Leadership Lexington
Celebrating 40 Years!
Reflecting on the last 40 years of Leadership Lexington, the impact on the individual participants, their businesses and the community is incredible! As alumni, many of us have our own story of how participating in the “best class ever” changed the trajectory of our life both personally and professionally. Leadership Lexington’s first class, which graduated in 1980, to present day reminds us that with each new leader comes new challenges, but with each new class comes new solutions! Leadership Lexington focuses not on the position and title of leader, but instead teaches though action and example. While the mission of the program is to provide the participants with a better understanding of our city and prepare them for future challenges, it does even more, by becoming the fabric that weaves our local leaders together. In the coming months, join us as we celebrate the impact this program has made not only on the community, but also its participants. Special thanks to those alumni who shared their experience with us. Join the celebration!
A Legacy of Leadership: Leadership Lexington Celebrates 40 Years
Business Lexington Article by Kathie Stamps [November 2020]
While the global pandemic may have slowed us down from hosting networking events, it hasn’t slowed the need for supporting our newest classes in scholarships and project support. Show your support for the 40th anniversary by signing up or renewing your membership to the Leadership Lexington Alumni Association. Sign up or Rejoin today HERE.
Reflecting on the last 40 years of Leadership Lexington, the impact on the individual participants, their businesses and the community is incredible! As alumni, many of us have our own story of how participating in the “best class ever” changed the trajectory of our life both personally and professionally. Leadership Lexington’s first class, which graduated in 1980, to present day reminds us that with each new leader comes new challenges, but with each new class comes new solutions! Leadership Lexington focuses not on the position and title of leader, but instead teaches though action and example. While the mission of the program is to provide the participants with a better understanding of our city and prepare them for future challenges, it does even more, by becoming the fabric that weaves our local leaders together. In the coming months, join us as we celebrate the impact this program has made not only on the community, but also its participants. Special thanks to those alumni who shared their experience with us. Join the celebration!
A Legacy of Leadership: Leadership Lexington Celebrates 40 Years
Business Lexington Article by Kathie Stamps [November 2020]
While the global pandemic may have slowed us down from hosting networking events, it hasn’t slowed the need for supporting our newest classes in scholarships and project support. Show your support for the 40th anniversary by signing up or renewing your membership to the Leadership Lexington Alumni Association. Sign up or Rejoin today HERE.
Video produced by Mark Mahan, Mahan Multimedia.
MEMBER TESTIMONIAL
"Participating in Leadership Lexington was truly a life-changing experience for me. I thought that I knew my city, having lived here for about 15 years, but I learned so much about the industries and organizations that make Lexington a great place to live and work. Going through the program even inspired me to pursue a career change from professional services marketing to the nonprofit sector, because I wanted to do more to give back to our community. Not only that, it also connected me with amazing people from different professions and sectors that I might not have met otherwise. Leadership Lexington is one of the most impactful things I've done to better myself both personally and professionally. I can't recommend it enough!"
- Lauren Parsons
Director of Strategic Initiatives & Communications
Blue Grass Community Foundation
2019-20 Leadership Lexington Project Pivots to COVID Lexington Podcast
Lexington Day of Service was a project designed to encourage volunteerism through Lexington’s business community by participating in a day of service in May connecting volunteers with non-profits. However, with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic the project group pivoted from their original project idea to the creation of a podcast for nonprofits providing information and resources related to COVID-19.
The third episode of the COVID-19 Podcast, a project of Leadership Lexington class members, is now available: https://www.facebook.com/COVIDLex/
Lexington Day of Service was a project designed to encourage volunteerism through Lexington’s business community by participating in a day of service in May connecting volunteers with non-profits. However, with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic the project group pivoted from their original project idea to the creation of a podcast for nonprofits providing information and resources related to COVID-19.
The third episode of the COVID-19 Podcast, a project of Leadership Lexington class members, is now available: https://www.facebook.com/COVIDLex/
Attention Leadership Lexington Alums: Help Us Stay Connected to You
The Leadership Lexington Alumni Association is ramping up! In order to make this association a success, we need all alums to send in any updated contact information. If you are a graduate of Leadership Lexington, please send your updated information via e-mail to Dawn Pope. Find out more at www.leadershiplexingtonalumni.com.
The Leadership Lexington Alumni Association is ramping up! In order to make this association a success, we need all alums to send in any updated contact information. If you are a graduate of Leadership Lexington, please send your updated information via e-mail to Dawn Pope. Find out more at www.leadershiplexingtonalumni.com.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
MISSION: Leadership Lexington is a leadership development program sponsored by Commerce Lexington and directed toward individuals who demonstrate leadership qualities. The program gives participants the opportunity to better understand our city and to prepare for the challenges it faces by meeting with and learning from today’s leaders. Leadership Lexington is an educational opportunity that broadens perspectives and allows participants to gain increased understanding of community dynamics and public issues. The makeup of each year’s class is intended to reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of our city.
ELIGIBILITY: Residents and individuals who work in the Lexington area are eligible to apply for Leadership Lexington. Applicants must be employed by firms or organizations that are active members of Commerce Lexington. Non-employed community volunteers may also apply. Applications are available April 15th and must be received by the deadline: May 15th.
STRUCTURE: Leadership Lexington is an eleven-month program involving an overnight Orientation in August and a full-day session lasting eight hours each month from September until June. A Get Acquainted Reception is held before the overnight Orientation retreat. The Orientation retreat is mandatory. Classes meet in different locations around the area each month exploring a major topic covered by knowledgeable speakers and panels, tours, group activities, demonstrations and class discussions. Topics addressed include media, government, growth, preservation, agriculture, education, public safety, economic development, arts, health and human services, and leadership development. At the end of the Leadership Lexington program year, a graduation is held in recognition of the class with an alumni reception following.
APPLICATION PROCESS: For more information about the Leadership Lexington application process, CLICK HERE.
For more information about the Leadership Lexington program, contact Amy Stout at (859) 226-1610.
MISSION: Leadership Lexington is a leadership development program sponsored by Commerce Lexington and directed toward individuals who demonstrate leadership qualities. The program gives participants the opportunity to better understand our city and to prepare for the challenges it faces by meeting with and learning from today’s leaders. Leadership Lexington is an educational opportunity that broadens perspectives and allows participants to gain increased understanding of community dynamics and public issues. The makeup of each year’s class is intended to reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of our city.
ELIGIBILITY: Residents and individuals who work in the Lexington area are eligible to apply for Leadership Lexington. Applicants must be employed by firms or organizations that are active members of Commerce Lexington. Non-employed community volunteers may also apply. Applications are available April 15th and must be received by the deadline: May 15th.
STRUCTURE: Leadership Lexington is an eleven-month program involving an overnight Orientation in August and a full-day session lasting eight hours each month from September until June. A Get Acquainted Reception is held before the overnight Orientation retreat. The Orientation retreat is mandatory. Classes meet in different locations around the area each month exploring a major topic covered by knowledgeable speakers and panels, tours, group activities, demonstrations and class discussions. Topics addressed include media, government, growth, preservation, agriculture, education, public safety, economic development, arts, health and human services, and leadership development. At the end of the Leadership Lexington program year, a graduation is held in recognition of the class with an alumni reception following.
APPLICATION PROCESS: For more information about the Leadership Lexington application process, CLICK HERE.
For more information about the Leadership Lexington program, contact Amy Stout at (859) 226-1610.
"Leadership Lexington is by far the best program that I have ever participated in! The friends and connections that I have made are life-long and so rewarding! I'm very thankful for the continued opportunities to remain active with the program. Thank you!"
Bradley Stevenson
Child Care Council of Kentucky, Inc.
2020-21 Program Presented By:
Orientation Sponsor:
Media Sponsor:
Platinum Sponsors:
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NAME BADGE SPONSOR
Republic Bank
BRONZE SPONSOR:
Lexington Clinic Foundation
BOOK SPONSOR:
Lexington History Museum
Republic Bank
BRONZE SPONSOR:
Lexington Clinic Foundation
BOOK SPONSOR:
Lexington History Museum
PICTURED TOP: Foster Ockerman, Jr., President of the Lexington History Museum, talked to the Leadership Lexington class during its recent History Day Session. PICTURED BOTTOM: Ashley Smith gave a tour at the Henry Clay Estate. (Photos by Mark Mahan, Mahan Multimedia)
Leadership Lexington Day Sessions Begin with City History Lesson
Recap by Sarah Fink, Keeneland Association
“History is the study of change,” stated Foster Ockerman in his presentation for Leadership Lexington History Day in September. Our class listened to his presentation in the newly renamed Henry A. Tandy Centennial Park. In speaking of the history of the park, Ockerman showed us that you can’t change history, but you can choose what to celebrate. He talked about how the leaders of the past decided where to put the interstate. I am not sure all of us will remember the details, but we understood that decisions leaders make today affect the lifetime of the community.
Our next teacher, Yvonne Giles, told us stories about African American history in our community with such detail that I was convinced she knew everyone she spoke of personally. Through her research, mostly from her work at African Cemetery No. 2, she taught us about Isaac Murphy and his impact on the equine community and his neighborhood. Her history lessons left us with great respect for the power of community members and their leadership.
Finally, a trip to Henry Clay Estate where we toured the house with Eric Brooks and received a preview of the new Traces: Slavery at Ashland tour from Ashley Smith. The stories of the slaves that worked for Mr. Clay were difficult and necessary to hear. We can’t change history, but we can learn to change from the study of it. All speakers, stories and facts from this day reinforced that fact and that it is our responsibility as leaders and community members to continually learn.
Recap by Sarah Fink, Keeneland Association
“History is the study of change,” stated Foster Ockerman in his presentation for Leadership Lexington History Day in September. Our class listened to his presentation in the newly renamed Henry A. Tandy Centennial Park. In speaking of the history of the park, Ockerman showed us that you can’t change history, but you can choose what to celebrate. He talked about how the leaders of the past decided where to put the interstate. I am not sure all of us will remember the details, but we understood that decisions leaders make today affect the lifetime of the community.
Our next teacher, Yvonne Giles, told us stories about African American history in our community with such detail that I was convinced she knew everyone she spoke of personally. Through her research, mostly from her work at African Cemetery No. 2, she taught us about Isaac Murphy and his impact on the equine community and his neighborhood. Her history lessons left us with great respect for the power of community members and their leadership.
Finally, a trip to Henry Clay Estate where we toured the house with Eric Brooks and received a preview of the new Traces: Slavery at Ashland tour from Ashley Smith. The stories of the slaves that worked for Mr. Clay were difficult and necessary to hear. We can’t change history, but we can learn to change from the study of it. All speakers, stories and facts from this day reinforced that fact and that it is our responsibility as leaders and community members to continually learn.
