LAPLACE — The River Region Chamber of Commerce Foundation is accepting applications for its 2019 Leadership River Region class.

The program successfully completed its first year with 21 graduates. Leadership River Region is designed to educate and engage citizens in identifying needs, resources and opportunities for the River Region.

It is a program based on a national model used by Chambers throughout the country to develop individuals as leaders within their communities.

While the program is new to the River Region, it has a long history of building successful leaders, local officials said.

Class Topics include regional perspectives, quality of life issues, culture and tourism, diversity, education, industry, economic and community development, and River Region Parish Government.

At its core, Leadership River Region hopes to help cultivate and strengthen future and current leaders so they can best represent the River Region Parishes, as well as the metro New Orleans region.

The focus of the program is to provide participants with opportunities to reflect on their individual leadership style, personal career development and enhance or develop skills in several specific areas including executive presence and presentation skills, leadership mindset, difficult conversations and collaborative relationship building.

Participation is open to any individual who resides or works in St. John, St. James or St. Charles parishes.

Applications to Leadership River Region will be accepted until July 15. Notifications of acceptance to program will take place early August.

Leadership classes and events run from September 2018 to June 2019, and include informational meetings, meet and greet, an opening retreat, 7 topic-specific sessions, closing retreat with a class project and class graduation.

For more information, contact Program Manager Diane Jackson at 985-267-4346 or leadership@riverregionchamber.org.

Upcoming Informational Dates:

• Informational Meeting – June 27 from 8 to 9 a.m. at the River Region Chamber of Commerce in LaPlace.

• Informational Meeting – July 11 from 8 to 9 a.m. at St. James Parish Hospital in Lutcher.