Gannon Knight News

     All organizations have one thing in common: a leader. This person molds the organization, inspires its members and ensures that it carries out its mission and goals.
     Where does one learn to be this kind of person? One place could be at Gannon University – with the Leadership Development Program.
     Saturday’s Leadership Conference, titled “Chasing Greatness: How Leaders Make the Transition from Ordinary to Extraordinary,” will showcase two keynote speakers and several breakout workshops participants can choose from to fit their interests and leadership styles.

     David Coleman (pictured right - Contributed photo), also known as the Date Doctor, will speak on “Why Be Ordinary When You Can Be Remarkable?” and Corey Ciochetti (pictured below - Contributed photo), a renowned business ethics professor, author and recipient of numerous teaching awards, will advise students on “Chasing Authentic Success.”
     Breakout session speakers include Cathy Fresch and Jim Finegan; Mike Goebel; Kyle “Butter” Churman; the Rev. Shawn Clerkin; Bryan Prior, Ph.D.; R.C. Griffin; Adam Johnson and Bekah Jardas. The individual workshops will educate participants on everything from team building and networking to creating SMART goals and running effective meetings.
     Churman, parliamentarian for the Student Government Association and one of the breakout session leaders, said that the conference is expected to be a worthwhile experience.
     “We have two tremendously dynamic keynote speakers who are going to provide great insights into growing as a leader,” said the senior history/secondary education major. “We already have a lot of really good leaders on this campus. The idea is to take these leaders and make them better than they are now – it’s not hard to be a good leader, it’s hard to be great leader.”
     Clubs and organizations that have half or more of their group attend the conference will also be eligible to win

$500 in guaranteed club funding for the 2010-2011 academic year from SGA. A free lunch will also be provided to attendees.
     The program previously required participants to attend a series of weekly seminars on various aspects of leadership, but the LDP leaders decided to renovate the program’s structure in hopes of increasing attendance.
     “We decided to try a different format – two shorter one-day conferences dedicated to specific aspects of becoming a leader,” said Tom Russo, SGA vice president of clubs and organizations. “Students can take something from this and apply it to their organization or their own life.”
     Churman encouraged students to attend, even if they haven’t already registered for the event.
     “I always learn a lot from conferences and the fact that we’re having one on campus is nice,” he said. “I highly recommend that everyone attend.”
     Russo added that conferences are good additions to resumes.
     “Employers are usually looking for people who are already leaders,” he said. “It’ll be a great thing for freshmen and sophomores who are just starting out to get experience on campus. It’s another great stop on a journey to becoming a leader.”
     Students interested in attending can sign up in the SGA office this week or at the beginning of the program on Saturday, although pre-registration is preferred. For more information, contact Russo at russo014@gannon.edu.