Leadership Development

Leadership Putnam

Leadership Putnam Class Projects
Each year, LP class members complete a series of projects to meet a community need and ultimately work toward improving the quality of life for our citizens. To graduate, the participant must have 20 personal points that range from sitting in on city council or county commission meetings, volunteering at a school event or nonprofit, to taking a health initiative to better themselves through activity or scheduling a yearly checkup. Not only do class members have individual project points they are working to achieve throughout the year, but they also have a group project they are working toward. Group projects are assigned on the day of orientation based on a list of interests and personalities.

Spurring Growth Since 1990
Leadership Putnam (LP) was created as the result of a joint task force put together by the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce consisting of Joe Albrecht, Jim Andrews, and Al Enochs. LP was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization in 1990, and its first class graduated the following year. Since that time, LP has been a stand-alone entity operating on community partnerships, program tuition, and fundraising events. In July 2015, the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce began administering and staffing LP.

Affecting Positive Change
Leadership Putnam provides in-depth seminars on a wide variety of community-related topics for its participants and challenges them to get engaged and affect positive change in Putnam County. Each year, LP class members complete a series of projects to meet a need within the community and ultimately work toward improving our citizens’ quality of life.

The Purpose of Leadership Putnam Is:

  • To identify potential and existing leaders in business, government, and elsewhere in the community and to help them prepare for voluntary community leadership roles.
  • To provide these leaders with a practical and sophisticated understanding of the Putnam County area’s major problems and opportunities.
  • To improve the communications network among leaders from disparate backgrounds and interests.
  • To create a forum for people of demonstrated commitment to the community to meet and exchange ideas.
  • To stimulate increased leadership participation and commitment in the community.

One-Day Seminars Focusing on Major Areas of Community Concern:

  • Education
  • Human Needs & Services
  • Environment & Agriculture
  • Economic Development
  • Local Government
  • State Government
  • Healthcare
  • Quality of Life

“It’s not very often that you have an opportunity to meet with true leaders — the most innovative, enthusiastic, creative, and influential people throughout your community. I’ve learned so many functions that are essential to the growth and prosperity of myself, my business, and the citizens of this community. The most important and meaningful part of this experience is the relationships we built; if you want to see the best that Putnam County has to offer and the future of our magnificent county, engage and complete Leadership Putnam.”

– Konstantin Yepifantsev

For more information, contact LP Director Angie Wells: