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The purpose of Leadership Overland Park is to ensure the continuing vitality of the community by providing a solid source of motivated leaders who are educated about the community and its issues, as well as trained to accept future leadership roles in the Overland Park area.

Click here to view the Alumni Directory of Leadership Overland Park.
Note: The Alumni Directory is constantly in need of updates. If you are a Leadership Overland Park graduate whose name is not listed on this directory, if you have changed firms or have changed names, please contact the Chamber Foundation at opcc@opks.org to update your information.

Leadership Overland Park Description

Leadership Overland Park is a leadership program that informs participants about the critical issues facing Overland Park, Johnson County and the metropolitan region, and helps develop leadership and stewardship skills necessary to resolve them.

Founded in 1983 as a program of the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce, the program is now a program of the Chamber’s educational foundation.  Leadership Overland Park has graduated over 450 alumni who provide leadership in Overland Park’s business community, as well as in private, public and non-profit organizations.

Leadership Overland Park is a 6-month, 9 full-day program. Sessions will focus on specific aspects of Overland Park such as city, county and state government, history, education, politics and current issues facing the city, county, metro area and state.

LEADERSHIP OVERLAND PARK CURRICULUM

The Program will give focus to the Overland Park community, its opportunities and challenges.  Emphasis will be given to the City of Overland Park, Johnson County, the Kansas City Metro Area and the State of Kansas.  During each session participants will learn to use the skills necessary to be leaders in Overland Park in the 21st century.

In addition to the nine sessions, participants will be required to attend a city council meeting.
Also required is attendance at one of the following meetings: Johnson County Commission, Shawnee Mission or Blue Valley School Board or Johnson County Community College Board of Trustees.

The goals of Leadership Overland Park are as follows:

• Identify, train and motivate potential leaders for voluntary positions within the community
• Provide these potential leaders with an awareness of the issues and opportunities facing the community
• Develop a format for ongoing communications among emerging and established leaders
• Encourage these trained and informed leaders to increase their involvement in local community affairs by matching their skills and interests to existing needs
• Explore various concepts of leadership and leadership techniques

BENEFITS

• Increasing source of quality leaders for the Overland Park community
• Improved communications network among civic, business, social and educational leaders in the Overland Park area
• Assistance to potential leaders in their development, accurately matching their skills and interests with the needs of the community
• A leadership base with a broadened perspective, prepared to more effectively guide the community into its future

SESSION DATES

Session dates will be published in Fall 2007.  All class members are required to attend EACH session in its entirety.  Sessions will be held January through June with a graduation and recognition event held in June.

After publication, session dates are subject to change due to inclement weather or significant conflict.

CANDIDATES

Candidates are selected on the basis of written applications submitted to the selection committee. Criteria include leadership ability or potential ability, along with evidence of a strong commitment to the community. The selection committee will seek a class representing diverse backgrounds, affiliations and goals. 

Nominations may be submitted by individuals, area businesses and community organizations and must have full approval of the organization they represent. It is both acceptable and appropriate to nominate yourself. The 2008 LOP class has already been selected. Nominations for the 2009 LOP class will be accepted beginning in June 2008.

COST

Tuition for the program is $800 for Chamber Members or $1,000 for Non-Members, payable by the individual, the employer or the sponsoring organization. Payment is due in full before the first session. Make checks payable to The Overland Park Chamber Foundation.

KEY COMPONENTS

• Approximately thirty adult individuals are chosen by a selection committee made up of graduates of the program and chamber staff to participate
• Nominations are accepted in the fall and the application deadline follows several weeks later
• Cost is $800 per Chamber Member attendee or $1,000 per Non-Chamber Member attendee
• Attendance at all nine sessions is mandatory

For more information contact Amy Vaughan at (913) 491-3600 or avaughan@opks.org.

COMMITMENT

An applicant's willingness to invest the time required for active participation in the program is a requirement of selection. In order to graduate from Leadership Overland Park, participants must attend all nine sessions. Session hours vary, but typically start at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m.

ALUMNI DIRECTORY

A directory of our current alumni is available to our members. Follow the link below for a complete listing.

View Alumni Directory.