Special to the
Opelika Observer
Opelika native and District 83 Rep. Jeremy Gray was selected to participate in the 2019 Center for the Advancement of Leadership Skills in Little Rock, Arkansas from Oct. 5 to 9. Inaugurated in 2007, CALS is the annual leadership program of the Southern Legislative Conference of The Council of State Governments.
Each year, CALS brings together select officials from three branches of government in 15 Southern states to refine their leadership skills in a nonpartisan environment. The program focuses on communication, conflict resolution, consensus building and critical decision making. Ultimately, CALS aims to provide the public with highly skilled, educated and confident state leaders.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be nominated by Speaker Mac McCutcheon and Minority Leader Anthony Daniels to attend the CALS program. I hope to represent Alabama well and bring back a wealth of knowledge I can implement in the next legislative session,” Gray said.
The 2019 program agenda includes sessions on leadership and communication styles, conflict management, creating a culture of ethics and excellence and leading across generations. Brandon Fleming, founder and CEO of the Atlanta-based Harvard Debate Council Diversity Project, will deliver the final keynote address.
Founded in 1933, The Council of State Governments (CSG) is the nation’s only organization serving all three branches of state government. Opened in 1959, the mission of CSG’s Southern Office is to promote and strengthen intergovernmental cooperation among its 15 member states, predominantly through the programs and services provided by its Southern Legislative Conference (SLC).
For more information, visit www.slcatlanta.org/CALS.