Leadership Pinebelt

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Click here to nominate someone or to apply for Leadership Pinebelt's 2013 class.

Background

Since 1989, Leadership Pinebelt has trained emerging and existing leaders in Greater Hattiesburg. Designed to broaden the base from which emerging leadership is derived, Leadership Pinebelt serves as a catalyst for increasing diversity among future leaders. Each class session focuses on enhancing leadership skills and garnering a better understanding of the positions of Healthcare, Cultural Arts, Economic Development, Military and Industry; the region’s essential assets.

Leadership Pinebelt comprises a diverse network of leaders and community volunteers who are committed to shaping our community both economically and socially while building and expanding their network. Each class encompasses a very diverse group of professionals who have attained leadership positions in their fields and are likely to be tapped for greater community responsibility. Many of the sessions focused on building leadership skills, such as conflict resolution, the power of persuasion and motivation. Leadership Pinebelt provides opportunities for professionals to garner a more informative view of the assets and potential of Greater Hattiesburg. Through these opportunities each class learns ways to make a positive contribution to the community, develop and practice their leadership skills, and gain a more comprehensive background on the contemporary issues concerning the region.

Goals

To build a network of community trustees who have enhanced their leadership skills through shared perspectives and working together
To develop an awareness of the challenges and opportunities in the community by examining major issues
To interact with both emerging and established community leaders
To become educated and motivated to assume leadership roles in the community

Program Format

The program begins with an orientation in March, followed by the two-day R.E.A.C.H. course at Pine Grove, which begins the team building process. The class must complete the obstacle course which enhances class bonds and unifies group members. After the course, the focus shifts to building leadership skills at a two-day retreat in Ocean Springs. The retreat focuses on developing leadership skills in the areas of personal power and persuasion, creating group and community visions and purpose, communications skills, self-motivation and motivating others, conflict resolution and team building.

The educational sessions held throughout the program include topics on the area’s rich history, government, community needs, downtown development, leadership styles and economic development. Cultural diversity is an integral part of every educational session. The class gets an extensive look at the community by touring Camp Shelby, local companies and health services available in the area.

After getting a better understanding of themselves, their classmates and their community, participants enhance their formal training by forming teams and identifying a solution to a community need, an improvement to the business climate or an enhancement to the area’s quality of life. Each project is evaluated for educational value and is presented at the graduation banquet held in October.

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