The Salisbury community’s young professionals will have an opportunity over the next nine months to take a “deep dive” into the institutions that drive the community, set the business tone and help determine quality-of-life standards.

The Greater Salisbury Committee and Salisbury University -- with the endorsement of the Salisbury Mayor’s Office -- is seeking participants in the inaugural Transformational Community Leadership Series.

Kicking off in March, the series is designed to immerse professionals in next-level knowledge about the key economic, institutional, and governmental entities that drive the Salisbury/Wicomico area.

The program was conceived by a group of the community’s noted young professionals, led by Chris Eccleston, Heather Duma, Mayor Jake Day and Robby Sheehan.

“Chris Eccleston had this idea brewing inside his brain, and I knew he was onto something good,” said Mike Dunn, President and CEO of the Greater Salisbury Committee. “He and his organizing group nurtured this. GSC and our SU partner Mary Angela Baker have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the vision become a reality.”

Eccleston is the noted president of Delmarva Veteran Builders; Baker is Founding Director of the Center of Extended and Lifelong Learning at Salisbury University.

“GSC has a history of sponsoring and developing leadership initiatives,” Dunn said. “We are proud and thrilled to partner with SU to bring this inaugural Transformational Community Series forward.”

Starting in March 2017, and running one Thursday afternoon a month through September, this series will involve leadership training plus the opportunity to get in-depth knowledge of area issues, businesses, facilities, and the economic development engines that drive our community. Each session of the series will begin at noon with a brown bag lunch, and conclude at 4 p.m. Site tours, panel discussion, and leadership activities will be the key components of the series.

Salisbury Independent Editor Greg Bassett will serve as the facilitator during the monthly sessions.

A question-and-answer session centering on the site visit and that day’s theme will be encouraged each month. Following the final meeting in September, a celebration will be held in October.

The fee to participate is $300 per person, which reflects a bare minimum to cover costs. Registration is open and slots are filling up fast.

Dates and topics:

• March 16: Correctional Facilities.
• April 20:  Waste Water Treatment.
• May 18:  K-12 Education.
• June 15:  Manufacturing.
• July 20:  Agriculture.
• Aug. 17:  Healthcare.
• Sept. 14:  Airport.
• Oct. 19:  Celebration.

A reception and information session will be held Thursday, Jan. 12 at University House on the SU Campus. The time is 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; the address is 1116 Camden Ave.

Click here to register for the Thursday reception or to sign up for the series.

For more information, contact the Center for Extended and Lifelong Learning at 410-543-6090.