Emerging Leaders Series

Applications for the 2021 Emerging Leaders Series cohorts are now open.

Your application is NOT COMPLETE without a signed commitment form. Please submit this to Mel Trombley, Director of Leadership Programs, to be considered for the Emerging Leaders Series.

2021 Emerging Leaders Series Commitment Form

About the Program

If you are a professional with a passion for growing your career and becoming actively engaged in the community, the Emerging Leaders Series offers the ideal setting to expand your horizons.

Make Grand Rapids your classroom with five half-day sessions that combine tours, speakers, activities, and interdisciplinary discussions that build community connections, leadership skills, and insight into issues facing Grand Rapids. Plus, you’ll discover new opportunities to engage in the community.

This program is right for you if you are looking for:

Conversations with key community leaders
Visits to innovative community programs and initiatives
Networking with a diverse group of peers
An orientation to the city and what makes it a unique community
Personal leadership development

This professional development opportunity is particularly valuable for young and early-career professionals, as well as those with a keen interest in our community and growing professionally.

Chamber leadership programs prioritize creating spaces where diverse perspectives can come together to learn, grow and push our community forward.

2021 Session Dates, Program Details & Cost

Session Dates

Cohort 1

All sessions are hosted bi-weekly on Wednesday between 11:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

April 7: Orientation & Building Relationships
April 21: Your Community
May 5: Finding Your Strengths
May 19: Key Community Issues
June 2: You Are Next

Cohort 2

All sessions are hosted bi-weekly on Wednesday between 11:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

October 13: Orientation & Building Relationships
October 27: Your Community
November 10: Finding Your Strengths
December 1: Key Community Issues
December 15: You Are Next

Attendance at all program sessions is mandatory to achieve the full value of the program. If you cannot adjust your schedule to accommodate full participation, please consider applying at a time when you have greater flexibility. If selected, the participants’ employer will be required to provide a signature agreeing to their full support for the employee’s time required to participate in the Emerging Leaders Series.

Program Details

The Emerging Leaders Series has capacity for up to 40 diverse individuals who:

Are passionate about growing their careers
Are motivated and interested in learning, self-discovery, community exposure, networking; and how to use this experience to become community trustees
Represent a cross-section of business, non-profits and units of government, professions, ages, cultural perspectives, ethnic backgrounds, and geographical areas throughout the Grand Rapids community
Willing to commit to being on time and engaged in all ELS sessions

Cost and Scholarships

Program Cost: Tuition must be paid in full by the first class session.

Chamber Member: $800

Non-Member: $950

There are a limited number of partial scholarship funds available. Please submit the following scholarship application form to mel@grandrapids.org along with a short explanation of the reason for your request NO LATER than 30 days prior to first session to be considered.

2021 Emerging Leaders Series Scholarship Application