion Theater.
In addition to service projects, the members talk with other community leaders and visit their operations to gain an in-depth understanding of how effective leadership influences employees, customers, and the overall community. Each day of the leadership development program revolves around a different facet of the community. Education Day involved touring local schools to observe use of technology and learn how obstacles to quality education can be overcome. International Business Day included meeting owners of Phoenix Air and touring their hangers, planes, and offices. Discussions were also held with Small Business Development Center leaders, and heads of Daiki, voestalpine, and Terry Reid Hyundai. Agriculture Day included meeting with owners of small- and large-scale farms and traveling to a cattle farm, bee farm, and Petit Creek Farms to see the variety of needs of each and how each farm also meets a community need. Health and Wellness Day included meeting directors of The Hope Center, Bartow Health Access, Cartersville Medical Center, Livingood Labs, CAIR, and LakePoint Sports Development Group. Members enjoyed seeing how the expansion of the hospital and the equipment at the Hope Center are being used to improve the healthcare of the community. Local Government Day included eating in the county jail – at just .92 per person! – and touring and learning how the fire and police departments effectively manage. These are only highlights of the extensive study of the organizations that make the Cartersville-Bartow County area such a quality region to live.
While members are traveling and meeting with community leaders and leading service projects, they also come together as a class to participate in simulations and scholarship discussions on leadership. One day that stands out in the minds of members is the day devoted to roleplaying different types of socioeconomic classes and how leaders can meet the needs of all while still growing and developing. Details of the day are kept secret so as not to spoil the experience for future classes of this outstanding leadership development program sponsored by the Chamber. Other leadership lessons revolved around personality types and their strengths and weaknesses, identifying core values, understanding generational differences among employees, learning the types of listeners and learners, understanding global diversity, as well as leadership lessons on trust and communication skills.
Past and present members agree that the bonds formed during their leadership class experiences are lasting. Many members comment they now know where they can turn when they need an idea, encouragement, and most importantly, a partnership. These partnerships are the result of relationships formed through Leadership Bartow. The ability to influence is formed through relationships and leadership is the ability to influence. Thankfully, Leadership Bartow members share the common goal of being responsible for the community’s quality of life.
Nominations are now being accepted for next year’s Leadership Class of 2015. For more information, visit www.cartersvillechamber.com or call 770-382-1466.
Thank you to The Daily Tribune for publishing
Contact:
Chamber of Commerce
770-382-1466
