Portage County Business Council

In an ever-changing and increasingly complex world, leaders must be prepared to work hard toward a sound future for their organizations and their communities. Our current and future leaders possess a wide range of skill sets that help them accomplish more, with fewer resources and in less time. These skills focus on interpersonal and group dynamics, the ability to create a common vision and collaborative approaches to decision making.

Leadership Portage County participants acquire these skills plus an in-depth knowledge of community issues to prepare them for greater leadership roles in their workplace and community.

Goals
Leadership Portage County is a dynamic program for those ready to commit to greater leadership roles in their organizations and the community. This stimulating educational series informs and inspires participants by:

"It's phenomenal to have the light bulb come on when you recognize a personality trait or leadership style. You can almost not afford to pull away from work one day a month because of what you learn about yourself, the people you work with and Portage County. That's especially true being new to the community, but even those who've been here 20 years are learning things they didn't know."
-Mark L. Barnes
Stevens Point Fire Chief
Participants Reviewing A Map

Leadership Portage County is a powerful program, whether you are new to the community or grew up in Portage County, whether you are active in the community or looking to become involved, whether you work for a private business or non-profit organization. The program allows participants to learn more about themselves, to practice essential leadership skills, and to gain an intimate knowledge of all aspects of Portage County.

Benefits For Your Employer
The most productive changes in an organization occur when individuals have the ability to identify challenges and work with others to proactively address them. This requires vision, willingness to serve and leadership skills that foster communication, collaboration and knowledge. Individuals who utilize leadership skills more effectively manage people, build consensus, develop solutions and enhance profitability. Leadership Portage County participants learn these processes and much more by attending sessions one day each month. They can apply the skills immediately in their workplace, and they can share them with co-workers.

Organizations that sponsor participants are forward-thinking corporations that invest in their most important resource, their employees. Their investment quickly earns a valuable return of knowledge and skill. They benefit when participants talk about their workplaces and when the names of participants and the organizations they represent are published. The professional networks developed by participants help build business by expanding their organization’s resource base.

Benefits For The Community
Leadership skills are as essential in the community as they are in the workplace. By gaining an intimate understanding of Portage County’s history, assets and challenges, participants are inspired to take leadership roles in areas of greatest concern to them. They recognize how to apply their individual strengths and skills to effectively serve the community and shape its future. The professional connections enhance opportunities to partner in addressing community needs.

Program Overview
Leadership Portage County is one of over 650 community-based leadership programs in the United States.

Each monthly session is held at a different location in the community that relates to the facet of the community that will be explored that day. The aspects of Portage County and issues and challenges that face Portage County are discovered through tours, presentations, panels, and conversations with community leaders directly involved.

During each monthly session, a different essential leadership skill is presented, discussed, and practiced. Local leaders and trainers who have practical experience and expertise facilitate these programs. The exercises promote learning through open communication and experiential exercises. The leadership skills covered throughout the year include: collaboration, consensus building, leadership styles, servant leadership, situational leadership, diversity, creative problem solving, project planning, delegation, positive feedback, conflict resolution, and change management.

After each session, participants choose an Interim Assignment , an opportunity to experience the facet of the community and leadership skill that was discussed that month first hand in the community. These opportunities involve participants directly into the community and help process the information from the monthly sessions.

LPC participants work in small groups on a Community Project . Project proposals are submitted by community organizations and also brainstormed by participants at the Opening Retreat. These projects benefit the community and provide participants the opportunity to focus on their leadership skills and styles. Past projects include the KASH playground, the Young Professionals program,

Leadership Portage County provides networking opportunities every session. Participants are diverse in occupation, age, sex, and location. Current participants meet local leaders and meet many alumni throughout the program and at Alumni events. Participants are encouraged to utilize these contacts outside of the program.

Program Schedule 2008-09
Each session includes learning a leadership skill and examining various aspects of an area critical to the community’s future. Programs are held at various businesses, schools and government buildings to give participants an inside look at Portage County. Current community issues are incorporated into the curriculum.

Here is the schedule for the 2008-09 program and examples of some of the tours and topics covered in the past. Please note that sessions occur on the 2nd Thursday of the month, except for December.

August 21-22
Opening Retreat
The two-day Opening Retreat gives LPC participants the opportunity to get to know themselves, each other and the community through interactive exercises, tours and discussions. Participants also select and begin working on their Community Class Projects.

Participants Take A Tour Of A Farm

September 11
From Cheese to Potatoes: Economic impact of diverse agribusiness
Featured tours have included Feltz dairy farm, Wysocki potato operation and Gordondale corporate family farm. Agriculture diversity, federal farm bill, production, marketing, environment and labor challenges are discussed.

October 9
Caring Community: How human service agencies support those in need
Participants explore youth asset building, multi-cultural challenges, efforts to help working poor and services for seniors. Tours have included Boys and Girls Club, Lincoln Center.

November 13
To Serve & Protect: Current issues in law enforcement and legal system
Day features tour of the Portage County Jail, overview of law enforcement and court systems, juvenile rehabilitation, prevention programs, talks with the police chief and sheriff, participation in simulated court case.

December 4
Education Evolves: Trends, technology, changes and challenges
Day includes visits to historic Hie Corner School, Noel Group Learning Center, discussion with leaders of Stevens Point public and Catholic school, UW-Stevens Point and Midstate Technical College.

January 8
Health & Wellness
Tours feature St. Michael’s Hospital cancer, infant, sports medicine and diagnostic imagining areas. Participants explore such issues such as rising health costs, insurance, labor shortage, emergency response to health threats.

Participants Learn About Local Government

Participants Learn About Local Government

February 12
Elected to Lead: Maintaining effective local and state government
Structure, function and roles of government are outlined at County-City Building. Advocacy and running for office are explored. Participants role play a Common Council meeting run by Stevens Point’s mayor

March 12
Business Best: Business and industry embrace creativity to survive, grow
Discussion includes why businesses locate in Portage County and how they grow and handle economic and labor challenges. Tours of manufacturing and service businesses and discussion with their leaders highlight the day. Past visits have included Worth Co., Worzalla Publishing, Lands’ End, Stevens Point Brewery, Golden County Foods, Donaldson Co.

April 9 Participants Enjoy Team Building Activities

Participants Enjoy Team Building Activities

Eco-Impact: How air, water, infrastructure, planning and growth affect our environment
Participants tour facilities including water treatment plant, recycling plant, and the Midwest Renewable Energy House. Speakers review electrical power and alternative energy sources, discuss air and water quality protection and regulation, Smart Growth and impact of development.

May 14
Closing Retreat: Where do we go from here?
Final session includes tower-climbing activity at Wisconsin Lions Camp, servant leadership study, reflection and leadership mission.

May 21
LPC Graduation

Application
If you’re interested in taking on more of a leadership role in the community and workplace, you will benefit from Leadership Portage County.

Contact us if you are interested in receiving an application. Complete and return to the Portage County Business Council office by June 1, 2008, along with a $25 nonrefundable application fee.

The Leadership Portage County porgram is limited to a maximum of 28 participants each year. Applications are dated as they are received at the PCBC office. Participants are accepted on the first come basis. A waiting list is started after the first 28 applications are received. If you do not make the deadline for the 2008-09 LPC class, you are encouraged to apply again earlier in a subsequent year. Each class includes a diverse mix of ages and social and economic backgrounds representing private businesses of all sizes, public institutions and nonprofit organizations.

Tuition
The tuition for Leadership Portage County is $750. If registration and payment is received prior to February 1, 2008, the participant qualifies for a $50 discount. The tuition covers all program materials, presentations, meals, group transportation, and graduation expenses. A limited number of scholarships, up to half of tuition costs, are available. Contact us for a scholarship application.

Scholarships
A limited number of scholarships are available for up to half the tuition fee. Contact us if you would like a scholarship application.

Diversity Commitment
Leadership Portage County is dedicated to selecting participants who bring personal diversity in means of life experiences and diverse backgrounds, ethnic/minority groups, gender, age, years in Portage County, and other community experience. Our goal is to have a group of participants who represent a cross section of individuals from business, educations, organized labor, government, arts, clergy, non-profit, and community organizations.

What Graduates Say
More than 370 people have completed the Leadership Portage County program since its inception in 1993. Here’s what some of them have say about the program:

“As a business owner, I have networked with an amazing group of people who will be future leaders and decision-makers in Portage County. They have become friends and resources.

Leadership Portage County enables you to form valuable business contacts that would take years to form. Learning and listening to how other industries and businesses function broadens your horizons and helps you to face everyday challenges in a different way. This also becomes a great asset when selling and marketing your business to them.

“I waited to participate in Leadership Portage County an extra year because I was worried about the time commitment. It turns out that it has been one of the best training investments I've ever made in myself. I've added some new tools to my set of leadership skills which have helped me run better meetings, manage my time, brainstorm more effectively, identify strengths and weaknesses of those I work with and even have more fun.”

“The most beneficial part for me was the value of networking in the community. It really has made a difference in terms of the benefit to our students. Many programs and ideas were begun or expanded because of those professional connections. I use the connections as resources for more outreach on programs that benefit students and their families.”

“In the four years since I graduated from Leadership Portage County, I have received three promotions at work. Leadership Portage County taught me that if you aim for service, success will follow. The skills and information I gained from LPC have been a tremendous asset not only to my employer and me, but to the customers we serve.”

Audrey Schmeeckle
Stevens Point YMCA - Operations Director

“Understanding 21st century leadership skills has made me a more effective manager. It helped me appreciate the strengths of each person who works with me. I value the importance of everyone’s contributions. Some of the people who never say anything actually have ideas that often result in paradigm changes. By encouraging these contributions, we’re able to accomplish more with fewer resources.”

“The networking opportunity stands out the most. I met individuals in my class from a wide range of professions and diverse backgrounds. These connections have been very helpful to my business (referrals, information and references) and personal life (friendships with classmates). This does not end just with graduation. As a member of the Leadership Alumni Association, I have met many new individuals with the same results.”

Jim Mendyke Jr.
Sentry Insurance - Sales Representative

“Learning about being a servant leader has had an influence on how I choose my every action each day. Servant Leadership skills include honesty, being a good role model, caring, commitment, being a good listener, holding people accountable, respect, encouragement, positive attitude and appreciating others. This entire experience has not only helped me grow personally, but professionally as well. It has taught me to look more broadly at the world I live in and to think of how I can make thing better for all those around me

After Leadership: The Alumni
The leadership process continues after graduating from Leadership Portage County. All graduates are invited to participate in Alumni Activities, including annual BBQs and Holiday Parties. These events are excellent networking opportunities and raffles and other fundraisers help support scholarships for future LPC participants. LPC Alumni are also invited to participate in opportunities that further develop leadership skills, put on by the LPC Alumni Activities Committee.

LPC Alumni are able to serve on one of LPC's steering committees: Executive Committee, Program Committee, Marketing Committee, or Alumni Committee. For more information about these committees, contact us.

All Alumni will receive The Active Voice , the Portage County Business Council Foundation's Newsletter, which will provide information on the current class of LPC and about upcoming Alumni events.