The 2017 class of the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Walton program graduated on Monday, May 15, 2017, after a nine-month curriculum consisting of various professional and leadership development programs. The President of Northwest Florida State College, Dr. Devin Stephenson, served as the speaker for this year’s graduating class providing an insightful and enthusiastic look at the future of leadership of the Leadership Walton class participants.
This year’s graduating class members are: Michael V. Butler, Lulu’s Destin; Aaron Cosson, Rosemary Beach Property Owners Association; Josh Ervin, Visit South Walton; Jeff Goldberg, Walton County Emergency Management; Dayley Gunnells, Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort; William Jones, Carr, Riggs & Ingram; Meghan Kelly, Alys Beach; Chris Lehman, Walton County Sheriff’s Office; Avery McAninch, Tops’l Beach & Racquet Resort; Maggie McCall, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa; Ashleigh Simmons, Walton County Tax Collector; Bryan Whitehead, LAH Real Estate at The Beach; Bonnie Whitfield, CHELCO; and Gabrielle Woods, Walton Area Chamber of Commerce.
The goal of Leadership Walton is to provide a group of select professionals with a more in-depth understanding of how the Walton County area functions to expand their knowledge of local issues and the skills needed to address them. With a trip to Tallahassee for this year’s legislative session, along with tours of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, County Jail, and County Courthouse, the graduates gained understanding of how state and local governments are organized, regulated and how they can drive communities forward under exemplary leadership.
Additional course curriculum included both the Birkman and LeaderGrade Assessments, “Dale Carnegie: Skills for Success†training course, as well as an additional overnight retreat to begin the program with respected leadership coach Anne Margaret Kelly. In addition, each student was assigned a mentor through the Chamber’s Mentoring Emerald Coast program to serve as a resource for both personal and professional development.
Each Leadership Walton class is tasked with a project to better some aspect of the local community. The class project of the 2017 Leadership Walton Class was a volunteer day with Habitat for Humanity of Walton County.
Leadership Walton is a program of the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce. Each course consists of multiple leadership and professional development seminars and courses. Recruitment for the 2017-18 class of Leadership Walton is open. If you would like more information about this topic, or are interested in participating in Leadership Walton as a student or mentor please contact Megan Harrison at 850-267-0683 or email at ceo@waltonareachamber.com.