Announcing the Leadership Academy Class of 2026 soon!

 

Early bird registration fees for the LeadingAge Southeast 2025 Annual Convention & Exposition will be honored through May 30, 2025 for all Leadership Academy applicants. 

Program Requirements
The program’s interactive nature demands a high level of participation and requires that Fellows complete all projects, assignments and readings as well as attend all program-related meetings, site visits, sessions and conference calls. Participants should plan on spending 10-15 hours a month engaged in Leadership Academy activities.

Eligibility
The program is available to anyone who works for a LeadingAge Southeast member, regardless of clinical or managerial experience. It is more important for potential Fellows to demonstrate deep leadership potential within their organizations than it is for them to carry specific job titles. Focus will be placed on developing aging services leaders.

Tuition
A $2,350 tuition payment is required from each Fellow’s sponsoring organization upon acceptance. The non-refundable and non-transferable tuition fee includes meeting materials, continuing education (CE) credits and meals during Leadership Academy sessions.

Travel expenses and some meals will be incurred by the Fellow or the Fellow’s organization. Fellows are required to attend all face-to-face sessions and complete all required projects, assignments and readings.

A limited number of tuition scholarships are available through the LeadingAge Southeast Scott Boord Career Development Scholarship Program. Click here for the online scholarship application.

Applications must be submitted via email to KLitchford@LeadingAgeSoutheast.org by April 11, 2025. Applicants will receive notification of their acceptance status by May 15, 2025.

 

 

Program Curriculum
The Leadership Academy is created around five core ideas:

Leadership and Self Reflection – to explore personal values and self-reflective leadership;
Advocacy – to understand the importance of relationships and trust in advocacy and community building;
Partnerships and Collaborations – to appreciate the power of partnerships and learn best practices from other organizations;
Innovation and Change – to explore our potential as change agents and understand how innovation works;
Work Life Balance – to reflect on our values, beliefs and philosophy and to appreciate the value of presence and being in the moment.

Collaborative In-Person Learning Experiences
During each face-to-face meeting, Fellows engage in group exercise and discussions of ways in which leadership theories can be applied to real- world settings in and outside the aging services field.

In-Person Meeting Schedule*
July 22-23, 2025 - Orlando, FL (in conjunction with the Annual Convention)
November 12-13, 2025 TBA, FL
March TBA, 2026 - Tallahassee, FL
July 12-13, 2026 - Orlando, FL (during the Annual Convention)
*Subject to change

Member Site Visits
Selected site visits are designed to expose Fellows to innovative organizations across the aging services continuum and the visionary leaders who enable transformation. Hearing about these organizations and the contributions of staff (at all levels) responsible for creating unique care environments and programs allows Fellows to gain a deeper understanding about the aging services field while witnessing the traits of impactful leaders.

Leaders in Residence
Fellows interact with not-for-profit aging services leaders and other field experts, engaging in intimate dialogue about influencing change and promoting innovation in their organizations and communities.

Monthly Team Coaching
Fellows are assigned a coach who guides individual projects, facilitates team-based discussions and exercises, and provides ongoing support and mentoring.  As a part of the Academy experience, Fellows are expected to participate in monthly video calls with their coaching team to discuss readings, assignments, and work on the action learning project. In addition, these calls provide a space for support and best practice sharing between the face-to-face experiences.  

Continuing Education Credit
Leadership Academy Fellows are able to earn continuing education credits, depending on license type.

About the Facilitator
DeAnn Akins is founder and CEO of OctoFly Dreams, headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. Classically trained at the Kansas Leadership Center, she has honed her craft as a Fellow with the 2010 LeadingAge National Leadership Academy and as a creator and facilitator of leadership programs across the nation including LeadingAge North Carolina Leadership Academy, LeadingAge Michigan Leadership Academy and the LeadingAge DC, LeadingAge Maryland and LeadingAge Virginia Leadership Academy. DeAnn has also facilitated leadership development work with organizations in Kansas, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.

DeAnn has more than 19 years of experience in the field of aging and brings a rich leadership background with a passion for personal development and innovation. A Kansas native, DeAnn holds a Master of Science in Education from the University of Kansas and has served as an adjunct instructor at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.

DeAnn is a licensed nursing home administrator in North Carolina and served as Administrator in skilled nursing, assisted living and home care agency settings.

Amber Blevins, Legacy Pointe at University of Central Florida
Pamela Boshell, Village on the Green
Emma Cobb, Fair Haven
Kelly Cobb, Orchid Terrace at Moorings Park
Matt Cohen, Sunnyside Village
Kristina Diaz, Vicar's Landing
Sophia Fyffe, St. Andrews Estates
Thomas Hegland, St. Andrews Estates
Katie Mitchell, Toby & Leon Cooperman Sinai Residences
Ronit Oliver, Vi at Aventura
Ashley Parker, Solaris HealthCare Plant City
Michelle Parker, Oak Hammock at the University of Florida
Suzanne Plazewski, Cypress Cove
Jessica Winton, Indian River Estates
Justin Yelken, Westminster Communities of Florida
Shawn Truax, Air Force Enlisted Village

Leadership Academy Fellows, Class of 2023

 

Leadership Academy Fellow Testimonial:
"When my community nominated me to apply to the Leadership Academy, I felt honored, but had no idea what to expect. I was excited when I found out they had chosen me as one of the “fellows”. Being a part of the Leadership Academy has inspired me and helped me to step out of my comfort zone. I have met wonderful people during this experience and the other fellows have become my friends and confidants. We all come from different backgrounds in healthcare which allows us to see things from different perspectives. This experience has reinvigorated me and has pushed me to set and achieve goals both professionally and personally. DeAnn and the coaches were great mentors that offered support and guidance. I am forever grateful for the experience and am proud to call myself a graduate of the LeadingAge Southeast Leadership Academy!"

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