Courtesy photo Chamber of Commerce officials met with community/business leaders, and law enforcement officials on Friday, Dec. 13 to plan for the 2025 Delta Force Program Schedule. Attendees pictured, from left, included: Mike Dupont of BDD Training; Mark Cowman, Delta Chamber of Commerce Administrative Assistant; Doug Leisenring, Superintendent of Delta-Schoolcraft ISD; Sue Roll, owner of Coaching for Results; Steve Buckbee of BDD Training; Vickie Micheau, Delta Chamber of Commerce Executive Director; Ed Legault, EDA Executive Director; Darren Smith, Escanaba Public Safety Captain; John Gudwer, Escanaba Public Safety Director; Mari Bower, OSF St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group Business Development Specialist; and Terri Lynn Thompson, Delta Chamber of Commerce Member Services Director.

ESCANABA–Local community leaders met last Friday to plan the 2025 Delta Force Leadership Program schedule. Community members who are interested in going through the Delta Force Leadership program are encouraged to apply by January 31 by visiting deltami.org and clicking the “Chamber” tab, then clicking “Delta Force Leadership Program.”

The Delta Force Leadership Program teaches–through nine interactive sessions–about the following community and industry-focused topics: Community Leadership, Education, Government, Health and Community Services, Law and Order, History and Culture, Environmental Awareness, Economic Development, and Media and Communications. Finally, students attend the Chamber Annual Dinner, held at the Island Resort and Casino, where they meet community and business leaders and take part in the graduation ceremony.

One of the meeting attendees, Ed Legault, who is executive director of the Economic Development Alliance and one of the facilitators of Delta Force Economic Development Day, said Delta Force continues to provide participants with valuable learning experiences and leadership lessons that they take back to their workplaces, use in their personal lives, and share with others. He added that Delta Force continues to spur the interest of local businesses.

“Our local businesses look forward to sending their employees through Delta Force,” Legault said. “Many of the businesses that send people through Delta Force on an annual basis have a waiting list of employees that can’t wait to get into the program. Delta Force has been in existence for over twenty years, so the longevity of the program and the demand to get in are two testaments to how effective the leadership program is.”

Chamber Executive Director Vickie Micheau agrees, adding that students who’ve graduated from Delta Force noted that they’ve discovered so much going on in their community they were not aware of, showing their employers the value in Delta Force to community and economic development.

After they participate in each Delta Force session, students take surveys, giving planners valuable feedback about the sessions, including areas where improvements can be made. The following are some of the comments from past Delta Force graduates:

“The instructor had excellent knowledge on the topic and did a great job engaging the class. I learned a lot of new things today.”

“Very informative and a lot of useful information for interpersonal relationships.”

“The presenters used great examples to keep the class engaged. There was a mix of humor involved, which I liked. Lots of great examples.”

“Extremely informative! Learned a ton!”

One of the most unique–and impactful–experiences for the students, according to the surveys, is the ride-along. Prior to the Law and Order session, Delta Force students ride in a patrol car with a law enforcement officer during his/her shift in order to more fully understand a day in the life of a police officer. One student commented: “The ride-along and interactions with law enforcement remind us that they are people too.”

One final comment from a 2024 Delta Force graduate sums up the experience from a student’s viewpoint:

“This program just keeps getting better each month. I truly don’t want to graduate. This has been such an eye-opener for how my community operates.”

Created and facilitated by the Delta County Chamber of Commerce, Delta Force encompasses a series of nine full-day sessions covering key segments of our community that are typically scheduled for the last Thursday of each month. Each session is designed to be highly interactive and thought-provoking.

A typical day involves a combination of group discussions, field trips, and presentations by respected local leaders, along with lunch catered by different Delta County restaurants.

To apply for the Delta Force Class of 2025, visit deltami.org/delta-force-leadership-program or call (906) 786-2192 for more information.

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Victoria LaFave is with the Delta County Chamber of Commerce