Wenatchee Chamber kicks off 23rd year of Community Leadership Wenatchee Valley

WENATCHEE — The Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce is launching the 23rd edition of Community Leadership Wenatchee Valley, a nine-month program that brings together emerging and established leaders to learn how the region works — and how to help it thrive. Microsoft is the sponsor for this year’s cohort.

Founded more than two decades ago, CLWV has graduated hundreds of participants who now serve across local businesses, public agencies, schools, and nonprofits. Each class spends a day a month going deep on a core community topic — from economic development and agriculture to healthcare and education — pairing classroom conversations with site tours and face-to-face time with local experts. The result is equal parts civics lesson and backstage pass, with participants building a network that often lasts well beyond the program.

“Community Leadership Wenatchee Valley is more than a program — it’s an experience that connects people to the heart of our valley,” said Chelsea Ewer, the Chamber’s director of operations. “Each class discovers how our community works and how they can play a role in shaping its future.”

Executive Director Steve Wilkinson framed it as a mission in action. “The Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce champions our community’s quality of life and economic vitality through collaborative leadership and sound business advocacy,” he said. “CLWV is one of the most impactful ways we live out that mission.”

The Chamber thanked Microsoft for supporting this year’s class and for helping continue the tradition of cultivating strong, connected leaders in the Wenatchee Valley. Alumni, organizers say, often carry what they learn back to their workplaces and boards, strengthening partnerships and speeding up problem-solving on shared issues.

For more information on the program, visit wenatchee.org/community-leadership.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media