IGNITE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
PROGRAM PURPOSE
The purpose of the Ignite Young Professional Program is to expose participants to skills, ideas, and established area leaders that can offer a space to explore personal and professional leadership development and catapult emerging leaders into situations that create value and impact.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Ignite Young Professional Top Deliverables:
- Cross-sector relationships with fellow regional classmates, creating an instant cohort of peers
- A personalized “DISC, Management” profile assessment and training
- Exposure to diverse area nonprofit and business leaders, including guided, small groups discussions with mentors from the Leadership Arlington alumni group
- Education sessions with experts in areas including leadership theories, high-performing teams, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, networking, presentation skills, and conflict resolution
- Hands on development of leadership and civic engagement skills in a high-impact team service project with one of Volunteer Arlington's nonprofit partners
- Ticket to the annual Regional Leadership Summit at which fellow participants of other Northern Virginia leadership programs join to explore regional issues with area leaders
CLASS OF 2024
APPLICATION PROCESS
We are no longer accepting applications for the Ignite Young Professionals Class of 2024.
KEY DATES
- May 11, 2023: Applications from Arlington County Government employees due
- May 26, 2023: Community applications and scholarship applications due
- June 2023: Invitations will be made for the Class of 2024
SCHEDULE
Classes will meet on the following days from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 12, 2023
- Thursday, November 9, 2023
- Thursday, December 7, 2023
- Thursday, January 11, 2024
- Thursday, February 8, 2024
- Thursday, March 14, 2024
- Thursday, April 11, 2024
- Thursday, May 16, 2024 - Regional Leadership Summit and Commencement (followed by reception)
TUITION/SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS
$3,000
Leadership Center for Excellence (LCE) 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 at the same time as the program applications (Friday, May 26, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.). Scholarship applications will not be accepted after this date.
QUESTIONS
If you would like to discuss the program, please contact Hannah Dannenfelser, Community Engagement Director, at hdannenfelser@leadercenter.org.
CLASS OF 2023
CLASS LIST
- Hawaya Abby, Arlington County Government, Department of Technology Services
- Bridget Alzheimer, Arlington Law Group
- Krista Anderson, Gartner
- Samuel Banks, Bean Kinney & Korman
- Casey Cappelletti, Academy for Radiology & Biomedical Imaging Research
- Ruthman Collington, Arlington County Fire Department
- Tiffany Dawson, GDIT
- Suzanne Dolan, Cvent
- Jared Dubin, Accenture
- Megan Hansen, New Hope Housing
- Robin Harry, Arlington County Government, Department of Human Services
- Leanne Hoover, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
- Jennifer Lincoln, Chain Bridge Bank, N.A.
- Emily Lynch, The Craddock Group
- Maya Miller, Bridges to Independence
- Jewellyn Nadtochiy, Accenture Federal Services
- Yehoshua Chaim Orozco, Arlington Public Library
- Justin Parks, Dominion Energy
- Thomas Philibin, Ballston BID
- Zoraya Quintanilla, AHC Inc.
- Colleen Rasa, National Landing BID
- Seila Santiago, AHC Inc.
- Eric Sargeant, International Association for Dental Research
- David Sisson, The Craddock Group
- Henry Spencer, Arlington County Fire Department
- Matthew Strote, Signature Theatre
- Katelyn Thomas, Arlington County Government, County Manager's Office
- Alejandra Underwood, Columbia Pike Partnership
- Jose Villalta, Lidl US
- Tressa Vitus, Arlington County Government, Department of Real Estate Assessments
- Alexandra Wahl, Washington Workplace
SCHEDULE
Classes will meet on the following days from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 13, 2022
- Thursday, November 10, 2022
- Thursday, December 8, 2022
- Thursday, January 12, 2023
- Thursday, February 9, 2023
- Thursday, March 9, 2023
- Thursday, April 13, 2023
- Thursday, May 18, 2023 - Regional Leadership Summit and Commencement
QUESTIONS
If you would like to discuss the program, please contact Hannah Dannenfelser, Community Engagement Director, at hdannenfelser@leadercenter.org.
"My expectations after my acceptance to the Spring 2014 Young Professionals Program class were to sharpen some professional skills, learn about the new community to which I had recently moved and make a few contacts along the way. The program exceeded those expectations and more!"
Dan Imhoff, BB&T, Spring Class of 2014 Participant
"[Ignite] gave me some useful tools to understand myself better and look at my professional development and personal branding in a different light. My biggest advice to anyone looking to be part of this experience is to come with an open mind and an eagerness to take in all the experiences. Post cohort, I believe I am a more confident person who is comfortable taking the lead. I have also been promoted within my organization and I have been put into more leadership roles. I am really grateful to the Leadership Center and all my colleagues that made it worthwhile."
Edgar Awumey, AHC, Inc., Class of 2022 Participant
"I’ve been pleased to witness the transformation of my team members who have completed the Leadership Center’s Young Professionals Program. Their confidence, collaborative spirit and broader consulting skills have developed significantly as a result of the program. Though we always pride ourselves on hiring the best at every level, the Young Professionals Program catapults these rising stars forward at a significantly greater pace."
Zach Wahl, Enterprise Knowledge, Employer of Participant
"Leadership is the key to success for businesses and communities. I can think of no better preparation for future leaders in this area than the Young Professionals Program."