Quad City Chamber Federation Leadership Academy

Click here to download an academy application: we have a few slots open still--but only in Leadership Essentials! For the brochure, click here.
An effective community is one that works together to solve problems and improve the area's quality of life. To build an effective community, one must first build effective leaders armed with proper tools and a general understanding of the overall community.

The QC Chamber Federation Leadership Academies are designed to equip participants with the skills needed to successfully lead their company and community. The programs also inspire and offer participants opportunities to experience our community and allow participants to learn from each other as well as established leaders.

Two tracks and an alumni association are offered in the fall of 2008: Quad City Community Leadership (which gives a broad perspective of the QCA to choose what impact participants wish to have) and Leadership Essentials (which investigates a few issues using skills learned). The Quad City Leadership Alumni Association is targeted to any person who has successfully graduated from any of the leadership programs of the three chambers.

Quad City Community Leadership

Quad City Community Leadership provides a holistic understanding of the Quad City Region. Participants will experience what resources exist, what are the hot community topics, economic impact of various sectors, and how to get involved based on their vision. Seven of the class days are separated into community, economic development, education, healthcare, government, social agencies, arts/culture and a final session to work on action plans.

These intensive eight sessions will occur every third Tuesday starting October 7, 2008 and lasting until March 17, 2009 from 7:30-3pm with a break for lunch and a change of location. Participants will have a chance to experiences fifteen different locations around the Quad City Region as well as hear from community leaders. Some of the locations might include: Robert Young Community Support, John Lewis Coffee Shop, East Moline Correctional Center, Mississippi Valley Blood Center, Arrowhead Ranch, River Music Experience, Scott County Courthouse, Boys and Girls Club, Bethany, and more.

The participants of this track will desire to understand our region better and to become a community leader helping the area to develop. They will have a chance not only to network with fellow participants but also with community leaders. Participants might have lived here their entire lives or maybe have just move into the area. This will be an opportunity for not only the new employee but might be offered to the trailing spouse by the company.

Specifically, the dates will be October 7 & 28, November 18, December 9, 2008, January 13, February 3 & 24, and March 17, 2009. The participants will go to class from 7:30-11:30 and then will break for lunch and a switch in location. It will pick up at 1:00 and go until 3:00 that same afternoon. Additionally, participants will be required to experience new activities around the area on their own time; it will take them approximately eight hours to complete this requirement.

Cost for the Quad City Community Leadership will be $625. A joint graduation celebration with the Leadership Essentials track will be in the spring.

Leadership Essentials

It is essential that we have many different types of leaders in order to keep the Quad City Region strong. Leadership Essentials helps build leaders by teaching skills such as visioning, strategy & goal setting, performing teams, managing change, and more. This critical program will meet for nine sessions every other Friday beginning on November 7, 2008 from 8am-12 until March 13, 2009.

The Federation is collaborating with St. Ambrose University to offer these sessions at various business locations around the Quad Cities. Dr. Randy Richards and Susan Zelnio will facilitate the sessions which will include leaders of the businesses, instruction, projects, and discussion. A special session will be given by Ginny Wilson-Peters of Integrity Integrated.

Geared towards anyone who wishes to learn or improve their leadership skills, this is open to participants who plan to move up in their company. It will be required to work in a small group to better understand an issue of importance and how the Quad City leaders have handled various leadership aspects.

The group will meet on November 7 & 21, December 5 & 19, 2008, January 16 & 30, February 13 & 27, and March 13, 2009. It will be required to spend time outside of the session to do "homework" each time. It will take an additional 8-16 hours.

Cost for Leadership Essentials will be $1,050. A joint graduation celebration with the Quad City Community Leadership track will be in the spring.

Make checks out to QCCC Federation.

Click here to download an academy application. For the brochure, click here.

Congratulations to the two 2008 graduating classes:

Quad City Community Leadership

Brittany Amerine, Blackhawk Bank & Trust

Todd Welvaert, The Dispatch, Rock Island Argus & The Leader

Josh Heberling, Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce

Julie Dillie, Junior Achievement of the Heartland

Violeta Camargo, Maynard M. Ellison Agency

Ryan Weber, McGladrey & Pullen

Brad Gill, MidAmerican Energy Company

Mindy Loveless, MidAmerican Energy Company

Victor Buffington, Nichols Aluminum

Bill Hebert, Nichols Aluminum

Marcy Schnepf, Quad City Bank & Trust Company

Rebecca Skafidas, Quad City Bank & Trust Company

Denise Browning, Radisson on John Deere Commons

Carin Stroup, Royal Neighbors of America

Jeanne Eble, Ruhl & Ruhl REALTORS

Mark Anderson, Scott Community College

Lisa Miller, Scott Community College

Jon Burgstrum, Scott County Board of Supervisors

William Groh, Shive-Hattery, Inc.

Jonas Barisas, Trinity Medical Center

Arin Crandall, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Kathy Edelen, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Sesame Teague, Western Illinois University Quad Cities

Jake Vorac, Mechanical Sales Inc. - Iowa

Leadership Essentials 
Scott VanDeWoestyne, American Red Cross of the Quad Cities Area
Bev Ricketts, Bettendorf Chamber of Commerce
Shanna Manning, DavenportOne

Brian Rossmiller, Estes Construction

Tiffany Williams, Group O, Inc.

Christie Rangel, I H Mississippi Valley Credit Union

Douglas Lindstrom, Lane & Waterman LLP

Ben Patterson, Lane & Waterman LLP

Mark Turnis, Walcott Trust & Savings Bank

Angela Burch, McGladrey & Pullen

Jeanette Thede, MetroLINK

Ander Knudsen, MidAmerican Energy

John Fellman, Missman-Stanley & Associates, P.C.

Kirk Nelson, Missman-Stanley & Associates, P.C.

William Baker, Modern Woodmen of America

Peter Lynch, Nestle Purina

Kristine McDonald, Northwest Bank & Trust Company

Tim Hoftender, Point Builders, LLC

Leticia Cruz, Project NOW Community Action Agency

DaveZorich, Quad City Times

Doug Davis, RiverCenter/Adler Theatre

Aaron Kendall, Russell Construction Co., Inc

Wendy Rouse, Russell Construction Co., Inc

Kimberly S.Hoffman, Timmer & Associates, CPA, PC.

Joe Ulloa, Trinity Medical Center

Melissa Varnell, Trinity Medical Center

Kyle Gott, U.S. Bank