KCSA Emerging Leaders Program – 2025–2026 Schedule

Session One: Leadership Excellence

Location: Bowling Green, KY 
Dates: September 16-18, 2025
Time Zone: Eastern

Tuesday, September 16

• 12:00–1:00 p.m. – Lunch at Conference Center

• 1:00 p.m. – Program Kickoff

  • Welcome – Nick Rodgers, KCSA Executive Director

  • Program Overview & KCSA Background – "Why We Exist"

  • Afternoon Theme: Getting to Know Each Other

  • Participant Introductions

  • Topic: Leadership & (Not or) Management – Greg Coker, Consultant

  • Breakouts/Debrief

• 5:00 p.m. – Adjourn

• 6:00 p.m. – Dinner/Activities

Wednesday, September 17

• 8:30–9:00 a.m. – Breakfast

• Guest Speaker: Elected Official / Business Leader

• Topic: Leadership Excellence

• 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. – Lunch

• 1:00 p.m. – Quarry Tour (TBA)

• Day 2 Debrief

• 6:30 p.m. – Dinner Event: Group Cookout – Guest Speaker TBA

Thursday, September 18

• 8:30–9:00 a.m. – Breakfast

• Guest Speaker: TBA

• Leadership Excellence Continued

• Session Debrief & Next Steps/Reading Assignment

• Preview Session Two

• 11:30 a.m. – Lunch / Adjourn

Session Two: Finance / Mini MBA

Location: Asland, KY
Dates: November 19-21, 2025
Time Zone: Eastern

Wednesday, November 19

• 12:00 p.m. – Lunch

• 1:00 p.m. – Session Start

  • Management vs. Leadership Discussion

  • 10-Day MBA Book Debrief

  • Breakouts/Debrief

• 5:00 p.m. – Adjourn

• Dinner/Activities

Thursday, November 20

• Breakfast at Hotel

• Guest Speaker: Elected Official / Business Leader

• Guest Speaker: Business/Accounting Expert – Topics include:

  • Economics

  • Balance Sheets

  • Cash Flow Statements

  • Budgeting

• Lunch

• Quarry Tour

• Dinner/Activities – Guest Speaker TBA

Friday, November 21

• Breakfast at Hotel

• Guest Speaker: TBA

• Strategic Planning & Problem Solving

• Public Speaking & How to Run a Meeting

• Session Debrief & Reading Assignments

• Preview Session Three: Kentucky Politics

• Lunch / Adjourn

Session Three: Legislative & Policy

Location: Frankfort
Dates: March 11-13, 2025
Time Zone: Eastern

Wednesday, March 11

• 12:00 p.m. – Lunch

• 1:00 p.m. – Legislative & Policy Overview

  • How a Bill Becomes Law

  • Lobbying Strategies

  • Social Styles in the General Assembly

  • Kentucky Legislature Overview

• Dinner/Activities in Lexington

Thursday, March 12

• Breakfast at Hotel

• Day on the Hill – Capitol Annex & Capitol:

  • Attend Committee Meetings

  • Individual Legislative Meetings

  • House & Senate Proceedings

• Lunch at Capitol Annex

• Dinner at Local Downtown Restaurant – Guest Speaker TBA

Friday, March 13

• Breakfast at Hotel

• Quarry Tour – TBA

• Session Debrief & Next Steps

• Preview Session Four

• Lunch / Adjourn

Session Four: Strategic Planning, Work/Life Balance, Negotiation, Customer Service

Location: Green Turtle Bay
Dates: May 6–8, 2026
Time Zone: Central

Wednesday, May 6

• 12:00 p.m. – Lunch

• 1:00 p.m. – Focus Areas:

  • Soft Skills Training

  • Strategic Planning

  • Negotiation

  • Customer Service

• Dinner/Activities

Thursday, May 7

• Breakfast at Hotel

• Guest Speaker: TBA

• Continue Soft Skills Training

• Lunch

• Quarry Tour

• Dinner at Local Restaurant – Guest Speaker TBA

Friday, May 8

• Breakfast

• Guest Speaker: TBA

• Final Reflections & Program Debrief

• Lunch / Adjourn

Graduation

Location: KCSA Summer Meeting – The Homestead,  Hot Springs, VA
Dates: June 29–30, 2026