On Thursday, 16 professionals will graduate from the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Institute for Leadership Development, a program that effectively utilizes the resources of the chamber to develop and enhance leadership skills of young professionals with a focus on essential skills for business, community and personal growth.
 
“Leadership development is an ongoing process. Our Institute for Leadership Development builds upon the professional skills of our participants through a comprehensive curriculum and our mentor-mentee program,” said Bridges Sinyard, chair of the chamber’s Leadership Development Committee.
 
The mentor-mentee component pairs leaders with young professionals who can learn from their experience and knowledge. Along with mentorship, the curriculum provides a genuine and detailed focus on several key leadership qualities, including effective networking; effective delegation; understanding leadership style; visioning and strategic planning; political savvy; influence and negotiation; image and the media.
 
“Leadership doesn’t just come from the top; it can come from many levels of a business’ personnel and management hierarchy,” said Bárbara Rivera Holmes, interim president and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce. “The chamber is extremely proud of the Institute for Leadership Development and of the graduates of its 2015-2016 class.”
 
The evening begins with a graduation reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by the program. The event will be hosted at Wynfield Plantation in Albany.
 
 
The Institute for Leadership Development Class of 2015-2016
 
·       Stephen Harrell                   Draffin & Tucker LLP

·       Jason Percy                         KingsMark Private Financial Advisors

·       Chase Harvard                     AB&T National Bank

·       Chris Courson                      Sasco Chemical Group, Inc.

·       Adam Hutchins                    Hutchins Clenney Rumsey Huckaby, PC

·       Julie Dennison                      Marine Corps Installations East

·       Marcia Smith                       Marine Corps Installations East

·       Sabrina Caldwell                 Marine Corps Installations East

·       Jill Creech                           SB&T

·       Steven Pruitt                      Watson Spence LLP

·       Tim Barbree                        Easter Seals Southern Georgia

·       Cory Lee                             Central Monitoring Services, Inc.

·       Daa'iyah Salaam                 Albany Technical College

·       Payne Hughes Jr.                 Thrush Aircraft, Inc.

·       Emily Dent                           Mauldin & Jenkins, CPA

·       Kristen Schuette                  Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau
 
Applications are still being accepted for the 2016-2017 class of the Institute for Leadership Development. The application can be found at albanyga.com/benefits/programs/.