Cornelius, NC, July 31, 2026 - The Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for the 2026 - 2027 session of Leadership Lake Norman. Applications have been made available to Chamber members, but the program is also open to non-members wishing to expand their knowledge of the Lake Norman region. Leadership Lake Norman, in its 30th year, is a program to develop a group of informed, committed, and qualified individuals capable of providing visionary and progressive leadership for the Lake Norman region.

The tuition for the nine-month course is $495 for Chamber members and $600 for non-members. Applications should be received by September 3^rd to be eligible for the program. All applicants will be notified in writing regarding acceptance in the program by September 4th.

Each year, the Lake Norman Chamber selects a class of highly motivated and committed leaders for a series of seminars and retreats. The group will hear speakers from the fields of tourism, health care, economic development, community infrastructure, education, regional history, the judicial system, and municipal government.

Kent Minich, Human Resource Manager for Reynolds Consumer Products in Huntersville and a graduate of the program said, “Being new to the area, I wanted to learn more about the Lake Norman community. Joining the Leadership Lake Norman was a great decision and provided me more than I expected. Learning about the diverse businesses, local governments and developing relationships far exceeded my expectations. I have established a network of relationships that will help us all grow and serve each other. This is a great opportunity to learn how the Lake Norman community works and thrives. I highly recommend the Chamber’s Leadership program.”

Anyone interested in Leadership Lake Norman can contact the Chamber at (704) 892-1922 and an application will be forwarded. For more information, visit the Leadership Lake Norman link on the Chamber’s Website at www.lakenormanchamber.org. Leadership Lake Norman is Presented by Novant Health – Huntersville Medical Center.

Caption: Leadership Lake Norman XXIX graduates from the overnight retreat held last fall at Camp Bethelwoods.