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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART:20260827T210000Z
DTEND:20260827T230000Z
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SUMMARY:LEAD Champaign County 2026
DESCRIPTION:Developing the Next Generation of Leaders\n\nLEAD Champaign County is designed to shape emerging professionals into confident\, community-minded leaders. Over the course of nine weeks\, participants will gain practical leadership skills\, strengthen their communication and professionalism and build a valuable network of peers across industries.\n\nThrough weekly sessions led by local business and civic leaders\, participants explore topics such as leadership styles\, strengths-based development\, strategic communication and civic engagement. The program benefits both the employee and employer by investing in long-term professional and personal growth.\n\n\n\nLEAD Champaign County Mission\n\n To attract and empower the next generation of community leaders in Champaign County.\n To connect young professionals to their peers\, local resources and opportunities for service\, leadership and advocacy.\n To engage participants in creating a stronger community.\n\n Program Kickoff Event\n\nTo start the program\, participants are invited to a casual networking and trivia night on August 27\, 2026. This kickoff event is a great opportunity to meet fellow participants\, start building relationships and set the tone for the weeks ahead. Light appetizers will be provided. Additional food and beverages available for purchase.\n\n \nNine-Week Program Schedule (Tentative):\n\nCome back for more details!\n\n\n\nWEEK 1 - Thursday\, August 27: Opening Reception and Kick-off Event\n\nLocation TBA\n\nTrivia\n\nTo kick off LEAD Champaign County\, participants will gather to meet and get to know each other better over some food and drinks. Participants will be given further additional materials and details about the class.\n\n\n\nWEEK 2 - Thursday\, September 3: Leadership Foundations & Strengths Analysis\n\n8:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m.\n\nChamber Office\, 303 W. Kirby Ave.\, Champaign\, IL\n\nPresented by Dr. Gayle Spencer\, Illinois Leadership Center\n\nFocus: Understanding personal leadership styles and strengths\n\n\n\nWEEK 3 - Thursday\, September 10: Effective Communication & Personal Branding\n\n8:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m.\n\nChamber Office\, 303 W. Kirby Ave.\, Champaign\, IL\n\nPresented by Dr. Stephanie Stuart\, Parkland College\n\nFocus: Crafting your professional presence and leadership voice\n\n\n\nWEEK 4 - Thursday\, September 17: Emotional Intelligence & Leadership\n\n8:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m.\n\nChamber Office\, 303 W. Kirby Ave.\, Champaign\, IL\n\nPresented by Heidi Esther\, Heidi Esther Unlimited\, LLC\n\nFocus: Learning how to develop and lead with emotional intelligence\n\n\n\nWEEK 5 - Thursday\, September 24: Team Building & Collaboration\n\n9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m.\n\nAllerton Park & Retreat Center\, 499 Old Timber Rd.\, Monticello\, IL\n\nParticipants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothes\, closed-toed shoes (tennis shoes are best) and bring water if needed. This will be an outdoor\, (light) physical activity. Please plan and dress accordingly.\n\n\n\nWEEK 6 - Thursday\, October 1: Community Leadership & Civic Engagement\n\n8:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m.\n\nChamber Office\, 303 W. Kirby Ave.\, Champaign\, IL\n\nPanelists from United Way\, Champaign Rotary and City of Champaign\n\nFocus: leading beyond the workplace nonprofit boards and public service\n\n\n\nWEEK 7 - Thursday\, October 8: Navigating Conflict & Difficult Conversations\n\n8:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m.\n\nChamber Office\, 303 W. Kirby Ave.\, Champaign\, IL\n\nPresented by Liz Borman\, CIHRG\n\nFocus: Managing workplace challenges and resolving conflicts effectively\n\n\n\nWEEK 8 - Thursday\, October 15: Preparing for Leadership Roles\n\n8:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m.\n\nChamber Office\, 303 W. Kirby Ave.\, Champaign\, IL\n\nPresented by various business leaders in Champaign County\n\nFocus: How to position yourself for promotions and leadership opportunities\n\n\n\nWEEK 9 - Thursday\, October 29: Etiquette Luncheon & Graduation\n\n11:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m.\n\nLocation TBD\n\nPresented by Patricia Simpson\, Game-Changing Etiquette\n\nParticipants will receive a crash course on the basics of business dining etiquette from Patricia Simpson of Game-Changing Etiquette. Gain the knowledge and skills needed to feel comfortable and confident at your next business meal.\n\n\n\n*Times may be subject to change. Updated information will be sent to participants as it becomes available. \n\n \nView other sponsorships HERE!\n\nQuestions?\n\nContact info@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791
X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Developing the Next Generation of Leaders
\nLEAD Champaign County is designed to shape emerging professionals into confident\, community-minded leaders. Over the course of nine weeks\, participants will gain practical leadership skills\, strengthen their communication and professionalism and build a valuable network of peers across industries.
\nThrough weekly sessions led by local business and civic leaders\, participants explore topics such as leadership styles\, strengths-based development\, strategic communication and civic engagement. The program benefits both the employee and employer by investing in long-term professional and personal growth.
\n
\nLEAD Champaign County Mission\n\n - To attract and empower the next generation of community leaders in Champaign County.
\n - To connect young professionals to their peers\, local resources and opportunities for service\, leadership and advocacy.
\n - To engage participants in creating a stronger community.
\n
\n Program Kickoff Event
\nTo start the program\, participants are invited to a casual networking and trivia night on August 27\, 2026. This kickoff event is a great opportunity to meet fellow participants\, start building relationships and set the tone for the weeks ahead. Light appetizers will be provided. Additional food and beverages available for purchase.
\n \;\n
Nine-Week Program Schedule (Tentative):
\nCome back for more details!
\n
\nWEEK 1 - Thursday\, August 27: Opening Reception and Kick-off Event
\nLocation TBA
\nTrivia
\nTo kick off LEAD Champaign County\, participants will gather to meet and get to know each other better over some food and drinks. Participants will be given further additional materials and details about the class.
\n
\nWEEK 2 - Thursday\, September 3: Leadership Foundations &\; Strengths Analysis
\n8:30 a.m. &ndash\; 10:30 a.m.
\nChamber Office\, 303 W. Kirby Ave.\, Champaign\, IL
\nPresented by Dr. Gayle Spencer\, Illinois Leadership Center
\nFocus: Understanding personal leadership styles and strengths
\n
\nWEEK 3 - Thursday\, September 10: Effective Communication &\; Personal Branding
\n8:30 a.m. &ndash\; 10:30 a.m.
\nChamber Office\, 303 W. Kirby Ave.\, Champaign\, IL
\nPresented by Dr. Stephanie Stuart\, Parkland College
\nFocus: \;Crafting your professional presence and leadership voice
\n
\nWEEK 4 - Thursday\, September 17: Emotional Intelligence &\; Leadership
\n8:30 a.m. &ndash\; 10:30 a.m.
\nChamber Office\, 303 W. Kirby Ave.\, Champaign\, IL
\nPresented by Heidi Esther\, Heidi Esther Unlimited\, LLC
\nFocus: \;Learning how to develop and lead with emotional intelligence
\n
\nWEEK 5 - Thursday\, September 24: Team Building &\; Collaboration
\n9:00 a.m. &ndash\; 12:00 p.m.
\nAllerton Park &\; Retreat Center\, \; \;499 Old Timber Rd.\, Monticello\, IL
\nParticipants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothes\, closed-toed shoes (tennis shoes are best) and bring water if needed. This will be an outdoor\, (light) physical activity. Please plan and dress accordingly.
\n
\nWEEK 6 - Thursday\, October 1: Community Leadership &\; Civic Engagement
\n8:30 a.m. &ndash\; 10:30 a.m.
\nChamber Office\, \; 303 W. Kirby Ave.\, Champaign\, IL
\nPanelists from United Way\, Champaign Rotary and City of Champaign
\nFocus: leading beyond the workplace&mdash\;nonprofit boards and public service
\n
\nWEEK 7 - Thursday\, October 8: Navigating Conflict &\; Difficult Conversations
\n8:30 a.m. &ndash\; 10:30 a.m.
\nChamber Office\, \; 303 W. Kirby Ave.\, Champaign\, IL
\nPresented by Liz Borman\, CIHRG
\nFocus: \;Managing workplace challenges and resolving conflicts effectively
\n
\nWEEK 8 - Thursday\, October 15: Preparing for Leadership Roles
\n8:30 a.m. &ndash\; 10:30 a.m.
\nChamber Office\, \; 303 W. Kirby Ave.\, Champaign\, IL
\nPresented by various business leaders in Champaign County
\nFocus: \;How to position yourself for promotions and leadership opportunities
\n
\nWEEK 9 - Thursday\, October 29: Etiquette Luncheon &\; Graduation
\n11:30 a.m. &ndash\; 1:00 p.m.
\nLocation TBD
\nPresented by Patricia Simpson\, Game-Changing Etiquette
\nParticipants will receive a crash course on the basics of \;business dining etiquette from Patricia Simpson of Game-Changing Etiquette. Gain the knowledge and skills needed to feel comfortable and confident at your next business meal.
\n
\n*Times may be subject to change. Updated information will be sent to participants as it becomes available. \;
\n \;\n
View other sponsorships HERE!
\nQuestions?
\nContact \;info@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791
LOCATION:Registration for this kick-off session will register you for the course. All sessions will be held in person. Unless otherwise noted\, all sessions take place at the Chamber office.
UID:e.3371.6444
SEQUENCE:3
DTSTAMP:20260608T210430Z
URL:https://business.champaigncounty.org/events/details/lead-champaign-county-2026-6444
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