The Leadership Development Program provides current owners, key non-family managers and the next generation of owners/managers with the opportunity to sharpen leadership skills and kindle enthusiasm for the challenges of running a profitable enterprise.

The Program, consisting of eight full-day work sessions, is taught by faculty of the Whittemore School of Business and Economics and experts in family business.

Each daylong session has a unique emphasis because much of the learning in the class is centered around real life issues from the participants own family business experience.

The program is intended for those family and nonfamily members who anticipate a move into the primary organizational ledership role. It is a highly participative program during which the participants are required to apply their learning back home and report their experiences in the sessions that follow. The learning, while based upon estalbished theory and concepts, is very practical and in past sessions, has been found to have a major impact on the competence, self-esteem and leadership qualities for all those who have enrolled.

Topics covered include: Introduction to Leadership Concepts, Understanding Yourself, Developmental Leadership, Geeting the Best from Oneself and Others, Mentoring and Ownership Transfer, Team Building, Managing Change in a Changing Environment, and Final Projects. Additional topics are added to address the interests and needs of each individual class whenever possible.

The program meets one day per month for the eight months.

• Tools to become a better leader and mentor.
• Skills and self-confidence to accept more responsibility in the company.
• Confidence to change patterns of behavior.
• Ability to think outside the box.
• Confidence to overcome the lack of a college education.
• Opportunity to form lasting friendships with people from different industries, yet the same family issues.
• Environment of trust for sharing ideas/problems and getting feedback.

Comments from Graduates of the program

" I have taken lots of company sponsors classes, and this one has been by far the most enjoyable and rewarding." -- Angela Cullen, Crystal Dry Cleaners.

"The leadership development program has given me a framework to further develop my own leadership style. This style of leadership is necessary to compete in today's market." -- Frank Manley, The Cabinet Press

"Working with the UNH faculty brought in the practical aspects of operating a business as well as tools to deal with the unique dynamics of a family business. The peer to peer discussions of those concepts brought the experience to a higher level." -- Christian Rand, Granite State Telephone.

"The leadership development program served as an excellent forum to explore the major elements of leadership style and enhance my abilities. The discussion and coaching and team building helped me be more open and supportive to my employees." -- Darlene Dunn, Dunn Industries, Inc.

"The class discussions give real-life examples of today's challenges and ways to go about dealing with those challenges." -- Michelle Primavera, Beswick Engineering.

"The program has provided me with the means and the opportunity to become a more knowledgeable leader with the confidence to utilize my strengths in managing our business. -- Martha Manley, The Cabinet Press, Inc.

"The program gave me inspiration to take back to work to become a better leader." -- John Ebersole, Jr., Creative Optics, Inc.

"The class has had a real positive, everyday impact on my leadership skills." -- Gail P. Parady, NHCTC Pease Center.

"Valuable information in a relaxed, fun, challenging and trusting atmosphere. it made going back to school awesome!" -- Daniel Bellemore, Bellemore Heating Oil, Inc.

"I would recommend this program to any upper level manager as a confidence and knowledge buiilder. As the business world changes, it's nice to have a place to come to learn what changes to expect and how to handle them." -- Eric Lambert, Brentwood Machine Sales

"I've often thought that the term "Leadership" is overused but I have found, and the class reinforces, that inspired leadership is critical to successful organizations." -- Mike Donati, Beswick Engineering

"The only thing that could be done to improve the program would be to create a year two." -- Shane Drolet, General Linen

If you would like more information about the Leadership Development Program or other programs of the Center for Family Business please contact the office at (603) 862-1107, or E-mail: Barbara Draper.