LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR MELISSA HICKMAN TO MODERATE INDIANAPOLIS-BASED LEADERSHIP EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR NONPROFIT, BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS

Indianapolis-based nonprofit, the Stanley K. Lacy Leadership Association (SKLLA), continuously addresses the challenge of educating and developing local leaders. Today SKLLA announced that local entrepreneur and program developer Melissa Hickman, President of Hickman + Associates, will moderate the 2002 Leadership Education and Development program (LEAD).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR MELISSA HICKMAN TO MODERATE INDIANAPOLIS-BASED LEADERSHIP EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR NONPROFIT, BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS

Note to Editors: Digital Logos and Photography are Available from the Contacts Below

INDIANAPOLIS, June 27, 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 local entrepreneur and program developer Melissa Hickman, President of Hickman + Associates, will moderate the 2002 Leadership Education and Development program (LEAD).

Capitalizing on the long-running success of the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series, LEAD was developed in 1995 by Melissa Hickman, who was chairperson that year. The charter goals of LEAD were to provide business and community leaders with an inclusive, multi-dimensional opportunity. Through this program, LEAD participants learn skill-based leadership while networking with a class of their peers," said Hickman. LEAD continues to meet the charter goals of the program by providing tangible take-aways for the participants.

Hickman plans to focus this years session on helping participants learn how to integrate their experiences with LEAD into their professional lives and their community leadership. Providing this skill base has been a cornerstone of LEADs success, building demand among emerging leaders for the experiences gained from the program. Because of this demand, the number of participants for this year has been limited to 35. Hickman is pleased with the level of enthusiasm and interest in LEAD, but supports limiting the group size. It is important to ensure that everyone receives training in an inclusive and participatory environment," she said.

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 will begin July 1st. 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.

About Hickman + Associates
Since 1968, Hickman + Associates has been creating tangible market changes for Fortune 500 companies, technology and non-profit organizations. For more information on Strategic Communications Planning (TM) advertising, public relations or interactive media services offered by the Carmel-based agency, call 317.816.9760, or visit the Web site at www.hickmanassociates.com. Hickman + Associates is a member of the Transworld Advertising Agency Network (TAAN).

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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, DowAgroSciences, Hickman + Associates and the Marten House Hotel and Lilly Conference Center.