Leadership South County
Each year, a group of 22 people participate in the South County Chamber's 10-month Leadership program. Designed to cover core topics that impact our community, this class will encourage participants to learn more about areas outside of their industries, expand their leadership skills and create lifelong friendships and networks. Each class is tasked with working together and completing a Legacy Project that helps our community in one way or another. Thanks to our program facilitators, CultureStoke and Bee Kind Consulting Co. Details of the program are below. If you have any questions, please email leadership@southcountychambers.com.
Leadership South County
Why
To foster leaders with diverse backgrounds and beliefs to effectively work together to address the unique opportunities and pressing challenges that affect our quality of life while building a bigger and brighter future for the community we live in.
What
Leadership South County is a 9-month community-based leadership development program dedicated to inspiring, educating and empowering tomorrow's community leaders
Who
Open to anyone who lives, works or attends school in San Luis Obispo County and Northern Santa Barbara County.
When
Leadership South County is a 9-month program that includes a 2-day Leadership Retreat and 9 Leadership Development Days complete with exciting field trips, behind the scene tours, and engaging conversations with local leaders.
Leadership Development Topics:
- Purpose, vision, & values
- Goal setting and execution
- Effective communication
- Performance management
- Inclusion & diversity
- Leading change
- Appreciation & celebration
- Increasing productivity
- Leadership mindset & habits
Community Focus Areas:
- Business & manufacturing
- Arts & education
- Recreation & tourism
- Housing
- Wine & agriculture
- Environmental sustainability
- Nonprofit organizations
- Government
- Regional cooperation
Leadership Retreat + Day Sessions
This specialized program from South County Chambers of Commerce easily complements a busy schedule since the day sessions are just one Friday a month. The annual South County Leadership retreat is hosted at the beautiful Lodge at Oak Creek Ranch in Santa Margarita each February.
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please email leadership@southcountychambers.com.
Feedback from previous Leadership South County participants:
"Being born and raised in Grover Beach and very active in our South County community over many years, I was highly impressed with my experience being in Leadership South County's Inaugural Class 1 touring places I never had been to (or even knew about), engaging on important hot topics and emerging issues, and meeting different key people and entities that are actively involved that I previously hadn't met,” said Clint Weirick, District Representative of San Luis Obispo County for California Senator John Laird and Grover Beach City Councilmember. “I developed new and advanced existing relationships with my fellow class members in a positive way that continue to this day in our professional and personal lives. I encourage anyone who lives or is involved in South County who wants to make a greater difference to apply for Class IV."
“I attended Leadership South County Class II," said Jimmy Paulding, San Luis Obispo County Supervisor for District 4. "The program was invaluable for three reasons: to grow your leadership skills, to learn more about our South County industry and government, and to develop strong relationships with other current and future community leaders. I highly recommend the program to anyone who has interest in one or all of these three areas."
"The various business segments planned for each class were incredibly excellent!" said Karen Bright, Mayor of Grover Beach and a Leadership South County Class III participant. "Even those that at first sounded rather dry, were so very interesting and fun, as well. However, I would say my best experiences were getting to know my classmates and class leaders. What an extraordinary, talented, and committed group of individuals. At each class and particularly with the Legacy Project, they continue to impress. I am honored to have had the opportunity."
Thank you to our founding sponsor, PG&E, and our other partners:
