West Coast Leadership Application 2025-26

West Coast Leadership Application 2026-27

Your application must be received no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, May 29, 2026. Once your application is submitted, please sign up for a 15 minute Zoom interview with the link that will be provided. Applicants will be notified of their selection status no later than June 19, 2026. Please contact lindsey@westcoastchamber.org or (616) 392-9720 with any questions.
Name

First NameLast Name
Home Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Birth Date*

MonthDayYear
Years in the Holland/Zeeland area:*
Work Phone Number*

Area CodePhone Number
Cell Phone Number*

Area CodePhone Number
Email*
example@example.com
African AmericanAsianCaucasianHispanicMiddle EasternNative AmericanOtherPrefer not to answer
Employment
Current Employer: *
Current Title: *
Years Employed at Current Employer:*
EducationGovernmentHealth CareHospitality/TourismIT/EngineeringLawMedia/MarketingManufacturingNon ProfitReal Estate / Insurance / FinanceReligionRetailSocial ServicesOther

Previous Employment: *

Rows	Employer	Title	Dates From-To
Previous Employer
Previous Employer
Previous Employer

Education

List college(s), business or trade schools and/or other specialized training*

Rows	School	Dates From - To	Degree	Major
Education
Education
Education
Education

Organizations / Activities

Please list, in order of importance, up to five community, civic, professional, business, religious, social, or other organizations of which you are or have been involved in. *

Rows	Organization	Dates of Involvement	Type of Involvement
1
2
3
4
5

What are one or two things have you accomplished with these organizations that you're proud of? *
How much time each month do you commit to community, civic, professional and other organizations and activities?
Applicant's Statement
Briefly explain why you want to be a part of the West Coast Leadership Program? *
Briefly explain what unique attributes, viewpoints, or experiences will you contribute to the make up of the class? *
Please choose one issue facing the Holland/Zeeland community and briefly provide your viewpoint. What solution would you suggest for addressing the issue? *
Briefly explain how you expect the Holland/Zeeland area will benefit from your successful completion of the program? *
Tuition / Funding and Financial Assistance

Tuition for the West Coast Leadership Program is $3,000 per participant for Chamber members and $4,000 for non-members, and is due by August 3, 2026. Tuition is payable to the Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce and is deductible under the Internal Revenue Service Code as a business expense.

A limited number of partial scholarships may be extended to qualified individuals who may not otherwise be able to participate. Once the applicant is accepted, requests for scholarship assistance will be considered on the basis of demonstrated need and class composition.

Financial assistance is also available through a payment plan arrangement, in which the tuition is paid over an extended period of time, with the full payment payable by May 12, 2027.
YesNo
Scholarship Amount Requested:
Reason:
Payment Plan Request and Reason:
Commitment

Class members are expected to attend each day session in its entirety. Those who cannot adjust their schedules to accommodate these days should not apply.

Orientation: August 19, 2026

Overnight Retreat: September 9-10, 2026

Monthly Program Dates:

October 14, 2026

November 11, 2026

December 9, 2026

January 13, 2027

February 10, 2027

March 10, 2027

April 14, 2027

May 12, 2027
YesNo
Acknowledgement
- I understand that there is a significant time and financial commitment required to participate in the West Coast Leadership Program and have received the support and approval of my supervisor to fully engage in the program.
- I understand that attendance at all scheduled West Coast Leadership sessions is mandatory, because my participation is essential to the program's success.
- I have reviewed with my supervisor the program schedule and have received permission to be absent from work on all scheduled dates.
- I have also discussed with my supervisor the importance of my participation in each session and that absence could result in my dismissal from the West Coast Leadership program.
- If for some reason I must withdraw from West Coast Leadership, notification must be given to the West Coast Leadership Director no later than July 31, 2026. If notification is given later than that, a $500 fee will be charged. No refunds will be given after August 19, 2026.
Applicant Signature*

Clear
Supervisor Name:*

First NameLast Name
Supervisor Email: *
example@example.com
Supervisor Phone Number: *

Area CodePhone Number
Selection Criteria

West Coast Leadership is designed to bring together new, emerging and established leaders from the area to learn about and address pertinent community needs, strengthen individual leadership abilities to help the community respond to changing needs new opportunities and encourage participants to personally commit to assuming leadership roles in the community.

Participants are selected on the basis of:
- Demonstrated community involvement.
- Present or potential leadership role in an organization.
- Ability and interest to complete the West Coast Leadership program and to contribute to the Holland/Zeeland community in the future.
Submitting Your Application

Your application must be received no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, May 29, 2026. Once your application is submitted, please sign up for a 15 minute Zoom interview with the link that will be provided. Applicants will be notified of their selection status no later than June 19, 2026. Please contact lindsey@westcoastchamber.org or (616) 392-9720 with any questions.
Should be Empty:

West Coast Leadership Application 2026-27

Applicant's Statement