Stephen C. Aertker, Jr. Graduates

From 2006-2007 Leadership St. Tammany Program

HVFA's Stephen C. Aertker, Jr. recently graduated from the esteemed Leadership St. Tammany program. Devised to develop leaders for the future who possess a clear understanding of the total community and are committed to its advancement, the St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce created the Leadership St. Tammany program with an ambitious mission statement of:

• Identifying emerging leaders from various segments of the community and involving them in public affairs.
• Developing a sense of community leadership by helping participants identify their own leadership styles and introducing them to different leadership techniques.
• Creating a network of informed, committed, and qualified individuals to provide a leadership source for the public and private sectors in the St. Tammany West area.
• Developing participant awareness of the St. Tammany Parish community, its problems, its challenges and its opportunities, by examining the major systems, which contribute to patterns of life in the community.
• Serving as a source of qualified and trained leadership for public and private agencies, organizations, planning bodies and commissions.
• Motivating, encouraging and inspiring participants to pursue leadership roles in our community.

Stephen and fellow class members were selected to form a composite of the St. Tammany Parish community, including a racial, gender, age, geographic, and occupational mix reflective of the local population. The Leadership St. Tammany selection committee chose participants across a broad spectrum of the community (e.g., businesses & professionals, community groups, social services, civic groups, minority organizations, religion, labor, government, the arts, and education) who have demonstrated a personal, long-term commitment to St. Tammany and to improving the parish's future, have a record of involvement in community affairs, are successful in the careers or vocations, and show potential for great leadership.

The Leadership St. Tammany program commenced in August 2006 with a weekend retreat during which Stephen and fellow class members participated in an evocative simulated society in an effort to learn about power, conflict, influence, legitimacy in power and decision-making. The retreat also included exercises in team building and communications skills development. After the retreat, Stephen then participated in nine full-day training workshops that featured presentations by acknowledged leaders and experts in specific fields, as well as group discussions and on-site exposure and experience. The program content was designed to give Stephen training in leadership skills and increased knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the community. These workshops addressed a number of areas challenging St. Tammany Parish, including:

• Arts/History/Culture/Tourism
• Education
• Social Services & Health Care
• Political Activism & the Media
• State Government and the Legislative Process
• Values-Based Leadership
• Local Government
• Economic Development & Planning & Growth Issues
• Judicial System & Law Enforcement