Ten executive leaders from Georgetown County government recently completed a year-long leadership development program facilitated by LeaderGov, of Atlanta, Ga. The participants were engaged in 12 workshops that focused on growing their understanding of themselves as leaders, skills to achieve strategic goals and skills to help them have greater success leading and developing their teams.
The participants went through the workshop program together in an effort to foster peer-to-peer learning. During the program, participants learned and grew in areas such as building trust, dealing with conflict, knowing their personality style, servant leadership, setting high-impact goals, execution of goals, leading change, accountability, and how to motivate and support a team.
“We are investing in our leaders so we have smooth succession planning in the years to come,” County Administrator Angela Christian said of the program. “We are also doing this because we know that leaders who know how to lead get more done, and that better serves our residents at the end of the day. Equipped leaders build strong morale, trust, and deal with issues in a productive way. And that’s what we want. Our residents will directly benefit from this work done by our team.”
Employees who completed the program include: Ken Baker, Auditor; Donnie Cummings, Facilities Services Manager; Brandon Ellis, Emergency Services Director; Tim Holt, Deputy Assessor; Neil Johnson, Detention Center Director; Karis Langston, Finance Director; Miriam Mace, Treasurer; Jacob Nesmith, Public Works and Construction Services Manager; Wayne Owens, Chief Deputy Sheriff; and Holly Richardson, Planning Director.
Walt Ackerman, director of human resources for the county, said he was impressed by the group’s commitment to the program.
“They were wholly committed to leadership growth and learning new aspects of how to lead others,” he said. “We want more leaders like these here in Georgetown County, as this will ultimately help our staff implemen10 graduate from Leadership Programt the county’s strategic goals in a more productive and professional way with their teams."