Naperville Chamber offers Leadership Institute

Beginning in January, Naperville professionals can take a four-month course through the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce designed to improve their leadership skills and better their businesses.

The chamber's Leadership Institute starts Thursday, Jan. 14, and continues through Wednesday, April 27. The kickoff for the institute will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, at Seven Bridges Golf Club, 1 Mulligan Drive, Woodridge.

By bringing together the best-in-class leadership development and area business leaders, the Leadership Institute offers business professionals the opportunity to learn and apply the competencies of highly effective leaders to drive business results in their organizations.

During the four-month program, participants will attend sessions on topics such as ethics and values, effective communication, teamwork, coaching effectiveness, customer focus, business acumen and strategic thinking.

"I found the Leadership Institute presenters to be outstanding and enjoyed the different approach and techniques each brought to their sessions," said Alwyn Francis, a 2015 Leadership Institute graduate and CEO of Virtutem. "To sum up my experience, I would say that I got an MBA-level education experience on leadership."

Each session is designed to cover one or more topics and includes case studies, panel discussions with top community leaders, group coaching and relevant implementation tactics. These teaching sessions are facilitated by Rick Lochner of RPC Leadership Associates Inc., Deborah Chima of O.W.N. Your Career Breakthrough, Kevin Harris of Bedrock Assets, and Chad Pedigo, lecturer in leadership.

Sessions meet at NIU's Naperville Campus. Between each session is a group coaching session at Naperville Bank and Trust in the Community Room. All sessions are customized to ensure behaviors are leveraged and implemented.

Early-bird registration for chamber members is available through Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the cost of $895 per person. After Tuesday, registration will increase to $995 per person for chamber members. Others may register for $1,295 per person. To register, visit naperville.net or call Brianna Belgio at (630) 544-3377.

If you go

What: Naperville Chamber's Leadership Institute

When: Kickoff is 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14; institute runs through April 27

Where: Kickoff at Seven Bridges Golf Club, 1 Mulligan Drive, Woodridge

Cost: $895 for members through Tuesday, Dec. 15, $995 after; $1,295 others

Info: naperville.net or (630) 544-3377