Leadership San Juan Islands launches new class

January 18, 2017 8:51 am
Contributed photo/Tamara Weaver Front row, left to right: Tracy Cottingham, Chom Greacen, Alina Donnelly, Stephanie Claus, Tatiana Beltran. Second row: Sarah Stephens, Sarah Severn, Leslie Baker, Victoria Hebert, Jim Carol, Michel Vekved, Lindsay Curtis. Third row: Amy Nesler, Elisabeth Robson, Jane Fox, Emilie Novak, Glenn Hendrick, Jessica Roundy. Not pictured: Vevette Bordas.
Contributed photo/Tamara Weaver Front row, left to right: Tracy Cottingham, Chom Greacen, Alina Donnelly, Stephanie Claus, Tatiana Beltran. Second row: Sarah Stephens, Sarah Severn, Leslie Baker, Victoria Hebert, Jim Carol, Michel Vekved, Lindsay Curtis. Third row: Amy Nesler, Elisabeth Robson, Jane Fox, Emilie Novak, Glenn Hendrick, Jessica Roundy. Not pictured: Vevette Bordas.

By Liz Illg

Board member, Leadership San Juan Islands

The Leadership San Juan Islands professional development program launched a new class on Jan. 6 with an orientation day held at the Harrison House Suites in Friday Harbor.

Nineteen islanders from Orcas, San Juan, Canoe and Lopez Islanders make up the 13th cohort and will meet for 11 sessions around San Juan County during the next five months. Program Director Jennifer Rice will coordinate the group, supported by a curriculum committee headed by Laura Cailloux and Danna Diaz and made up of the eight other alumni who coordinate particular sessions. Lynne Hobbs will lead several sessions on facilitative leadership during overnight retreats on San Juan and Lopez Islands. Other days will include presentations and discussions with local leaders in business, government, education, local economics, agriculture, nonprofits, the arts, social welfare and environmental issues.

Major support for the program comes in the donation of space from Harrison House Suites on San Juan Island, Emmanuel Episcopal Church and Smugglers Villa on Orcas Island and Lopez Islander Resort. Organizational, business and alumni sponsors include: San Juan Island Library; Alumni Gregory Maynard, Gretchen Krampf, Paul King, Danna Diaz and Bill Watson; San Juan County Economic Development Council; Canoe Island French Camp; North Beach Inn; San Juan Island Grange 966; OPALCO; Blossom Grocery; San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild; Skagit Valley College; and the San Juan Islands Visitor Bureau.

Leadership San Juan Islands began in 2004 as a collaborative effort between the San Juan County Economic Development Council, Skagit Valley College and United Way of San Juan County. Since then the 165 graduates have created a separate 501(c)3 organization and presented the annual class. For more information on LSJI and to learn more about volunteer and donation opportunities visit http://lsji.org/.