Leadership Lewis is more than leadership training—it's a transformative, nine-month journey that develops confident, capable leaders while deepening their connection to Lewis County. Through immersive monthly sessions, participants don't just learn leadership theory; they practice real skills on real community challenges, building both their leadership capacity and their understanding of how to create positive change right here at home.
If you're ready to grow as a leader, expand your impact, and help shape Lewis County's future, now is the time to apply.
Start your application at https://www.lcchamber.org/leadership-lewis-application
It's Applied Leadership Development. Rather than sit through presentations about leadership concepts, participants engage in hands-on experiences that build skills they can use immediately—in their workplace, their community involvement, and their personal life.
It's Rooted in Lewis County. Every leadership skill is explored through the lens of real challenges and opportunities in our community. Participants don't just learn about stakeholder mapping—they map the stakeholders involved in Lewis County's economic development. They don't just study conflict resolution—they practice it on education-business partnership scenarios right here at home.
It's Progressive and Intentional. The program follows a carefully designed path from personal leadership to workplace effectiveness to community impact. Each month builds on the previous, creating a comprehensive leadership foundation that prepares participants to lead wherever they are.
It's Intimate and Collaborative. With cohorts limited to 15 participants, everyone gets personalized attention while building meaningful relationships across sectors and backgrounds. These connections often become some of the most valuable outcomes of the program.
Leadership Lewis follows a strategic progression designed to build your leadership capacity while deepening your connection to Lewis County's future.
Building the self-awareness and mindset that effective leadership requires
September: Self-Awareness & Emotional Intelligence: Master the foundation of all leadership—understanding yourself and reading others. Practice emotional intelligence skills through real Lewis County scenarios involving healthcare access, business challenges, and education equity.
October: Personal Vision & Goal Setting: Develop a clear leadership vision that connects your personal growth to community impact. Learn adaptive goal-setting that works in complex, changing environments, applied to Lewis County's education-to-workforce development challenges.
November: Adaptive Leadership & Navigating Complexity: Distinguish between problems that need technical solutions and those requiring leadership. Practice adaptive leadership approaches through Lewis County economic development scenarios that require multiple stakeholders and creative solutions.
Developing the interpersonal and influence skills that drive results
December: Understanding Influence & Strategic Mapping: Learn how to build and exercise positive influence across different stakeholders. Map influence networks and develop strategies through Lewis County's public health, tourism, and governance challenges.
January: Building Trust & Collaborative Leadership: Master trust-building and collaborative leadership skills through Lewis County's housing development and infrastructure investment challenges—scenarios that require bringing together diverse perspectives and interests.
February: Communication, Influence & Conflict Navigation: Adapt your communication style for different audiences and learn to navigate disagreement constructively. Practice these skills through education-business partnership scenarios that mirror real Lewis County workforce development needs.
Applying your leadership skills to create positive change in Lewis County
March: Reframing Assumptions & Leading with Openness: Uncover and challenge limiting assumptions that block community progress. Practice dialogue across differences using Lewis County's population and economic migration challenges as real-world applications.
April: Storytelling for Community Change: Learn strategic storytelling to inspire action and build support for community initiatives. Develop compelling narratives for Lewis County's future through successful and unsuccessful local change stories.
May: Leadership Legacy & Community Commitment: Synthesize your leadership journey and create specific commitments for continued community impact. Celebrate your growth while establishing foundations for ongoing leadership in Lewis County.
Develop Your Leadership Pipeline. Leadership Lewis creates a systematic approach to developing your next generation of leaders. Participants return with enhanced self-awareness, stronger communication skills, and proven ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments
Build Strategic Community Networks. Your employees don't just learn leadership—they build relationships across Lewis County's business, nonprofit, government, and education sectors. These connections become valuable resources for collaboration, problem-solving, and business development.
Enhance Employee Engagement and Retention. Employees who participate in Leadership Lewis report higher job satisfaction and stronger commitment to staying in Lewis County. The program demonstrates your investment in their growth while connecting them more deeply to the community.
Create Visible Community Impact. Leadership Lewis graduates consistently step into board positions, volunteer leadership roles, and community initiatives. Your investment in their development becomes visible community engagement that enhances your organization's reputation.
Develop Problem-Solving Capacity. The program's focus on adaptive leadership and complex problem-solving creates employees who can navigate uncertainty, build stakeholder buy-in, and implement solutions that stick.
🗓 Program Dates: September 2025 – May 2026
📍 Meeting Days: Second Thursday of each month
📌 Location: Various sites throughout Lewis County
🕗 Time Commitment: Full-day sessions, typically 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
💲 Investment:
Tuition includes all meals, materials, field experiences, and program activities.
📅 Application Deadline: June 27, 2025
✅ Notification of Acceptance: By July 18, 2025
Who Should Apply: Leadership Lewis is designed for emerging and established leaders who are ready to make a meaningful difference in Lewis County. Whether you're in business, education, government, nonprofit work, or community involvement, this program offers the skills and connections to amplify your impact.
Questions? Contact us at [email protected] or call (304) 269-2608.
When we grow better leaders, we grow a better Lewis County.
Leadership Lewis supports the future of our community by preparing people to lead with empathy, courage, and vision—whether that’s on a board, in a business, at a school, or around a kitchen table. Participants leave the program with more than knowledge—they leave with clarity, confidence, and connection.
“I was honored to be a part of the inaugural class of 2024. Each session was a well thought out day full of information and great learning. The networking was an invaluable asset to all involved. I met some wonderful people who have great connections throughout the county, region, and state.”
H. Keith Talbert, Jr.
Assistant Director, Lewis-Gilmer E-911
Leadership Lewis Class of 2024
Workforce Development Investment. The Lewis County Chamber of Commerce recognizes that recruiting, supporting, and retaining talent—particularly young professionals—is critical to our region's future. Leadership Lewis provides a structured pathway to identify and develop local talent while deepening their commitment to Lewis County.
Enhanced Civic Engagement. Employees who participate in Leadership Lewis become more engaged citizens and community leaders. This civic involvement strengthens the overall business climate and quality of life that attracts and retains talent.
Cross-Sector Collaboration. The program builds bridges between business, education, government, and nonprofit sectors, creating opportunities for partnerships that benefit everyone. Many significant community initiatives have emerged from Leadership Lewis connections.
Return on Investment. Organizations consistently report that Leadership Lewis participants return with enhanced skills, expanded networks, and increased engagement. The program's emphasis on practical application means these benefits show up immediately in workplace performance.
Be seen as a champion of leadership and community development in Lewis County. Sponsorship opportunities start at $500 and provide meaningful ways to connect with emerging leaders while supporting the development of our community's future.
Sponsorship Benefits Include:
Contact the Chamber to learn about sponsorship opportunities.
Becky Conrad, Mountaineer Food Bank
Robin Drake, Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital
Chasity King, BHE GT&S
Kasey McLaughlin, Citizens Bank of Weston
Thomas Newbrough, Edward Jones
Kelsey Regan, Community Care of West Virginia
David Roth, DOJ / FBI Clarksburg, WV
Brooke Swisher, UPC-Family Medical Clinic of Jane Lew
Debbie West, Town of Jane Lew
Gregory Wine, Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital
Sherry Cogar, Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital
James Connor, FirstEnergy
Keely Cunningham, Hope Gas
Amanda Fortney, Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital
Kate Garton, Garton Real Estate Group
Thom Haller, Central WV HEART House
Tina Helmick, Lewis County Commission
Alexis Montagna, Citizens Bank of Weston
Eric Sherrard, The Thrasher Group, Inc.
Lesley Slaughter, Lewis County Family Resource Network
Keith Talbert, Jr., Lewis-Gilmer E-911
We honor our founding committee members whose vision, dedication, and countless hours of work created the foundation for Leadership Lewis. Their commitment to developing local leaders has already transformed lives across our county, and the ripples of your vision will continue to spread for generations to come.
Shannon Cunningham-Snead
Adam Gissy
Jeff Jenkins
Alissa Lambert
Robin Poling
Tracey Queen-Young
Chris Richards
Kevin Stalnaker
