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Leadership Academy

Educating Emerging Leaders at SML

The Smith Mountain Lake Leadership Academy is a 12-month leadership program designed to develop a diversified corps of informed, committed and qualified individuals who will assume leadership roles for Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania county organizations, both public and private, to meet the needs of the future.

Class of 2025

Aquilina, Renae

Renae Aquilina

Goodhue Boat Company

Baker, Amanda

Amanda Baker

Legacy Hospice

Belle, PJ

PJ Belle

PJ at the Lake

Courington, Abigail

Abigail Courington

Bedford County

Cooper, George

George Cooper

Deb Beran Properties

Arthur, Joseph

Joseph Arthur

Western Virginia Water Authority

Dubuisson, Will

Will Dubuisson

Habitat for Humanity - Franklin County

Fritze, Chris

Chris Fritze

SML State Park

Gallegos, Taylor

Taylor Gallegos

Ridge View Bank

Green, Sheri

Sheri Green

Workday.com

Horner, Kelly

Kelly Peaks Horner

Lucy Leadership Project

Johnson, Casey

Casey Johnson

Re/Max Lakefront Realty

Jones, Steve

Steve Jones

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices SML

McCarty, Matt

Matt McCarty

Bedford County

Munoz, Grace

Grace Munoz

Drifters

Thurston, Lauren

Lauren Thurston

Bedford County

Lober, Abe

Abe Loper

Loper Financial

 

McClintic, Steve

Steve McClintic

Smith Mountain Eagle

Peltier, Lisa

Lisa Peltier

Bedford County

Whit, Corey

Corey Whit

Franklin County

Mann, Rob

Rob Mann

AEP

 

Monk, Tyler

Tyler Monk

Mariners Landing

Stanley, Erin

Erin Stanley

SMLRCC

Photo coming soon (1)

Mary Tershak

Carilion Clinic

About the Leadership Academy

Objectives      

  • To identify and develop potential and existing leaders in business, government, and the community and to help them better prepare for responsibility in the community.
  • To provide these leaders with a practical, clear and simple understanding of major problems and opportunities facing our community.
  • To facilitate access between emerging leaders and current leadership of the community.
  • To improve the communications network among leaders from diverse backgrounds and interests.
  • To create an avenue for persons of demonstrated commitment to the community to meet and exchange ideas.
  • To stimulate increased participation in and commitment to the community.

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Smith Mountain Lake Leadership Academy is to develop local leaders by equipping them with leadership skills, to provide information on community issues so that the community can progress, and to evoke community action based on the presentation of these issues.

Overview

Each year, participants are selected through an application process.  Orientation begins in early January and class days are the first Wednesday of each month with graduation in early December.

The Chamber will accept a limited number of participants from a diverse group of local professionals, representing various local industries and entities. For those selected, the tuition will be $750, which includes orientation, classes, networking mixers and graduation.

2025 Schedule

This is a tentative schedule. More details will be distributed to the class at orientation. Most classes will be in session noon-5:00 p.m.

Orientation

Wednesday, January 8

 

History & Culture

Wednesday, February 5

 

Regional Leadership

Wednesday, March 5

 

Tour of Smith Mountain Dam

Wednesday, April 2

 

Recreation, Tourism & Hospitality

Wednesday, May 7

 

Health & Human Services/Poverty Awareness

Wednesday, June 4

 

Protective Services

Wednesday, July 9

 

Economic Development

Wednesday, August 6

 

Education

Wednesday, September 3

 

Agri-Business/Natural Resources

Wednesday, October 1

 

Manufacturing

Wednesday, November 5

 

Graduation

Wednesday, December 3

 

In order to successfully complete the Smith Mountain Lake Leadership Academy program, attendance is expected at all scheduled sessions. Failure to attend all sessions may result in participant's ineligibility to graduate from the program. The Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber realizes that unexpected situations may arise that result in participant's inability to attend. In such instances the Chamber’s Education Committee will evaluate the absence on a case-by-case basis.

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