Regional Chamber offers ‘good leaders’ program

YOUNGSTOWN — In an effort to encourage, support and promote good government, the Regional Chamber is offering a program for elected officials and political candidates with the goal of making them better leaders.

Chamber officials announced Wednesday the creation of the Mahoning Valley Local Government Leadership Academy. The program runs for nine consecutive Wednesdays beginning Jan. 9, 2008, with an enrollment fee of $225 for each participant.

“The Regional Chamber is committed to giving people interested in more effective and efficient local government the tools to be good leaders,” said Tony Paglia, the chamber’s vice president of government affairs.

The curriculum courses include: ethics; regionalization and economic development; conflict management and dispute resolution, and technology in local government. Among the speakers are Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams, Howland Township Administrator Darlene St. George, and Barb Ewing, economic development coordinator for U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan and a former Regional Chamber executive.

For the complete story, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.