LWC Class 9 members (from left) Mike Cook of The City of Columbia City, Kyle Egolf of The Center and Jim Landrum of Star Financial Bank listen intently during the February session on conflict management and facilitation

Amidst the snowy, icy days of January and February, Leadership Whitley County class members braved the elements to attend monthly sessions focusing on Public Speaking and Conflict Management.   The January session, which was held at Peabody Public Library, featured Dr. Bill Utesch of IPFW working with class members on practical public speaking, easing fears and understanding personalities via an entertaining and enlightening animal personality exercise.     Following a review of presentation techniques, participants broke into small groups and practiced short speeches which were evaluated by fellow team members.    A media panel provided the community awareness portion of the session.    Ruth Stanley of The Post and Mail, Teresa Smith of The South Whitley Tribune News, Chris Tomlinson of the Busco Voice and Jennifer Zartman-Romano of Talk of the Town spoke with the class about their media outlets while providing tips on how to work effectively with local media.

The class traveled to the South Whitley Library in February to focus on conflict management and facilitation.  The day’s session was sponsored by Pro Fed Credit Union.

Prior to the main program, school board members representing the two of the county’s three school corporations spoke to the class regarding their roles and responsibilities as well as opportunities and challenges facing the individual corporations.   Mike Sturgis of Smith-Green Community Schools and Don Armstrong of Whitley County Consolidated Schools offered valuable and interesting insight in the role of serving as a school board member.   The panel encouraged class members to consider running for the elected position.   Board members discussed financial challenges, growth opportunities and legislative issues with the class, followed by a detailed question and answer period.

Mike Stone of Impact Strategies and Lee Ray of Tuthill Corporation in Fort Wayne facilitated the main session focusing on conflict management and effective facilitation.  Class members participated in interactive discussion focusing on effective group behavior, facilitation roles and conflict management.    Participants used real-life examples to explore the role of conflict in our lives, and how it can ultimately provide a win-win situation provided there is compromise and consensus.  

The final session for this class of Leadership Whitley County will be on March 18 at the Northeastern REMC offices and feature David Neidert of Anderson University speaking on Personal Mission.  The class celebration is slated for April 28 at the Eagles Nest Event Center. 

The support of local business, industry and organizations is key to the success of Leadership Whitley County.  Sponsors for the 2009-10 year include:  CenturyLink, NIPSCO, Old Settler’s Day Association, J & J Insurance, Northeastern REMC Operation Round-Up, Star Financial Bank & Star Insurance, ABCM Enterprises Inc., Pro Fed Credit Union  and LWC Alumni June Keiser, Ava Lillmars, Tam Parker, Tom Rethlake, Janet Scank, R.D. Schrader, John Slavich, Esther Smith, Jeff Walker, Melinda Woll.  This support, financial and/or in-kind, serves as a key to success for offering quality programs that compose the core of Leadership Whitley County. 

Applications are now being accepted for LWC Class 10 which will start in September.  For more information on participating in the next class of Leadership Whitley County, supporting the program, or having an informational presentation made to your business or organization, contact Kelley Sheiss, Program Director, at 799-4045 or 3dsheiss@gmail.  More information on Leadership Whitley County can be found at www.leadershipwc.org.

Leadership Whitley County class members John Black of the United Way, Carrie Hoffman of Huntington University and Mike Cook of Columbia City's water pollution control facility try to figure out the best use of teamwork while blindfolded at the December session of LWC.

The December session of Leadership Whitley County convened at Whitko Café in South Whitley with WHS Student Council members welcoming class participants to their school.  The morning kicked off with an informative awareness session featuring a panel of local non-profit organizations.  Panel members included:  Shawn Ellis of Beds and Britches, Etc., Tania Keirn of Interfaith Mission, Mark Green of the Columbia City Parks Department, John Slavich of Count Me In! and Jacie Worrick, board member for the United Way of Whitley County.  Each panel member had the opportunity to provide an overview of their organization, detail its benefits to the community, and highlight areas for possible volunteer involvement.   LWC class members then had the opportunity to ask questions of the panel members.

The main topic for the day was “Team Building,” presented by Dr. Rick Upchurch of Huntington University.  The session began with a lively and enlightening activity on teambuilding in the school’s gymnasium.  Principal Parrish Kruger joined the group on this activity, which used blindfolds and focused on communication as a critical tool of teamwork.   Upchurch then worked with the group to overview the principles of effective teams and touched briefly on handling conflict as a part of effective teamwork.   More emphasis on conflict management and facilitation will be addressed during the group’s February session.

As the LWC program heads into the 2010, class members will experience programs focusing on public speaking, conflict management and personal mission.  A celebration graduation will be held, recognizing all class members on Thursday, April 15 at the Eagles Nest Event Center.  For more information on applying for the 2010/11Leadership Whitley County class, supporting the program, or having an informational presentation made to your business or organization, contact Kelley Sheiss at 799-4045 or 3dsheiss@gmail.com

The support of local business, industry and organizations is key to the success of Leadership Whitley County.  Sponsors for the 2009-10 year include:  CenturyLink, NIPSCO, Old Settler’s Day Association, J & J Insurance, Northeastern REMC Operation Round-Up, Star Financial Bank & Star Insurance, ABCM Enterprises Inc., Pro Fed Credit Union  and LWC Alumni June Keiser, Ava Lillmars, Tam Parker, Tom Rethlake, Janet Scank, R.D. Schrader, John Slavich, Esther Smith, Jeff Walker, Melinda Woll.  This support, financial and/or in-kind, serves as a key to success for offering quality programs that compose the core of Leadership Whitley County. 

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Current LWC class member Betty Mishler listens intently as one of the wine vendors details the offerings to sample

LWC alums Tom Rethlake and Dennis Warnick

It’s a night anticipated by many, known for its fine wines, delicious food and support of a worthy cause.   This year’s Food and Wine Spectacular was no exception, offering over 80 diverse wine varieties, an array of food options and delicious chocolate.   Adding to the ambience was entertainment courtesy of the Lake Effect Jazz Band and an artist gallery showcasing four local crafter’s talents.  The annual event is hosted by Leadership Whitley County and proceeds help to support the county’s unique servant leadership program.

For the first time, a VIP hour was held, with special ticket holders gaining access to the event an hour early.   Over 165 people attended the event, and a special wine stopper raffle was held, with Mark Espich taking home the coveted prize of a pair of diamond earrings for his wife.   The earrings were donated by J & J Insurance.

“This is a signature event for our community that people have come to look forward to every year,” said LWC Program Director Kelley Sheiss.  “We greatly appreciate those who attend as well as The Dock, who is instrumental in securing the wine vendors for the evening.”   Sheiss also said the generous support of sponsors is key to the event.   This year’s sponsors included J & J Insurance, Star Financial Bank and Star Insurance, J & K Communications, The Dock, Espich Printing, R & R Signs and Talk of the Town.

Plans are already underway for next year’s wine tasting, tentatively planned for the first Thursday in November.

LWC Alumni David Smith of Star Financial Bank samples one of the many wines available at the eventLWC alums Tom Rethlake and Dennis WarnickCurrent LWC class member Betty Mishler listens intently as one of the wine vendors details the offerings to sample

Participants and their local employers and organizations who are supporting staff participation in the program this year include: Zach Beard, Micropulse; John Black, United Way of Whitley County; Karen Friend-Bowman,  Humane Shelter of Whitley County; Megan Burr, C & A Tool; Mike Cook, City of Columbia City; Kyle Egolf, The Center for Whitley County Youth; Robin Elsner, Passages; Carrie Garrison, Warner Electric; Angela Green, Great Batch Medical; Belinda Hawn, Habitat for Humanity of Whitley County; Carrie Hoffman, Huntington University EXCEL; Jim Landrum, Star Financial Bank; Michelle Linn, Americorps; Angela Maley, Whitley County Historical Museum; Betty Mishler, Whitley County Economic Development Corporation; Michael Peterson, City of Columbia City; Sherry Sausaman, Parkview Whitley Hospital; Diana Smith, Micropulse; Robert Sollazzo, MAHLE Clevite, Inc.; Patty Weybright, South Whitley Library/Whitko High School.

The Old Settlers Day Association and Northeastern REMC’s Operation Round-Up recently made scholarship donations to the Leadership Whitley County program.    The funds will be utilized to provide tuition assistance for class members in the ninth class of LWC which kicks-off September 15.  Income from the Old Settlers Day Festival is distributed each year to various worthwhile organizations in Whitley County.  This is the first time the OSD Association has supported the county’s unique servant leadership program.

Operation Round-Up is a program implemented by Northeastern REMC that allows co-op customers to support worthy causes in their community.  The voluntary program allows REMC customers to “round-up” their monthly electric bill to the next highest dollar.  This is the second time Operation Round-Up has generously granted funds to the LWC program.

Jim Brock (left) of the Old Settlers Day Association stands with LWC Program Director Kelley Sheiss following the presentation of two partial scholarships for LWC particpants

By providing tuition assistance, these local organizations are helping to mold better leaders for business and community.  Leadership Whitley County thanks them for their support.   To date, 149 individuals have participated in LWC.  The incoming class will have 20 participants, the largest group in over five years. 

Cindy Materna (left) of Northeastern REMC recently presented LWC Program Director Kelley Sheiss grant funds awarded from the Operation Round-Up program