Leadership Steamboat                                   
Follow Us on Facebook 

Examining the Community, Creating Future Leaders                     

Since 1992, the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association and Colorado Mountain College have facilitated the Leadership Steamboat class, a leadership training program organized to develop leaders in business and community service.  

Each session, twenty students are selected from a myriad of local businesses to meet roughly once a month and learn more about the community through field trips and forums designed around the basic elements of the local economy and politics as well as the issues, infrastructure, and local businesses that interest the class.

How to Apply
Applications for the 2011/2012 Leadership class are due by September 1, 2011. Class will be limited to 20 students and selections will be made by September 7, 2011. To download an application click here.
Please return to the Chamber at P.O. Box 774408 or bring to 125 Anglers Dr. For more information call Marion Taylor at 875-7008.

2011/2012 Leadership Steamboat: Your Portal to Meaningful Community Involvement

Course Outline and Schedule:

Thursday & Friday, September 22/23 –ORIENTATION RETREAT (Half day Thursday, all day Friday) 
A two-day retreat designed to allow new students to get to know one another and discuss the contents of the Leadership Steamboat course.  Students get an opportunity to really get to know each other, voice their opinion on issues important to them and decide the context of future seminars.

Friday, October 7 – COMMUNITY FIELD TRIP – AGRICULTURE and LAND CONSERVATION/INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP PROJECT PLANNING
Students will spend a half-day looking at the challenges facing ranching and preservation of land in the Yampa Valley.  The second half of the day will focus on the expectations and planning of individual and group projects.

Friday, November 4 – COMMUNITY ISSUES
We will look at current issues impacting the Yampa Valley such as affordable housing, development and growth, or any three issues that are most important to the group.  An open forum allows students a chance to meet the players involved with these issues.

Friday, December 2 –– PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT – GETTING THINGS DONE – YAMPA VALLEY STYLE
Leadership Steamboat will bring community leaders to talk about how they were successful in achieving major changes in the valley – a new hospital, airport, ice rink, ski area, judicial center – how do these things happen?  What are the commonalities?  What are the challenges?  Lessons learned can be applied to potential future group project ideas.

Friday, January 13 – COMMUNITY FIELD TRIP – MINING / GROUP PROJECT PLANNING
Students will spend a half-day looking at the challenges facing mining in the Yampa Valley.  The second half of the day will focus on strategic planning tools as they relate to the group project.

Friday, February 3 – YAMPA VALLEY BUSINESSES
This day will feature various industries that make up the businesses of the Yampa Valley.  A visit with industry leaders representing tourism, health care, manufacturing or construction will help class members understand the challenges that face them.

Friday, March 2 – POLITICAL ACTION (City, County, and School District)
An in-depth look at City, County and School government and the issues and challenges each faces.  The day features panel discussions with public officials and a tour of public facilities.  Question and answer sessions allow students the chance to interact with these officials. Will also have a panel on Board development skills.

Friday, April 6 – PUBLIC SERVICE FORUM
An inside look at the various volunteer organizations operating in our community.  Students will present organizations that they have studied as part of their individual projects.

Friday, May 6-7 – REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE FIELD TRIP
The class will join City and County leaders on a bus ride to Aspen, CO for an overnight field trip to learn firsthand how they are grappling with similar issues and infrastructure.  This will be a good opportunity to get to know our community leaders as well as learn from our counterparts in another town.

Wednesday/Thursday May 16/17 – ECONOMIC SUMMIT 2012 (Tentative dates)
Students may attend the Economic Summit for a comprehensive look at the timely issues impacting the economics of the Yampa Valley. Entrance fee is paid but attendance is optional.

Friday, June 8– FINAL RETREAT (Half Day)
This is a one-day retreat to analyze and critique the leadership program and group project. It will include an evaluation of individual efforts, teamwork, goal achievement and overall contribution to the community. Class photo will be taken this day as well!

Thursday, June 14 – GRADUATION
Celebrate your achievement and community understanding at a Chamber luncheon to be held in your honor.  Bring family and co-workers to enjoy this event with you!

REQUIRED READING:  
There will be a book that will be distributed to the group as required reading before specific sessions.

Projects:
A large part of the program is a group project of the class’s choice. There will be time allotted during some of the classes, but some meetings and tasks will need to be completed outside of class time.

There is also an individual project requirement, this will need to be completed outside of class time.

Program Facilitators:
Randy Rudasics – Manager, Bogue Enterprise Center at Colorado Mountain College since 2006.  Previously Randy was President of Star Staffing Services in South Bend, Indiana and was a Manager with Hewlett Packard Company.  Randy is a 2007 Leadership Steamboat graduate. 819-2016, rudasics_1@msn.com 

Grant Fenton – President, Steamboat Investment Advisors.  Grant has lived in the community for 10 years, Grant is a 2005 Leadership Steamboat graduate, and serves on various local boards and committees.  846-1560, grant@steamboatinvestments.com

Tom Kern – CEO of the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association.  Tom has 30 years of experience starting and facilitating Leadership programs from around the country.

The 2010/2011 Leadership Class Graduates