2026-2027 Leadership Wayne Application

2026-2027 Leadership Wayne Application

Complete the application to apply for the Leadership Wayne program. Application Deadline is September 1, 2026
Thank you to our Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

Community Sponsors

3HC (Home Health & Hospice Care, Inc.)
Jackson & Sons
UNC Health Wayne

Friend Sponsor

Spiron Solutions
Leadership Wayne, a program of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, engages a group of dedicated leaders focused on enhancing the community through service. The program is open to emerging leaders and individuals showing leadership potential. It aims to attract those who hold leadership roles in their respective fields and are likely to contribute to community service efforts.

Selection Criteria:
Candidates will be selected by the Leadership Wayne Selection Committee and approved by the Board of Regents, a committee of program alumni. The committee aims for diverse representation from various sectors including business, education, government, community organizations, and ethnic groups.

Key requirements for all applicants include:
- Residency or employment in Wayne County.
- If the candidate's full-time employer is sponsoring the tuition, the employer's endorsement is necessary.
- Understanding and acceptance of the program’s attendance, community project, and guidelines.
- A genuine commitment to community service demonstrated through detailed information in the application.
During the selection process, the committee looks for applicants who exhibit:
- Dedication and drive to serve the Wayne County community.
- Capability to fulfill the program's time commitments.
What to expect from the program:
- Participate in a one-day Opening Retreat.
- Participate in 8 class days which will include Leadership Development, Business Exploration, and Discussions with Community Members.
- Complete a Community Initiative/Action Project.
- Attend Graduation and Project Presentation.
- Attend the Leading Wayne Luncheon.
- Participate in the Ending Retreat.
- Attend 3 Community Meetings.
Mail/Deliver completed applications to:
Wayne County Chamber of Commerce
308 N. William Street
PO Box 1107
Goldsboro, NC 27533
Phone: (919) 734-2241
Email: janetb@waynecountychamber.com

Application Deadline: September 8, 2026

Because the number of appointments may be limited, applicants who are not selected are encouraged to reapply. The tuition for the program is $850 for Chamber members and $950 for non-members. Tuition will be fully refunded if an applicant is not selected. Because Leadership Wayne is a community program, a Wayne County Chamber of Commerce membership by an applicant’s sponsor is given weight in accordance with the stated selection criteria. Leadership Wayne strives to choose a diverse cross section of applicants and does not discriminate based on age, sex, race, handicap, religious affiliation, or sexual orientation.

Please input your name as it appears on your driver's license.
Applicant Full Name

First NameLast Name
Gender
Home Address (Including City, State and Zip Code)
Cell Phone
Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
Email Address (Primary Business or Personal)
example@example.com
Specify how you would like your name to appear on your name tag?
Shirt Size
Job Title
Physical Challenge (if any)
Emergency Contact Information

Name

Street Address

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Employer Information:

Employer Name

Business Address

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Why are you interested in the Leadership Wayne program?
Attachment: Please include a photocopy of your Real ID driver’s license, along with a current résumé and/or a brief description of your position and responsibilities in your present employment role.

Cancelof
The success of the Leadership Wayne program depends on the full commitment of each participant to attend all program sessions, arrive on time and stay for the entirety of each day. Even though emergencies do arise, full participation is expected for all sessions, project and interim activities. Questions pertaining to the Attendance Policy should be directed to the Class Liaison.

Leadership Wayne begins with a mandatory Opening Retreat in September and is completed the following May with a 1/2 day retreat. The Ending Retreat is mandatory, participants are expected to attend, as it brings closure to the year and allows time for classmates to offer feedback on the current year’s program and share ideas for next year’s program. Beginning in October, the class meets one Thursday a month for 8 months and completes a Community Action Project prior to graduation.

All participants are required to attend the Leading Wayne Luncheon held in the fall. All participants must actively participate in the Community Initiative/Action Project and attend each class day. Class members will be held accountable for class day attendance, class meeting attendance, and posted deadlines regarding the program using a 2 Strike Policy.

Class members will be notified by the Class Liaison after the 1st Strike. If the class member receives a 2nd Strike, the Class Liaison will give them an opportunity to appeal to the Regents. If a class member receives 2 Strikes and an appeal request was not received by the Board of Regents, they will not be allowed to continue in the program, participate at the graduation, or receive any certificate. (Absences from monthly class days due to military service or Family Medical Leave Act will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Board of Regents to determine if the absence will be excused.) During each class day, the class will participate in discussions on topics pertaining to leadership.
All class members are required to participate in and complete a Community Action Project designed to benefit Wayne County. During the Opening Retreat, participants will begin reviewing areas of concern and identifying potential focus areas for their Community Action Project.

Class members will present a final project proposal to the Board of Regents at the Regents December 2, 2026 meeting. This proposal must include a detailed plan, projected impact, and—if applicable—a strategy for raising funds needed to complete the project.

The completed project must be finalized by April 30, 2027, followed by a presentation or dedication ceremony on or before May 21, 2027. This culminating event will be organized by the class members in partnership with the Board of Regents and Wayne County Chamber of Commerce staff.

Please list in order of importance to you, your present and past community, civic, religious, political, social or other activities that you have engaged in currently or in the past.

Rows	Organization	Position Held	Dates
1.
2.
3.
4.

Why do you want to participate in the Leadership Wayne Program?
In your opinion, what do you believe is the most pressing challenge(s) facing our community?
What outcome would you envision to address this issue?

Leadership Wayne strives to adhere to scheduled meeting dates. However, acts of God, acts of terriorism, or other similar factors out of our control could create a change in schedules.

Calendar for Program Year 2026-2027

Class Day	Leadership Development Topic	Date
Introductory Meeting	Meeting will be held at the Chamber of Commerce beginning at 4:00 pm	September 9, 2026
Opening Retreat	Emotional Intelligence 2.0 DISC Assessment	September 18, 2026
History Day	Be a Change Maker: Leadership & Advocacy/Leading Innovations	October 15, 2026
Leading Wayne Luncheon	Mandatory Attendance	November 13, 2026
Business & Industry Day	Building Leadership Capacity/Networking	November 19, 2026
Health Care Day	Purposeful Inclusion	December 17, 2026
Law & Government Day	Developing Your Leadership Influence/Crucial Conversations	January 21, 2027
Agri-Business Day	Communicating the Right Message	February 18, 2027
Seymour Johnson AFB Day	Setting & Achieving Goals/Time Management Tools & Tricks	March 18, 2027
Education Day	Positive Problem Solving	April 15, 2027
Community Service, Arts & Leisure Day & Ending Retreat	Conflict Management	May 20, 2027
Graduation		May 26, 2027

References: Please list two people who are knowledgeable about your leadership potential, ethics, and maturity. At least one must be your employer. Letters of reference are required from each person. Please address letters to the Leadership Wayne Selection Committee.

NamePhone
NamePhone
Employer/Organization
Employer Phone
Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
Employer Email
example@example.com
Employer Affirmation & Signature: This application has the approval of this company/organization and the applicant has our full support, which includes the time required to fully participate in the program. Should the need arise, the Leadership Wayne program coordinators reserve the right to contact you, the applicant's employer, with updates on the applicant's participation in the program.
Applicant Signature: I understand the purpose of Leadership Wayne and will, if selected, devote the time and resources necessary to complete the program. Even though emergencies do arise, I understand that full participation is expected for the Community Action Project, Community meetings, and class days. Failure to comply with the attendance policy may result in the inability to graduate with the class.
Application Deadline: September 8, 2026
Should be Empty:

2026-2027 Leadership Wayne Application

Thank you to our Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

Community Sponsors