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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Chris Powell | chris.powell@sos.arkansas.gov | (501) 683-0057
LEXINGTON,
Ky.—Arkansas Deputy
Secretary of State Joseph Wood has been selected to participate in one of the
nation’s premier leadership development programs for state government
officials, The Council of State Governments’ Henry Toll Fellowship program.
The 48
leaders in the Class of 2016 Toll Fellowship program hail from 29
states, Puerto Rico and Guam and represent all three branches of state
government. A 12-member committee of state leaders, many who are Toll Fellows
themselves, reviewed applications and selected the class.
“It is
critical that state officials sharpen their saw, self-reflect and take
inventory of their leadership development skills for continued effectiveness
and performance outcomes,” said Wood. “I hope to learn from the program
leadership styles and leadership approaches others have used successfully to
make significant impact in their respective states and divisions.”
For 30 years,
the Toll Fellowship program, named for CSG founder Henry Wolcott Toll, has
convened a group of the nation’s top state officials for an intensive, six-day,
five-night intellectual boot camp. This year's program will be held Aug. 26-31
in Lexington, Kentucky.
The program's
agenda includes a lineup of dynamic speakers and sessions designed to stimulate
personal assessment and growth, while providing networking and relationship-building
opportunities. Each year's program is unique, but previous programs have
included sessions on leadership personality assessment, media training, crisis
management, appreciative inquiry and adaptive leadership.
“The Toll
Fellowship program provides elected officials with an invaluable and
incomparable leadership development experience,” said David Adkins, CSG
executive director/CEO. “In addition, the program fosters lasting friendships
among a diverse group of elected officials with a like-minded passion for
public service.”
Adkins was a
1993 Toll Fellow when he served as a Kansas state representative.
Toll Fellows
alumni include Oregon Gov. Kate Brown; U.S. Rep. John Carney, a former Delaware
lieutenant governor; Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey; Maine Secretary of State Matthew
Dunlap; Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett; Delaware Gov. Jack Markell;
Arkansas Secretary of State Mark Martin; Alabama Secretary of State John
Merrill; Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate; U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, a former
Indiana secretary of state; and former U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.
Wood said that
ongoing leadership development is critical for state officials. Through the
Toll Fellowship program, he hopes to learn from other policymakers who are
leading the way in solving complex problems in their own states.
“The most
successful of leaders create, empower, challenge and inspire others to be more
and do more than they could imagine,” said Wood. “In order for our state
officials to make the types of sustainable changes necessary to cause economic
growth and improvements in the areas of governance, they must be life-learners
looking to grow and lead others.”
The Council
of State Governments is a region-based forum that fosters the exchange of
insights and ideas to help state officials shape public policy. CSG is the
nation’s only organization that serves all three branches of state government.
For more information, visit www.csg.org.
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