Description

The Leadership Institute is an immersive, cohort-based professional development program designed to cultivate confident, ethical, and effective leaders. Participants progress through a structured curriculum that blends self-awareness, communication, leadership fundamentals, and business acumen with real-world application and community engagement. Each class combines expert-led instruction, interactive activities, and a Community Leader Panel, giving participants direct access to local leaders and practical insights.

In order to be considered for the program, you must apply using the Application Here.
Applications close Monday, March 9th, 2026. 

This program will run March through November with 11 full-day sessions, held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

Facilitated by Rick Lochner of RPC Leadership Associates Inc. and Dr. Laticia Thompson of Legacy Blueprint, this program emphasizes reflection, application, and continuous growth, ensuring participants leave with tools they can immediately apply in their professional and personal lives. For full event info, click here.

Session List:

March 23 | Emotional Intelligence & Self-Awareness
April 13 | Core Values & Ethical Leadership
May 4 | Personal Branding & Presence
June 1 | Communication & Public Speaking
June 22 | Goal Setting & Execution
July 13 | Time Management & Productivity
August 3 | Conflict Resolution & Difficult Conversations
August 24 | Building & Leading Teams
September 14 | Delegation & Empowerment
October 5 | Business Acumen & Operations
November 16 | Sustaining Leadership Growth
December 7 | Graduation & Poster Presentations

Class Agenda: 

9:00 – 9:15 AM | Networking & Introductions
9:15 – 10:30 AM | Lesson: Core Instruction & Discussion
10:30 – 10:45 AM | Break
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM | Lesson Cont.: Applied Learning & Activities
12:00 – 12:30 PM | Lunch Provided by NACC
12:30 – 1:45 PM | Community Leader Panel
1:45 – 2:00 PM | Wrap-Up, Lessons Learned, Homework & Next Steps

Facilitated by:

Dr. Laticia Thompson, PhD

Founder and Chief Business Psychologist | Legacy Blueprint, LLC

Rick Lochner

President and CEO | RPC Leadership Associates Inc.

By registering and attending this event, you grant the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce (NACC) the right to use your image and likeness in photographs, videos, and any other media captured during the event. You understand and agree that these materials may be used for promotional purposes, including but not limited to, social media, websites, and other marketing materials produced by or for the NACC.