Programs
Student Leadership Information For Tomorrow, (LIFT), is a program of the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce. The program offers 28 rising sophomores and juniors who reside in Randolph County the opportunity to learn more about the area and gain valuable leadership skills.
LIFT is an exciting and unique opportunity for those selected. It is the goal of LIFT to produce leaders who are interested in their community both now and in the future.
LIFT is a highly structured seven-month program in which a wide variety of resources, issues, and services will be examined. Participants will interact with business and community leaders and participate in special tours that will offer a “behind the scenes” look into local situations and decisions. Prominent individuals from the public and private sector give generously of their time, talent and knowledge to serve as speakers or panelists for these sessions.
LIFT participants will be challenged to increase their knowledge and to become actively involved in problem solving through dialogue with existing leaders in the community. The experiences in this program will have immediate, positive effects on the participants, their school, and community.
Leadership Randolph was established in 1988 by the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce and has now produced over 900 graduates. The program continues in 2025 and offers twenty-eight of the county’s most community-minded citizens the opportunity to learn more about Randolph County.
Leadership Randolph is an exciting and unique opportunity for those selected to participate. Leaders are an invaluable community resource. The Leadership Randolph program was formed to help develop this most precious resource. The complex nature of our time and associated challenges, demand that our leaders are prepared and informed. It is the goal of Leadership Randolph to produce leaders who are interested in Randolph County both now and in the future.
Leadership Randolph is a highly structured ten-month program in which a wide variety of resources, issues and services will be examined. Participants will interact with business and community leaders. Information and special tours will offer an in-depth look into local situations and decisions. The day-long sessions each month are scheduled at locations around the county. Curriculum essentials remain the same, basically, from year to year for each of the sessions; however, some flexibility is built in for major issues and/or topics of current interest. Prominent individuals from the public and private sector give generously of their time, talent and knowledge to serve as speakers and/or session leaders for the monthly sessions.
Leadership Randolph participants will be challenged to increase their knowledge and to become actively involved in problem-solving through dialogue with leaders in the community. The experiences in this program will have immediate, positive effects on the participant, his/her organization, and his/her community.
WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES?
- Identify and select highly motivated and emerging leaders to participate in Leadership Randolph.
- Identify organizational and individual opportunities for community involvement and assist in the placement of the participants in these positions. We do this through past graduates; encouraging those selecting Board or Committee members to actively engage Leadership Randolph graduates.
- Develop interpersonal relationships among the participants, which will provide a common ground for working together on present and/or future community projects.
- Create a dialogue and rapport between the participants and existing community leaderships.
- Systematically educate, inform and challenge the participants as to the opportunities and needs of the community, as well as the dynamics of social and economic change.
WHAT IS THE CURRICULUM?
Leadership Randolph consists of an Orientation, a one-day Retreat, followed by day-long sessions each month for nine months. The Retreat features a dynamic activity called SIMSOC. Over 350 Chamber of Commerce Leadership Programs have used this activity in their curriculum. The Retreat session will be led by Jade McGovern and Lindsay Hudock of Well Said Public Relations. The day-long sessions will be held the first Thursday of each month (with one exception). The dates and topics are indicated below. Participants are also required to 1) attend a government meeting prior to their June session and 2) complete a 4-hour ride along with the Asheboro City Police Department or Randolph County Sheriff Office prior to the September session, both on their own time. Another component to the program is each participant is required to give of their time to a nonprofit organization from Randolph County for at least 10 hours. The class collectively will conduct a Community Service Project to benefit our county.
WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE?
January 1, 2025 Application Deadline
January 22, 2025 Orientation
January 23, 2025 SIMSOC Retreat (Mandatory)
SESSION DATES
February 6, 2025
March 6, 2025
April 3, 2025
May 1, 2025
June 5, 2025
August 7, 2025
September 4, 2025
October 2, 2025
October 28, 2025 - Graduation
All classes will take place on the first Thursday of each month, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce unless otherwise announced.
WHAT IS THE CRITERIA
FOR SELECTION?
Leadership Randolph’s Steering Committee strives to select a class that represents a cross-section of the community. It is our goal to maintain a geographic, race, gender, and occupational balance. Those selected should possess the following:
- A sincere commitment, motivation, and interest in serving the community.
- An interest or the intent to seek public offices, board, commissions or key volunteer leadership roles.
- A desire for advancement to leadership positions in their own organization.
After the deadline, the application will be screened by members of the Steering Committee, and interviews will be conducted in early December.
WHAT IS THE TUITION?
Tuition for Leadership Randolph is $750 per Chamber member participant and $850 per non-member. Each participant is responsible for payment of tuition or for obtaining company/organization sponsorship. Checks should be made payable to the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce or an invoice can be sent to the chamber member company. Tuition covers all expenses for the ten-month program (transportation/lunches/materials).
TESTIMONIALS FROM PAST GRADUATES
The opportunity to get an inside view of locations I wouldn’t have otherwise. I now have a better understanding of how everyone and everything works together to make Randolph County such a great place to live and work.
Melissa Kidd, Randolph County School System
Leadership Randolph was a tremendous experience that still impacts me to this day. New opportunities to “plug in” and serve our community, for growing and cultivating my professional network, and even for career pathing continue to present themselves that link back to my experience. And for that I am grateful. Scott Harris, Technimark LLC
As our community leaders move through life and look to “pass the torch” it’s important to have others willing and prepared to step up. Leadership Randolph provides valuable insight on services, needs, and opportunities in our neighborhood. Whether you are interested in contributing to our quality of life, or simply desire to better understand your community and how things happen, I highly recommend this leadership program. You will find it to be interesting and informative. Mayor David Smith, City of Asheboro