"At Peckham Industries, developing mastery is one of our values and is an essential skill. The Executive Leadership program run by The Chamber Foundation has been excellent in providing insights and best practices for our leaders to develop mastery. Our leaders learn from seasoned faculty who know the region very well and leverage best practices from other organizations. One key benefit for leaders participating in the program is developing an outside-in approach for addressing today’s challenges in the communities these leaders serve." 

-Anand Sud, Vice President and CHRO, Peckham Industries Inc.

"The Executive Leadership experience has provided me with a valuable, realistic, and professional skill set I can prioritize into my future. Equipped with some new perspectives, especially in overall business and project management, I'm grateful for the engagement opportunities and dynamic panel discussions. I feel like I'm not walking away from this class - I'm just walking in a different direction with supportive folks to call on as professional colleagues and mentors. I've already been able to put strategies into practice well before this class was over".

-Jessica Dickinson, Pathfinder Foundation

"Many of the modules from the Executive Leadership program have seeped their way into my day-to-day operations at my job. I often find myself taking a step back from certain situations and think to myself, 'What did I learn about in my Executive Leadership Class that would apply here?' Everything from communicating effectively to my growing team; assistance in firing a toxic employee to ensure it is handled with the utmost sensitivity (had to put my HR module hat on); and most recently discussing KPIs, the Executive Leadership Class has given me so many tools in my toolbox to have the confidence to handle everything that comes my way. As a group my classmates and I maintain email communication and have even coordinated several meetups post-graduation just to catch up with one another and even offer insight to a challenge someone might be dealing with at work. Chances are if you're dealing with something, one of your classmates has at some point as well and can offer valuable insight as to how it was handled, what worked, and what didn't. I am extremely grateful for the path this program has paved to empower me to excel in my career."

-Stephanie Dunninger, Meyer Contracting Corp.

"The Executive Leadership training provided practical strategies for team management, organizational planning, and effective communication. I found the sessions on strategic decision-making and leadership development particularly valuable, and I have already begun applying these techniques to improve staff engagement, streamline program operations, and strengthen our organizational planning at CFD. Being part of a cohort allowed me to learn from peers in other organizations, sharing challenges and solutions that broadened my perspective on leadership in the nonprofit sector. I also formed meaningful connections with other participants, including one colleague whose insights on program evaluation and fundraising I am actively incorporating into our work at CFD."

-Jaime Hyla, Community Family Development

"The Executive Leadership program gave me practical tools I use every day, from creating a personal mission statement to building stronger strategic plans. The counsel and expertise of Steve, Sal, and Pam were invaluable, and the support of the cohort made the learning even richer. We continue to keep in touch with each other and have gained value in the experience by expanding our professional circle of support."

-Darcy McCourt, Rebuilding Together Hudson Valley

"The biggest benefit for me was the 'Managing Yourself' module. As a leader, I'm always thinking 'team first' and this module reminded me of the importance of self-care, especially in high demand, leadership roles. I always felt like the struggles I dealt with as a leader, were industry specific and just 'came with the job'. It was super beneficial to share experiences and best practices from other leaders, coming from various backgrounds. I'm grateful to have built a strong resource system with fellow Dutchess County leaders!"

-Alyssa Schmidt, Hilton Garden Inn Fishkill