Imagine what it would be like if more local people were charged up and inspired to build an extraordinary community, possessed the desire and confidence to assume new leadership roles and were empowered to make sound decisions and achieve strategic goals they truly understood. Leadership Whitley County provides the tools to reach these goals through a program designed to educate and inform local residents and employers about the functions and challenges of social issues and other topics relating to the future direction of Whitley County, Indiana.

The program is built upon the belief that local residents are best suited to create a vision for their community and should be empowered to do so. From homemakers to company owners, Leadership Whitley County provides networking opportunities and skill building activities for a variety of individuals. These assets can then be carried back to homes and workplaces, resulting in a positive experience for all who are touched by the LWC program.

Servant leadership, as defined by Webster’s Dictionary, Second Edition, is “a person employed to perform services for another” (servant) and “the position of guidance of others” (leadership).   But, to those individuals who serve as alumni and current participants of Leadership Whitley County, servant leadership is much more. It composes an attitude of humility, provides an example of integrity, recognizes servant intentions, builds upon the importance of respect for others, and responds to guidance. People feel served when they have been valued, trusted, supported, respected, challenged, rewarded, inspired and appreciated.

Servant leadership is the design for people to give back to themselves, individuals and their community. It involves character, truth, integrity and standing behind your word. It is not demonstrated by what you say, but by what you do. Effective Leadership starts on the inside. Are you prepared to be a servant leader for your community?

Leadership Whitley County would like to extend their appreciation to the alumni and most recent class of the program who have dedicated their time and effort to making Whitley County a better place to live. A sincere thank-you goes out to the business and industry of our community who have supported this program and its goals.

As Frances Hesselbein of the Drucker Foundation said, “The future, whatever it brings, needs leaders at every level who focus on the spirit within and their commitment to the common good.”

Leadership Whitley County provides the opportunity for those living and working in Whitley County to make a positive contribution to their community and garner self-improvement, both personally and professionally. The future of the community is in your hands…are you ready?

For more information on LWC, contact Kelley Sheiss, LWC Program Director, at 213-4045 or via e-mail at 3dsheiss@gmail.com Visit Leadership Whitley County’s website at www.leadershipwc.org or on Facebook.

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