Williston Area Chamber of Commerce Extends Deadline for Leadership Williston 2025
News Release
For Immediate Release
December 9, 2024
Contact: Brookelle Otte
(701) 577-6000
brookelle@willistonchamber.com
Williston Area Chamber of Commerce Extends Deadline for Leadership Williston 2025
December 9, 2024, Williston, ND — Applications for Leadership Williston 2025, can be submitted through 11:59 p.m., December 15. Applicants can be apply for the program here.
Leadership Williston (LW) is an 8-month program centered on cultivating leaders through community engagement and exploration and professional development. For nearly 30 years, LW has provided a unique avenue to challenge leaders from all walks of life and industry in Williston.
Program Goals
· Encourage participants to develop long-lasting relationships with other leaders.
· Offer educational opportunities to discover the inner workings of the community and challenges facing the region.
· Familiarize participants with skills and tools to support effective and empathetic leadership.
· Challenge participants to become better speakers through the public speaking program.
· Foster community improvement through participant-designed and led community enhancement projects.
· Instill a sense of community to motivate participants into leadership roles.
Program tuition is $500 per participant and is generally covered by a participant’s employer. Financial assistance is also available.
For more information, contact The Williston Area Chamber of Commerce at (701) 577-6000 or email wchamber@willistonchamber.com.
Successful applicants will be notified by Monday, December 16, 2024.
Follow the Williston Area Chamber of Commerce on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn @willistonareachamberofcommerce.
######
Additional Leadership Williston Program Details
Leadership Williston is divided into four main components:
1) Leadership Skills
Giving our future leaders the tools that they need to succeed is of highest priority in the 2025 Leadership Williston program. The Williston Area Chamber of Commerce, Western Star Foundation, program director, and other partners have worked to identify leadership skills that are important to instill in our current and future leaders. Each month participants will have a 90-minute session with a community leader to learn about leadership skills.
2) Community Tour or Panel
The program is designed to expose existing and emerging leaders to the issues our region faces by using the community as a living classroom. LW strives to provide a broad experience to participants by covering topics each month like education, city and county government, the oil and agricultural industries, and more. Over eight sessions, LW challenges participants to become involved in our community and motivate them into leadership roles.
3) Public Speaking
Participants will tackle personal goals through the public speaking program. Each session will
also cover an aspect of leadership through discussion, presentations, etc.
4) Community Projects
Finally, each participant will be tasked with developing an individual or group project that directly benefits
our community.
For nearly 30 years, LW has provided a unique avenue to challenge leaders from all walks of life and industry in Williston.
Program Goals
· Encourage participants to develop long-lasting relationships with other leaders.
· Offer educational opportunities to discover the inner workings of the community and challenges facing the region.
· Familiarize participants with skills and tools to support effective and empathetic leadership.
· Challenge participants to become better speakers through the public speaking program.
· Foster community improvement through participant-designed and led community enhancement projects.
· Instill a sense of community to motivate participants into leadership roles.
Selection Criteria
To be eligible, an applicant’s employer must be a current member of the Williston Area Chamber of Commerce (WACC). If you are unsure of your employer’s status, please check the Member Directory at willistonchamber.com or call the Chamber at (701) 577- 6000.
Ten participants will be chosen by the program director, Western Star Foundation (WSF) Board of Directors, and Chamber staff following an interview process. They seek diversity in regard to age, gender, education, employment sector, professional experience, interests, and talents.
Desired participants are individuals who:
· Have participated/do participate in community and professional activities and organizations
· Can attend all sessions and program events
· Are dedicated to personal and professional growth
Please note: While this is a leadership program, you are not required to hold a current leadership position in your company.
Tuition
· Program tuition is $500 per participant.
· Tuition is generally covered by a participant’s employer.
· Tuition includes all course materials, session costs, and meals. Full payment of tuition is due by February 12, 2025, unless other arrangements are made.
If you are unable to complete the program, or fail to meet attendance requirements, tuition will not be reimbursed. Exceptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Financial Assistance
· Financial assistance in the form of a Chamber Scholarship is available to assist qualified individuals who may otherwise be unable to participate.
· Scholarship requests - either in full or a designated partial amount - will be considered on the applicant’s demonstrated need as indicated in his or her application.
Program Schedule 2025
LW meets the second Wednesday of every month:
· February 12
· March 12*
· April 9
· May 14
· June 11
· July 9
· August 13
· September 10
· GRADUATION: September 17 (tentative; date will be finalized by the May course)
* Optional trip to Bismarck for a state capitol trip if this is a legislative year. If this is not a legislative session year, participants will be invited to go to Bismarck with the next year's cohort.