“Leaders are any place in an organization. They don’t have to have a position or a title,” said Eloise Thorson. “This is a chance for everyone to hear speakers that probably only CEO’s would hear at a national conference.”

Thorson was referring to one-day leadership event by Leadercast featuring talks by ten nationally-known leaders which will be broadcast Friday, May 7, at T Maxwell’s Restaurant in Staples.

Thorson’s job as a customized trainer with Central Lakes College includes teaching leadership classes.

“Leaders are anyone who use their influence in an organzation (work or volunteer) for positive change,” she said. “This event can make you more effective in your job, give you more ideas on what it means to be a leader.”

Thorson has attended several Leadercast events in the past and noted that the skills learned at these sessions can be used in both your personal and professional life.

“You get diverse prespectives on leadership, real current thinking,” she said.

She also likes that the speakers “challenge our ways of thinking” and “open our minds.”

“This is an opportunity to hear a lot of high profile speakers in a short amount of time. They are from all walks of life, sports figures, inspirational, motivational, some are funny, some are serious,” she said.

Tickets will be limited so anyone interested is encouraged to register early.The registration fee will include lunch. Some scholarships are available.

Central Lakes College is handling registrations. Call 218-855-8142 or email jsterner@clcmn.edu. Registration will also be available on the CLC website at www.clcmn.edu.

Registrations received after April 27 will be honored on a space available basis and will incur an additional fee.

For more information about the Staples event or about the scholarships that are available contact Chris Etzler at Region Five at 218-894-3233 or cetzler@regionfive. org.

Registration will begin at 7 a.m. and the session will begin promptly at 7:45 a.m. It will conclude at 3 p.m. Pre-registration is requested so enough packets and meals will be available.

The Chick-fil-A Leadercast is a fullday leadership event broadcast live from Atlanta, Ga. Topics to be covered include:

o The keys to connecting with others

o How to set yourself apart from the competition and influence others

o New ideas for creative problem solving

o Best practices for leading in challenging circumstances

o How to create strong team cultures

o How to avoid, detect and reverse decline

Speakers include Jim Collins, author of “Good to Great”; Tony Dungy, retired coach for the Indianapolis Colts; John Maxwell, best-selling leadership author; Ed Bastian, president of Delta Air Lines; Jim Goodnight, CEO of SAS Institute Inc.; Chip Heath, author of “Made to Stick”; Ben Carson, Johns Hopkins professor and neurosurgeon; Connie Podesta; expert in psychology and leadership; Steve Uzzell;

award-winning corporate photographer;

and Mark Sanborn, best-selling author of “The Fred Factor.”

The local availability of this broadcast is being arranged by LEAP, a local think tank with membership from many segments of the community, including business, manufacturing, government, education, healthcare and youth. LEAP is an acronym for Leadership, Engagement, Advocacy and Positiveness.

Partners with LEAP for this venture are Central Lakes College, Lakewood Health System, National Joint Powers Alliance, Region Five, Staples Motley Area Chamber of Commerce and Staples Motley School District.