CLASSS 0F XXIX
Leadership Stillwater
Leadership Stillwater is a program designed
to identify potential and emerging leaders in Stillwater and prepare them for community involvement and civic leadership positions .
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COMMERCE | 2021 P r o fi l e Magazine of the Stillwater Chamber of Commerce
Each class of the leadership program has been tasked with taking an idea and making it come to life with an event to better the community . This group ’ s event , Stillwater Ride and Seek , benefited the Stillwater Community Health Center . Class XXIX members created a city-wide , family-friendly charity scavenger hunt . The scavenger hunt began at Kicker with a packet of clues that took you on an adventure around Stillwater .
Michelle Helm , a Leadership Stillwater Class XXIX member and the Visit Stillwater Director of Marketing , said the scavenger hunt was the first idea the class came up with . The class decided they wanted an event they could pass on to become a yearly fundraiser for the center and grow for years to come – a scavenger hunt checked all the boxes .
“ This was a really exciting group to be a part of ,” Helm said . “ We had a diverse group of people in this class , so we all were able to play to our strengths when planning the
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF XXIX
Kyle Anderson Stillwater First United Methodist Church
Ty Billingslea University & Community Federal Credit Union scavenger hunt . To better communicate with everyone , we broke up into three different committees and met outside of class time to plan and market the event .”
The Leadership Stillwater program is known to enhance leadership and professional skills while learning to become advocates for the community . Most importantly , the class helps create lasting friendships with people who they may never had the chance to meet if not for Leadership Stillwater . Each leadership session provides behind the scenes information about Stillwater ’ s city services , nonprofits , economy and overall structure . Many entities make it possible , and this collaboration
Rick Dunham US Army Reserve
Cody Erickson Legacy Village
Jamie Forte Ferguson Enterprises
Lauren Gee Cockrell Eyecare Center
helps develop employees of various businesses into better community leaders .
“ While this year has been very different from previous classes , I still felt there was so much knowledge to gain from completing this program ,” Helm said . “ It was fascinating to see
how COVID-19 has impacted different aspects in different ways . For this , my classmates and I received an added layer of understanding of how COVID-19 has and continues to affect the people of our community .”
Applications for the Leadership Stillwater program open in May each year , but for more information before then , visit stillwaterchamber . org / leadershipstw .
Kelsey Grounds Stillwater Vision Clinic
Joshua Hawkins Stillwater Chamber of Commerce