The Venango Area Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its fourth year of Leadership Venango, a leadership training program for community members.
The class opens with a weekend retreat in September.
After the retreat, class members meet once a month for nine months at various locations to learn about local businesses and develop leadership skills.
“Every session includes leadership materials. That can be things like understanding personalities, better communication, and conflict management,” she said.
Each meeting covers a different topic such as agriculture and sustainability, communication, community caregiving, education, business, and economic development.
A different guest speaker joins the group in each class.
This year, 13 students are signed up for the course.
“Those who have registered represent nonprofits, manufacturing, and business. It’s a very diverse group that is currently in the class, men, and women,” said Williams.
One of the benefits of the course is how participants build relationships with other community members.
“I think it is a great program that builds confidence in students, number one,” said Greg Lander, a Leadership Venango graduate and Klapec Trucking vice president. “But it builds confidence in the community as well.”
Klapec Trucking has sent five of its employees through the program over the past three years and has another employee signed up for the course this year.
Lander said the program added to his confidence in his employees to take initiative in their work.
“They take their job and run with it… They just do it and I don’t have to worry about them,” he said.
Lander said the program was “definitely worth it,” and that he plans to keep sending employees to complete the program.
Although the registration period is closed, Williams said “anyone who still might be interested, contact us as soon as possible and we will do our best to include them… We have been known to fit people in pretty last minute.”
For more information, contact the Chamber office at (814) 676-8521.
