Leadership Accelerator Program
Leadership Accelerator is the premier professional development program, designed to engage, empower, and develop the next generation of leaders in Southwest Michigan.
Our purpose is to develop leaders who will effectively grow, sustain, and lead local organizations and our community into the future through a holistic approach.
This program is designed as an individual journey focusing on personal evolution and professional development to promote engagement and leadership in the community.
Future leaders will assess individual strengths, emotional intelligence, community perspectives, barriers to community success, effective communication skills and more. Participants receive a certificate upon completion.
Who can benefit from Leadership Accelerator?
Ideal candidates for Leadership Accelerator are individuals in high-impact roles and emerging or current leaders throughout our community who are seeking to increase their leadership capacity.
Our history
Leadership Accelerator was formed in 2015 by leaders from dozens of local, private, public, and nonprofit organizations at Michigan's Great Southwest Strategic Leadership Council.
The program moved to Kinexus Group in 2019 and was driven by Kinexus and partners Spectrum Health Lakeland, United Way of Southwest Michigan, and The Strategic Leadership Council.
More than 160 leaders graduated from the program before it went on hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the Fall of 2021, the program moved to Lake Michigan College, with continued support from Kinexus Group, Spectrum Health Lakeland, United Way of Southwest Michigan, and The Strategic Leadership Council. In 2022, there were 22 local individuals that successfully completed the program.
Our next Leadership Accelerator Academy
The next Leadership Accelerator Academy is scheduled from Jan. 26-July 13, 2023, featuring 13 instructional half-day sessions on Thursdays twice a month, including virtual interaction utilizing LMC's learning management system. Program sessions are taught by a diverse group of local leaders and are held at LMC's Benton Harbor Campus, 2755 E. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor. Included will be one trip to Lansing to connect with state legislators, tentatively scheduled for early May 2023. The cost of the program is $1,500. Participants receive a certificate upon completion.
Applications
All applications must be received by Dec. 9. Acceptance notifications will be sent out by Dec. 21. The cost of the program is $1,500.
Applications and nominations for the 2023 Accelerator class are now being accepted.
For more information or if you have questions about Leadership Accelerator, please contact Dr. Kenneth Flowers, Interim Provost and Vice President of Academics, at flowers@lakemichigancollege.edu or 269-927-4103 or Pam McVay, Director of Culture and Talent Success, at mcvay@lakemichigancollege.edu or 269-927-8150.