Leading through connectivity

Kaity Holtman

You guys, I’m so excited about what’s going to happen in the coming months.

Last year, I participated in a program called Leadership Maryville. The program was something that my publisher, Phil Cobb, requested I take part in, but it was also something I saw as a great fit for my career here in Maryville.

I enjoyed the program so much last year, that I volunteered to become a facilitator this year, along with my fellow classmates Nikki Bucy and Tina Frueh at the university, and Ashlee James at the high school.

Let me back up a little and explain exactly what Leadership Maryville is.

This Greater Maryville Chamber of Commerce program provides education and leadership development for active, civic-minded individuals.

Those who may be interested can attend an opening “get acquainted” social. We then have twice-a-month classes from September through January, leading up to Great Northwest Days, a legislative trip to Jefferson City, in February.

The way the class is set up helps participants gain an in-depth awareness of all facets of Maryville, encourages self-development and relationship building, and gives a better perspective of civic, business and general community needs and issues.

(Get the application at: http://www.maryvillechamber.com/programs–campaigns.html.)

I get the honor of helping facilitate the 30th class of this longstanding tradition.

Programs like this run the risk of “running their course,” but with fresh new ideas every year, this program has stayed afloat.

I truly believe that this year our facilitator team has come up with ideas to really spice up the program while staying true to the tradition of it all.

Right now, our focus is the alumni reception and recruitment social scheduled for Monday, August 17, from 4:30-6:30 at the Maryville Country Club for those wanting to go through the class or help celebrate the big anniversary.

In preparation we’ve been collecting alumni information and have received info from nearly 50 alums. It’s so great to see how many of today’s leaders in Maryville have been through the program and are making a difference in our community every day.

(If you’re a program alum, go to http://goo.gl/forms/k0wIpTEkH9.)

And I am so excited to have today’s community leaders in one place with the potential class members, to showcase the success of the program and to essentially mentor those hoping to become tomorrow’s leaders.

The idea of having so many people together who hope to constantly move this community forward is motivation for me to make this program as great as possible.

This year, we’ll meet from mid-September through late January, every other Tuesday from 3:30-6:30. Locations will change each time, depending on our speakers and/or tours planned for that particular class.

We’ll take tours of Nucor, Kawasaki, the Nodaway County Jail, the Hubbard Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the National Guard, the Nodaway County Historical Society and the Maryville Public Library.

We’ll hear from speakers in government, emergency services, professional networks, retail, education, media, community services and service organizations.

Furthermore, we’ll have five leadership development opportunities, which will be very hands-on.

We’ll identify each individual’s civic interests and open doors to make those connections.

Finally, our class, as a group, will identify a community-betterment project for everyone to participate in.

Yes, it’s a time commitment, but I can vouch for the benefits of education, networking and leadership development are more beneficial than you can imagine.

And the program isn’t just beneficial for individual graduate. That graduate then impact the community and even their workplace by becoming better informed, more involved and connected — and highly visible.

I love seeing the progress happening in Maryville. And if this Leadership Maryville class can make an impact to continue down this path of positivity and success, then I’ll be over-the-moon excited and proud of what my fellow facilitators and I have accomplished.

(Have questions about the program? Email [email protected].)