BURLINGTON, Vt. -- Champlain College's Center for Professional and Executive Leadership (CPED) celebrated the graduation of its second class of executive leaders from the Excellence in Executive Leadership (ExcEL) program on Dec. 9. The selective program runs annually in the  fall, and enrolls executives at the vice president, senior director and CEO level in a program consisting of  eight days of intensive learning, reflection, dialogue, individual and group coaching with a core faculty and international guest speakers.

The program is delivered in collaboration with the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Teleos Leadership Institute in Pennsylvania.

ExcEL's three core elements focus on building strategic capacity, strengthening emotional intelligence, and influencing systems, according to Melissa Hersh, director of the Center for Professional and Executive Development. "These areas are interwoven throughout the program and fully applied to each individual's professional experience. The program's accomplished core faculty has decades of national and international experience in organization development, business strategy, leadership development, and performance excellence in an environment of change."

Rudy Chase, general manager at Mine Safety Appliances (MSA), an ExcEL graduate shares, "The ExcEL program is a must do experience for senior leaders in any organization. The material is presented with such intelligence, flair, and mastery that you  leave the sessions greatly enlightened. It was truly a game-changer for me, and an experience not to be forgotten."

Another ExcEL graduate, Stephanie Mapes, Esq, Paul, Frank & Collins, explains, "The content of the program, the instructors, guest speakers from around the world, and my fellow program participants were all amazing. It was a transforming and inspiring experience, about compassion, hope and renewal. I know I will be a better leader for it, in all walks of life."

More information and applications for the Class of 2012 will be available in February and can be completed electronically at www.champlain.edu/excel.  Admission decisions are made by July 1 for the fall 2012 class. For an early brochure, contact Melissa Hersh, Director, Center for Professional and Executive Development, (802) 865-5402, hersh@champlain.edu.

ExcEL Class of 2011 graduates: (back row, left to right) Ronda Robbins, Citizen's Bank; Elaina Gadapee, MSA; Bryan Randall, Draker Labs; Amy Hamme, Fletcher Allen Healthcare; Rose Cleveland, The Lodge at Otter Creek, Rita Markley, COTS; Chris Stephenson, Dealer.com; Timothy Keefe, Vermont Gas; Robin Turnau, Vermont Public Radio; Hardy Merrill, Summit Ventures/Sugarbush Resort; Jennifer Patterson, PKC Corp.; and Larry Williams, Redstone. (Front row, left to right)  Eve Norris, PC Construction; Leslie Blount, KeyBank; Lisa Andrew, Red Sapphire Consulting; Sarah Byers, Leonardo's Pizza; Debra Royce, Revision Military; Cynthia Olson, Merchants Bank; Stephanie Wernhoff, People's United Bank; and Sharon Gutwin, Rehab Gym. Not shown, Chad Stimson, Fletcher/CSI.

(Photo by Stephen Mease / Champlain College)