Whether you are leading one person or 500, some training may be required to reach those goals, chamber officials say. The participants in the Leadership Richmond Program may end up having what it takes to go above and beyond.

The Leadership Richmond program began on Jan. 14 with orientation and will end on Nov. 30, with the participants graduating in Cole auditorium at 6:30 p.m. The program consists of 10 sessions over a six month period.

“You could live here your entire life and still learn something about Richmond county,” said Emily Tucker, president of Richmond County Chamber of Commerce.

Participants are usually referred by their business as a representative, but can also fill out the application on their own accompanied by the $175 fee. The program was extended to a full year, but due to scheduling issues went back to the six month agreement.

This year’s roster include: Paige Burns of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Rockingham; David Brian of the Richmond County Detention Center; LaToya Davis of Pee Dee Electric in Rockingham; Melissa Hall with Monarch in Rockingham; Cindy Holland with Richmond County Schools; Christy Land of FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Hospital; Gabrielle Butler of Big Rock Sports in Hamlet; Jeanette David with Richmond County Schools; Deborah Hardison with Richmond Community College; Faith Jones of Richmond County Hospice and Kristie Long with the Richmond County Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s been very interesting,” said Land, clinical director of FHRMH intensive care unit. “I didn’t know about a lot of the businesses and opportunities that we have available and the jobs that were available at the industrial park.”

The participants are able to get a tour of their town and make some important connections.

“I have really enjoyed the new friendships and outlooks on different industries that I didn’t know before,” said Butler, BRS inbound manager. “I didn’t know how influential or how much the industries mean to this county.”

The program focuses on health care, leadership and agriculture businesses. They all revolve around the economic development of the county.

“Everything has been great so far,” said Long, executive assistant at the Richmond County Chamber of Commerce.

The participants have come together to do a project to raise money and donate to the charity of their choice. They have chosen to have a skeet shoot on Sept. 9 at Dewitt’s Outdoor Sports in Ellerbe. All proceeds will go to the Roberdel Children’s Center’s new media center.

Role playing exercises allow participants to take on a leadership role in a small town, to see how they could adapt to the situation.

“It has really been an educational experience,” Butler said. “I have learned different aspects of the county, from the larger companies to regular mom and pop shops.”

Tucker says that the program is looking for alumni who have been involved for a future alumni program.

“We would like to have as many alumni as possible,” she said.

“I think that the Richmond Leadership program is very beneficial to everyone,” Butler said. “It gets everyone together and everyone is evenly influential and the common interest is to better the community.”

Hollie Nivens can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 19 or by e-mailing at hnivens@yourdailyjournal.com