WASHINGTON, D.C. – David Sikes, Toombs County Chairman, has been named one of a select group of 23 leaders in county government from across the country to participate in the 18th Annual County Leadership Institute (CLI), a rigorous program developed by the National Association of Counties (NACo) and Cambridge Leadership Associates. 

The institute, held June 11-15, 2023 in Washington, D.C., will press county officials to consider innovative approaches to address key issues facing their counties and constituents.

Chairman Sikes stated, “I feel very honored and humbled to have been selected to participate in the County Leadership Institution Program. This will be a program that will give me insight from my peers in approaching current issues facing our local government.”

The program is designed to help county leaders further develop their approaches toward solving complex challenges.  It provides tools to encourage innovation and creativity; resources for invigorating organizational culture; and best practices in effective communication, collaboration and decision-making.

“County officials often address similar issues and can learn a great deal from one another. The County Leadership Institute fosters peer-to-peer learning and encourages common-sense solutions to challenges that counties and residents face every day,” said NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase.

Since its inception, CLI, known for enhancing the capacity of county officials to identify and implement innovative solutions to complex challenges, has graduated nearly 388 leaders from 196 counties across 42 states.  This year’s program will focus on the demands of personal leadership in the modern era of government, one characterized as a “permanent crisis” by Cambridge Leadership co-founder Marty Linsky.