Apply for Leadership Frederick County

The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a professional who lives or works in Frederick County and is interested in discovering more about the industry, history, leadership and future of their community.

They should be passionate about community leadership, eager to learn, comfortable discussing hot topics and have an open mind. LFC participants come from diverse careers, backgrounds and personal histories. This program is designed to introduce all types of leaders to opportunities.

Support
With class days held on Fridays, applicants must have the full support of their employer or be self-employed. Many local companies send their employees through the LFC program because it is an asset to their organization and the participant. (See the bottom of this page for the dates the 2023-2024 cohort will need to be available.

The Application Process

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis from February to April each year. Space in the class is limited so apply early! Time commitments for this year's program can be found at the bottom of this page and in the application packet.

Written Application
All candidates will complete a written application. This application is your opportunity to share your career and personal background, community service activities and unique qualifications.

Interview
Based on the written application, candidates will be invited to interview with the selection committee. This committee is made of friendly LFC alumni and Chamber members. The interview is your chance to show off your capacity for leadership, community participation and unique personality.

Leadership Frederick County applications are now closed.

2023-2024 Tuition

Frederick County Chamber Members: $3,200
Non-Members: $3,700

Employees of 501c3 nonprofits are eligible to request partial scholarship assistance of up to $500. Scholarships are awarded based on number of applicants. To request an application for assistance, email us at info@frederickchamber.org.

Tuition can be paid by the participant, participant’s employer or any combination. Tuition covers class members' meals, speaker fees, exhibit tickets, transportation and other expenses for all class days and the graduation dinner. Payment arrangements can be made, as long as full tuition is received before May of the graduating year.

Graduates of the 2023-2024 cohort may apply their LFC leadership experience towards elective or equivalent coursework at Hood College for an approved bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree. Proof of participation will be required.

2023-2024 Class Day Commitments

As with any program commitment, attendance is an incredibly important aspect of each participant's success. Applicants are expected to have the full support of the employer they represent or be self-employed before committing to the program. Participants are encouraged to protect the session dates listed below on their calendar and save allowed absences to deal with an unexpected illness or family/work emergencies. Redeeming the coursework credits with Hood College is dependent upon the individual's attendance history.

August 24, 2023*
September 7 & 8, 2023
October 6, 2023
October 27, 2023
November 10, 2023*

November 17, 2023
December 8, 2023 (Backup Date: 12/15)
January 12, 2024 (Backup Date: 1/19)
February 9, 2024 (Backup Date: 2/16)
February 23, 2024*

March 8, 2024 (Backup Date: 3/15)
April 5, 2024
April 19, 2024
May 3, 2024
May 16, 2024*

*Unless noted with an asterisk, experiences run a full day in length from 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Approximately)

"If you are genuinely interested in the shape of the community...LFC is a master's class in community engagement." - Mayor Michael O'Connor, City of Frederick

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