Sponsored by the Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Institute is a six-month, cohort-based program designed to develop informed, inspired and engaged community leaders. The program provides opportunities to hone leadership skills, learn regional challenges, and become catalysts for positive change.

Applications for the 2024 cohort are now closed. We’ll open up applications in November 2024 for our 2025 cohort.

Leadership Institute participants will:

Discover their strengths & identify opportunities for growth
Connect with community leaders via immersion experiences with businesses, municipalities, government agencies & community organizations
Learn valuable, research-backed leadership insights via class textbook and course work
Form bonds with fellow leaders in the cohort
Identify, plan and execute a group community service project
Grow personally and professionally
Be inspired to serve and strengthen their communities

Your organization will benefit from enrolling your employees, who will:

Learn to identify their strengths and utilize them in a leadership capacity
Develop skills to effectively motivate others within your organization
Cultivate relationships with business and community leaders
Receive privileged access to knowledge of vital community resources and infrastructure
Identify organizations within the community that are aligned with your company’s vision and service mission
Adopt a mindset of servant leadership

Course material:

“The Truth About Leadership” by best-selling authors James M. Kouzes & Barry Z. Posner
Targeted presentations and materials provided by facilitators, Robert Kaelin and Kent Hojem

Tuition:
Similar programs can cost upwards of $2,000 and up to $8,000; by comparison, our program offers significant value:

Chamber member tuition:
$950 Early Bird Rate (if paid in full by Jan. 10 Jan. 17. 2024)
$1,050 (if paid after Jan. 10 Jan. 17, 2024)
Non-member tuition:
$1,100 Early Bird Rate (if paid in full by Jan. 10 Jan. 17, 2024)
$1,200 (if paid after Jan. 10 Jan. 17, 2024)

Who should apply:

Business owners, entrepreneurs
Non-profit leaders
Mid-level, senior-level and established leaders from a variety of entities in both the public and private sectors

Important Dates:

ALL DATES SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024:
Early bird registration deadline

Wednesday, January 31, 2024:
Orientation (3:00pm - 5:00pm)

Leadership Institute sessions*:
(Fridays, 8:00am - 4:00pm)
- February 16, 2024
- March 15, 2024
- April 19, 2024
- May 17, 2024
- June 14, 2024
- July 19, 2024

*All dates subject to change

Facilitators:

Robert Kaelin is an author, speaker, trainer, coach and entrepreneur who is passionate about helping leaders lead. He left a career in tech, including a stint at Microsoft, in 2019 to open Elements in downtown Puyallup with his wife Jackie. Robert is a visionary leader, launching Counter Culture Leadership which helps equip leaders to reach their full potential so they can change the world with positive impact; and Generous Influencers, a non-profit that is on mission to influence communities with generosity through community events and building local partnerships. He also serves on the Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors. Robert has a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership from Faith International University. His book Generous Influencers was published in 2022. We’re so fortunate to have Robert step in to facilitate Leadership Institute in 2024.

Kent Hojem is a longtime facilitator of Leadership Institute. In 2022, he retired from his role as CEO of the Washington State Fair, a role he had held since January 2005 (he joined the organization in 1996). He’s a well-known community leader, having served on numerous boards, chairing many of them along the way, including Communities in Schools Puyallup, Washington State 4-H Foundation, and the Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce. After retirement, this Stanford University grad returned to his roots in Chehalis with his wife, Carolyn. Retirement hasn’t slowed Kent down; in addition to facilitating Leadership Institute, he serves a community member role on The News Tribune Editorial Board and on the board of the Chehalis Foundation. We’re thrilled to have Kent continue with Leadership Institute in 2024.