The Ark-Tex Council of Governments (ATCOG) announced the final Red River Leadership Institute (RRLI) trainings will be held this September, offering two last opportunities for regional leaders to attend the free professional development program before it concludes.
Funded through a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), the RRLI has trained more than 100 leaders from across the ATCOG region. Due to the expiration of grant funding, this will be the last year the program is offered.
“This is a great opportunity to experience nationally recognized leadership training at no cost. We encourage anyone interested in sharpening their communication, leadership, and organizational skills to attend,” said Mary Beth Rudel, Executive Director at ATCOG.
The training is led by George Manning, longtime professor of psychology, author of 11 books including The Art of Leadership, and a former business consultant to organizations such as AT&T, IBM, GE, the U.S. Navy, and the National Institutes of Health.
“George Manning has an extraordinary ability to connect leadership principles with real-world situations. His teaching style is engaging, practical, and inspiring, which is why participants consistently walk away with tools they can use immediately in their organizations.” said Holly Willige, ATCOG Development Specialist and RRLI program coordinator.
The Red River Leadership Institute is designed to equip leaders with practical skills that can be applied immediately in the workplace, community organizations, and beyond. Training sessions are interactive and combine discussion, case studies, and exercises that encourage participants to connect lessons with their own leadership experiences.
Participants will gain strategies to communicate with clarity and influence in high-stakes situations while learning to guide teams effectively through organizational change and uncertainty. The program also focuses on building and sustaining high-performance cultures that deliver stronger outcomes, as well as achieving service excellence by aligning values, actions and accountability.
In addition to two full days of training in Texarkana or the one-day abridged session in Sulphur Springs, participants will receive a complimentary copy of Manning’s The Art of Leadership textbook, a $70 value. Lunch will be provided, and attendees will also have the opportunity to network with leaders from across the nine-county ATCOG region.
There are two final opportunities to attend: a two-day full training session in Texarkana, Texas, on September 15-16, and a one-day abridged session in Sulphur Springs, Texas, on September 18. Both sessions are free and open to professionals, community leaders, and anyone seeking to strengthen their leadership skills.
Space is limited and online registration is required. To learn more, or to register, visit www.ATCOG.org/RRLI or call 903-255-3566.