Training a new crop of leaders

Leaders are made, not born.

That was the message from the first day of Leadership 2009, the year-long training program put on by the Carson City Chamber of Commerce, which kicked off the new class last Thursday and Friday at the Gold Dust West.

The program seeks to create leaders in the community, people who want to get involved and learn more about Carson City and what makes it tick. And over the year, they also learn a lot about themselves and the other people in the group.

"The whole idea for this class is to expand your horizons, to hone your skills and see where they might fit outside of the niche where you are now," said Jim Smolenski, vice chairman of the chamber.

Smolenski went through the program in 2004. Since then, he's taken a position on the Carson City Parks & Recreation Board, where he has just been elected vice chairman.

He's also slated to take over as chairman of the chamber later this year.

"It instilled in me some self-confidence to be out in the community and do what I can for this community," Smolenski said. "This where I live, it's where I'm going to stay. I'm going to give as much as I can."

Last year, Smolenski headed up the leadership program, which is in its 20th year. This year, he was on hand just to help out and to watch the new class begin its year-long journey.

"This has just been a passion of mine every since I went through it," he said. "Even though I'm not the chairman anymore, I wanted to be here for the kickoff, and see the dynamic, the individuals this program draws."

One of those individuals is Debbie Lawrence, owner and operator of Autumn Funerals & Cremations.

"I think it's great," Lawrence said. "I'm doing it to become more involved in the community and learn more about Carson City. I'm looking forward to it."

The initial session was a course in personality profiles taught by former Carson City Manager Linda Ritter. A test divided the group of 18 into four color-coded profiles. But it also showed how each personality type interacts with the others, and how to best deal with these differences. It also helped the group members to get to know one another.

"I thought it was fun," said Hannah McIntosh, owner and partner of Vital Signs. "I think it helps us to understand people, and helps you understand who you are working with, and other ways to communicate with them."

This session was followed by other sessions dealing with what it means to be a leader, a history lesson about Carson City and Nevada, and an overview of the Nevada Legislature. There was also bowling exercise to further help the group dynamic.

Later sessions, taught once a month, will have the group visiting the Legislature, getting a better look at the school system, and riding along with a sheriff's deputy on patrol.

" The momentum of this program keeps building," Smolenski said. "The nature of it gives you a better idea of the whole scope of our community."

- Contact reporter Kirk Caraway at kcaraway@nevadaappeal.com or 775-881-1261.

- Jessica Albericci

business specialist

Wells Fargo

- Michael Bennett (Mike)

civil engineer

Lumos & Associates

- Michael Brown (Mike)

assistant manager

Les Schwab Tire Center

- Vincent Caporale (Vince)

financial advisor

Edward Jones Investments

- Pennie Eiben

- James Gray (Jim)

insurance agent/

investment services

Country Financial

- Melissa Harlow

Dayton branch manager

Greater Nevada Credit Union

- Thomas Henderson (Tom)

owner, Healthy Trees

- Barbara Jones (Barb)

project coordinator

Community Counsel on Youth

- Debbie Lawrence

owner/operator

Autumn Funerals &

Cremations

- Jeff Melvin

lieutenant

Carson City Sheriff's Department

- Susan Meyer

- Hannah McIntosh

owner/partner

Vital Signs

- Lupe Ramirez

executive assistant

Western Nevada College

- Jackie Rhea

shelter manager

Advocates to End Domestic Violence

- Pedro Rodriguez

highway project engineer

Manhard Consulting, Ltd.

- Christian Utley (Chris)

president, senior

technician

Geeks of Nevada, Inc.

- Susan Wasko

attorney

Law Offices of Susan N. Wasko