The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute offers an integrated series of professional development institutes that develop critical skills at the supervisory, management, senior leadership, and local levels. We offer competency-based curricula utilizing proven practices delivered by engaging, highly experienced professionals. These training and education solutions build the capacity of individuals, teams, and organizations.
Professional Development to Meet Your Needs
GEHLI uses existing models and custom-designed programs and services to create training designed to meet clients' and individuals' needs. We offer various assessments that individuals and organizations can use to create productive teams and improve their work-life environment. Each development program is highly interactive and features peer-to-peer learning, networking opportunities, and action plan development to foster sustainable personal and organizational improvement.
Download GEHLI Programs at a glance (PDF)
Topics and Services Offered
- Leadership assessments such as 360o feedback, MBTI, DISC, EQ-i, StrengthFinders and Change Style Indicator, FourSight, etc.
- Leadership practices, styles, and/or development
- Organizational development and culture
- Navigating and resolving conflict
- Change management
- Recruitment, retention, succession planning, and/or navigating personnel matters
- Coaching, feedback, and/or mentoring
- Performance management
- Delegation
- Emotional intelligence
- Strategic planning
- Critical thinking, problem-solving, and/or decision making
- Ethical leadership
- Fostering innovation
- Effective communication skills
- Difficult conversations
- Developing inclusive environments
- Navigating generational differences
- Building effective teams
- Collaborative Leadership
- Public speaking
- Time management, work-life balance, and/or self-care
- Leading with Grace
- And more!
Along with our standard training opportunities, consultation, planning, and facilitation services are available for organizations interested in short- and long-term training with our custom programs option.
2025 Programs at a Glance
- Spring week 1: April 28 – May 2
- Spring week 2: June 9 – 13
- Fall week 1: September 8 – 12
- Fall week 2: October 20 – 24
- Spring: March 10 – 14 (Hotel Madison – Harrisonburg)
- Summer: July 14 – 18 (Hotel 24 South – Staunton)
- Fall: November 17 - 21 (Hotel Madison – Harrisonburg)
- Winter: February 3 - 7
- Spring: June 23 - 27
- Fall: October 6 - 10
- Spring: March 24 - 26
- Summer: August 26 - 28
- Winter: February 25 - 27
- Spring: May 20 - 22
- Summer: August 5 - 7
- Fall: October 28 - 30
- The HIGHER Ground Program 2025 schedule will be announced shortly
- Higher Ground Conference: February 28
- Thursday, Feb 20 & Friday, Feb 21
- Thursday, Mar 20 & Friday, Mar 21
- Thursday, April 17 & Friday, April 18
- Thursday, May 15 & Friday, May 16
- Thursday, Sep 18 & Friday, Sep 19
- Thursday, Oct 16 & Friday, Oct 17
2024/2025 Schedule
- September 6, 2024 (virtual)
- September 10 – 13, 2024 (DC)
- October 3 – 4, 2024 (Norfolk)
- November 14 – 15, 2024 (Richmond)
- January 9 – 10, 2025 (Richmond)
- February 13 – 14, 2025 (Richmond)
- March 6 (virtual) – 7 (Farmville), 2025
- April 11, 2025 (Richmond)
- CPC - Certified Planning Commissioner Program
- 116th CPC: January 30 - 31 (opening); March 20 -21 (closing)
- 117th CPC (VIRTUAL): April 7 - 8 (opening); June 2 - 3 (closing)
- 118th CPC: July 28 - 29 (opening); September 29 - 30 (closing)
- 119th CPC (VIRTUAL): August 25 - 25 (opening); October 27 - 28 (closing)
- BZA - Certified Board of Zoning and Appeals Program
- 48th BZA: April 24 - 25 (opening); June 23 (closing)
- 49th BZA (VIRTUAL): August 11 - 12 (opening); October 6 (closing)
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Professional Development & More
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