Leadership Highlands Operating Policy

MISSION STATEMENT

To develop leaders with a thorough understanding of, and strong sense of commitment to, Highlands County and an appreciation for the strength found in our county’s abundant diversity.

Goals:

• To familiarize participants with the infrastructure, agencies, and economic enterprises that exist in Highlands County
• To expose participants to a range of community needs and to identify the resources available to meet those needs
• To provide participants the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with each other and community leaders, so as to learn from the backgrounds and perspectives of one another
• To encourage civic participation and volunteer involvement in the community

OPERATING POLICY

Leadership Highlands is a partnership between South Florida Community College and the Avon Park, Lake Placid, and Sebring Chambers of Commerce. It is overseen by an advisory board comprised of the executive directors of the above Chambers of Commerce, the SFCC Dean of Adult and Community Education, and a limited number of persons who have graduated from the program. The president of the most recent Leadership Highlands class rotates onto the board for a two-year term.

The Leadership Highlands Advisory Board has established policies regarding attendance and participation in class sessions, to maintain the integrity of the program and for individuals to graduate with their respective class. These policies are stated below.

Each applicant must agree in advance to attend all class sessions as published. Each class member must attend the orientation, the retreat, the Tallahassee trip, and the graduation ceremony.

A class member may miss one of the regularly scheduled day-long sessions and still graduate. It is suggested that the session missed should be made up in the next class year on the honor system. Any class member missing two class sessions will be allowed to continue but will not be recognized as a graduate of the program. Any class member missing three sessions will be excused from the program.

The Leadership Highlands program shall be comprised of not less than eight or more than 10 class sessions over a 10-month period. Applicants will receive the schedule prior to acceptance in the program.

Leadership Highlands shall not seek applicants for enrollment strictly within the membership of the three Chambers of Commerce, but will require that a majority of applicants each year are from among

chamber members. Applications will be encouraged from across the spectrum of business, civic, cultural, social and governmental entities; regardless of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital status, political affiliation, and sexual orientation.

Leadership Highlands is administered by South Florida Community College.

The Advisory Board shall adopt an annual program and operating budget to support the program, and shall approve the tuition amount required to fully fund all program activities.

The Leadership Highlands Advisory Board shall have the authority to remove a member of the Advisory Board or a member of the class, with or without cause, upon a two-thirds vote of the Advisory Board membership.

The chair of the Leadership Highlands Advisory Board will be available to make periodic reports to the boards of directors of the three partnering Chambers of Commerce to assure continuing support and clear communication.

LEADERSHIP HIGHLANDS ADVISORY BOARD

Michael McLeod (2003), Chair

Dave Greenslade (2000), Co-Vice Chair
Executive Director, Avon Park Chamber of Commerce

Eileen May (Class President 2003), Co-Vice Chair
CEO/President of Operations, Greater Lake Placid Chamber of Commerce

Kristie Sottile-Ogg, Co-Vice Chair
President/CEO, Greater Sebring Chamber of Commerce

Julie Fowler, CPA (2002), Treasurer 

Deanne Shanklin (Class President 2008), Secretary

Laura Barben (Class President 2011)

Kris Schmidt (Class President 2010), Program Director