CLEVELAND, Tenn. (Oct. 28, 2009)—The 2009-10 Leadership Cleveland class of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce kicked off a new year of “building bridges to community leadership” with a fall retreat to Johnston Woods.

Leadership Cleveland, described as “the perfect avenue to learn about Cleveland and make long-lasting professional relationships,” provides an opportunity for participants to gain a better understanding of the many facets of the local community and the challenges it faces.

Through a series of daylong sessions and an overnight trip to Nashville, the class covers Education, Public Safety, Law Enforcement, Local Economy, Healthcare, Local and State Government, and Tourism/Heritage through lectures, discussion, tours, on-site visitations, and informal question-and-answer sessions.

The program begins each year with an informal retreat that helps “classmates” get to know each other and practice team-building exercises. Ann Marie Brewer, director of community relations for SkyRidge Medical Center, facilitates the retreat.

“The retreat day offers an opportunity to experience and share ideas on teamwork, leadership and communication with members of the class on an informal level,” said Brewer, who has facilitated the retreat since 1993. “Personally and professionally, it is an opportunity for me and those taking part in the program to meet other members of the community.”

Brewer added with a smile, “I look forward to the interaction every year, but I don’t want to give too much away. After all, what’s said at retreat . . . stays at retreat.”

Members of the 2009-10 Leadership Cleveland class are Shandra Able, Jones Management; Stephanie Austin, SkyRidge Medical Center; Mike Baker, BB&T; Melissa Brumfield, Cleveland Utilities; Tom Cloud, Cormetech Environmental Technologies; Britney Cooke, Cooke’s Food Store/The Season’s Harvest Market; Teresa Curvin, Habitat for Humanity; Kari Hudson, Oakmont Eyecare; Kathy Shankle-Rowan, Cleveland City Schools; Jon Sparkman, Arcadis; and Aaron Weatherford, Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce.

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