Tipton, IN: The Tipton County Chamber of Commerce, was awarded a grant by the Tipton County Foundation to help establish a leadership pipeline in Tipton County. This grant will provide specific programming throughout 2021 and will be available to both members of the Tipton County Chamber as well as community members.

“As I began to analyze the present state of Tipton County and reflect on my considerable history with the Mayor’s office, it became evident that what our community needed was an organization to invest in the established and emerging leaders of this community,” stated Tipton County Chamber Executive Director Kegan Schmicker “It is our expectation that the various programs will improve the leadership capacity in our communities that will lead to more people expressing interest in the various leadership positions and fixing the leadership drought we presently have.”

This grant is not only a partnership between the Tipton County Chamber and the Tipton County Foundation but also with Shafer Leadership Academy. Based in Muncie, the Shafer Leadership Academy’s mission is to “provide inclusive leadership development so that people, organizations, and communities reach their full potential” and has a vision of “empowering people to inspire positive change in their community. Our participants excel in their careers, enrich the lives of others and transform their communities.”

Specifically, this partnership will enable Tipton County Chamber members free access to Shafer Leadership Academy’s monthly virtual events that all tackle complex and current topics to help build a person's leadership skills. Examples include: “The Simple Act of Appreciation”, “Overcoming Imposter Syndrome”, “How to Promote Your Organization or Event With Little To No Money”, and “The Power of Your Story: Connecting People, Building Community”.

Additionally, the Tipton County Chamber of Commerce will host an “All Aboard: Board Leadership in Motion” learning session. This will be a three-hour workshop ideal for individuals who have a desire to serve on a not-for-profit board but want to learn more about what serving as a board member entails, and how to find the potential board opportunity that suits their interests and skillsets.

Lastly, the Tipton County Chamber in partnership with Shafer Leadership Academy will program Leadership Tipton County which will serve as a local leadership academy for the community. This program is designed to help facilitate and enhance the development of leadership when working with groups.  Participants will be able to explain Kouzes and Posner’s Five Exemplary Practices of Leadership, with a specific focus on applying these principles to their daily lives.  The goal of this course is to help participants explore their own leadership identity. Using the Five Practices as a lens, students will examine their own leadership competencies and determine their areas of strengths and opportunities for growth.  

“Our organization is excited and proud of the work on this effort already,” stated Tipton County Chamber Board President Melissa Cunnyngham “We have a vision on where we want this organization and community to head, and we believe by investing in our existing and emerging leaders that we will get there successfully.”

Specific timing on the programs mentioned in this article will be communicated when dates are finalized and interested parties are encouraged to connect with the Tipton County Chamber on their social media accounts and website for additional information and events in 2021. www.TiptonChamber.org