The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today announced that Clint Knight, Director of Workforce Development at The Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development, has graduated from its premier business leadership program. The inaugural Business Leads Fellowship Program trained and equipped leaders from state and local chambers of commerce with resources, access to experts, and a network of peers to build their capacity to address the most pressing education and workforce challenges.
Knight will be able to use all of this to the benefit of Richland County. “The Business Leads program has not only introduced me to numerous case studies and successful strategies in Workforce Development, but it has also created connections for me with thought leaders who are also focused on Workforce Development. These new connections are both right here in Ohio and across the nation – providing valuable resources as we look for examples of success in other comparable communities. Being a part of this program was an incredible experience, and I’m ready to share new ideas and initiatives with local business leaders and educators,” said Knight.
“As clearly displayed throughout this program, state and local leaders know better than anyone the critical link between education and economic development,” says Cheryl Oldham, senior vice president of the Center for Education and Workforce. “Not only did the Fellows gain a network of peers and experts in the field, the program is designed to help these leaders find opportunities to develop initiatives that will continue to advance the growth of their local economy and put education policy into practice.”
Following a competitive application and selection process, Knight was selected along with 32 other state and local chamber executives to participate in the second cohort. The four-month program covered a wide spectrum, including early childhood education, K-12, higher education, and workforce development.
Upon completion, Business Leads Fellows join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s dedicated network of 200 chambers of commerce and statewide associations from around the nation who regularly engage on education and workforce initiatives.
