Leadership Ashland
Leadership Ashland is the county’s premier community leadership development program.
Leadership Ashland empowers you to recognize your capacity to lead professionally and in ALL areas of your life.
Enhancing Leadership Skills
Recognize your capacity to lead not just professionally, but in ALL areas of your life by truly understanding your strengths.
Discovering Community Assets
Discover that there is more than meets the eye to our community and understand the assets that make Ashland someplace special.
Creating Opportunities for Service
Understand the true meaning of servant leadership and how you can use it to change lives.
Participants will be equipped with the tools to:
Understand Their Strengths
Through the StrengthFinder 2.0 Assesment, participants learn their top 5 strengths and how important it is to have different strengths on a team.
Navigate Group Development
By observing Tuckman’s Stages of Group Development, students will learn about the Four Stages of Group Development (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing) and how to move a team through each stage.
Process Information
With help from the Kolb’s Learning Inventory, the class will learn how they take in information (Concrete Experience vs. Abstract Conceptualization) and how they use information (Reflective Observation vs. Active Experimentation).
understand Board Effectiveness
Participants will have the opportunity to audit a board of directors where they will experience the components of a well-run board meeting, board governance, and how different boards serve Ashland County.
Facilitate Leadership
Participants rate their own facilitative leadership behaviors and learn how to use Appreciative Inquiry to ask powerful questions to help address challenges.
Collaborate Efficiently In Groups
By practicing collaborative problem solving using their strengths, learning style, and powerful questions, students will begin to cultivate an attitude that assists in creating successful collaborative initiatives.
Implement Accountability
The class will focus on the importance of being able to move on a continuum between compassion and accountability when working with others in their organization and the community to achieve results.
Provide Perspective of Ashland County
Via a day-long bus tour, participants explore Ashland County from North to South, visiting various sites to gain an understanding of all that Ashland County has to offer.
Meet John Swope
Leadership Ashland Facilitator
Class Days
Class Retreat
This is a full day retreat that entails team development in the morning, followed by an overview of the year and discussion on areas of interest for future class days. Participants will select the class day focus in which they are interested and develop planning teams for each of those class days.
September
Bus Tour
Starting at the Ashland County Historical Society, the class embarks on a bus tour of various sites throughout Ashland County. This is an opportunity to see the diversity of businesses and recreational opportunities that exist in the county.
October
Board Development
Starting with the introduction to our leadership development modules in the morning, this class then presents participants with in-depth information on the responsibilities of serving on a board, as well as participating in a mock board meeting. The last part of the class day provides participants with the opportunity to meet and talk with representatives from several non-profit and civic organizations in the community to explore opportunities for board service.
November
Leadership Development Topic Focused Days
Each month from December through May includes 4 hours of leadership development (usually done in the morning), followed by speakers and/or site visits focused on the community topic for that class. Focus areas include Agriculture and Environment, Business and Industry. Culture and Recreation, Education, Government and Safety Services, Health and Social Services.
December - May
Philanthropy and Graduation Day
The morning is dedicated to learning about the Ashland County Community Foundation. Participants hear from the Executive Director of ACCF, as well as ACCF Board members and staff about the important work that the Community Foundation does in Ashland County. Then, class members participate in an experiential exercise that provides them with the opportunity to learn about the grant-making process at ACCF. At the end of the morning, participants share their final reflections of the class year. A “business-casual” graduation lunch is held immediately after the session at ACCF.
June
Leadership Ashland Alumni Association
The LA Alumni Association focuses on bringing together all those who have graduated from a Leadership Ashland Class!
As a past participant, you serve as an ambassador for the Leadership Ashland Program on a daily basis – personally, and professionally.
We hope that through your experience as a Leadership Ashland participant, you will be inspired to help sustain the program for future
leaders to come. Here are a few ways you can show your support:
- Offer professional advice for LA Alumni and current class participants
- Provide meeting locations for future classes
- Speak to current and future classes
- Provide Scholarship Support – any time during the year
- Donate to the LA General Program Fund
- Network / Connect with other LA Alumni
Let’s Create Something
Get in touch with The Chamber today and find a custom solution for your exact needs.
The Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to helping your business grow with customized solutions designed to fit your unique needs. From strategic networking and marketing opportunities to advocacy and business resources, we provide the tools and support necessary for your success.