BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ChamberMaster//Event Calendar 2.0//EN METHOD:PUBLISH X-PUBLISHED-TTL:P1H REFRESH-INTERVAL:P1H CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Chicago BEGIN:DAYLIGHT RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYMONTH=3;BYDAY=2SU DTSTART:20070101T000000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:Central Daylight Time END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD RRULE:FREQ=YEARLY;BYMONTH=11;BYDAY=1SU DTSTART:20070101T000000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:Central Standard Time END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260904T083000 DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260904T113000 X-MICROSOFT-CDO-ALLDAYEVENT:FALSE SUMMARY:2026 Leadership Academy DESCRIPTION:2026 Leadership Academy \na { text-decoration: none\; color: #464feb\; }\ntr th\, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6\; }\ntr th { background-color: #f5f5f5\; }\n\na { text-decoration: none\; color: #464feb\; }\ntr th\, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6\; }\ntr th { background-color: #f5f5f5\; }\n\na { text-decoration: none\; color: #464feb\; }\ntr th\, tr td { border: 1px solid #e6e6e6\; }\ntr th { background-color: #f5f5f5\; }\nAs we celebrate the 48th year of Leadership\, we welcome experienced middle and senior managers to join the 2026 Leadership Academy\, a highly selective\, leadership development program focused on experiential learning across the Aurora region.\n\nLimited to only 25 participants\, this fieldtrip-based\, case-study model course meets for 12 consecutive Friday mornings: 8:30 11:30 a.m. | September 4 through November 20.\nThe program blends case-study learning with site visits to major organizations\, giving participants direct exposure to leadership practices across healthcare\, education\, government\, nonprofit\, and civic sectors throughout Aurora and surrounding communities.Program Focus AreasParticipants will engage in:Understanding the Aurora region's civic and economic landscapeExploring principles of Servant LeadershipExpanding professional and community leadership networksProgram Structure & LogisticsThe Academy begins with an orientation hosted at the Aurora Regional Economic Alliance. From there\, participants embark on weekly site visits and leadership discussions hosted by more than 10 regional organizations.Over the course of the program\, participants will visit and learn from the following key organizations and community leaders:Rush Copley Medical CenterBloomhaven & Bardwell Residences GrippleNorth Aurora Village HallAurora City HallAurora Public Library FoundationLoaves & Fishes Community ServicesCollege of DuPageCommunity Foundation of the Fox River ValleyDunham FoundationAurora Women's Empowerment FoundationFox Valley Park DistrictParamount TheatreFox Metro Water Reclamation DistrictAurora Police DepartmentWaubonsee Community CollegeAurora UniversityGraduationThe program concludes in Week 12 with a graduation ceremony celebrating participants and their invited guests\, recognizing their leadership growth and community engagement throughout the Academy.\n\nAbout the 2026 Leadership Academy Facilitator\nSandra Harrison\, founder and CEO of DVA Leadership & Development Training Consultants Sandra Harrison is a workforce chameleon\, seeming to have mastered multiple professions across her career. Sandra is the founder and CEO of DVA Leadership & Development Training Consultants. She is a corporate leadership development trainer. With her extensive background in instructional design and delivery\, and her certification as a play expert\, she is able to deliver innovative and impactful training solutions. You can often hear her clients rave about their DVA experience.\n\nSandra's dedication to community service is evident through her active involvement in various boards and commissions. Her leadership and commitment to making a difference have earned her recognition as a trusted and influential professional in her field. She was recognized by the City of Aurora for commitment to service and partnership in her community. \n\n\nDisclaimers: Participants must provide their own transportation to each satellite location\, and the Alliance is not responsible for anything that should happen to participants in transit. Photographs will be taken throughout the course and used in promotions and at graduation\; upon registration\, please provide your consent to the Alliance using the photographs. X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

2026 Leadership Academy \;

As we celebrate the 48th year of Leadership\, we welcome experienced middle and senior managers to join the 2026 Leadership Academy\, a highly selective\, leadership development program focused on experiential learning across the Aurora region.

Limited to only 25 participants\, this fieldtrip-based\, case-study model course meets for \;12 consecutive Friday mornings: \;
8:30 &ndash\; 11:30 a.m. | September 4 through November 20.


The program blends case-study learning with site visits to major organizations\, giving participants direct exposure to leadership practices across healthcare\, education\, government\, nonprofit\, and civic sectors throughout Aurora and surrounding communities.

Program Focus Areas

Participants will engage in:

Program Structure &\; Logistics

The Academy begins with an orientation hosted at the Aurora Regional Economic Alliance. From there\, participants embark on weekly site visits and leadership discussions hosted by more than 10 regional organizations.

Over the course of the program\, participants will visit and learn from the following key organizations and community leaders:

Graduation

The program concludes in Week 12 with a graduation ceremony celebrating participants and their invited guests\, recognizing their leadership growth and community engagement throughout the Academy.



About the 2026 Leadership Academy Facilitator
Sandra Harrison\, founder and CEO of DVA Leadership &\; Development Training Consultants

Sandra Harrison is a workforce chameleon\, seeming to have mastered multiple professions across her career. Sandra is the founder and CEO of DVA Leadership &\; Development Training Consultants. She is a corporate leadership development trainer. With her extensive background in instructional design and delivery\, and her certification as a play expert\, she is able to deliver innovative and impactful training solutions. You can often hear her clients rave about their DVA experience.

Sandra&rsquo\;s dedication to community service is evident through her active involvement in various boards and commissions. Her leadership and commitment to making a difference have earned her recognition as a trusted and influential professional in her field. She was recognized by the City of Aurora for commitment to service and partnership in her community. \;




Disclaimers: \;Participants must provide their own transportation to each satellite location\, and the Alliance is not responsible for anything that should happen to participants in transit. Photographs will be taken throughout the course and used in promotions and at graduation\; upon registration\, please provide your consent to the Alliance using the photographs. \;



LOCATION:43 W. Galena Blvd. Aurora IL 60506 UID:e.4707.1433433 SEQUENCE:3 DTSTAMP:20260721T175214Z URL:https://business.auroraalliance.org/alliance-calendar/Details/2026-leadership-academy-1696690?sourceTypeId=Hub END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR