In October, our own Diane Parks attended the Tennessee Association of Community Leadership (TACL) in Gibson County where she received the Outstanding Leadership Program Award for the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce Leadership Chattanooga program.
TACL is a volunteer association that builds, supports and enhances community leadership development in each county across our state. Parks attends annually and is also on the TACL board.
“Developing a robust leadership development pipeline is a critical talent retention strategy for our community,” says Molly Blankenship, Chamber Vice President of Talent Initiatives. “For decades, Leadership Chattanooga has equipped local professionals with the skills and knowledge to make a positive impact on our community. We could not be more proud of its success and we are excited for future opportunities to bring even more value to our business and civic community.”
Guidelines for the award include a program that:
- Has experienced growth
- Makes a significant community impact
- Is financially stable
- Prioritizes innovation
In addition to meeting the guidelines, nominees must provide letters from local officials, past participants or other community leaders, organizations or businesses.
Leadership Chattanooga class members connect with our community while learning about what it means to lead. Through monthly sessions, education-related projects, police ride-alongs and more – participants graduate with a fresh understanding of our community’s strengths and challenges, and how we can all be part of solutions.
The program year kicks off in August with an orientation and two day retreat, with monthly sessions beginning in September and culminating with a graduation in May.
