- Tell us, why LTA?
Why not LTA? To be honest, LTA seemed like the right next step for me. After an incredible year with an incredible crew of dedicated professionals, it seemed like the best way to continue to grow as a leader and to continue to build relationships with professionals that care about our community. Also, it expands my professional network beyond public servants. When you work for local government, it is easy to get lost in the big issues that impact our community and focus on them from your immediate perspective. What’s great about LTA is that most of the members equally care about the big issues facing our community. For me, I gain various, different viewpoints on issues that in turn make me better at serving residents in a meaningful way.
- For you, what separates LTA from other business leadership programs?
The people – LTA is home to the most dedicated group of professionals – they care about our community, care about their work and contributions, and they offer support to others. It’s welcoming and collaborative – no one is a stranger. I am a communicator by nature and by profession and LTA sets itself apart in that area among its membership. Anyone can walk into an LTA event and even if you don’t see someone from your class, you have still had so many shared experiences with the people in the room based on the curriculum of the program you feel you are automatically “with the best class ever.”
- Describe a time when the LTA experience impacted your life or career?
Throughout my career I have been blessed with a village of supportive mentors, colleagues, and friends. LTA expanded my village and made it stronger. Let me explain – in 2011, before returning to local government, I started my own business. One of the first people to informally mentor me was a member of LTA from another class. I saw her at an event, we had worked together early on in my career, and we decided to meet to catch up over a cup of coffee. She openly shared her experiences and struggles of starting her own business as she wanted me to learn from them so that I could do better, struggle less. And her advice paid off – within six months my company was in the black. She directly helped me succeed – without her honesty and her lessons learned I am sure I would have hit several roadblocks. So, you see, LTA played a big part in the development of my business.
- What is a LTA benefit you wish everyone knew about?
Again, I probably have to say the people – they care about this community, and they care about each other. It’s an organization filled with people that want to contribute in a positive way and at the end of the day that is what we should all hope to do. The people make up the spirit of LTA. It reminds me of a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox entitled “Two Kinds of People.” In it she describes how we all can be categorized in to two kinds of people – the people that lift and the people who lean. LTA is full of people who lift!
- Describe how the leadership journey will continue to shape you?
Leadership skills are life skills and in becoming better leaders we become better people. LTA is all about continuing to serve, grow and develop as a leader, and in doing so we can become better versions of ourselves. At the end of the day, I want to continually work to be better – kinder, brighter, more empathetic toward others, more insightful and introspective, and willing to make a difference even in the small stuff. Evolution of one’s spirit is how we grow, and my evolution is a part of my leadership journey, and it is far from over – I only hope that I am able to serve others along the way.
Nominate an LTA member from your LT Class to feature an upcoming #LTA Famous feature: Laura Frost [email protected]