Leadership Greater Topeka brings together a broad cross section of both acknowledged and aspiring leaders from every corner of the community for an annual community leadership training course.

For the Greater Topeka area to grow and prosper, we need leaders from all backgrounds and vocations, who will wrestle with the challenges facing our community. The goals are to challenge and motivate traditional and non-traditional leaders by teaching 21st century leadership capacities through information, dialogue and hands-on experience so participants are better prepared to strengthen and transform our community.

In place since 1984, Leadership Greater Topeka has more than 880 alumni with nearly 70% still living and active in the Topeka area. Leadership Greater Topeka alumni are challenged to apply their talents throughout the community in volunteer, appointed and elected positions.

Nominations and applications for the program are accepted each fall with the new class announced prior to year end. The course is offered beginning in late January and runs until mid-May with a two-day retreat and seven day-long sessions, primarily on Fridays.

The sessions cover key community concerns in the areas of quality of life, government, crime, business and economic development, community services, education, health care and the media. Woven throughout the program are concepts of:

• Adaptive/Technical Leadership Skills
• 21st Century Leadership Skills: learning styles, change, collaboration, consensus, facilitation, visioning and steps to a learning community.
• Community Trusteeship: working for the common good of the whole community.
• Servant Leadership: the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead... to make sure that other people's highest priority needs are served.

2013 Tuition is $850.00; Scholarships are available.

Important Dates for 2013 Leadership Greater Topeka Program

Nomination Deadline: Friday, September 28, 2012
Application Deadline: 3:00 p.m., Friday, October 5, 2012
Conversations with Alumni (scheduled individually): Monday-Tueday, November 5-6, 2012
     Conversations take approximately 15 minutes for each applicant.
Selection Announcement: Friday, December 7, 2011

The locations will be announced in early 2013. 
These dates are as of June 1, 2012.  Dates are subject to change.

Participant Orientation: Tuesday, January 22, 2013, 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Two-Day Retreat: Thursday, January 31, 2013, 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.;
                               Friday, February 1, 2013, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 
Session #1: Friday, February 8, 2013, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. 
Session #2: Friday,February 22, 2013, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. 
Session #3: Friday, March 8, 2013, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Session #4: Friday, March 15, 2013, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Session #5: Friday, April 5, 2013, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Session #6: Friday, April 19, 2013, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Session #7: Friday, May 3, 2013, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Graduation/Alumni Luncheon: Wednesday, May 8, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

2013 Leadership Greater Topeka Class

Thirty-seven individuals from Topeka and Shawnee County will participate in the 2013 Leadership Greater Topeka program. Leadership Greater Topeka, a program of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce since 1984, identifies outstanding potential leaders from various components of the community. There are more than 880 alumni of the program.

Members of the 2013 class are:

Ashley Bahm, President, Bahm Demolition, Inc.;  

Philip Blume, Major, Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office;

T.J.  Brown, President, Board, Oakland NIA, Oakland NIA & Community Coalitions;  

Trey Burton, Assistant Deputy Chief, U.S. Probation Office;  

Joseph Caldwell, Vice President, Division Director, Bartlett & West, Inc.;

Bree Dowd, Student, Class of 2013, Seaman High School;

Erik Epperson, KC135 Instructor Pilot/Unit Deployment Manager, Kansas Air National Guard;

Christopher Fisher, II, Anchor/Reporter, WIBW TV;

Greg Gathers, Owner/Operator, Custom Tree Care, Inc.;

Jodi Gee, Accountant, Department of Veteran Affairs Health Resource Center;  

Jeremy Goodwin, Chief Meteorologist, WIBW Channels;

Larry Graves, Director, Tecumseh Energy Center, Westar Energy;

Michael Haugen, Major, Topeka Police Department;  

Ryan Hellmer, Associate, Goodell, Stratton, Edmonds & Palmer, LLP;  

Brianna Holmes, Communications Coordinator/Executive Assistant, Heartland Visioning;  

Anje Kearney, Owner/Operator, Anje’s Lawn Service;

Richard Kelly, Student, Washburn University;  

G.R. Laughlin, Jr., Homeless & MIS Administrator, Community Resources Council;  

Amy McCarter, Member Services Coordinator, KaMMCO;

Scott Mickelsen, Manager, Pet Nutrition Resources, Hill’s Pet Nutrition;

Shalyn Murphy, Communications & Marketing Director, Visit Topeka, Inc.;  

Gina Newsham, Marketing & Membership Coordinator, Topeka Country Club;  

Carrie Ognowski, Executive Director, Sunflower Soccer Association;  

Tony Pham, Student, Class of 2013, Highland Park High School,  

Barb Quaney, PT, PhD, Program Director & Assistant Professor, Washburn University;  

Dennis Rose, Vice President, Delivery Systems, Capitol Federal Savings;

Ann Shelton, Manager – Tax, ASO & Accounts Payable, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas;

Jeanne Slusher, 2^nd Vice President and Director of Audit, Security Benefit Corporation;  

Grant Sourk, Realtor, Kirk & Cobb Realtors;

Keith Tatum, Program Consultant II, Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities;

Karily Taylor, Executive Director/CEO, Marian Clinic;  

Yolanda Taylor, Founder/President, Heavenly Visions Foundation;  

Constance Wagers, Director of Medical Imaging Services, Stormont-Vail HealthCare;

Janel Warmington, Relationship Manager, US Bank;  

Sheryl Weller, Chief Financial Officer, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library;  

Adriene Williams, Senior Financial Systems Analyst, Collective Brands, Inc.;  

Jenifer Woodman, Certified Staffing Professional, Key Staffing

2014 Leadership Greater Topeka Nomination

I, or our organization, would like to nominate the following individual to participate in this program. (It is acceptable to nominate yourself.) TO ENSURE THE NOMINEE RECEIVES HIS/HER APPLICATION, COMPLETE ALL INFORMATION BELOW. Nominee Information Title * --Select One-- Mr. Ms. Mrs. Dr. Name * Firm or Organization (if applicable) High School Student * Yes No Address 1 * Address 2 City * State * Zip * Email address * Phone * I, or we, understand that an application and informational literature will be sent to the above individual for review and consideration. Nominator Information Same as Nominee Name Firm, Agency or Organization Address 1 Address 2 City State Zip Email address * Phone Type the characters you see in the picture below