The Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the 25 participants for the 2015 Leadership Robins Region Program.

The 2015 Leadership participants are:  

Shon Barnwell, Retired, U.S Air Force; Rorie Bradley, Central Georgia Technical College; Suzanne Burkart, State Bank and Trust; Michael Cater, Cox Communications; Michael Chalmers, Spherion Staffing; Vivian Childs, UICF; Michael Collins, Total Computer Solutions; Christopher Dunlap, 116th Air Control Wing; Kimberly Gunn, Central Georgia Technical College; Jay Jackson, The Chrysalis Experience; Billy Johnson, CB&T Bank of Middle Georgia; Eric Langston, American Federation of Government Employees- 987; Jessie Locke, Flint Energies; Velicia Lowe, CASA of Houston County, Inc.; Kristi Minor, City of Warner Robins; Jade Morey, Houston County Development Authority; Jennifer Norbeck, Robins Federal Credit Union; Leslie Sanneman, Eyesight Associates; Britton Sutton, Parrish Construction; De'Anna Thompson, Middle Georgia State College; Justin Tripp, Peachstate Hospitality; Diane Wall, Goodwill Industries of Middle GA & CSRA; Matthew Weber, Little League Baseball, Inc.; and Julie Weissert, Moonhanger Group.

The Leadership Robins Region Program is designed to help prepare and encourage the business community’s emerging leaders to seek leadership positions within their community.  This premier program offers a core curriculum that is based on the University of Georgia’s J. W. Fanning Institute Community Leadership Program and best-practices of similar programs conducted around the country.

During the 11 month course participants will have the opportunity to hone their leadership skills through classroom lectures on topics ranging from Building Communities through Collaboration to Leading Community Change to Communicating Effectively.  They will learn to assess their own personal leadership style and how to effectively engage with other styles of leadership.

Each year, the Leadership class is tasked to select, plan and complete a class project.  The project must meet a community need, leave a lasting and visible impact, and be completed and briefed during their graduation.  In year’s past, several classes have completed projects that truly made their mark on the community.   At the official kick-off, the new class is encouraged to build upon the strengths of previous classes and do the same.  Participation in the class project is mandatory.

In addition to classroom work, participants will also attend a leadership retreat at Robins Air Force Base.  They will visit the state capitol while the state legislature is in session and have lunch with our local legislators.  They will also have opportunities to tour numerous governmental and private facilities including Robins Air Force Base, the Houston County Judicial Complex and Detention Facility, Water Treatment Facilities and/or the award winning Houston County Landfill, Houston Healthcare, Happy Hour and Central Georgia Technical College.

In 2015, the Leadership Robins Region Program will continue to partner with the Leadership Macon Program and this year, Leadership Monroe will be included in the joint class meeting.  The joint class will enable participants to increase their business connections and benefit from exposure to a wider range of ideas during class activities.  The first class will focus on teambuilding and features a retreat on Robins Air Force Base.

For additional information, please contact Aura Lee Durham, Chief Operating Officer for the Chamber at 478.922.8585.