Leadership development program begins 2007–08 session

GOLD, operated through Missouri State University’s Jim D. Morris Center for Continuing Education, aims to build a regional network for communication and collaboration across the public, private and civic sectors to foster awareness and growth, according to an MSU news release.

The current session began in October with a two-day retreat in Branson and continues once a month through June. Each daylong class takes place in a different southwest Missouri city, with each focusing on one of the following topics: education, community service, work force development, infrastructure, quality of life, funding resources, economic development and politics. The class also will take a trip to Jefferson City in March.

The roster of area leaders in the 2007–08 program is: Richard Ashe, of Branson; Steve Biermann, of Springfield; Larry Buckner, of Nixa; Jeffrey Byrd, of Marshfield; King Coltrin, of Springfield; Jeff Daugherty, of Nixa; Linda Daugherty, of Nixa; Catherine Goodnight, of Springfield; Debra Hickey, of Battlefield; Katheren Kesler, of Buffalo; Jim Lightner, of Nixa; Janice Lorrain, of Ava; Rorie Orgeron, of Springfield; John Rice, of Mount Vernon; Crystal Richerson, of Branson; Gloria Roling, of Springfield; Jeff Seifried, of Springfield; Deborah Wikowsky, of Lebanon; and Brenda Yakle, of Lebanon.

The students were selected based on public service, leadership experience, geographic diversity and desires to become more effective leaders, according to the release.

Tuition for the nine-month program is $600.

GOLD alumni continue to meet quarterly after they graduate.

The program was launched in 2006 in conjunction with a similar program, called Greater Ozarks Leadership Education and Development, or GO LEAD, which is a management program for nonprofit leaders.