INDIANAPOLIS-BASED COMPANIES PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR LOCAL LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Among those pledging their support for the 2002 LEAD program are the Central Indiana Community Foundation, Deloitte & Touche, Dow AgroSciences, Fifth Third Bank, Hickman + Associates, the Marten House Hotel and Lilly Conference Center and Roche Diagnostics.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIANAPOLIS-BASED COMPANIES PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR LOCAL LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

INDIANAPOLIS, July 25, 2002; Indianapolis-based nonprofit, the Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Association (SKLLA), continuously addresses the challenge of educating and developing local leaders. Today, SKLLA announced that several local companies will provide financial and/or resource-based support for the upcoming SKLLA 2002 Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program.

Among those pledging their support for the 2002 LEAD program are the Central Indiana Community Foundation, Deloitte & Touche, Dow AgroSciences, Fifth Third Bank, Hickman + Associates, the Marten House Hotel and Lilly Conference Center and Roche Diagnostics.

Dow AgroSciences has provided various levels of support for the Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Association programs since the late 1980s. We are fortunate to be based in a city that enjoys a diverse, nontraditional pool of leaders from which to recruit," said Ted McKinney, Leader of Government and Public Affairs for Dow AgroSciences. Our company has been involved with the SKLLA programs for several years because we feel that they offer an educational experience to emerging leaders that is both necessary and sought after. As an Indianapolis-based company, we encourage participation in the LEAD program. LEAD provides practical development to professionals outside of their daily work environment, and they are trained to take ownership and responsibility in our local community while building their networking skills."

Moderating the 2002 LEAD program is Melissa Hickman, President of Hickman + Associates. Hickman believes that supporting LEAD provides value on multiple levels. Hickman + Associates is pleased to be involved with LEAD because we feel that we are beneficiaries of the program along with the participants. This year we have the opportunity to provide leadership and training to people who we will ultimately interact with in the future. They may become employees, vendors or clients. We may work together on a project for the community," Hickman said. The inclusive and participatory environment prepares LEAD participants for leadership. This is an outstanding opportunity for local companies to support local leaders, and I am honored to moderate the upcoming program."

For information about opportunities to support and participate in the 2002 LEAD program, please contact Theresa Farrington Rhodes at 317.634.2423 x176.

The 2002 LEAD program is an eight-week series. Participants will meet at the Marten House Hotel and Lilly Conference Center on the northwest side of Indianapolis. Meetings will begin September 12 and will take place on Thursday mornings from 8:30am -- 12 noon. Hickman will moderate each session, with topics including:
Ø   Creative Problem Solving
Ø   Preparing to Lead
Ø   Visioning & Mentoring Your Team
Ø   Communicating & Listening
Ø   Corporate Community Responsibility
Ø   Embracing Diversity/Managing Change
Ø   Consensus Building
Ø   Making it Happen in Your Life

Registration for the 2002 LEAD program is currently under way. Further information and registration materials can be obtained by contacting the SKLLA office at 317.634.2423 or via the Internet at http://www.sklla.org. The program is open to the general public, but limited to 35 participants.

About LEAD
The Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Association (SKLLA) is an association of over 450 members who have graduated from one of three leadership programs: The Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series (SKL), Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) and Opportunity Indianapolis (OI). SKLLA, which partnered with the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) in 1999, has offices in CICF's English Foundation Building and cooperates with CICF on various programs. Learn more about Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Association and the LEAD program by visiting http://www.sklla.org.

Theresa Farrington Rhodes, Executive Director
Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Association
Phone:   317.634.2423 x176
Email:   theresar@cicf.org
Web:   http://www.sklla.org

The 2002 LEAD program is sponsored by the Central Indiana Community Foundation, Deloitte & Touche, Dow AgroSciences, Fifth Third Bank, Hickman + Associates, the Marten House Hotel and Lilly Conference Center and Roche Diagnostics.