Chamber leadership class graduates

VW Chamber of Commerce news

Leadership is not a character trait. It is a skill, a discipline that requires conviction, creative focus and vision. Fourteen individuals from area businesses recently graduated from the 2013 Leadership Van Wert County program, which is sponsored by the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Class of 2013 spent the last nine months discovering how to further develop its leadership skills and then how to best use those skills not only in the workplace, but in the Van Wert area community.

This year’s class, along with each of the class supervisors, celebrated its graduation at Willow Bend County Club last Friday, May 24. Participants were recognized individually and presented with a certificate of graduation, a class photo and also a Leadership Van Wert County portfolio.

Perhaps most impressive about this year’s class is the success of its group project: to coordinate and promote the Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mercer, Auglaize, & Van Wert Counties held April 12 at Olympic Lanes. The Van Wert bowling event brought in over $11,500, doubling last year’s event donations. The entire class presented a check to the organization as part of the graduation recognition program.

“Competitive, diligent with extraordinary leadership potential is how I would describe this class,” stated Van Wert Area Chamber President/CEO Susan Munroe. “The participants are already leaders in our community; they not only have vision and a passion for the companies they work for, but a passion to see the Van Wert community prosper and grow.”

The 14 graduates include Adam Anspach of Central Insurance Company, Abby Balster of BBBS of Mercer, Auglaize & Van Wert, Diane Cearns of First Federal Savings & Loan, Travis Cunningham of Federal Mogul Corporation, Nick Decker of Cooper Farms, Marcia Dunifon of Citizens National Bank, Eric Hurless of Stahl Stoller Meyer Insurance Center, Matt Korte of Central Insurance Company, Thaison Leaser of Van Wert Federal Savings Bank, Mark Medford of Tecumseh Packaging Solutions Inc., Dawn Pohlman of Central Insurance Company, Allen Rager of Shultz Huber & Associates Inc., Katie Watson of Advanced Biological Marketing Inc., and Trevor Webster of Edward Jones.

The class spent one day in each of the last nine months delving into leadership topics presented by local experts and discovering more about the Van Wert community. Each class member also attended at least two local, non-profit boards of directors’ meetings and presented a report on what the organization’s goals and mission are.

Leadership Van Wert County was founded in 1994 as a communitywide leadership development program to enable a diverse group of citizens to effectively serve its community.  The goal of the Leadership Van Wert Program is to identify, develop and motive potential community leaders.

Nomination information for next year’s Leadership Van Wert County will be available in July. For more information, contact the Chamber Office by calling 419.238.4390 or emailing chamber@vanwertchamber.com. Information is also available on the Chamber website at http://vanwertchamber.com.