SHPE’s Regional and Chapter-based model is dependent on the tenacity and strength of local leadership. And we are committed to supporting, developing, and empowering these leaders however we can! Enter our National Institute for Leadership Advancement (NILA), which has been a pinnacle of our organization’s leadership development for the past 30+ years!

As we entered into the second year of the Pandemic, we knew we must prioritize the safety of our membership while still offering the best training and networking opportunities possible. So to that end, we planned and executed our second fully virtual NILA.

However, taking into consideration the feedback from 2020, and in order to more fully meet the needs of leaders at all levels, we split NILA into two different sessions.

Part 1 was called the “Certified Chapter Leader Program” and was offered from July 16-18. The content was aimed at all chapter and regional leaders and their advisor. Session covered topics such as deep dives into chapter operations, available chapter support, and a chance for like chapters to collaborate on best practices.

Part 2 was named “Presidents’ Summit,” and it was held from August 13-15. This targeted regional leaders and chapter presidents, and included subject matter experts offering leadership and professional development specifically.

The new structure was a resounding success, catering specifically to the needs of the attendees in a way we were never able to do before. And the reviews confirmed that this was something to reprise in the coming years.

As an additional, year-round resource, SHPE created the 2021 Chapter Leader’s Workbook as an on-demand reference for all SHPE leaders. We are hopeful this brings the spirit of NILA to our membership every day of the year.