CONTRIBUTED

Twenty-three local professionals were recently awarded the Dedman Fellow in Leadership from Sandhills Community College.

The Dedman Leadership Institute, a 40-hour program that is offered annually to local professionals through the Dedman Center for Business Leadership at SCC, is designed specifically to prepare individuals to become effective leaders in their respective businesses or organizations.

Participants this year were Chris Burgess, of the Southern Pines Police Department; Steve Gaddy, consultant; the Rev. David Helms, of First Baptist Church; Claire Phillips, of the Moore County Convention and Visitors Bureau; Rebecca Roberts, of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke; Lisa Stewart, of the N.C. Employment Security Commission;

Victoria Barrett and Linda Harte, of FirstHealth of the Carolinas; Peter Kruyer and Tom Rindfleisch, of Gulistan Carpet; Moore County government employees Sherri Doby, Debra Ensminger and Charles Terry; Kyle Brown and Kellie Slade, of Pinehurst Resort;

SCC employees Norma Bryant, Phyllis Dowdy, Lauren Beecher, Sheila Bradley, Sarah Hurlbut and Teresa Reynolds; and Kristin Hazelton and Rafael Loza, of Trident Marketing.

Over three months, the institute explores a variety of leadership topics using powerful and popular leadership texts and materials. Students are given a well-rounded look at the elements of leadership in corporate and institutional settings.

Topics include effective communication, conflict management and negotiation, coaching as an essential role of leadership, influential leadership, leading change and achieving leadership excellence.

"The program was fantastic," Harte said. "Each session presented different leadership topics that were not only thought-provoking, but they also incorporated discussions that drew from each leader's personal experiences.

"The result was very productive 'real-life' conversations of practical applications of the concepts that were presented. It was great to have that interaction with colleagues from other industries."

"This was an eye-opening experience for me," Slade said. "After managing others for 19 years, it was very helpful to get a new perspective. The books we read and the interaction with classmates allowed me to go back to work each week with new or renewed ideas and make necessary changes."

Participation in the program is made possible through scholarships underwritten by the Robert Dedman Permanent Endowment to Benefit Sandhills Community College, an endowment created by the late Robert Dedman to support programs at Sandhills.

Robert Dedman Sr. was founder and chairman of the board of ClubCorp Inc., operator of more than 260 clubs, resorts and public fee golf courses around the world, including the Pinehurst Resort. >

His belief in the possibilities of success - and >his desire > to help others achieve their own dreams - developed > early, when as the son of a traveling salesman in rural Arkansas, the 18-year-old Dedman vowed to make $50 million by the time he was 50 and to give $1 million each year thereafter to charitable organizations. > He met his goal, and he kept his promise - supporting numerous institutions of higher learning during his life, including Sandhills Community College. >

Dedman also firmly believed in the power of leadership to transform companies, institutions and nations. His commitment to leadership and its fundamental role in the human experience inspired Sandhills Community College to name its business development center the Robert H. Dedman Center for Business Leadership. >

Dedman responded in typical fashion, generously creating a permanent endowment to support leadership development training at Sandhills Community College.

For more information about the Dedman Leadership Institute, contact Alan Duncan, senior director of business and industry services, at (910) 695-3769 or duncana@sandhills.edu.