Leadership Westmoreland

Building Leaders in our Communities

by Karen Fetter

For those interested in becoming more involved in their community, or whose jobs and volunteerism already have an impact on Westmoreland County, Leadership Westmoreland is an excellent choice. This 10-session course introduces participants to a variety of aspects of life within the Westmoreland County community. Each session is lead by a panel of experts whose real life experience adds a depth of understanding to the course.

Upon graduation, participants are ready to give back to their communities by becoming more actively involved in local affairs and knowledgeable concerning civic duties.

Leadership Westmoreland is co-sponsored by the Latrobe Chamber of Commerce, the Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce, the Norwin Chamber of Commerce, the Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Laurel Highland Chamber of Commerce. The sessions begin in September and go through June with one session per month. The first session is a full-day retreat that works on team building and self-understanding.

The following sessions are half-day morning sessions that discuss topics such as government, economic development, justice system, media, education, business, and quality of life. The course concludes with a graduation and overview.

“Leadership works behind the scenes to benefit the community,” said Andy Stofan, President of the Latrobe Area Chamber of Commerce. “Those who want to contribute are the type of person we try to help succeed.”

In addition to classes, another aspect of the program is a small group project. These projects are based on proposals made by area non-profit organizations such as the Red Cross, YWCA, and the Loyalhanna Watershed, to name a few. These organizations submit proposals for projects with which they could use help and Leadership participants perform the course work outside of class to accomplish the project at hand.

In addition, one session each year is a full-day bus tour of the county focusing on the quality of life in the Westmoreland County Region. While the stops on the tour vary from year to year, the result is the same. The Leadership Westmoreland class learns about the history, recreational opportunities, cultural resources, and business opportunities throughout Westmoreland County.

According to Andy, the course has been remarkable for those who have enrolled. Many participants go on to continue relationships with those who have taught the course or those who have attended with them. Andy has seen Leadership grads become actively involved in the community and serve on boards and even participate in local government.

Leadership Westmoreland started in 1998 when two leadership organizations combined – Latrobe Area Leadership and Impact Westmoreland Leadership. They realized that they were both using the same resources and felt their efforts would be stronger if they worked together. So rather than it being the 10th year for Leadership Westmoreland, it is actually the 21st year when you consider the program’s historical roots.

The overall mission of Leadership Westmoreland is to cultivate new and vibrant people that can share the responsibilities of the community. Often in community work, many of the same faces appear on several different committees and organizations. It is better for the community when more than the same few people are trained to take on these roles. Whether it is the PTA, youth sports, BPW, or the Rotary, it is imperative that new faces appear to offer the benefit of their experience and knowledge in a variety of ways.

The program benefits the community by creating leaders who can possess a vision for the future, approach problem-solving with fresh solutions, and be able to network with other leaders. Leadership Westmoreland strengthens its participants’ self-awareness and sense of personal vision and power. It enhances their leadership and problem solving skills, as well as their awareness of community issues and challenges. Graduates take with them a greater understanding of public policy and regional and global trends. Lastly employers who enroll their employees in the program benefit as well. New skills enable employees to better anticipate problems and generate solutions, creatively and productively use resources, see interrelationships and processes for change, and develop an understanding of teamwork.

The cost of the course is $895 per person. Many who attend have the course underwritten by a business or by their employer. There are scholarship funds available but the amounts are very limited.

Become a Leader in Your Community

Andy Stofan, Latrobe Chamber of Commerce
724-537-2671

www.LeadershipWestmoreland.com