Leadership isn't just about a job title. It's about understanding your community, building meaningful relationships, developing new skills, and knowing how to make an impact.
Leadership Meridian, a program of the Meridian Chamber of Commerce, is a premier leadership development program designed to cultivate the next generation of business and community leaders in Meridian, Idaho.
Through monthly, full day sessions, participants step outside of their everyday roles to experience the organizations, industries, people, and systems that keep Meridian and the Treasure Valley moving.
From local government and education to healthcare, economic development, nonprofits, transportation, public safety, and quality of life, Leadership Meridian gives participants a deeper understanding of their community and the role they can play in its future.
Participants also put their leadership skills into action through the Leadership Meridian Legacy Project, working together to support a local nonprofit while developing real world skills in project management, organization, teamwork, and fundraising.
What Is Leadership Meridian?
Leadership Meridian is an immersive leadership and community education program offered through the Meridian Chamber of Commerce.
The program brings together professionals from businesses, schools, government agencies, nonprofits, community organizations, and other industries who share an interest in becoming stronger leaders and more engaged members of the Meridian community.
Participants meet approximately once a month for a full day of interactive learning. Instead of spending each session in a traditional classroom, Leadership Meridian takes participants directly into the community.
Through interactive tours, expert speakers, hands on experiences, and conversations with local leaders, participants gain an inside look at how Meridian works, the challenges and opportunities facing the community, and the organizations helping shape its future.
What Do You Learn in Leadership Meridian?
One of the most unique aspects of Leadership Meridian is the variety of topics participants explore.
Each session focuses on a different part of the community, giving participants a much broader understanding of Meridian than they might encounter through their careers alone.
Topics include transportation and public services, local and state government, nonprofits, education, business and development, first responders, healthcare, and quality of life.
Participants also have the opportunity to visit Gowen Field for a special joint session with leadership programs from Boise and Nampa.
By the end of the program, participants have experienced many of the organizations and systems that affect everyday life in Meridian and have met some of the people responsible for leading them.
What Is the Leadership Meridian Legacy Project?
Leadership Meridian isn't just about learning how the community works. Participants are challenged to put their leadership skills into action.
An important part of the program is the Leadership Meridian Legacy Project, where class members work together to support a local nonprofit organization.
The project gives participants an opportunity to take what they're learning throughout the program and apply it to a real community need.
Working as a team, participants help organize and execute a project that benefits the selected nonprofit. Along the way, they develop practical leadership skills in areas such as:
- Project planning and organization
- Fundraising
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Communication
- Delegation
- Relationship building
- Community engagement
- Problem solving
- Time management
- Working toward a shared goal
Participants come from different industries and professional backgrounds, so completing the Legacy Project requires the class to identify individual strengths, divide responsibilities, communicate effectively, and work together.
The result is more than a leadership exercise. The class has an opportunity to leave a lasting impact on a local nonprofit and the Meridian community.
For participants, it's also an opportunity to experience firsthand what it takes to move an idea from planning to execution while strengthening skills they can bring back to their own workplaces and organizations.
Why Participate in Leadership Meridian?
Leadership Meridian is designed to help participants become better connected, better informed, and better prepared to lead.
Participants have the opportunity to:
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of Meridian's business, government, and community structure
- Meet influential business leaders, elected officials, community leaders, and professionals
- Develop creative leadership strategies that can be applied in the workplace and community
- Practice project management and fundraising through the Legacy Project
- Discover opportunities to become more involved in Meridian
- Build meaningful professional relationships
- Develop a stronger connection to the community
- Learn alongside a cohort of professionals committed to making a positive impact
The relationships created through Leadership Meridian are an important part of the experience. Participants spend months learning, problem solving, organizing, and experiencing the community together.
Those connections can continue long after graduation.
Who Should Apply for Leadership Meridian?
Participation in Leadership Meridian is open to individuals who work or live in the Meridian area, as well as Meridian Chamber members.
The program seeks both established and emerging leaders from across the community.
Ideal applicants may work in:
- Business
- Education
- Government
- Arts and culture
- Nonprofit and community based organizations
- Healthcare
- Public service
- Other industries serving Meridian and the Treasure Valley
Leadership Meridian is especially valuable for professionals who want to expand their influence, build meaningful relationships, better understand the community, prepare for future leadership positions, or become more involved in civic and community organizations.
You don't have to already consider yourself a community leader to apply. The program is designed to identify both current leaders and individuals with the potential and desire to become more involved.
How Are Leadership Meridian Participants Selected?
Class size is limited, and participation in Leadership Meridian is based on a competitive application and selection process.
Applicants complete a Leadership Meridian application and participate in a follow up interview.
The Leadership Meridian Selection Committee reviews applicants with the goal of creating a class that represents a cross section of the community. Participants may come from business, education, the arts, government, community based organizations, and other sectors.
Applicants who aren't selected are encouraged to apply again in a future year.
Because Leadership Meridian requires a significant time commitment, applicants must also have the full support of the organization or corporation they represent.
The application must be signed by both the applicant and their employer or sponsor.
Why Should Employers Send Employees to Leadership Meridian?
Leadership Meridian isn't only an investment in an individual. It's an investment in the organization they represent.
Throughout the program, participants strengthen skills they can bring directly back to the workplace.
They learn how to work with professionals who have different backgrounds and perspectives, organize complex projects, communicate effectively, build relationships, solve problems, fundraise, and lead toward a shared goal.
They also develop a much stronger understanding of the community in which their organization operates.
The Legacy Project adds another level of practical experience. Participants aren't simply hearing about leadership. They're responsible for working together to organize and execute a project that makes a tangible community impact.
Employees return to their organizations with new perspectives, stronger community relationships, practical leadership experience, and a broader professional network.
For organizations interested in developing future leaders while becoming more connected to Meridian, Leadership Meridian provides an opportunity to accomplish both.
What Is the Time Commitment for Leadership Meridian?
Leadership Meridian runs from September through April, with approximately one or two sessions scheduled each month.
These are full day sessions.
While individual session times may vary, participants should generally expect each program day to run approximately 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Attendance at all monthly sessions and planning meetings is required.
Because each session provides a different component of the Leadership Meridian experience and participants work together on their Legacy Project, attendance and active participation are important parts of the program.
Participants who miss required sessions without prior approval may be asked to withdraw from the program without a tuition refund.
Applicants should discuss the commitment with their employer before applying and receive their organization's full support.
2026 - 2027 Leadership Meridian Schedule
The Leadership Meridian Class of 2026 to 2027 begins in September 2026.
September 17, 2026
Kickoff Session: Strength in Team Building
October 15, 2026
Transportation & Public Services Day: So That Is How It Works!
November 19, 2026
Government Day: City, County, State: Get Involved
December 3, 2026
Gowen Field Day: Understanding the Mission
Joint session with Boise and Nampa Leadership Programs
January 7, 2027
Nonprofits Day: It's Your Social Responsibility
January 21, 2027
Education Day: Our Future
February 18, 2027
Business & Development Community Day: Meridian Rising
March 4, 2027
First Responder Day: Making Our Community Safe
March 18, 2027
Healthcare: Meridian: Treasure Valley's Medical Core
April 15, 2027
Quality of Life: The Energy is in Meridian
The schedule may be subject to change. Participants should plan for full day sessions, generally from approximately 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
How Much Does Leadership Meridian Cost?
Tuition for the Leadership Meridian program is $1,350 per participant.
Tuition covers:
- Program session costs
- Transportation
- Lunches
- Program materials
- Speaker fees
- Graduation dinner for the participant and one guest
Because applicants are required to have the support of the organization or corporation they represent, professionals interested in participating are encouraged to discuss Leadership Meridian with their employer before applying.
Who Leads Leadership Meridian?
The 2026 to 2027 Leadership Meridian Co Chairs are:
Katie Rhodenbaugh
Community Liaison
West Ada School District
Brenna Greenwood
Financial Education Specialist
CapEd Credit Union
The Co Chairs help guide participants throughout the program and support the class as they experience the many different organizations and industries that make up the Meridian community.
What Happens After You Graduate?
The Leadership Meridian experience doesn't end with the final session.
Graduates join an alumni network of professionals who have completed the program and continue to serve, lead, and influence organizations throughout the community.
Graduates are encouraged to take what they've learned and put it into action.
That might mean serving on a nonprofit board, joining a committee, volunteering, becoming more involved in local government, taking on greater leadership responsibilities at work, mentoring others, or finding entirely new ways to contribute to Meridian.
The Legacy Project also means each class has an opportunity to leave something behind.
Leadership Meridian isn't simply about learning more about Meridian. It's about developing people who are prepared to help lead its future.
How Do I Apply for Leadership Meridian?
Applications for the 2026 to 2027 Leadership Meridian class are due August 7, 2026.
Applicants must complete all sections of the application and have the application signed by both the applicant and their employer or sponsor.
Selection is based on the written application and a follow up interview with consideration given to creating a class that represents a diverse cross section of the Meridian community.
Because space is limited, submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance into the program. Applicants who aren't selected are encouraged to apply again in subsequent years.
Is Leadership Meridian Worth It?
For professionals who want to become more connected to Meridian and grow as leaders, Leadership Meridian offers something difficult to gain from a traditional leadership course.
You don't simply learn about leadership.
You experience your community.
You meet the people leading it.
You go behind the scenes of the organizations serving it.
You work alongside professionals you may never have otherwise met.
And through the Legacy Project, you have the opportunity to use those relationships and skills to make a real difference for a local nonprofit.
By graduation, participants leave with a stronger professional network, greater knowledge of Meridian, practical leadership experience, and a better understanding of where they can make an impact.
Ready to Experience Meridian Differently?
There is a difference between living or working in a community and truly understanding how it works.
Leadership Meridian gives participants the opportunity to experience Meridian from the inside, meet the people making decisions, understand the organizations serving the community, develop practical leadership skills, and build relationships with fellow professionals who want to make a difference.
If you're ready to become a more informed, connected, and engaged leader, consider applying for the Leadership Meridian Class of 2026 to 2027.
Applications are due August 7, 2026.
Contact the Meridian Chamber of Commerce or visit the Leadership Meridian program page to learn more and apply.
