Register Now for Leadership Lincoln XXXIV

Leadership Lincoln XXXIV begins September 10 and is held on the second Thursday of the month through April. The application deadline is August 31.  Although this year will look a little different than most, due to COVID and social distancing measures, we hope you will join us.
 
Each month is filled with a wealth of knowledge. September, Team Building; October, Healthcare & Social Services; November, Government & Judicial; December, Education; January, Economic & Workforce Development; February, Industry; March, Media & Diversity; and April, Tourism. Hopefully in May we will be able to make our annual trip to Baton Rouge for Northern Exposure then back to Ruston for graduation in May. If not, Northern Exposure will be held via Zoom.
 
Established by the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Lincoln has provided hundreds of individuals the opportunity to cultivate community knowledge and personal leadership skills. Leadership Lincoln promotes civic responsibility by encouraging involvement, as well as developing enthusiasm and dedication.
 
“Leadership Lincoln encourages participants to ask the questions “why” and “how” as they look at all facets of our community and region. Our goal is to help the participants acquire a better knowledge of the community’s strengths and challenges. Leadership Lincoln’s mission is quite simple… to develop the leadership skills and qualities within our students so they will become well-rounded leaders in their workplace, their church, a civic organization and/or local government,” explained Judy Copeland, Chamber President and Leadership Lincoln facilitator. “Leadership Lincoln helps identify and motivate emerging community leaders and challenges those leaders to increase their participation in the community.”
 
Businesses are encouraged to enroll an employee in the program. Several local organizations take advantage of this opportunity year after year.
 
Century Next Bank realizes the importance of the Leadership Lincoln program, and is pleased to include our employees as participants each year. The program exposes facets of our community that aren’t always evident, and the information shared is important for a well-rounded understanding of Lincoln Parish. As a community bank, we are excited about this program as an opportunity to further engage with our community.
-- Jessica Slaughter, AVP Employee & Community Engagement, Century Next Bank, Leadership Lincoln XXXIII
 
The President of Hunt Guillot & Associates, Trott Hunt said, “We send employees for several reasons, but mainly to become more aware of the community and the Chamber overall.  Our work tends to be outside of the local community, so this is a way for our up-and-coming managers to get to know some of the local business people.  It has been a good program and all of our people have enjoyed the chance to participate.”
 
“While our local high schools have always worked to provide outstanding leadership opportunities for the students, the partnership the Chamber has with the Lincoln Parish School District allows us to really open the doors to authentic leadership through mentorship at multiple levels.  With our implementation of the Civic Engagement Institute at the sophomore level, then S.A.I.L. for juniors, having Leadership Lincoln available for senior students is almost like a leadership capstone project,” explains Judy Copeland, Chamber President. “It is organic, in-depth leadership training as the students learn more about their community through interactive collaboration with leaders from every level throughout our business community. The students come away with an enriched view of their community as well as their place in it.  We believe it’s not only a tremendous opportunity for the students, but a real investment in the future of our community, because Leadership Lincoln positions students to become not only effective leaders, but informed, resourceful, and productive citizens of tomorrow.”

For more information about this program visit www.rustonlincoln.org or call 255-2031.
 
Congratulations to the 2019-2020 graduates.
John Bonner, Range Resources
Ashley Butler, Origin Bank (not pictured)
Stephen Brown, Origin Bank
Neal Carter, Origin Bank (not pictured)
Ashley Davis, Hampton Inn
Devin Davis, Southern AgCredit
Layne Davison, Louisiana Insurance Services
Edith DeVilbiss, LA Methodist Children's Home (not pictured)
Travis Fontenot, Dixie Center for the Arts (not pictured)
Thomas Graham, The Lincoln Agency
Rick Greene, Moxey NeLA
Livia Hamilton, Choudrant High School (not pictured)
Beck Hanes, Argent Financial Group
Haley Hogan, Lincoln Parish Assessor's Office (not pictured)
Kevin Klepzig, Lincoln Parish Police Jury
Amanda Meng, Ruston High School
Haven Moore, Origin Bank
Dr. Lisa Post, David Raines Community Health Center (not pictured)
Robby Roberson, Range Resources
Jessica Slaughter, Century Next Bank
Ashley Smith, Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
Nikayla Smith, Durrett Law & Title
Amy Stegall, City of Ruston
Maggie Weaver. Durrett Law & Title (not pictured)
Brianna Wimley, Century Next Bank