Our class met in November at the First Presbyterian Church in Oil City. The venue allowed for adequate social distancing and provided advanced technology, perfect for our first hybrid session.

The session, Maximizing Clean Communications, began with Susan Hileman, NWIRC, sharing the importance of clear communication by leaders. One of the most valuable lessons of the day was on active listening, one that is always highly ranked by participants.

Jill Harry, Press Office at PennDOT District 1, provided the class with an overview of media relations, how to work with local and regional media, and do’s and don’ts, especially in crisis situations.

After lunch, Brian McNulty, District Executive of PennDOT, assisted the class in approaching their class projects, sharing his experience in establishing a goal and breaking down the steps to get there.

Continuing with a packed day, Valerie Perry provided a talk that lived up to it’s name: “Captivating Presentations.” She held the complete attention of the class, and also left them with tangible tools for any future speaking opportunities.

Chamber Program Manager Ashley Sheffer finished out the day with a great presentation about business branding and social media. She left the class with a better understanding of the need for clear and concise messaging in the communications of any business or organization.

Leadership Venango will meet again in December, in a virtual format, for it’s session on Understanding Community Caregiving.

Learn more about Leadership Venango at leadershipvenango.org.