'On PACE' leadership program launched by Sparks

The Sparks Chamber of Commerce will launch a 10-unit leadership and development course next month.

The program dubbed "On PACE" (the initials stand for "Professional Achievement and Civic Enrichment") will begin April 22 with class modules scheduled at three- or four-week intervals.

The chamber expects to make the program an annual event.

Among the subjects will be leadership and personal development, community awareness and involvement, government affairs and effective interaction with the news media.

Each module will be taught by a northern Nevada expert in the subject.

Northern Nevada Medical Center signed on as lead sponsor. With the financial sponsorship of the hospital and other groups in the community, the fee to participants will be $500, said Len Stevens, the chamber's executive director. He said the chamber hopes the price is affordable to small business owners as well as executives of nonprofit organizations.

Stevens said course modules, which will run four or five hours, will be scheduled early in the morning or late in the afternoon. That way, the chamber executive explained, the participants and their employers will make equal commitments of time.

Participation is limited to 28. Applications are online at www.sparkschamber.org. For information about the program and sponsorships, call Stevens at 358-1976.