Calling all business leaders: the Fresno Chamber of Commerce is recruiting for this year’s installment of Leadership Fresno.
2018 marks the 35th Leadership Fresno class. Nearly 1,000 people have gone through the program, and the alumni are a real who’s who of Fresno. Assemblyman Jim Patterson and former Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin are graduates, as are Serop Torrosian from Kaiser Permanente, Jackie Parks from the Fresno Police Officers Association, and Marlene Murphy Roach from PG&E.
“Leadership Fresno is one of the Chamber’s most prominent programs and is unlike any other course of its kind,” says Rebecca Johnson, Leadership Fresno Program Manager. “It was founded in 1984 to enhance the skills, resources, and civic involvement of business leaders in the community.”
Leadership Fresno fosters commitment to the region
The goal of Leadership Fresno is to prepare potential and current leaders from all areas of the community for leadership roles throughout the greater Fresno area. Participants will learn about issues, challenges, and opportunities facing the community. As a result of being part of Leadership Fresno, participants typically leave with a greater commitment to the region.
You don’t need to own your own business, but you do need to be a leader in your field to take part. The application process includes providing a letter of recommendation and résumé. Usually between 25-30 candidates are accepted.
The cost to join is $1,395, and scholarships for up to half of tuition are available. Tuition goes towards a two-day retreat at Hume Lake, travel, meal, and graduation costs.
“Leadership Fresno is a transformative program for participants,” Johnson said. “It involves significant devotion of time and talent, but those who dedicate themselves to the process graduate with an incredible understanding of their community, its needs, and themselves as community leaders.”
Connecting like-minded Fresnans to make the region better
There are ten all-day classes each year. Members will spend the day learning from industry leaders about things like education, healthcare, criminal justice, and agriculture and how these topics relate to the Central Valley.
In years past, classes have visited Fresno Police Training Facility, Community Regional Medical Center, the Fresno County Coroner’s Office, the Fresno Art Museum, Fresno Rescue Mission, and the Poverello House.
“Participants visit places they’ve heard of, but never understood the importance of, and places they’ve never heard of before but are critical to the functioning of Fresno,” Johnson said. “The program connects like-minded Fresnans interested in helping make the Valley a better place. It is a great way to get to know fellow leaders who aren’t complacent or happy with the idea of ‘business as usual’.”
Members also meet outside of class days to work on a larger team project that the group orchestrates. Past projects have included park beautification.
If you would like to learn more about Leadership Fresno and the application process, click here. The deadline to apply is May 11, 2018.
Photos courtesy of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce
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