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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowPlans for a new community leadership organization are being revealed this morning in the state's largest city. Leadership Indianapolis is designed to better develop community leaders. The Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series and Lacy Leadership Association are planning to create the group. August 1, 2013
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Two of central Indiana's most prominent community leadership groups – the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series (SKL) and Lacy Leadership Association (LLA) –announced plans today to create a new community leadership organization called Leadership Indianapolis.
The mission of Leadership Indianapolis will be to strategically develop the pipeline of community leadership and identify and fill the gaps in developing community leaders. The new entity will continue to offer SKL and programs formerly operated under LLA, including Opportunity Indianapolis, LEAD, Get on Board, Board Chair Summit and more. Details will follow later this year regarding plans to develop expanded programming and broader community engagement opportunities for 2014 and beyond.
“We are excited about what the future holds, and we are pleased to announce Linda Kirby as our selection for CEO,” said Leadership Indianapolis Board Chair Rafael Sanchez. “We conducted an extensive search for this position, and it was Linda’s vision for Leadership Indianapolis that really set her apart. Her passion for developing community leaders and her experience in strategic planning, program development and organizational leadership make her an ideal fit for this role.”
Kirby has served as the SKL Program Director since 2005, and the series has thrived under her leadership. Prior to 2005, Kirby held executive positions with communications and event marketing companies in Indianapolis and also served as Public Affairs Director at WTHR-TV. Her involvement on local boards and committees has included Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, Marion County Commission on Youth, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana, the Indiana State Museum and more.
“I’m honored by this opportunity, and I’m thrilled to start creating our plan of attack for increasing the vitality, strength and sustainability of greater Indianapolis,” Kirby said. “We have a deep bench of talented community champions already, but that doesn’t mean we can rest. Our vision is to develop and mobilize a pipeline of civic leaders that can address and solve the issues and opportunities facing our growing metro area today and into the future. We are just getting started, but we will have more details to share in the next 90 days.”
The founding Board of Directors for Leadership Indianapolis includes the following members:
– Rafael Sanchez (Board Chair), Partner – Bingham Greenebaum Doll
– Jim Jay (Vice Chair), Chairman, President and CEO – Vinculum Communications
– Matt Carter (Treasurer), VP of Market Intelligence – Visit Indy, and Executive Director – Music Crossroads International
– Suzanne Gaidoo (Secretary), Director – Lewis & Kappes
– Greg Fennig, VP of Community Relations – Indianapolis Power & Light Co.
– Abbe Hohmann, President – Site Strategies Advisory LLC
– Jill Lacy, President – Lacy Foundation
– Rob MacPherson, VP of Development – Central Indiana Community Foundation
– Kathleen McDonald Siegmann, President and CEO – Career Investments LLC
– Michael Moriarty, Member – Frost Brown Todd
– Beth Perdue Outland, VP Community Engagement & Strategic Innovation – Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
– Bob Schultz, VP of Marketing and Communications – Indianapolis Downtown, Inc.
– Joe Smith, Partner – Faegre Baker Daniels
“We are very excited to have SKL be a part of Leadership Indianapolis,” said Lacy Foundation President Jill Lacy. “SKL and LLA both have a tremendous reputation for encouraging and developing community leadership in our great city and Leadership Indianapolis will provide a great home for those proven programs. I look forward to working with Linda and my fellow board members as we explore innovative new approaches that can help us thrive as a 21st century city.”
“The creation of Leadership Indianapolis is an exciting new chapter for our community and Lacy Leadership Association was pleased to play a key role in making it happen,” said former LLA Board Chair Greg Fennig. “We are proud of the work that we've done to develop the spirit of civic engagement that makes Indianapolis one of the best cities in the nation.”
In the coming weeks, the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series (SKL) will move from being a program of the Indy Chamber to becoming part of the newly formed Leadership Indianapolis, and a new Program Director for the series will be named soon. LLA’s programs will also formally become part of Leadership Indianapolis in the weeks ahead.
“Indianapolis is known for exceptional servant leaders, and that tradition must continue if we intend to achieve great things moving forward,” said Brian Payne, president and chief executive officer of the Central Indiana Community Foundation and The Indianapolis Foundation. “Leadership Indianapolis already has a powerful network of SKL and LLA alums doing big things around town. Now, they need to harness and build upon that network in ways that improve our community.”
About Leadership Indianapolis: Leadership Indianapolis was formed in 2013 when the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series (SKL) and Lacy Leadership Association (LLA) united to create a new entity focused on strategically, intentionally and continually building the pipeline of diverse community leaders by training, educating, developing, inspiring and engaging them to improve the Indianapolis community.
About the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series: Formed in 1976, SKL informs and motivates emerging leaders and raises their awareness of community issues and sense of community trusteeship through discussions and interaction with experts, leaders and decision makers. For more details, visit www.SKLIndy.com.
About Lacy Leadership Association: Lacy Leadership Association is Indianapolis's premier leadership network incorporated in 1999. Members are alumni of the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series (SKL), Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) and Opportunity Indianapolis. LLA provides a platform for members to address and advance community issues; LLA hosts networking, educational and service events; LLA conducts annual leadership development programs for community members. For more details, visit www.lacyleadership.org.
Source: Leadership Indianapolis