DOVER — Are you ready to take that next step toward your leadership journey? Are you looking to meet like-minded leaders in your community?

If so, the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce has the experience for you. Leadership Central Delaware, known as the chamber’s “Diamond Program,” is preparing for its class of 2025, and that could include you.

Member businesses and their employees are invited to attend the class’s Invitational Reception on April 18 from 5-7 p.m. at Burwood Estates, home of Lessard Builders.

Leadership Central Delaware, which started in 2001, has empowered effective, dynamic, generous and knowledgeable leaders. The program connects 28 emerging businesspeople through diverse networks, while enhancing leadership skills and community knowledge, resulting in increased value individually and professionally.

The course is a behind-the-scenes look into the world of Kent County and those who do amazing work every day to contribute to our beloved area. Participants will enter doors and shake hands with leaders of various industries who they would not have the opportunity to meet in their day-to-day lives. LCD includes the movers, shakers and policymakers of central Delaware, and allows attendees to shape their own leadership styles. The chamber is proud to see the positive, long-lasting effect on the graduates who are fortunate enough to take part in this 10-month effort. Classes create a bond like no other.

The skills the course focuses on include critical thinking, team building, delegation, prioritization, goal setting, creativity, innovation, initiative, problem solving, decision making, ethics and morals, and identifying strengths, challenges and opportunities. The sessions are held from September to June, on the first Thursday of every month. The September session is a two-day retreat, and graduation is in June. For the remaining months, various topics will be covered, with the members traveling to locations to experience those subjects firsthand. Guest speakers from across the state are also brought in.

You are invited to attend this informational mixer-style event that will showcase and explain what Leadership Central Delaware has to offer. Hear directly from alumni and directors of the program, plus meet your potential classmates. Don’t miss out to hear about the details and requirements. The reception is free, so contact Cleo Bell at lcd@cdcc.net or 302-734-7513 to register. We can’t wait to share the joy of LCD with you.

Upcoming events

• Thursday: Kent County Open for Business, Kent County Levy Court Room 220, 8:30-10 a.m.
• April 9: Professional Power-Up: Online, with Pastor Mark Tennefoss of UNITED Church, noon to 1 p.m., via Zoom.
• April 10: Coffee Coaching, “The Buyers Journey” with Hook PR & Marketing, 8-9 a.m., via Zoom.
• April 11: 23rd annual 55 Plus Expo, free and open to the public, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Bally’s Dover Rollins Center.