Virginia Tech, James City County and York County have collaborated to bring Emerging Leaders Academy to the Hampton Roads region beginning this month.

The Academy is designed for employees who have the desire to succeed and grow professionally. This first-of-its-kind program is unique to the region and specifically addresses the topic of workforce development through investment in continuing education. The partnership between James City County and York County showcases the strides both communities have made in working together to take a regional approach to addressing their workforce development enhancement needs.

Participants of the Academy will attend monthly half-day sessions; each month will be launched with a keynote speaker who provides vision on the topic for that session. Topics include: leadership basics and self-reflection, communication for development, role of organizational culture, cultural and generational diversity, strategic management, and creative and critical thinking.

A highlight of the Academy is the capstone project, which will be presented during the final program session in September. These projects will be authentic and will uncover solutions to real-time opportunities within the participants’ respective municipalities.

Rounding out the Academy is the Mentoring Program, which will connect leadership in a different reporting line to Academy participants.

“Virginia Tech was delighted to partner with these municipalities to develop a training program tailored for their workforce,” said Lesa Hanlin, executive director of Roanoke Regional Initiatives. “I admire James City and York counties for supporting professional development. With this investment in their employees, they will build their confidence and boost efficiency, retention and morale. Most importantly, they will create networks between departments that will transcend the classroom.”

“Participation in this academy is about preparing the next generation of leaders for our community,” said Scott Stevens, James City County administrator. “These individuals have already made a difference in their respective fields. My hope is that this academy will help ensure they continue to have a productive and rewarding career.”

“We are very excited about the Academy, the curriculum design, and the mentorship component,” stated York County Administrator Neil Morgan. “York County is committed to investing in our staff and developing them into future leaders, and proud of the collaboration with our partners, James City County and Virginia Tech. This is a groundbreaking approach for local government in leadership development.”

For additional information about the program or to learn how to bring this opportunity to your organization, email mtuttle@vt.edu or call 964-8855.