THE SIGNATURE CLASS

We welcome people from all across the professional community to apply for our Signature Class. We are proud to include among our Alumni, members from the corporate world, small business owners, health care, education, non-profit, banking, civic, self-employed, and many other sectors of the community.

To qualify for application you should have a strong connection to Lorain County, for example, living or working within the county. Submit a completed application, current resume, headshot, and application fee to LLC, and complete the interview portion of the process. Interviews are scheduled with Signature Class Alumni and offer a chance for prospective class members to ask questions from someone with experience in the program, as well as answer questions about their reasons for interest in participation.

We encourage interested class members to seek out others from their place of employment who have completed the class and ask questions about their experience. Our senior LLC staff are alumni themselves and are happy to meet with any interested party to address any questions or concerns you may have at any time during the application process.

Information regarding 2026 Signature Class applications is now available.

OUR PROGRAM

About the Program & Time Commitment

The Leadership Lorain County Signature Class is a dynamic, 10-month program focused on leadership development and civic engagement. Participants commit to attending monthly full-day sessions, as well as additional events and collaborative projects outside of these scheduled days. Participants who fail to meet the attendance requirements will be asked to withdraw from the program and all paid tuition fees will be forfeited.

These sessions are held once a month from September through May, and are mandatory, with a maximum of two absences allowed. Each session focuses on a different theme and includes leadership development, expert speakers, community tours, and interactive activities.

Design Teams
During the Overnight Retreat, class members are divided into Design Teams. Each team is responsible for planning and facilitating one of the upcoming session days. This is an opportunity to showcase your knowledge, leverage your connections, and build leadership skills by taking charge of the class experience.

• One hour is reserved during each monthly session for team planning.
• Additional meetings outside of session days may be needed, and each team will determine its own meeting schedule, format (virtual or in-person), and frequency.

Class Projects
Starting in January, class members will select and participate in a Class Project, which is a hands-on community initiative. Projects may be pitched by community members, organizations, fellow classmates, or may be a legacy project from a previous class.

• Projects have ranged from founding nonprofits (e.g., Blessing House, Big Brothers Big Sisters Lorain County) to organizing beautification efforts like garden installations or painting.
• Every participant is required to actively contribute to at least one class project.
• Planning and implementation will occur outside of session days, and each group will coordinate its own meetings based on availability and preferences.

By applying, you acknowledge the required time commitment and agree to fully participate in all aspects of the program, including events, design teams, and class projects.