Leadership Highlands

Leadership Highlands is a community engagement initiative of Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visit Highlands, NC. Resurrected in 2022 after a hiatus, the program's purpose is to develop and empower emerging leaders through a series of interactive seminars, workshops and other projects. Selected participants learn about their own leadership capacity, the people, organizations and institutions that make up our community, and how they can serve Highlands on a profound level. The program seeks dedicated individuals who want to engage in the future of Highlands.

The 12 class members attend monthly sessions – beginning in March and extending through October – with local experts. Topics include Highlands’ History and Cultural Resources, Economic Development, Government and Public Safety, Health and Human Resources, Education, Arts and Outdoor Recreation. Personal leadership skills are developed through principle-based decision making and team-building exercises. 

“We were thrilled to reprise the Leadership Highlands program in 2022, and we look forward to championing future community leaders,” Executive Director Kaye McHan says. 

Announced in February, the 2022 class of Leadership Highlands includes:

Beth Acker 

Bob Baxter 

Kyle Bryner

Waylon Chastain

Kurt Damron  

Anthony De Nardis

Cole Fuhrman 

Virginia Holland 

Christopher Lee Lugo 

Carlyn Morenus 

Ginger Moseley

John Muir 

Karen Peterson 

Katy Postell-Dearth 

Tracy Wade

Rachel Wilson.

For more information about Leadership Highlands, call 828-526-5841 or email businessservices@highlandschamber.org.