Leadership Development

Training for Council Officers

In February, SCAC offers a workshop for council chairmen and vice chairmen in conjunction with the Institute. The workshop provides information about the duties, powers, and responsibilities of both leadership positions.

Participants learn strategies for running effective meetings; the importance of rules of procedure; and how a bill becomes state law. The value of building effective working relationships with local delegation members, council members, other elected officials, and the county chief administrative officer is also addressed.

Orientation for Newly Elected Council Members

The Association hosts an orientation program for newly elected council members in even-numbered years. Designed to provide a thorough insight into their new roles and responsibilities, the event also highlights how Association programs and services will be a valuable resource for them. The training is provided free-of-charge, and participants earn six hours of Institute credit toward Level I certification.

Orientation for Newly Elected Countywide Officials

The Association hosts an orientation program for newly elected countywide officials in odd-numbered years. Designed to provide a thorough insight into their new roles and responsibilities, the event also highlights how Association programs and services will be a valuable resource for them. The training is provided free-of-charge, and participants earn six hours of Institute credit toward Level I certification.

NACo Leadership Academies

SCAC has partnered with NACo and the Professional Development Academy to offer leadership academies designed to build strong county leaders.

Through the SCAC/NACo partnership, SC counties are eligible for discounted registration fees. To learn more about any of these courses, including information on how to register, visit NACo’s website.

The Professional Development Academy offers two additional academies that may be of interest to county leaders.

  • Leading in Analytics is an eight-week course that provides insights on the best ways to identify and overcome the challenges of analytics to harness data as an asset that can address the increasingly complex environment county leaders navigate today.
  • Leading the Digital Transformation is a six-week course exploring digital trends and proven transformation strategies that provides step-by-step guidance on actions to take to ensure success as you use digital technologies to address the needs of county governments.

To learn more about these programs, visit the Professional Development Academy website.

Local Government Leadership Institute

The Local Government Leadership Institute is a skill-building educational experience for new and potential executive-level managers in South Carolina local governments.

Well-managed local governments are important not only to the citizens they serve, but to businesses and industries that are located in those communities. The services and infrastructure provided by local governments are key elements in a community’s quality of life efforts. Effective leadership is needed at all ranks of local governments, not just at the council or chief administrative officer level.

In order to have an impact on South Carolina local government the Professional Manager Certification Program has been developed through a collaboration of practitioners and academics. The purpose of this program is to provide a skill-building educational experience for new and potential executive-level managers in South Carolina local governments. The program is intended to prepare the participants to affect change in their organizations, and ultimately to improve the communities in which they live.

This program is hosted by Francis Marion University, Coastal Carolina University, and the College of Charleston in collaboration with the Lake City Partnership and the South Carolina City/County Management Association.