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Leadership Clay grads experience diverse experiences

By Nick Blank Staff Writer
Posted 9/18/19

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A class of 19 celebrated graduation at the end of Leadership Clay’s nine-month program.

Leadership Clay’s class gathered at the downstairs pub Thursday night at Magnolia …

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Leadership Clay grads experience diverse experiences


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A class of 19 celebrated graduation at the end of Leadership Clay’s nine-month program.

Leadership Clay’s class gathered at the downstairs pub Thursday night at Magnolia Point Golf and Country Club before the ceremony began.

Stephanie Young, of Alliance & Associates Insurance and Applied Business Solutions, was the class president. She said it was bittersweet for the class to conclude.

“There’s such camaraderie when you spend that much time together and work on many projects together,” Young said. “It’s kind of disappointing to have it come to an end.”

Sculpting better leaders is the goal of Leadership Clay, run by the Clay Chamber of Commerce. Class members learn about several facets of the community, from the environment to the school system to law enforcement. Then they complete a project.

Clay Leadership graduates raised more than $17,000 for Charles E. Bennett Elementary.

Young likened Leadership Clay to an incubator and a “laboratory for leadership.”

“We learned you can have fun and still get work done,” Young said. “It was definitely a fun group.”

David Kleinik, a financial advisor at Primerica Financial Services, said he received a deeper understanding of Clay County. His favorite moments, such as a trip to the old Clay County Jail, were elements that gave the community an identity.

“(Leadership Clay) touched on health care, schools, understanding Clay County is ahead of Jacksonville is some things,” Kleinik said. “Clay County is like that last little small town where you can still be known around without feeling engulfed in it. In Jacksonville, you can build a business and not be known.”

Clay Leadership began in 2004. This year’s class had a diverse offering of fields, like medical, photography, accounting and chemicals. Clay Chamber President Wendall Chindra said they had exceptional engagement due to the Chamber’s regional approach.

“We thought outside the box. We started to think outside the county, but still attached to the county,” Chindra said. “I think that created more value.”

Chindra’s graduate work was in public policy. He brought a professor to teach the class about education policy. Assisting Charles E. Bennett Elementary, a Title I school with back-to-back D grades, was a target for the class, he said.

“They went and saw it themselves and said, ‘This is the school we want to help,’” Chindra said.

Amy Pope-Wells is chairwoman of the Chamber’s board. She hoped the class formed life-long relationships and would mentor future leaders.

“We don't teach them about experiences, we take them to the experiences,” Pope-Wells said.

The deadline to apply for the 2020 class is Dec. 31. More information is available at claychamber.com/leadership-clay.