Sign up to become a Jones County leader

     Learn to lead!

     The Jones County Leadership Program is a unique four-part sequence of classes including dynamic speakers and empowering training that re-energizes and inspires your leadership spirit. Network with community members who share your interest in professional and personal growth and add this program to your resume.

     Registration for the Leadership Program is $125. Space is limited to the first 20 participants. To register, call Abby Jaeger at 319-465-2302 or e-mail abby.jaeger@kirkwood.edu.

     The sessions will take place on the following Tuesdays: Sept. 11, Oct. 9, Nov. 13, and Dec. 11. Each session is from 2-5 p.m., with the exception of Oct. 9, which runs from 1:30-5 p.m.

     Session One is titled “Lead with Your Strengths” and will take place at Kirkwood’s Jones Regional Education Center. The speaker is Lisa Folken, Kirkwood regional director and Strengths Finder Certified Coach. All participants will take the Strength Finder 2.0 assessment and walk through a three-hour examination of their top five talents.

     Session Two is titled “Jones County – The Middle of Everywhere.” This session will he held at Camp Courageous, with speaker Charlie Becker, Camp executive director. In this segment, explore the beauty and many things Jones County offers with a tour and presentation of Camp Courageous, followed by a narrated bus tour of Jones County assets. Included will be a group photo at the “America the Beautiful” American Gothic statue in Anamosa.

     Session Three, “Leading Local,” will be held at Midland High School. The group will tour the new school to see the results of a beautiful grass-roots renovation effort. You will then hear from professionals throughout Jones County and learn about what is happening in business, education, healthcare, public safety, and events that bring people into the community every year.

     The final session, Session Four, is titled “The Five Most Important Mistakes to Make in Your Success Journey.” It will be held at the National Motorcycle Museum, with Liz Nead of “Nead Inspiration” leading the discussion.

     Building a career is one of the most important tasks you will ever undertake and it’s important to know the right people, choose the right employers, and get the right promotions. After 15 years of working in Fortune 500 organizations and another 10 years as a speaker and coach, Nead found the things that shaped her success the most were the happy missteps she made along the way. Nead shares the five most important mistakes that became success strategies in her career.

     The Leadership Program advisory committee and sponsors: Pauline Antons, Lisa McQuillen, Patty Manuel, Lisa Folken, Sheila Tjaden, Abby Jaeger, the Jones County Supervisors, Jones County Young Professionals, and Kirkwood Jones Regional Center.