An Ohio Sea Grant program is now in its 25th year of helping public officials become more active and engaged in local government.

With nearly 600 graduates, the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce Leadership Institute has helped prepare emerging leaders to effectively serve their communities, work with public officials, and run for public office since its first year in 2002. It’s the longest-running program of its kind in Ohio.

“The institute focuses on everything that somebody would need to know or have a background in to work in public office,” said Joe Lucente, Ohio Sea Grant Extension Educator, who has been part of the program since its inception. “What are the expectations? What are some best practices? What’s entailed for my life as a public official?”

At the annual event, participants engage in discussions about the issues, requirements, and expectations associated with public service. The institute is comprised of two day-long training sessions taught by public officials and other regional experts. This year’s program will be held on April 17 and 24.

Lucente has worked to update the curriculum over the years, focusing on topics such as regional development, ethics in public service, the policy process, fundraising and campaigning, and more.

“All of the instructors that teach the different themes are top-notch people in their respective fields, thus making the offerings not only credible, but also incredibly valuable, because these leaders can draw on real-world experience,” Lucente said. “Additionally, all kinds of partnerships develop from these touchpoints – local, statewide, and regional.”

While the program has a Toledo focus, Lucente has expanded the idea to hold institutes in other parts of the state, including Mahoning County, Belmont County, Hancock County, and even locales in other states. The Institute is a partnership among the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, The Leadership Fund, The Ohio State University Extension, and Ohio Sea Grant.

Response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive over the years, he added. Surveys of past participants showed that 64% learned information that helped them keep their jobs or prepared them to advance professionally, 23% became elected officials, 12% became appointed officials, and 49% pursued a career in public service or continued working for the state.

“We’re looking to train future leaders to help them understand the value of not only things like economic development, but also stewardship of our coastal resources and the importance of land use planning”
Joe Lucente

“The institute for leadership and advocacy provided a unique blend of development and insights into public service,” said Rosanna Hoelzle, chief of staff for the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments, who graduated from the program in 2024. “This program would be instrumental for early-career northwest Ohioans, as it can expand the understanding of complex issues facing our communities and equip people with skills and knowledge to become more effective leaders.”

Importantly, the institute also helps advance Ohio Sea Grant’s goals of outreach in Lake Erie coastal communities, Lucente explained.

“We’re looking to train future leaders to help them understand the value of not only things like economic development, but also stewardship of our coastal resources and the importance of land use planning,” he said. “We’re arming local government officials with information to help them make the best decisions they can as stewards of the communities they’re entrusted with.”

For more information about the Leadership Institute, visit the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce’s website or contact Lucente at lucente.6@osu.edu.

Ohio Sea Grant is supported by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University Extension, and NOAA Sea Grant, a network of 34 Sea Grant programs nation-wide dedicated to the protection and sustainable use of marine and Great Lakes resources. Stone Laboratory is Ohio State’s island campus on Lake Erie and is the research, education, and outreach facility of Ohio Sea Grant and part of CFAES School of Environment and Natural Resources.