Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce accepting applications for Leadership Fairfield

Join the top leaders and team members of the Fairfield community for the 11th year of Leadership Fairfield. As the premier networking and professional development program in our area, Leadership Fairfield continues to grow and evolve — and this year is no exception.

Kicking off the first Tuesday in September, the Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for this impactful leadership experience. This eight-month program includes daylong sessions each month from September through April, each one centered on a unique theme. Sessions combine leadership development with real-world immersion in our vibrant community — including tours, business visits, nonprofit engagement, and more.

For 2025, we are enhancing the program by incorporating the best elements from our Next Level Leader initiative — the advanced 2.0 version of Leadership Fairfield. Community projects will be part of this class where participants work on an issue or gap in our community during their time in the program. These additions will make the program even more robust and beneficial to both participants and the broader community.

If you see a problem or gap that our class could work on during their 8 month class time, email your ideas to Info@FairfieldIowa.com. Some of last year’s projects included connecting volunteers with volunteer opportunities, inclusive playground, things for kids to do, member spotlights, community information in one location, and Reading to Recover materials being available.

Each session features expert presenters, panels of local leaders, and exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of Fairfield’s leading businesses and institutions. By the end of the program, participants walk away with a broad understanding of Fairfield’s economic and civic landscape, along with strong connections to key local influencers.

Open to residents who live and/or work in the Fairfield area, this is a selective program. If you are interested in enrolling or sponsoring a participant, applications and program guidelines are available at www.fairfieldiowa.com under the Chamber Events tab.

Businesses interested in offering a tour or participating in a session panel are encouraged to contact the Chamber to be part of this exceptional opportunity.

Kayla Stanley of AERON Lifestyle Technologies shared her transformational experience, “I wanted to participate in the Fairfield Leadership Program because I was taking on more responsibilities at work, but struggled with some of the social skills needed to succeed. I’m usually very introverted and wanted to push myself to grow. This program helped me interact with new people, share about myself, and build lasting connections. I visited places I wouldn’t have gone on my own and developed both personally and professionally. I’ve received compliments from co-workers on how much I’ve grown. I’m now more involved at work and in the community. I highly recommend the program to anyone ready to step out of their comfort zone and into a brighter future!”

Early bird registration for Chamber members ends Aug. 8 at 5 p.m.

For more information or to register, contact the Chamber at 641-472-2111 or email Mendy at Chamber@FairfieldIowa.com.