by Lyndee Matthews, Program Director

My job at the Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce affords me lots of unique opportunities. I get to be involved with several different groups and events. This past nine months I had the honor of participating in the Leadership Cedar Park Program. Some people have asked me if I found it to be beneficial. My response is always a resounding YES! I honestly think that if I could be a class member every year, I would participate in this program over and over again. Luckily for me, I will get to continue on as the staff member in charge of Leadership Cedar Park.
                Leadership Cedar Park is a nine-month program designed to identify and educate the existing and potential leaders of Cedar Park. It consists of day-long sessions targeted at orienting the class to particular aspects of the community, such as health care, social services, local/county/state government, education, economic development, and the quality of life in Cedar Park. 
                The program also includes classroom-style leadership skills training as well as hands-on-training and tours of local businesses and a trip to the Capitol. The 2014-2015 program will kick-off in August with a reception and overnight retreat.
                As a class member, you get a backstage pass to the Cedar Park business community. You get to hear from and ask questions of top executives and officials in our city. You will go on tours that most people are not allowed to participate in. You will take part in training exercises and learn how to become an effective leader.
                However, in my opinion, the best part of the Leadership Cedar Park experience is the relationships you will develop with your classmates. They will become life-long friends and business associates who you will reach out to for business support over and over again. It all starts with the overnight retreat, where you are thrown in with a group of strangers and come out 24 hours later a group of close-knit friends. This is why the retreat is a mandatory aspect of the class. It is crucial to your success in this class.
                If you are interested in participating in the 2014-2015 class, please check out our website at http://cedarparkchamber.org. On our site we have the application and the dates of all of the event s and classes for 2014-2015. Please be sure that you can attend all of these sessions, especially the overnight retreat, before you commit to this class.
                If you have any questions, please contact me at (512) 260-7800.  I will be happy to talk with you about the program and even connect you to a few past graduates for their opinion on the program. I hope to hear from you soon!