Let’s talk about Leadership Morris

October 17, 2022| Community, People

By: Caitlin Doran

Within a few minutes of sitting down at the Leadership Morris opening retreat in April, I felt a kindred connection to the nonprofit professionals seated to my left and right, people with whom I had a lot in common both professionally and personally. And by the end of the afternoon, I was aware of several things previously unknown: that I had a distinct communication style, a distinct leadership style, and – despite my thirty-two years of living here – a lot to learn about Morris County!

Leadership Morris is an initiative of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC), under the direction of Dr. Joseph Nazzaro. An annual program, it teaches business leaders and non-profit executives about the opportunities, challenges, institutions, and people of Morris County. The classes, usually around 30 people strong, are comprised of individuals of diverse backgrounds and experiences, who are cultivating or have demonstrated business leadership abilities through community involvement. Per the MCCC’s website, participants benefit from an instant “in” to who’s who and what’s what in the community, gain access to a network of over 900 Leadership Morris Alumni, and have an unprecedented opportunity to learn more about the challenges facing Morris County today.

After eight months, this program has been as advertised and more, acting as a bridge between the Lake Hopatcong Foundation and similar organizations and community-driven companies. It’s been beneficial to learn from individuals in a development role (and other roles) at neighboring not-for-profits and connect with new friends at organizations like Saint Clare’s Health, now part of the Lake Hopatcong Foundation family as a Lake Loop sponsor!

One concept that the Leadership Morris program emphasizes is the “leader as servant” model, or “service leadership,” a term coined by Robert K Greenleaf. According to Greenleaf, “a servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of the people and communities to which they belong…the servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first, and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.”

In the spirit of service, each Leadership Morris class is broken into teams that plan and carry out a community service project in partnership with a Morris County nonprofit. My team, the green team, organized a special outdoor BBQ and picnic for the residents of Homeless Solutions, an organization providing shelter, services, and supportive housing to the homeless and working poor in Morris County. It was a wonderful afternoon, with food, music, and games donated by individuals and businesses, including our own Cliff’s Ice Cream in Roxbury. I really felt fulfilled creating a special day for the families at Homeless Solutions. An added bonus, several of my teammates have a connection to the lake and the work the Foundation does, including Elizabeth from Homeless Solutions (hails from Hopatcong), Louis from Saint Clare’s (lives in Mount Arlington), and Cal (you all know Cal as a Volunteer-In-Charge for the Lake Hopatcong Block Party). In addition to the community service project, each Leadership Morris participant researches and writes a board report on the work of a local non-profit organization, and shares that information with the class.

How does Leadership Morris work, exactly? Each month, participants in the program visit a location in Morris County and enjoy a presentation on a related topic. I’ve visited everywhere from Picatinny Arsenal to the County Jail, to the 9-1-1 Call Center; done everything from hiking to Pyramid Rock, to churning butter at Fosterfield Living Historical Farm, to participating in a police de-escalation simulation; and discussed everything from economic development to public health. In December, the program will conclude, and I will miss spending time and learning alongside everyone in my class, but I am excited to continue the connections I have made over these last eight months. A big thank you to the Foundation for sponsoring my participation and for the encouragement I received from Marty Kane, Kyle Richter, Lee Moreau (Leadership Morris grad!), Donna Macalle-Holly (Leadership Morris grad!), Holly Odgers, and Cal Thomas. Thank you also to Dr. Nazzaro and the Leadership Morris team. I recommend everyone check out an upcoming Morris County Chamber of Commerce event, and if you work in Morris County, see if the Leadership Morris program is a good fit for you and your colleagues!

*Photo by Denise Panyik-Dale of the Leadership Morris Green Team’s service day at Homeless Solutions.