COVER STORY
Leadership Sioux Falls celebrates 25 years
Future Leaders encouraged to apply for Leadership Sioux Falls
Leadership Sioux Falls celebrates 25 years
Business, community benefit from leadership graduates
by Kate Foley
Small Business & Leadership Development Manager
Leadership Sioux Falls
Graduates By Industry
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“Everything begins with an idea.” This was the late Jerry Simmons’ motto. Simmons, along with community leaders Jan Nicolay (educator and former state legislator) and the late Bill Barlow (of the Sioux Empire United Way and Home Federal Bank), founded the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce’s community leadership program, Leadership Sioux Falls, in 1986.
Their idea was to create an innovative program designed to meet the community’s need for active participation of informed and dedicated community leaders. Since that first class met in October 1986, its purpose has remained the same — to build a stronger community by identifying leaders who will effectively serve and unify the Sioux Falls area.
The concept of community leadership development originated in the United States in the late 1950s in response to a need to organize activities around the civil rights movement. Cities dealing with the social unrest of the 1960s also recognized that responsible, collaborative leadership was needed to build healthy communities. Building this capacity meant expanding a community’s leadership base. There are now about 1,500 community leadership programs worldwide.
Today, Leadership Sioux Falls continues its 25-year tradition of contributing to the development of citizen leaders. With 342 different businesses and organizations sponsoring more than 1,200 different applicants in the last quarter-century, Leadership Sioux Falls continues to be dedicated to building productive community leadership. Leadership Sioux Falls’ influential graduates represent all sectors of the community and are dedicated to providing leadership that is dynamic, meaningful and relevant.
Since its inception the Leadership Sioux Falls program has been a great way to establish communications with other professionals in the area and to inform, challenge and motivate participants and build a sense of community trusteeship. The program offers an opportunity to make valuable contacts and build lifelong relationships with other leaders in the community. It is also a great source of information about the Sioux Falls area and its challenges and opportunities.
The quality of the participants in Leadership Sioux Falls is the primary strength of the program. The right people are the most important asset in any organization. The right people help accomplish goals. The same holds true for communities: those who participate in the Leadership Sioux Falls program and help shape the community’s future are the “right people” for the community and continue to be an invaluable resource for the region.
“The Leadership Sioux Falls program is an invaluable tool for those looking to step up and assume leadership roles in the community. For many years, Wells Fargo has been sponsoring candidates. We want our employees to have an understanding of the issues facing our community and to take an active role in making Sioux Falls a better place to live and work,” said LSF Graduate Cathy Clark, Community Bank President of Wells Fargo Bank.
The Sioux Falls community is filled with amazing leaders and many of them are graduates of the Leadership Sioux Falls program. More than 700 community-minded individuals employed by large corporations, small non-profit organizations, cultural institutions, and everything in between have participated in the program. Approximately 85 percent graduates still live in the area, as estimated by the Chamber.
It’s easy to recognize the big names associated with any program and Leadership Sioux Falls is no exception. The community and the state are the fortunate recipients of 25 years of Leadership Sioux Falls graduates. Their impact on the community can be seen in countless ways. The Leadership Sioux Falls program has prestigious alumni who hold titles including lieutenant governor, mayor, state senators and representatives, city council and school board members, sheriff and assistant chief of police, school superintendent and principals, CEOs of public and private companies and executive directors at non-profit organizations, to name only a few positions. Several members of the Chamber’s Board of Directors are also Leadership Sioux Falls graduates.
LSF graduates are also the people who make a difference in neighborhoods, schools and churches. They are the volunteers who serve tirelessly on boards or commissions or non-profit agencies and are the advocates for people in need, provide the inspiration to raise awareness for a cause, or help that cause find connections and solutions with the goal of creating a better community.
“Leadership Sioux Falls graduates better understand the issues that face community residents and businesses by strengthening their connections to established and future business leaders. This gives them the resources and tools to better serve our community now and in the future,” said LSF Graduate Tom Simmons, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at Midcontinent Communications.
Each year, curriculum is developed with the idea of creating an integrated, total experience for participants. The topics change as the issues, challenges and opportunities of the community change. All sessions are designed to be interactive, stimulating and thought-provoking. Participants are also expected to share their unique experiences and learn from one another.
Leadership Sioux Falls uses the community as its classroom. The program calls upon local leaders and officials as guest experts to present information and lead discussions. Sessions focus on education, healthcare, leadership styles, the political process, non-profit board leadership, diversity, human services, law enforcement and corrections, and arts and culture. Many unique “enhancement” sessions are also planned each year, including various tours throughout the community.
“Leadership Sioux Falls is all about community involvement and providing participants with the knowledge and skills to get out and make a difference. I’ve lived in Sioux Falls my whole life and still came out of the program with a better understanding on how our city government operates and the challenges and issues we may face in the future,” said recent LSF Graduate Aaron Severson, Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. “LSF also provides a great opportunity to network with a diverse group of individuals each with unique ideas and notions geared toward pushing Sioux Falls forward. I can’t wait to see what our class accomplishes in the years to come.”
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| The first Leadership Sioux Falls class |
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The 24th Leadership Sioux Falls class |
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