The 2018–2019 Leadership Tuscarawas Class is Underway with New Incoming Class, Partnership, and Community Projects
Tuscarawas County's emerging leaders are receiving a big boost, as Leadership Tuscarawas announced a long-term partnership with Kent State University at Tuscarawas to assist with programming and management services. The partnership enhances the already robust 10-month leadership development program created for community members from small businesses, corporations, and non-profit organizations across Tuscarawas County. The 2018–2019 Signature Program class begins this month, the 17th class since the organization’s founding in 2002.
“The new business relationship between Leadership Tuscarawas and Kent State Tuscarawas will benefit leadership training available in the county not only in the short term as we start our 2019 Signature Class 10-month program, but also in the long term as we continue to implement our strategic initiatives,” said Jeff Neidig, President of Leadership Tuscarawas Board of Directors.
Each year, Leadership Tuscarawas works with community organizations to provide class members rich social, cultural, historical, and economic learning experiences. Kent State Tuscarawas has been a supporter of the program since its founding. Under the new partnership, Leadership Tuscarawas will remain an independent organization with Kent State Tuscarawas providing programming, operations, and related services.
“Kent State Tuscarawas enjoys a close relationship with Leadership Tuscarawas,” said Dr. Brad Bielski, Dean and Chief Administrative Officer, Kent State Tuscarawas. “For the past several years, we provided space and support on campus for various programs. We believe strongly in the program. In fact, we enrolled eight of our faculty and staff in the Signature Program during my tenure. Each of these participants gained tremendous knowledge through leadership training and developing new professional networks. We are now excited to bring the expertise and management of our Business and Community Services team, under the strong leadership of Dr. William Beisel, to help further enhance the mission of Leadership Tuscarawas.”
Throughout the class duration, Leadership Tuscarawas class members attend one program day per month focused on servant leadership, community awareness and involvement and a variety of other leadership principles. Class members learn about their leadership styles and how to implement the principles they learn, both in their careers and in community organizations and causes. The 2018–2019 class includes 23 community members representing 18 organizations from Tuscarawas County: Andrew Gordon, Gordon Milk Transport; Becky Minard, DoverPhila Credit Union; Brad Parrish, Tusco Display; Carole Brown, Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital; Cheri Creager, Tuscarawas County Sheriff; Jadee Dunn, Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital; Jason Baker, First Federal Bank; Jennifer Jones, Aultman; Jilliann Gardner, Day Ketterer Law; Joni Hanson, Medi-Wise Pharmacy; Josie Jones, Person-Centered Services; Kerri Silverthorn, Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities; Kim Larson, Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital; Kim Rippeth, Black McCuskey Law; Laurie Donley, Kent State University at Tuscarawas; Mark Harr, Dover Chemical; Michael Brindly, Schoenbrunn Inn & Conference Center; Mike Lewis, Buckeye Career Center; Nick Miller, First National Bank of Dennison; Rachelle Crites, Person-Centered Services; Sandy Carpenter, Triple Energy; Trisha McNutt, Dover Chemical; and Heather Aubihl, Kent State University at Tuscarawas.
“The 2019 class is a fantastic group of individuals who live and work in Tuscarawas County,” said Sarah Andreas, Leadership Tusc Program Facilitator and Director of Operations and Training at Adventure Harley Davidson in Dover.
In addition to attending program days, Leadership Tuscarawas class members are divided into small groups, each assigned to a community project focused on making progress in Tuscarawas County. Class members work with project partners throughout the class year and present the results of the projects at the class graduation ceremony in May. Some past Leadership Tuscarawas projects include the Tuscarawas Valley Farmers Market, Access Tusc, and the Charmed: Gifts with Meaning Store in downtown New Philadelphia.
“TuscBDD had the tremendous privilege of partnering with Leadership Tuscarawas as we launched our downtown venture Charmed: Gifts with Meaning,” said Nate Kamban, Superintendent of Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities. “The Leadership Tuscarawas students assigned to our project exceeded all of our expectations. The team put in many hours and provided numerous creative solutions. I would highly recommend that other organizations pursue partnering with Leadership Tuscarawas.”
A Call for Community Projects
Leadership Tuscarawas is currently accepting applications for this year’s community projects. Organizations interested in submitting a project for consideration can email wbeisel@kent.edu by September 1, 2018. The organization is looking for projects that provide class members an opportunity to learn and practice leadership and teamwork skills while making an impact in Tuscarawas County.
“The projects that the participants work on do two things that are important for our community,” continued Andreas. “First, they allow our participants to work on a project that is meaningful both for them and the non-profits that are asking for our help with the project. Second, it allows our participants an opportunity to practice team building, communication skills, and project management skills that are essential pieces of leadership. Our participants get to practice what we are talking about in program days through the projects. They take these skills with them no matter where they are serving.”
For more information about Leadership Tuscarawas, visit kent.edu/tusc/bcs/leadership-tuscarawas.