The Chamber’s newly developed Leadership Institute is primed to offer a first class leadership program to its Members. The six-month program will offer participants the opportunity to meet twice a month for insightful discussions with top community leaders, on topics relevant to their business, and coaching sessions.

The Leadership Institute kicks off January 7th at the Holiday Inn Select in Naperville with a self assessment, goal setting exercise and a panel discussion on ethics and values.

In this opening session, participants will utilize an assessment tool that determines specific behaviors and competencies in which an individual is naturally strong and areas to focus their development efforts. They will gain an understanding of how to establish and achieve challenging goals for themselves and inspire others to become goal setters also; and how they consistently demonstrate core values and beliefs in performing their role in their company at any level.

The program’s initial panel discussion will focus on ethics and values and consists of three of the area’s top leaders who will provide valuable real world examples they have encountered in their own leadership positions: Pam Davis, CEO of Edward Hospital; Ray McGury, Executive Director of Naperville Park District; and Kathy Birkett, Superintendent of Indian Prairie Community School District 204.

Pam Davis joined the staff of Edward Health Services Corporation in 1988 as President and CEO. Pam received the Year 2000 Business Ledger’s award for “Influential Women in Business,” and the Maimonides Health Care Leadership award by the Anti-Defamation League in 2003 honoring individuals in the medical community whose leadership and character are demonstrated in both word and deed. She was named “2005 Person of the Year” for Naperville by the Daily Herald. In January, Pam was appointed to the Illinois Reform Commission by Governor Pat Quinn.

Ray McGury joined the Naperville Park District, as Executive Director, in September 2008 with more than 27 years of community leadership, education and law enforcement experience. Ray served the Naperville Police Department for more than 20 years, retiring at the rank of police captain, and later at the Bolingbrook Police Department where he served as the Chief of Police since 2005. Ray was instrumental in drafting Illinois House Bill 1582, strengthening law enforcement’s ability to obtain personal identification on suspected pedophiles. He was the Team Leader for the “Too Good for Drugs program.” A recipient of numerous awards, Ray has been honored by the Illinois State Crime Commission as Police Chief of the Year and received the Medal of Honor for Bravery from the International Narcotics Officers’ Association.

Kathy Birkett was recently named Superintendent of Indian Prairie School District 204 after dedicating her career to the District, beginning as a teacher at Waubonsie Valley High School in 1979. She moved up through the district, serving as Assistant Principal at Waubonsie Valley High School and principal of Steck Elementary School. She opened Neuqua Valley High School in 1996, and served as the school's principal until 2004. Birkett then served as Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education and assisted with the creation of the district's Frontier program for high school seniors earning dual college credit. Since 2007, Birkett has served as Deputy Superintendent, where she has been instrumental in overseeing preparations for opening Fischer Middle School and Metea Valley High School. Birkett has served as Vice Chairman of the Edward Hospital Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Linden Oaks Hospital Board, and as a Board member of Fry Family YMCA.

Each subsequent session of the Leadership Institute will focus on essential leadership topics such as managing relationships, teamwork, coaching effectiveness, customer focus, business acumen and strategic thinking which all include panel discussions from key leaders in the community.

Leadership Institute sessions will be lead by three facilitators, including Rick Lochner, Andy Kindler and Deborah Chambers-Chima.

Rick Lochner, President of RPC Leadership Associates, Inc., has successfully lead organizations in Fortune 100 corporations and privately held entrepreneurial ventures across multiple industries. His firm works with individuals, organizations and not-for-profit boards, helping them achieve leadership success.

Andy Kindler, with Corporate Strategies and Solutions, a Sandler Training Center, has over 20 years experience in working to promote organizational change, selection and succession planning. Using advanced training and coaching techniques, Andy consistently develops high performing management teams.

Deborah Chambers-Chima is the president and CEO of Chambers Consulting Group Ltd, an organizational consulting and executive coaching firm that promotes leadership development and team dynamics. Chambers-Chima worked for more than 20 years with McDonald’s Corporation where her corporate management positions included profit and loss accountability in both international and domestic markets.

Early bird registration for the Leadership Institute ends November 30th at $795 for Chamber Members and $945 thereafter. Register online now!