Leadership Tompkins Info + FAQ
2024 End of Year Report
APPLY HERE > Deadline extended to September 27th, 5 pm!
Leadership Tompkins Program Applications Open for 2025 Cohort
Ithaca, N.Y. – The Tompkins Chamber Foundation is pleased to announce the return of the Leadership Tompkins Program, a community-led leadership development program with a deep history in Tompkins County. The program focuses on helping participants grow their leadership skills while gaining a deep understanding of the issues, challenges, and opportunities impacting residents, municipalities, the economy, and human service organizations.
The ten-month program which includes one full class day per month just completed its first graduation class since before the pandemic.
“The Chamber Foundation was honored to lead the charge in re-establishing this critical program, which supports development of leaders from diverse backgrounds and with varying perspectives throughout our community,” said Tompkins Chamber Foundation President Jennifer Tavares. “The last several years have highlighted how critical our leaders are to our shared success and how important it is to continue leadership development programs to support our community’s needs tomorrow.”
Applications are open for the 2024-2025 Leadership Tompkins class. Those interested in participating can learn more at tompkinschamber.org/leadership-tompkins-2025. A firm commitment from the participant, and if they are employed – their employer – is required to ensure acceptance and a successful program.
Some scholarship funding will be available to support those who cannot afford the full program tuition, with support from the Community Foundation of Tompkins County and other area organizations. Some donors to the scholarship fund specifically seek to support BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, or immigrant populations to participate in the program. Individuals are encouraged to share need for scholarship assistance and their demographic information when filling out the application.
Deb Mohlenhoff, longtime Leadership Tompkins Facilitator, will be leading the program facilitation for the 2024-2025 Leadership Tompkins cohort, with support from Carly Hansen, Director of Operations and Human Resources for the Tompkins Chamber. Additional community leaders and elected officials will be engaging with the class throughout the course of the program, and each class day will include a blend of exposure to community issues as well as leadership skills development for the participants.
“Facilitating the Leadership Tompkins program has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. I am thrilled to be supporting the efforts of the Chamber to continue offering this program that has had such a profound impact on so many local leaders,” said class facilitator Deb Mohlenhoff. “I look forward to inviting another diverse group of thinkers and doers to the program and building off the success of the 2023-2024 class year.”
The Chamber Foundation is seeking additional funding partners to provide scholarship assistance to ensure that those whose employers cannot support their full tuition fee, who are independently employed can have a chance to participate in the program. For more information about the program, or to offer class sponsorship or scholarship support, please contact Carly Hansen at chansen@tompkinschamber.org.
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Leadership Tompkins Info + FAQ
2024 End of Year Report
APPLY HERE > Deadline extended to September 27th, 5 pm!
More about Leadership Tompkins:
Founded in 1987 as a collaboration of the Tompkins Chamber Foundation and Tompkins Cortland Community College, Leadership Tompkins has hosted over 30 classes and supported the development of hundreds of community leaders over three decades.