The Center for Excellence in County Leadership (CEL) program is offered to help county officials develop a professional culture for county government.
The program held annually at the CCAP office in Harrisburg, is a two and a half-day intensive training focused on improving participants' communication, management and leadership skills. Those eligible to participate are CCAP's voting members, including county commissioners or council members, elected executives, chief clerks, county administrators and solicitors of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. Key county leaders and department heads may apply by including one written letter of support from their county commissioner/council member. Participation is available to one eligible person per county per year, with a maximum of 12 participants per year. Application is required.
The program features the following curriculum:
- Day One: The DISC Model and Stages of Leadership
- Day Two: Leading Change, The Four Conversations: Daily Communication That Gets Results, Crisis Communication, Media Management
- Day Three: Team Problem Solving and Decision Making
The 2021 program will be held June 16 - 18 at the CCAP Office in Harrisburg.
The Center for Excellence in County Leadership is produced by:
Front Row (l to r): Michelle Pokrifka, York County solicitor; Dan Vogler, Lawrence County commissioner; Jim Martin, Adams County commissioner; Lori Vargo Heffner, Northampton County council member. Back Row (l to r): C. David Pedri, Luzerne County manager; Daryl Miller, Bradford County commissioner; Benjamin Kafferlin, Warren County commissioner; Dave Kovach, Columbia County commissioner.