Until last month, Dalton Garecht had never participated in a graduation ceremony. Due to COVID restrictions, there wasn’t the usual pomp and circumstance when he graduated high school in 2020.
That made his graduation ceremony for Leadership Springfield on January 31 all the more special.
“I felt so honored and proud to be there. I had family and coworkers in attendance, and I have developed some really good relationships through this program, so I was very happy to see the smiles on their faces,” Dalton says. “It was a night I will cherish for a long time.”
The recognition was well deserved. Dalton, assistant branch manager at INB Dirksen, dedicated time and effort into the 14-week Leadership Springfield program, attending a series of half-day sessions focused on interactive professional development.
Facilitated by the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Springfield aims to develop, strengthen and equip local professionals to benefit the Springfield area. The program covers topics like healthcare, team building, government, technology and much more.
Many INB staff members have participated in the program over the years, gaining leadership skills and in-depth exposure to critical issues affecting the Springfield area. And with aspirations for senior management in his future career path, Dalton was eager for the opportunity himself.
“This was an opportunity to hear from current leaders and hear some of the struggles they went through, and it made me realize that a lot of the obstacles I have faced are normal,” he shares. “They also provided methods they use to stay true to themselves and how to leave work at work.”
Gaining Valuable Insights for Positive Career Impact
Reflecting on the experience, Dalton found it difficult to pinpoint just one aspect that impacted him the most, as he gained valuable insights from each session.
“It taught me how to be a productive and professional leader, how to adapt to changes in the workplace, and helped me develop ways to connect with all of my peers. Not everyone thinks the same way or responds to adversity the same, so having these methods of how to work through that is extremely helpful!” he notes.
Leadership Springfield classes include 35-40 participants from the private, public and nonprofit sectors, fostering collaboration between businesses and organizations around the Springfield area.
“During this 14-week adventure, I looked forward to every Thursday morning knowing that I was going to Leadership Springfield, and my excitement for being part of this never faded,” Dalton says.
He is especially thrilled about the opportunity to become an Ambassador for the Chamber.
“It is such an honor to have another amazing opportunity with The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce to continue to grow as a leader and make more connections with others in the community,” he shares.
Dalton plans to continue reviewing what he learned in the program, so he can easily apply the lessons to his career at INB.
“I will try to do things in different ways to see if they can be more beneficial to those I work with and, in turn, create an even more successful environment,” he says. “I cannot recommend Leadership Springfield enough -- I wish I could do it again! It teaches you how to see things from all perspectives and how to work with several different types of people. You meet so many great people, and it opens up many different doors for further development.”