By CAMILLE H New leadership classes will benefit community By CAMILLE H. GAMBLE The Daily News Goals for Memphis announced Wednesday the creation of the Leadership Company, a new initiative which will offer leadership classes to executives and government leaders in the Memphis area. Goals for Memphis is partnering with the Center for Creative Leadership, an international leadership and training organization, to bring the Leadership Company to the area. The Center for Creative Leadership, based in Greensboro, N.C., works with more than 1,000 organizations annually, and each year more than 26,000 leaders attend its programs worldwide. The Center will direct and design the delivery and evaluation of a leadership curriculum for Memphis and Shelby County. ìThe Leadership Company represents a new kind of collaborative effort for the Center,î said John Alexander, vice president of communications for the Center for Creative Leadership. ìMemphis will serve as a model that could be implemented in other cities throughout the United States.î The Leadership Company will target middle and upper corporate management as well as leaders in government, education, foundations, neighborhoods and non-profit organizations. Participants in the program will attend a three-day residential program that is designed to be intellectually challenging and experiential. The core program focuses on self-awareness, conceptual leadership and problem solving and is designed to give participants the skills to make positive changes in their organizations and community. ìThe Leadership Companyís purpose is two-fold,î said Susan Stephenson, co-chair of the Leadership Company steering committee. ìFirst, it enhances workplace performance. The Center for Creative Leadership has an outstanding reputation in the corporate community and helps individuals be more productive, perceptive, efficient and effective. Secondly, and distinguishing it from the hundreds of other leadership training programs available today, is the Leadership Companyís community application component.î Stephenson said participants will be required to apply their honed leadership skills to improving the Memphis and Shelby County community. ìOur success will not be measured by the number of program graduates, but by the tangible, positive results produced within our community,î she said. The 1997 inaugural classes, scheduled for July 23-26 and October 15-18, already are filled, according to Goals for Memphis. The Leadership Company plans to offer four classes in 1998 and six classes in 1999 with a maximum of 25 people per class. The seed money for the initiative will be provided by corporate sponsors. More than 18 months of research and planning are invested in the organization of the initiative, said Greg Duckett, chair of Goals for Memphis. ìAbout 450 opinion leaders from Memphis and Shelby County participated in a number of focus group sessions,î Duckett said. ìThe results sustained the overwhelming need for a quality community leadership program and confirmed Goals as the appropriate vehicle to spearhead and offer one.î According to Alexander, Goals for Memphis is the primary reason the Center for Creative Leadership decided to join the initiative. ìIn the past, other cities have approached us to assist in community leadership projects,î Alexander said. ìBut none had Goalsí proven infrastructure already in place. Because of Goals, we are not starting from the ground floor.î Shelby County Mayor Jim Rout said gaining the expertise and research of the Center for Creative Leadership is a coup for Shelby County and Memphis. ìWe know of no other community in the United States that is implementing a strategic leadership program like this,î Rout said.