Nominee Services:
The Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce and its education foundation, The Chamber Foundation, Inc, have - for over 20 years - focused on ensuring that dynamic new leaders are continuously added to fill board positions and work in various volunteer capacities for non profits across our region. Leadership Dutchess responds to this need by offering a quality leadership program that better equips area professionals with the skills needed to take on leadership roles that will result in making positive, long-term changes in our communities and in the world of business.
In addition to the program itself, which has trained over 400 business professionals in the nuts and bolts of becoming a community volunteer over the past several years each class has partnered with Rebuilding Together in adopting houses across our county. While individual volunteer activities take place over the program year, the Rebuilding Project has quickly become our signature group activity. Furthermore, the past two years have "challenged" the class to execute on a unique fundraiser to help support various non profits. Beneficiaries have included the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, Rebuilding Together and The Chamber Foundation Inc.
Nominee Goals:
The goal of Leadership Dutchess is to train emerging leaders. This is done by offering a diverse curriculum on a broad range of topic areas--all of which are established to help give program participants a solid foundation of skills.
From networking to teamwork, to critical thinking and communications, each Leadership Dutchess program participant establishes their own foundation of experiences from which they can draw. The program also engages participants in situations that are new and inspires them to address challenges that are different from their normal routine.
Specifically, the program focuses on topics such as: Team Building; Crisis Communication; Critical Thinking; Ethics & Social Responsibility, Being an Effective Board Member and Diversity.
Nominee Impact:
As a result of Leadership Dutchess, program participants are better equipped for leadership roles on boards and in non profits. Out of the 400 capable volunteers the Leadership Dutchess program has placed into our community, approximately 75% are actively involved in community development or currently reside on local boards including but not limited to: United Way of Dutchess County, Rebuilding Together, Mid Hudson Civic Center, the American Red Cross, Dutchess County Arts Council, Dutchess County Workforce Investment Board, Alzheimer’s Association, CAPE, American Heart Association, to name just a few....
Why the Nominee Deserves this award?
Leadership Dutchess is a vibrant, robust training program which is increasingly emulated by other Leadership programs not just in our region, but our state. It has received increase attention because of the richness of the program's content and because of the overwhelming reaction that program participants have in their eagerness to put their new skill sets to immediate use. In short, I believe that regognition for Leadership is long overdue and very well deserved.
Video Commentary:
Nominee video commentary not available
Audio Commentary:
Nominee audio commentary not available
