The Leadership Tuscarawas Class of 2011 held its graduation recently at Georgio’s Grille in Bolivar. The event wrapped up a 10-month program that started in August with a county-wide bus tour, a daylong retreat and monthly program days. Each program day educates participants on a specific leadership skill and exposes them to issues facing the community with which they could become involved. Participants also network with many local leaders and learn from their experience and guidance.

Throughout the program, each class is required to complete a community project. Working together, members of the class planned and chose a children’s swing set that was erected at the Harbor House in Tuscarawas County.

Past projects continuing to serve our community include: Pay it Forward day from the Leadership Tuscarawas Class of 2009 (Tusky Valley Schools participate annually), the Tuscarawas County Literacy Coalition from the Leadership Tuscarawas Class of 2008 and History in Box from the Leadership Tuscarawas Class of 2007. These projects are made possible by a lot of hard work from class members and sponsors of the Leadership Tuscarawas program.

Gold sponsors include: First Federal Community Bank, who have sponsored 11 participants in the past nine years; Union Hospital with nine participants; Kent State University at Tuscarawas with eight participants; Lauren International/Edgetech I.G. Inc. with seven participants; and the Tuscarawas County Convention & Visitors Bureau with five Participants.

Members of the class of 2010 and their companies or organizations are as follows:

Dawn Butler - The Commercial & Savings Bank; Kathy Clemens - Progressive Foam Technologies; Angie DeLong - First Federal Community Bank; Greg Dorris - First Federal Community Bank; Erin Johnson – Edgetech I.G. Inc.; Bev Keller - The Budget; Tom Kelly - Union Hospital; Chris Kendle - Ohio State University Extension – Tuscarawas; Perry Petrullo - The Timken Company; Steve Schillig - Kent State University at Tuscarawas; Lisa Schilling - Tuscarawas County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Mission of Leadership Tuscarawas is to develop passionate, visionary leaders to strengthen the community. Preparing for its 10th year, the program is designed to build leadership skills, create awareness of community needs and provide hands-on training, experience and problem solving within a diverse group of community leaders.

To learn more about Leadership Tuscarawas or to complete an application for the program, visit http://www.leadershiptusc.org or contact Heather Beck at information@leadershiptusc.org or 330-340-5105.