Chamber of commerce leadership programs benefit participants and communities.

Congratulations to three Arkansas team members who graduated this spring from chamber of commerce leadership programs.

Hollie, operations support specialist in the Blytheville, Arkansas, division, and a Black Hills Energy Ambassador, completed the Blytheville Leadership Institute, which is organized by the Mississippi County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Participants in the program, now called Leadership MissCo, meet monthly from August to May. Each month they visit different places in the county to learn about various aspects of the community such as education, agriculture, and local government.

Adam, utility construction planner for the Rogers, Arkansas, division, graduated from the Springdale, Arkansas, Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Springdale program, which is sponsored by Black Hills Energy.

Leadership Springdale identifies, trains, and motivates current and emerging leaders who live and/or work in the Springdale area. Class members spend one day each month from August through May learning about the community. The experiences and knowledge gained through participation in the program have an immediate and positive effect on the participants, their associates, and the community.

One of the main program objectives of the Springdale program is to recruit candidates with diverse backgrounds. Participants are motivated to become involved and accept leadership roles within the community. The program includes a review of economic development, health care, education, city and state government, quality of life and social services and includes a trip to Little Rock, Arkansas, for briefings with state agency leaders.

Black Hills Energy Ambassador Amanda, senior environmental professional at the Fayetteville, Arkansas, division, completed the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce's Class 35 Leadership Fayetteville program in which Black Hills Energy was the presenting sponsor.

Leadership Fayetteville is a 10-month program that meets monthly from August through May and gives participants the opportunity to explore Fayetteville as they develop and enhance their leadership skills. The schedule includes sessions on social services, economic development, local and state government, history, health care, education, community, and quality of life.

Congratulations Hollie, Adam and Amanda!

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