Institute Sessions and Speakers 2009-2010

The Institute Team is proud to present the following community leaders, senior level executives and resource experts as guest panelists and featured speakers.

October 15/16, 2009: Welcome Dinner & Retreat
Welcome dinner Thursday evening at the Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce followed by a full day session on Friday. This kick starts the Institute by giving the class the opportunity to get to know each other and gain insight into their own leadership style and the program schedule for the eight upcoming monthly sessions. The retreat session will offer a focus on servant leadership, plus in-depth assessment about the individuals’ leadership style. This session will set the base for learning over the next nine months of the Leadership Institute.


November 13, 2009: Marketing, Media & Social Network
This portion of the program covers marketing, branding, and customer awareness, particularly as it applies to electronic communications. A dialog about the role and future of the news media and how you as a community leader can be effective with the media will be included. Participants will learn key steps for good media relations, how news stories are developed, and strategies for dealing with crisis communication. The class will also address the emerging field of social networking, examining the various venues for making electronic connections, current trends, and tactics to strategically integrate social networking into a communications plan.


December 18, 2009: Understanding Economic Development's Complexity
This session will examine Puyallup and Sumner’s past in order to learn about the future. Perspectives on community issues will be discussed. Participants will explore current economic problems and challenges and will see business projects, which offer innovative solutions to these challenges. This session is designed to provide insight into the business profile of Puyallup and Sumner, and to review the role of business, industry and employment in our community.


January 15, 2010: Understanding Local Government Structures
The objective of the day is to provide knowledge of local government’s responsibilities, funding, leadership, politics, limited resources and citizens’ opportunities in government. Participants learn how our local government is financed and how those funds are used to support our community. The intent of this session is to inform participants about the governmental process and explore opportunities for community participation.


February 19, 2010: Ethical Decision Making In A Diverse World
During this session, participants will learn about the many facets of diversity and how to more effectively foster diversity in our communities. Additional topics will also cover working with tribal governments, understanding generational challenges, and learning from others’ perspectives. At the end of the session, the participants will have enhanced skills for working in an increasingly diverse world.


March 19, 2010: Serving Our Community
Presentations will cover the human service needs in Puyallup and Sumner. Information is included about services available to meet the needs of all citizens in our community; the elderly, handicapped, homeless and poor. The intent of this session is to heighten the awareness of area human service offerings, while stressing the role of community involvement in the process.


April 23, 2010: Effective Boardsmanship & Fundraising
This session will feature boardsmanship and fundraising responsibilities including grants, contracts and sponsorships related to financing projects and events. Ethical and fiduciary responsibilities will be discussed. Participants will learn what key questions to ask to help determine their amount of involvement in various groups, boards and commissions. Roles of officers and skills needed to chair a board will be included.


May 21, 2010: Quality of Life: Key to Community Vitality
The intent of this session is to feature the quality of life in the Puyallup and Sumner areas. Included will be presentations on area developments, future plans for projects to enhance the area’s quality of life and discussion of what the area has to offer (outdoor recreation, the arts and cultural opportunities). The session will heighten the participant’s awareness of the abundant offering of activities that make up Puyallup and Sumner’s great quality of life. Education systems and care of the environment as tools to ensure long-term quality of life will be addressed.


June 11 2010: Final Session & Graduation
The future opportunities and challenges of the Puyallup and Sumner region will be presented and the class will be invited to become involved in the leadership of our community. Participants will receive their graduation certificates during a ceremony at the Puyallup / Sumner Chamber of Commerce luncheon.


Sessions are from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and include lunch.
Dress for the sessions in busiess casual attire.
The agenda includes a combination of gues speakers, site visits, and group activities.
Participants will have some team work.

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