Starting this month 16 of Dorchester County government’s rising leaders began a leadership development journey as members of the county’s first Public Leadership Apprenticeship program.
The program is being offered through the county's partnership with Apprenticeship Carolina and Trident Technical College.
The four-year program is a combination of classroom, online and on-the-job training. All in-person classes will be held at the QuickJob Training Center in St. George, making this the first-time associate level classes are offered in upper Dorchester County.
“This is an opportunity for employees to expand their business acumen while positioning themselves for career advancement,” said Leonitta Turner, the county's director of human resources.
Corliss Bannister, Trident Tech's apprenticeship consultant boasted about the inaugural program and its benefit for county employees.
"Dorchester County employees have the opportunity to earn an Associate in Applied Science in Management – Leadership Development degree along with a U.S. Department of Labor national credential while gaining invaluable work experience," Bannister said.
Each participant has chosen a mentor within the county government organization for guidance and encouragement during the educational process. Mentors will also assist mentees with bettering their knowledge and skill set in the fundamentals of government, business acumen, leadership, department goals, accountability and ethics, talent management and strategic planning.