Leadership Bedford students have already completed three sessions and have fully embraced their “Leadership Challenge”!  The program started with a Bus tour focused on local history and tourism.  The students traveled to Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest and the National D-Day Memorial where they received invaluable education from the staff at each location.

The second session had students at the Bedford Area Family YMCA participating in a low ropes teambuilding course under the talented guidance of Mary Jo Boone, Executive Director/CEO of the Bedford Area Family YMCA.  Blindfolded, the students exited the woods next to the YMCA after working as a team to “balance a boat,” “migrate across islands,”  “climb through a spider web” and “swing over an obstacle”  Prior to the teambuilding program, students also had an opportunity to learn more about the challenges facing non-profit organizations in today’s economic climate.  We appreciate the time and knowledge of the guest panel which included Marie Martin with United Way of Central VA, Ash Gorman with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Central VA, and Michele Schaffer with Bedford Education Foundation. 


The last session before the Thanksgiving holidays, sponsored by Brown, Edwards and Co., had the students creating their personal mission and vision statements under the guidance of Sam Hartman, retired executive of American Electric Power.  Following that workshop, students gained insights from a “community focus” panel presentation by executives in human resources and labor law arena.  Presenters Jim Burns with Andrew Corporation, Barbara Nash with Brooks Food Group, Cheryl Nester with Histor Consulting, and Hope Cothran with Genry, Locke, Rakes & Moore provide information on current issues in human resources today including the difficulties the present “generation divide” can present in the workforce.

In December, the students will complete a two-day workshop titled “ABC’s of Success” with life coach Rebecca Sturm-Clauser before breaking for the holidays.  2011 will also be very busy for the students and they finish the last three months of the course before their graduation dinner in late March.

Leadership Bedford is now in its 17th year and is a program designed to allow existing and emerging community and business leaders to fine tune their skills while learning about the community and building cohesive professional relationships that can last throughout their careers.  Sponsors of the Class of 2011 are: Centra, Century 21 All-service, and AFLAC/L.R. Robey Agency.