For the first time, Washington residents have a chance to learn from some of the Peoria area’s best and brightest at the Washington Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Academy.
The academy is modeled off the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce’s R. David Tebben Community Leadership Academy, which Candy Liggin, office manager at the Washington Chamber of Commerce, attended last year.
“I went into the class with the goal of learning how to do it. The chamber and everyone in Pekin were really good about offering to let me borrow their information,” Liggin said.
Going through the class, Liggin said it was very “eye-opening and interesting” to visit area businesses and see first-hand how they work.
“I felt like it would be a very valuable thing in Washington to build our volunteer pool and get them more involvement in the community.”
Carol Hamilton, executive director of the Washington Chamber of Commerce, said the course focuses on both community service and business leadership.
“While our goal is to educate local business people on different levels of leadership, if we can get one volunteer to put forth effort in the community, it will be absolutely worthwhile,” Hamilton said.
In 2001, the Washington chamber offered a leadership academy in conjunction with the University of Illinois Extension office.
“The class in 2001 was a success in its time, and several other chambers in the area offer a leadership academy. It sat in the back of my mind for a long time that I’d like to offer it here,” Hamilton said.
A committee that included members of the Washington business community, the city and the county planned the class with input from Pekin’s executive director of the chamber, Bill Fleming.
“We brainstormed who we thought would be good speakers and went from there,” Hamilton said.
The class offers insights into different areas of business, including food and entertainment, with a trip to Alexander’s Steak House, manufacturing at Caterpillar Inc. in East Peoria, construction with a presentation by Joe Hart from P.J. Hoerr and health care with a trip to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria.
Non-business topics include city government, the judicial system with a presentation from Tazewell County Associate Judge Kate Gorman, not-for-profit organizations with a trip to the Peoria Friendship House, education at Ronald Reagan Museum at Eureka College and team project presentations.
There will also be a day-long field trip to Springfield to learn about state government.
Audrey Nielsen, co-owner of Ralph’s Floor Fashions in Washington, is attending the leadership academy this year.
Already an annual volunteer for the Cherry Festival, Nielsen said she is hoping to find more ways she can get involved in the community and be an effective leader in both the community and her business.
“I’m doing it for the networking aspect as well,” Nielsen said.
Hamilton said they will see how this year goes and will probably offer the academy every other year.
The class this year runs from today through April 28, with a two-hour class once a week. As of today, there are still spots open in the class. To register, call 444-9921.
