Quad City Chamber Federation Leadership Academy

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.

Green Light to Changes 

Do you have some people you would like us to contact?  E-mail us at szelnio@quadcitychamber.com with their name, company, phone, and e-mail address.  Otherwise, by July, we'll have material for you to send to co-workers, friends, relatives, etc. to encourage them to attend an Academy and learn what you already know!

Two tracks and an alumni association are offered in the 2009-2010 year: 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 other Friday starting September 11and lasting until December 18, 2009.  The first session last from 8-3:30; the rest from 8am - noon. Participants will have a chance to experiences nine 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.

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 $650. A joint graduation celebration with the Leadership Essentials track will be in the spring 2010.

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 January 15, 2010 from 8am-12 until April 30, 2010.

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.

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 $1,100. A joint graduation celebration with the Quad City Community Leadership track will be in May 2010.

Make checks out to QCCC Federation.

Click here to download an academy application.

Congratulations to the two 2009 graduating classes--especially Jonathan Lohman who complete both courases.