Global Leadership Summit returns to La Croix Church

In what is becoming an annual event, hundreds of local and area business leaders will be in Cape Girardeau on Aug. 8 and 9 for the Global Leadership Summit at La Croix United Methodist Church.

"It's a two-day commitment, but it's a good investment," said Harold Miles, president of the Bank of Advance. "A lot of what is presented at the summit is motivational, some is spiritual and some is practical. All three aspects have benefited me from a leadership standpoint."

The leadership summit, originating from Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, will be broadcast live at La Croix Church over two days and will feature a diverse range of speakers, including government leaders, successful CEOs and best-selling authors.

"I describe the summit as leadership training to help others get better at what they do," said the Rev. Ron Watts, pastor of La Croix Church. "This has a huge following in the business community. This is the fourth year we're broadcasting the summit at La Croix, and people keep coming every year."

The leadership messages during the 2013 summit will be presented by the Rev. Bill Hybels, founder and senior pastor for Willow Creek Community Church; former Secretary of State Colin Powell; executive producer and Emmy Award winner Mark Burnett; author Joseph Grenny; research professor Dr. Brene Brown; management thinker Vijay Govindarajan; author Patrick Lencioni; author Liz Wiseman; the Rev. Oscar Muriu; leadership expert and author Dr. Henry Cloud; the Rev. Chris Brown; Bob Goff, founder and CEO of Restore International; and the Rev. Andy Stanley, author and senior pastor of North Point Ministries.

Mark Diamond, president of Schaefer's Electrical Enclosures in Cape Girardeau's Industrial Park, said he's been to six leadership summits.

"I started off going to the ones in Chicago," Diamond said. "When La Croix became a broadcast site, I didn't have to go as far. Last year I took my company's leadership team to the summit. It was two days of soaking in the leadership message and how we could apply the message to our work. I'm taking the team back this year."

Diamond said he leaves the summits feeling challenged to "raise his game."

"We have a responsibility to be the best we can be," he said. "No matter what it is we do, we can do better; that's the name of the game. I highly recommend the leadership summit to anyone."

Miles, who has attended all of the leadership summits broadcast at La Croix Church, said they're not just for people in business.

"Regardless of what you do for a living, the material presented at the summit is beneficial," he said. "A catchphrase at the summits has been 'Lead Where You Are.' That not only applies to people in business, but it can also apply to a teacher or even a student. It's good for everybody."

About 600 people attended last year's Global Leadership Summit, and, according to Watts, more than 400 have registered for this year's event.

"We expect more to sign up in the coming days," he said. "Last year we were the 13th-largest broadcast site out of 180 locations. This year there are 280 locations, which can give you an idea of how the summit continues to grow."

The 2013 Global Leadership Summit check-in Aug. 8 begins at 7:30 a.m. and the conference starts at 8 a.m. Both days end at 4:30 p.m. The Willow Creek Association Member Group Rate of 15 or more people is $169, and the WCA rate for one to 14 people is $209. Individual rates are $249, and a student and faculty rate is $79. Registration may be done online at lacroixchurch.org or by calling Susan Leming at 339-0302.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address: 3102 Lexington Ave., Cape Girardeau, MO