LEADERSHIP ARLINGTON

For well over 20 years, the Leadership Arlington program has been an integral part of the Arlington community. Whether new to the area or well established, this cohort connects a diverse network of senior leaders and empowers them with the knowledge to transform and support our community.

PROGRAM PURPOSE

A leadership program that deepens your connection to the community and inspires your capacity to make a difference.

PROGRAM DETAILS

  • A cross-sector, diverse cohort of established leaders who care about making an impact in Arlington and the surrounding region.
  • A forum to deepen your understanding of your leadership style.
  • Exposure to key community leaders while exploring and gaining a systemic understanding of local and regional issues facing our community.
  • Exposure to national and global trends on leadership and civic engagement with practical guidance on how to effectively implement personal and professional plans at a local level.
  • An opportunity to listen, learn, and build lasting relationships with individuals committed to impacting their community.
  • Access to an alumni base of 1,500+ graduates.

TIME COMMITMENT

The Leadership Arlington program consists of 8 full day sessions, held once a month from September through April and concludes with the May Leadership Summit. Program days are from 8:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Some light pre-reading is required.

WHO SHOULD APPLY

  • Established leaders in their professions eager to dive deeper into the Arlington community and region
  • Civically engaged community leaders looking to build relationships with other equally committed leaders
  • Curious leaders open to growing from exposure to a variety of voices, challenges, and opportunities, and use the experience to develop their plans for personal and professional impact.

SELECTION PROCESS

The Selection Committee seeks a diverse cohort of established leaders who demonstrate a commitment to personal growth, civic engagement, and community impact.

If you would like to discuss the program, please contact Lisa Fikes at lfikes@leadercenter.org.

Leadership Arlington program day

CLASS OF 2025

We are now accepting applications for the Leadership Arlington Class of 2025!

KEY DATES

May 9, 2024: Applications from Arlington County employees are due by 5:00 p.m.

May 24, 2024: Community applications are due by 5:00 p.m.

June 11, 2024: Applicants will be notified

July 15, 2024: Tuition due

July 2024: Class of 2025 Announced

SCHEDULE

Classes will meet on the following days from 8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

  • Thursday, September 19, 2024 – Opening Program
  • Thursday, October 17, 2024 – Government Day
  • Thursday, November 14, 2024 – Economic Development Day
  • Thursday, December 12, 2024 – Arts Day
  • Thursday, January 23, 2025 – Health and Human Services Day
  • Thursday, February 20, 2025 – Public Safety and Justice Day
  • Thursday, March 20, 2025 – Education Day
  • Thursday, April 24, 2025 – Environmental Sustainability Day/Closing Retreat
  • Thursday, May 15, 2025 – Leadership Summit and Commencement (followed by reception)

INFORMATION SESSIONS

Attend one of our free virtual information sessions to learn about our Class of 2025 programs.

TUITION/SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS

$5,500

Leadership Center for Excellence encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of financial status. 

Tuition covers the monthly programs, one ticket for the Regional Leadership Summit and Alumni Reception, and access to the LCE alumni directory and ongoing alumni resources and networking opportunities.

LCE provides partial scholarships to nonprofit and small business applicants, based on need and funds available. Scholarship requests are not a factor in the selection process.

Scholarship applications are due by Friday, May 24, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. (at the same time as the program applications). Scholarship applications will not be accepted after this date.

COMMUNITY APPLICANTS

Application deadline: Friday, May 24, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

ARLINGTON COUNTY EMPLOYEE APPLICANTS

Application deadline: Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

QUESTIONS

If you would like to discuss the Leadership Arlington program, please contact Lisa Fikes at lfikes@leadercenter.org.

CLASS OF 2024

Leadership Arlington Class of 2024

The Class of 2024 is comprised of leaders from the business, government, and nonprofit sectors. They have all demonstrated a commitment to personal growth, civic engagement, and community impact.

  • Stephanie Alisuag-Schreiber, Booz Allen Hamilton
  • Andrea Avendano, Columbia Pike Partnership
  • Christopher Belmont, Markon Solutions
  • Jerome Boettcher, Arlington Soccer Association
  • Tania Bougebrayel Cohn, Arlington County Government, Department of Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management
  • Margaret Boyd, The Craddock Group
  • Jonathan Brown, Volunteers of America Chesapeake & Carolinas
  • Monique Bryant, Challenging Racism
  • Whitney Camper, Accenture Federal Services
  • Joy Candelieri, EagleBank Corp
  • LaTasha Chamberlain, Arlington County Police Department
  • Dr. Jacqueline Charles, Department of Defense, Office of Small Business Programs
  • Christine Dondero Bettwy, Rock Recovery
  • Rich Dooley, Arlington County Government, Department of Environmental Services
  • Morgan Foley, Dupont Circle Solutions
  • Charnita Fox, Animal Welfare League of Arlington
  • Allan Gajadhar, NetImpact Strategies
  • Ashley Hammond, Educational Theatre Company
  • Rev. Craig Harcum, Macedonia Baptist Church
  • Collette Hemenway, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
  • Whytni Kernodle, Arlington Independent Media
  • Tom Kincaid, Dominion Energy
  • Wendy Leedy, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
  • Keith Lotf, Arlington Community Federal Credit Union
  • Timothy Mazzucca, Savills Inc.
  • Charles McCullough, Alliance for Housing Solutions
  • Aaron Miller, PhD, Arlington County Government, County Manager’s Office
  • Maria Dolores Navia, JBG Smith
  • Haley Norris, Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing
  • Naema Nur, General Dynamics Information Technology
  • Jennifer Sauter-Price, Read Early And Daily (READ)
  • Maria Seniw, George Mason University
  • Katarzyna Shaw, FNP-C, PathForward
  • Jennifer Sosin, Weber Shandwick (Retired)
  • Ryan Touhill, Arlington Economic Development
  • Karen Vallejos Corrales, The Dream Project
  • Geoffrey Vaughan, Aleut Federal
  • Ben Wills, National Landing Business Improvement District
  • Larkin Wilson, United Bank
  • Justin Zakia, CRi

SCHEDULE

Classes will meet on the following days from 8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

  • Thursday, September 21, 2023 - Opening Program
  • Thursday, October 19, 2023 – Government Day
  • Thursday, November 16, 2023 – Economic Development Day
  • Thursday, December 14, 2023 – Arts Day
  • Thursday, January 18, 2024 – Health and Human Services Day
  • Thursday, February 15, 2024 – Public Safety and Justice Day
  • Thursday, March 21, 2024 – Education Day
  • Thursday, April 18, 2024 – Environmental Sustainability Day/Closing Retreat
  • Thursday, May 16, 2024- Regional Leadership Summit and Commencement (followed by reception)

QUESTIONS

If you would like to discuss the Leadership Arlington program, please contact Lisa Fikes at lfikes@leadercenter.org.

FACULTY

Click on headshots for bios

Our Faculty are leaders committed to lifelong professional growth and community engagement.  They are engaging presenters who appreciate the unique role civic-based leadership programs play in building individual leadership capacity and community-wide leadership capacity. Interacting with leaders at the local, state, and national levels across business, government, and nonprofit sectors, our team shares insights and experiences with program participants that help them become change agents in their spheres of influence.

Click on faculty headshots to access their LinkedIn profiles.

Catherine Anchin
Arts & Culture Program Day

LA '23

Kate Bates
Economic Development Program Day

LA '15, Ignite '11

Cal Cates
Health and Human Services Program Day
Stacy Cook
Opening Program Day

LA '19

Christian Dorsey
Government Program Day

LA '01

Jay Fisette
Environmental Sustainability Program Day
Anita Friedman
Health and Human Services Program Day

LA '12

Paula Fynboh
Education Program Day

LA '23

Tracy Sayegh Gabriel
Economic Development Program Day
Dr. Bryna Helfer
Government Program Day
Elenor Hodges
Environmental Sustainability Program Day

LA '12

Chitra Kumar
Environmental Sustainablity Program Day

LA '20

Aaron Miller
Public Safety & Justice Program Day

LA '24

Rosaelena O'Neil
Education Program Program Day

LA '15

Charles "Andy" Penn
Public Safety & Justice Program Day
Sheriff Jose Quiroz
Sheriff Jose Quiroz
Public Safety & Justice Program Day
Marsha Semmel
Arts & Culture Program Day
Avril Ussery Sisk
Economic Development Program Day
Nancy White
Health & Human Services Program Day

LA '17

Elizabeth Jones Valderrama
Public Safety & Justice Program Day

LA '09

Participation opens the door to ongoing personal growth, professional development, and community leadership through an integrated, systems-based leadership education, framed around local issues.  The curriculum is designed using an experiential learning approach that includes visiting local institutions - when and where possible – class discussions with cross-sector thought leaders, and policy analysis.

Stacy Cook

“As a transplant from the Midwest, I didn’t grow up with the context around how the DMV area operates. Leadership Arlington has been an absolute eye opener for me and I can feel my roots growing more deeply into this community with each session. And it isn’t only the programming within the program. Perhaps even more meaningful are the connections with brilliant, talented, and passionate leaders from the area that I have been able to cultivate throughout the program.”

Stacy Cook, LA Class of '19, Principal, Perception Learning

Sam Kelly

“I expected to learn about the community through Leadership Arlington – and I did. What I didn’t expect was that I would form connections and friendships that would last well beyond Leadership Arlington’s graduation. I rarely go a day without running into a graduate of Leadership Arlington. And my own classmates still get together regularly. I would go through it again if they would let me!”

Sam Kelly, LA Class of '17, Former CEO, Bridges to Independence

Leadership Arlington Class of 2022 Survey Word Art

Word cloud built from responses to Leadership Arlington Class of 2022 survey