Program brings together professionals, community

by Maria G. Hoover

SBJ Contributing Writer

Leadership Springfield is a program geared toward helping professionals who want to do more for the community, according to members of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

"It's a program that identifies people who are concerned about the community, and it gives them tools to do something about their concerns and it gives them an organization to work through to further the community," said Andy Montebello, chairman of the chamber's Leadership Springfield program committee.

Montebello, who also sits on the group's board of directors, was instrumental in getting Leadership Springfield started.

Now regional general services manager and security officer for Commerce Bank, Montebello was employed at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce in 1983, when the idea for a leadership program was first suggested.

"The superintendent of schools at that time was Dr. Paul Hagerty. He came and told us (at the chamber) that we should investigate leadership programs. Dr. Hagerty had just come to Springfield from Athens, Ga., and he had been involved with a leadership group there," he said.

Following Hagerty's suggestion, the chamber began looking into leadership organizations, and discovered that at the same time, the Junior League and the United Way of the Ozarks had joined forces to form a leadership group. In 1984, the three entities began working together, and in September 1985, Leadership Springfield Class I began.

Attorney Randell Wallace, a partner with Lathrop & Gage, is also the current president of Leadership Springfield's board of directors. Wallace said the Leadership Springfield class runs for a nine-month period, including two two-day retreats and monthly program days focusing on different aspects of the community.

Montebello said the program days deal with governments and politics, health care, education, media, legal issues and law enforcement, the development of Springfield and opportunities for community service.

Wallace added that Leadership Springfield works to get participants involved with all the different aspects of the community via volunteer work.

"Our prime goal is to identify future leaders of the community, which we do with the help of employers and existing community leaders, and provide them with training which will enhance their leadership skills, Wallace said.

"On governments and politics day, for example, the class might spend the day meeting with the Springfield City Council and the Greene County Commission. They might also meet with the head of the Public Works Department and people from the Planning and Zoning office," he said.

Wallace added that Leadership Springfield is unique compared to similar programs in other cities, in that class participants each year are responsible for arranging the program days, so they're never the same year to year.

In addition to the class itself, Wallace said, Leadership Springfield also has an Alumni Association, with more than 200 active members, and the Leadership Academy for high school students who are juniors and seniors.

He said the Alumni Association has quarterly educational meetings, and it also works with the Springfield Public Schools Foundation and other institutions like Drury College to bring in nationally known speakers.

Montebello and Wallace both noted that Leadership Springfield draws people from all sizes of companies, and Wallace said one benefit participants get is that they make a lot of professional and personal connections.

"A bond will form in a class of 30 people, because they've gone through the retreats and the exercises. They've worked so closely together during the year that a great number remain close for the rest of their careers," Wallace said. "Participants also get to know many community leaders."

Montebello added that many participants become community leaders themselves there are Leadership Springfield alumni in leadership positions with 258 organizations in the Springfield area, including City Council, the Board of Public Utilities and the airport board.

Architect Doug Jackson is a partner with Butler, Rosenbury & Partners. He went through Leadership Springfield Class IV in 1988-1989. Jackson said one of the best things Leadership Springfield did for him was to make him aware of opportunities, as well as needs, in the community.

He said it was also a great networking opportunity, which allowed him to meet people from different professions.

Meanwhile, Jackson said, what he learned in the Leadership Springfield class has helped him with his work as an architect.

"Leadership Springfield helped me develop my personal focus in how to deal with people and how to deal with situations. I learned about the community, the media, schools, police, health care and other aspects," Jackson said.

"As an architect, since we design buildings for every facet of the community, whether it's a house church, theater or whatever, it helps in my career to know a little bit about those aspects of the community," he added.

Patti Stoner, certified public accountant, went through Leadership Springfield Class V in 1989-1990, after a friend suggested it.

She said she also thought it would be a good networking tool, since she had her own accounting practice.

Stoner said her business has grown because of the contacts she made through Leadership Springfield.

"I think it's kind of a natural thing you enjoy doing business with them," she said. "I can refer people to (fellow alumni) and know they'll do a good job, and I think when people refer others to me, it's the same kind of thing."

But like Jackson, Stoner said networking hasn't been her only gain. "One thing I've found is that clients expect me to be literate about current events and what's going on in the city. Through Leadership Springfield, I've found I know better what's going on with government and other aspects," Stoner said.

Julie Guillebeau, director of public relations and publications for Drury College, went through Leadership Springfield Class III in 1987-1988. She said the contacts she made have been helpful to her, especially when she needs help with an activity focused on leadership, such as a class she works with.

"I do not doubt for a moment that connections with Leadership Springfield do advance people who go through the program. It increases an individual's base of who they can call or where they can turn to get things done," Guillebeau said.

Jackson, Stoner and Guillebeau have all volunteered with various community groups, and they continue to be active in the Leadership Springfield Alumni Association.

Wallace said tuition for Leadership Springfield is subject to change annually, but it typically runs between $800 and $900. He said many employers pay the fees for their employees to participate.

"In Springfield we have found employers to be very supportive of civic and charitable activities, and also very supportive of our program there's a great group of businesses in Springfield, very dedicated to the community," Wallace said.