Rockford’s mayor will get a chance to hone his leadership skills with a select group of peers this summer.
Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara said he was surprised and honored to be among the 40 Edgar Fellows chosen this year for the executive leadership program created by former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar. The group will attend the program at the University of Illinois in August.
McNamara said he’s excited by the program’s nonpartisan emphasis on learning better ways to get things done for one’s community.
“Any tools or education that I can learn to improve my skills in that area is something I’m really looking forward to,” he said.
But learning to be a more effective leader isn’t the only thing he’s hoping to get out of the five-day program.
“I also am really personally excited about a totally different aspect,” he said, “which is building better relationships with leaders from across the state.”
According to its website, the program aims to hone leadership and governing skills, and foster statesmanship and mutual understanding to overcome partisan, ethnic or regional divides.