Applications for 2010 Public Executive Leadership Academy due by May 1

Do you have an idea for a project that you would like to move forward in your community? Would you like to develop that project alongside other visionary public executives with the assistance of renowned leadership experts?

The 2010 Public Executive Leadership Academy (PELA), sponsored by the School of Government at UNC-Chapel Hill and the North Carolina City and County Management Association (NCCCMA), offers public executives the opportunity to identify and work through a community change project during two intensive, enlightening and productive week-long sessions.

PELA is designed for new and veteran municipal and county managers interested in honing their leadership and collaboration skills, as well as assistant managers and key department heads that represent the next generation of leaders.

PELA participants routinely comment about the value of this experience on their present work and long-term career. Public service is a demanding job, and PELA provides an opportunity to recharge batteries, hone leadership skills and gain greater self-awareness.

"In attending PELA, I had the opportunity to step away from the daily grind and remember why I went into public service in the first place – to make a difference in my community," said Danna Stansbury of the Land of Sky Regional Council. "The PELA experience is like no other program in the country, and it has definitely made a difference in my career."

PELA uses a range of interactive and reflective learning experiences, including simulations, case studies, small learning teams, and participant-led discussions. Local and national speakers from universities and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), as well as expert consultants and managers, will lead discussions and share their experience and insight. Participants will also learn from another valuable resource – each other. A complete list of 2010 faculty can be found at www.pela.unc.edu.

"PELA is an intensive executive training experience on the cutting edge of leadership thinking, augmented by some of the best academic minds in American business and government," said Durham County Deputy Manager Wendell Davis.

The 2010 Academy runs July 11-16 at the Rizzo Conference Center in Chapel Hill and Aug. 8-13 at the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill. The application deadline is May 1, and the application is available online at www.pela.unc.edu.

Applicants will be notified by May 15 regarding admission. The course fee is $4,200 and may be paid over two fiscal years. Lodging, most meals, and instructional materials are included in the course fee. NCCCMA members will receive a $500 tuition discount, and a limited number of partial scholarships are available through the NCCCMA. Scholarships are also available through the Local Government Federal Credit Union at www.lgfcu.org. For more information about the application process, contact Gail Wilkins at wilkins@sog.unc.edu or (919) 962-9754.