Almost 1200 young professionals have graduated from Leadership Siouxland since its inception in 1984. 39 years ago, a small group of progressive, forward-thinking individuals from Sioux City saw a need for an organized forum to develop leaders and help them get involved in the community. They offered a nine-month program to educate participants about the city, help them gain confidence and leadership skills, and invoke a passion for making a positive difference in their community. It is a tribute to those first visionaries that the program is still in existence and adding value today.
Over the years, the program has expanded from Sioux City-centric to tri-state-focused. The curriculum includes specific educational leadership skill components, such as Change Cycle Management, principles of positive leadership and emotional intelligence, and an emphasis on IDEA (Inclusion/Diversity/Equity/Access and Accessibility). There are numerous dynamic opportunities for participants to network with entrepreneurs and people of influence they might never have the chance to meet and interact with socially. Each year, the program attracts a diverse group of participants from different industries/occupations, at various career levels, different ethnicity, gender, age, and socioeconomic levels. This diversity within the class results in an extremely interactive, inspiring, and exciting learning environment.
This year’s class undertook projects in collaboration with mission-driven organizations including Siouxland Youth for Christ, Sleep In Heavenly Peace, Wet-Nose Rescue, Meet the Need Siouxland Inc., YANA (You Are Not Alone), SCAHT (Siouxland Coalition Against Human Trafficking), and a newly formed Cancer SUX Tea Party. The graduates from the program enhanced their leadership skills and found their passion, and will go on to make positive differences in our community for years to come.
Applications are now being taken for the 2023 – 2024 class. To learn more or apply, contact the Executive Director at exdir@leadershipsiouxland.org or call 712-898-8594.
Congratulations to the graduates of the 2022 -2023 class and sincere thanks to the organizations that sponsored their participation:
Stacie Anderson – Siouxland Magazine
Antonio Bass, Brian Ganger, and Anna Salas – Goodwill of the Great Plains
Janell Broekemier – Goosmann Law Firm
Greg Brummond – Chesterman Company
Erin Cantrell – Seaboard Triumph Foods
Brooke Daane – Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Mary Davis, Katie Helgeland, Anna Howard, Bethany Jones, Lori Kasel, Valente Leon, Keith O’Dell, Dory Parkin, Rachel Ruiz, Rocky Schmitz – Wells Enterprises, Inc.
Janelle DeCora, Jaime Monroe, Darlyn St. Cyr – Ho Chunk Inc.
DJ Flores – Northwest Bank
Ashlee French – Barnhart Crane
Autumn Hernandez – Central Bank
Ben Hull – WA Klinger LLC
Erin McElroy – Briar Cliff University
LaShawna Moyle, Josh Van Zweden – WITCC
Neil Niehus – Schuster Inc.
Lt. Col. Will Poulson and SMSgt Luke Terry – SC ANG 185th
Jessica Ross – Security National Bank
Pat Schnell – FEH Design
Christy Schwaderer – Boy Scouts of America
Steve Steichen, Mike Yellot – Great West Casualty Company
Sarah Sturges – Floyd Valley HealthCare
Laura Tranmer – Siouxland Community Health Center
Tarn Vieira – Self-Employed
Jennifer Williams – Boys and Girls Club
Glen Winekauf – Horn Memorial Hospital
Leadership Siouxland is able to cultivate community leaders because of our supporters. We’d like to thank Sioux City Museum, Orpheum Theater and Warrior Hotel, Seaboard Triumph Expo Center, WITCC Security Institute and 911 Center, Sioux City Chamber of Commerce, Siouxland Community Health Center, Boys and Girls Club of Siouxland, Girls Inc., SC ANG 185th, Salvation Army Camp. Kudos to our caterer, Susan Frahm. Special thanks as well to our presenters – Tom Munson (SC Museum); Rex Mueller, Ryan Bertrand (Sioux City Police) and Ryan Collins (Sioux City Fire); Julian Lee (Siouxland Community Health Center), Alex Watters (Morningside University and SC City Council); Heidi Kammer-Hodge (Consulting by Design LLC and Briar Cliff University); Zachary Nelson, SC Juvenile Court Services), Tessa Dinsdale (First Interstate Bank), Barbara Sloniker (Sioux City Initiative and Sioux City Chamber), Chris Bogenrief (NAI United Business Brokerage), Chris Jacobs (ARNP Siouxland Community Health Center), Kevin Grieme (Siouxland District Health Department), Keith Vollstedt MD (UnityPoint Health); and representatives from the following organizations – Girls Inc, YANA, Siouxland Youth For Christ, Sleep In Heavenly Peach, Meet the Need Siouxland Inc., Youth Crisis Intervention Center, and Youth Shelter, Siouxland Coalition Against Human Trafficking.
Leadership Siouxland continues to develop diverse, passionate leaders who positively impact our community for today and tomorrow. Please join us; you will find your passion and help make our community even stronger and better!
Peggy Smith, Executive Director of Leadership Siouxland, is dedicated to inspiring others to follow their passion to positively impact the Siouxland Community.
