A Message From Dick Story Chair, 30th Anniversary Capital Campaign

Leadership Howard County’s 30th anniversary has been a fantastic opportunity to celebrate all that has been accomplished by our talented graduates. What began as an idea to gather business leaders and connect them in a way that they could make a real difference in the growth of Howard County has become one of the essential programs for all community leaders.

I’ve personally seen the program contribute to the growth of businesses and to the well-being of our community in countless ways. I believe Leadership Howard County has made an impact far beyond what was envisioned 30 years ago.

Our 30th anniversary campaign has been an opportunity for everyone who has benefitted from the program to help sustain it for future community leaders. I have been incredibly gratified to hear the stories of past graduates and their desire to contribute to the future of our community by pledging to support the campaign.

Thank you to all those who volunteered on the campaign and to the many generous investors who have helped us reach for our $1 million goal. I look forward with confidence to the next 30 years that Leadership Howard County will continue to set a high bar for our community.

Dick Story is senior vice president, director of Community Relations and Government Affairs, at Howard Bank. He is a member of the Premier class of 1995, and is a past president of the board of directors. He can be reached at [email protected].

A Message From John Isaac Chair, 30th Anniversary Steering Committee

At our Annual Awards Dinner and Graduation in June of 2015, we embarked on the celebration of Leadership Howard County’s (LHC) 30th anniversary.

From July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016, LHC has reflected on 30 years of inspiring and connecting leaders to transform our community. With more than 2,000 graduates from Leadership Premier, Leadership Essentials and Leadership U, there are few nonprofits and organizations in our community that have not been led or strengthened significantly by the work of LHC grads. Together, the graduates of our programs have provided volunteer services and invaluable leadership to our community worth millions of dollars.

But our 30th anniversary has been more than an occasion to look back. This year has also been an opportunity to look toward the future and ensure we continue to offer valuable and inspiring programs to all community leaders. We held two alumni reunion events in the fall, which gathered almost 200 graduates from each of our 30 class years. These were fantastic opportunities to reconnect with colleagues and friends, reminisce about unique “Leadership moments” and help plan for the future.

We also kicked off a 30th Anniversary Campaign, seeking to raise $600,000 — to raise the Leadership endowment to $1 million. This will cover scholarship costs for both Leadership Premier and Leadership U.

The current tuition for a Leadership Premier participant is $5,200, an amount that has risen gradually but does not cover the cost of an individual participating in the program. In fact, in the Premier program, there is a gap of $1,000 per participant every year. With classes that average 50 people, this is a significant sum to cover annually. In addition, many more applicants request financial assistance than can be provided, and the inclusion of nonprofit organizations and small businesses add critical value to the Leadership experience.

As of April 2016, we have raised just over $961,000 — just more than 96% of our goal. The Premier Classes of 2014 and 2015 have made four-year pledges to “Pay It Forward,” and more than 150 donors have made generous pledges to support the campaign. I have made a personal commitment to support this campaign and hope I can count on your support as well. I’m sure we can help pay it forward for future leaders who will continue the great work begun 30 years ago.

John Isaac is a financial adviser with Northwest Mutual. He is a member of the Premier class of 1992 and serves on the Leadership Howard County board of directors. He can be reached at [email protected].