Description

The 2026 Deadline to Register is Friday, September 4! 

• Kickoff Social with Leadership Alumni will still occur with all current class registrations on Thursday, September 10
• First full-day session is Thursday, September 17. 

Leadership Chatham, a signature program of The Chatham Chamber for over 20 years. The innovative curriculum is updated annually designed to develop informed, skilled, and involved community leaders.  Leadership Chatham takes you on a journey through the social, cultural, and economic makeup of our community. Access to existing community experts yields firsthand knowledge of critical issues facing Chatham County.

More and more opportunities will arise with the growth in Chatham and surrounding counties. The demand for effective leaders is great. Through your hands-on experiences in the Leadership Chatham Program, you will gain indispensable knowledge that will help you to become one of those effective and influential leaders.

Registration Deadline:
Friday, September 4, 2026  

Time Commitment
Day long educational sessions begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. and end by 5:00 p.m. These full-day sessions are held one time a month, typically on the second Thursday of the month. Please reference the schedule below for the class of 2025-26. (Participants may occasionally meet outside of scheduled sessions to discuss and work on their class project.)

Schedule of Dates:

September 10
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Kickoff at Starrlight Mead, Welcome & Networking with Leadership Chatham Alumni

September 17
8:30am - 3:00 pm
Session 1 at Chatham Park YMCA, Focus on Teambuilding

October8
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.  
Session 2, Focus on Agriculture

November 12
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Session 3, Focus on Tourism

December 10
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Session 4, Focus on Local Government

January7
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Session 5, Focus on Public Safety

February 11
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Session 6, Focus on History

March 11
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Session 7, Focus on Health

April 8
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Session 8, Focus on Education

May 13
8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Session 9, Focus on Economic Development

June 10
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Graduation at Forest Hall at Chatham Mills

Acceptance into the Leadership Chatham Program
There is a maximum of 24 participants accepted. Participants with diverse experience and involvement in the community are accepted on a first come, first serve basis.

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