HANCOCK COUNTY – The newest Leadership Hancock County class is off and running.
The organization recently kicked off its 28th year of shaping local leaders as they build relationships and learn about Hancock County.
The Class of 2025 started off the year with a two-day retreat in mid-September, during which they learned about leadership traits and the art of collaboration.
Each of the 23 class members took a DISC assessment used to assess their behavior types, whether they lean toward dominance, influence, steadiness or conscientiousness. On the second day of the retreat, they were divided into teams based on their assessments, with an attempt to have all four personality styles represented on each team.
“Part of our plan for this program is to teach people to be leaders and part of that, as we all know, will rely on how well we deal with other people,” said LHC’s executive director, Melissa Ewald.
Learning about various behavior styles can help individuals know how to best collaborate as a team, she said, by respecting individual style and playing to one another’s strengths.
At the leadership session in November, each team will determine what community project members wish to complete before graduation in May.
Community projects are a huge component of LHC, said Ewald, giving team members the opportunity to work collaboratively on projects that make a lasting impact on the community.
Last year’s projects included installing shelves at the Hancock County Food Pantry, promoting an Inspiring Abilities Expo and doing service projects to support the Circle of Care Center, Bentley’s Buddies, and The Landing and Recovery Cafe.
This year’s class members got the chance to learn about some of the county’s pressing needs during a “speed networking” session Oct. 2 at the Thrive Center in Greenfield, where representatives from 20 local nonprofits met with each team to share a bit about themselves in six-minute sessions.
“We called it speed dating but it was really speed networking,” said Ewald, who was inspired to hear the dialogue taking place between class members and nonprofit board members and executives.
“This class is very enthusiastic and very community oriented. I call tell just from watching them interact with the nonprofits,” she said.
In addition to learning about local nonprofits, class members also had professional headshots taken at the October meeting and learned more about various aspects of need in Hancock County, as they were invited to get plugged into local boards and other leadership positions.
Growing leadership skills in order to serve the community is what Leadership Hancock County is all about, Ewald said.
Mitchell Kirk, communications director for the Hancock Economic Development Council, said he’s excited for the opportunity to become a stronger leader through the class this year.
“We’re learning not only plenty of leadership skills but a lot about Hancock County itself, which I think is just as important if one wants to be an effective leader here,” he said.
As a self-described introvert, Kirk said he’s thankful for the chance to learn how various personality types can best work together.
“Leadership is a quality I’ve always admired but often feel I lack due to my introversion. At the same time, I also know there are plenty of quieter leaders out there who have found success, so I look forward to learning how to grow into a competent leader using those characteristics ingrained in my personality,” he said.
“On that note, I think assigning the teams based on DISC assessments will be very beneficial. Having all quieter, more reserved people like me on a team would be a recipe for disaster, as would having all extroverted, take-action types, but having a strong diversity of personalities should ensure all of the various needs of a project will be successfully fulfilled.”
To learn more about Leadership Hancock County, visit leadhc.org.
Following is a list of members of the Class of 2025:
Abby Glazier, Hancock Health
Alexis Johnson, GBC Bank
Allyson Rogers, A Focused Touch Day Spa
Cory Hisle, Hancock Health
Dan Tutrow, Dynamic Legacy Planning
Elizabeth Subrin, Arc of Hancock County
Erica Weborn, Life Choice
Heather Condra, Greenfield Main Street
Jared Zentz, Hancock County Public Library
Jonie Wynn, Hancock Health
Josh Hughes, Messer Construction
Kathy Robinson, White and Jocham
Kayleigh Rains, Hancock Health
Lisa Cole, Joyner Homes
Mark Elder, Vernon Township Fire Department
Mary-Pat Parrigan, WorkOne
Matt Layton, NineStar Connect
Mitchell Kirk, Hancock Economic Development Council
Morgan Walker, Hancock County Community Corrections
Nicole Parcell, Hancock County Recorder’s Office
Paul Mueller, Hancock Health
Robb Reed, Boys and Girls Clubs of Hancock County
Sara Riggs, Union Savings and Loan Association
