BURBANK, Calif., June 16, 2009 – Leadership Burbank, a training ground for future leaders in our community and “rising stars” in local businesses, announced today the recruitment drive for the 2009-10 program year beginning in September. Leadership Burbank is a community-based, nonprofit organization that offers a nine-month leadership training program for people who live or work in Burbank. Classes meet once a month and space is available for up to 25 students. Application deadline is July 31.

 Through a hands-on curriculum, leaders and emerging leaders have the opportunity to enhance their personal and professional skills, gain a deeper understanding of community dynamics, and build a network of colleagues and associates throughout the city of Burbank. It is hoped that graduates will use the insights and contacts they develop through this program to enhance performance in their current jobs and endeavors and to enrich the community by involvement with local civic, government, business, religious and/or nonprofit groups. Sessions have been designed to provide a solid foundation in the concepts and principles of leadership that will be addressed throughout the program as the participants are confronted with the daily issues that face our community. Throughout the year, participants will interact with council members, state representatives, city department heads, nonprofit directors, local business leaders and others who make Burbank work. Each session will also explore the interrelated elements of the Burbank community including infrastructure, economic viability, police and fire services, social justice, safety, and the environment, to name just a few.

After a year-long selection process, the Leadership Burbank Board of Directors has selected Woodbury University’s Department of Organizational Leadership to provide program facilitation for the 2009-2010 Leadership Burbank program year. “The Leadership Burbank program will be able to leverage the incredible resources of Woodbury’s program, including access to a wide breadth of academic expertise from within the University, for the benefit of our participants. Leadership Burbank has grown into a dynamic community leadership program over the last seven years, and Woodbury is looking forward to building upon that history of excellence,” said Don St. Clair Ed.D., Vice President, Woodbury University.

 In addition to Don St. Clair, facilitators for the program will include: Dr. Phyllis Cremer (Associate Vice President & Adjunct Instructor, Department of Organizational Leadership), Emma Misner (Adjunct Instructor, Department of Organizational Leadership), Mary Alvord (Adjunct Instructor, Department of Organizational Leadership), and Sue Georgino (Adjunct Instructor, Department of Organizational Leadership).

 The Leadership Burbank Board of Directors would like to recognize the contributions of Jim DeLizia and JP O’Connor, who have piloted the Leadership Burbank program from its infancy to the highly respected community leadership training program it has become over the last seven years. “Jim and JP’s stamp will forever be indelibly imprinted on our program,” said Jamie Keyser, Chair of the Leadership Burbank Board of Directors. “Their work in shaping an energized group of new leaders in the community can be seen throughout the city from the over 150 graduates of the program over the past seven years.” For more information about the program and to download an application, please visit the website at www.leadershipburbank.org or contact Jamie Keyser at (818) 567-5936 or

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