The inaugural class of Leadership West Kentucky, a new regional leadership development program sponsored by the West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance (WKRCA), was recently launched with 30 participants from throughout West Kentucky.
Members of Leadership West Kentucky live or work in the counties represented by the West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance including Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, and Trigg. All 14 counties have representation in the program, which was created to promote regionalism and build a network of informed citizens across community lines. The outcome desired is to instill pride in the region and focus on encouraging participants to be active in their region and community.
Community Financial Services Bank (CFSB) is represented by Dana Howard, VP and Director of Marketing, who also represents Marshall County in the class.
TVA is the presenting sponsor of the program. The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce serves as the administrator for WKRCA and is coordinating this new leadership program through their Leadership Center. Curriculum will include leadership development, education on issues facing the region, relationship-building and awareness of the attributes and uniqueness of each county.
"We hope the first class of participants of Leadership West Kentucky will return to their communities and companies with increased skills, knowledge, perspective, and a new regional professional network," said Sandra Wilson, Paducah Chamber President. "These leaders will have the resources to be better prepared to be catalysts in their companies and communities to further the region."
The class had a two-day orientation in Paducah in January and will meet monthly through May in locations throughout the region. The one-day sessions will focus on a featured community as well as regional topics such as transportation, education, economic development, quality of life, advocacy, agriculture, and tourism. In February the class will focus on Lyon/Caldwell counties, in March will meet in Murray, in April in Fulton/Hickman counties and will graduate at the final session to be held in Hopkinsville in May.
For more information about Leadership West Kentucky and the West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance, visit wkrca.org.