Monroe Chamber Launches Three-Part Leadership Development Series for Northeast Louisiana Business Leaders
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2026
Monroe Chamber Launches Three-Part Leadership Development Series for Northeast Louisiana Business Leaders
Three-session fall pilot will give business owners, managers and emerging leaders practical tools for strengthening teams and developing employees
MONROE, La. — Business leaders across Northeast Louisiana will have a new opportunity this fall to strengthen how they manage workplace relationships, lead through change and develop employees through a three-part leadership series organized by the Monroe Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Leaders of Change and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
The pilot series will be held Aug. 26, Sept. 30 and Oct. 28 at ULM and is designed for business owners, executives, managers, team leaders and emerging leaders responsible for both organizational results and the development of people. Dr. Edwin Adams, founder of Disrupt Comfort Performance Consulting, will facilitate all three sessions.
The program responds to feedback from Chamber membership surveys and will also help the Chamber evaluate demand for a longer-term leadership-development program for the regional business community. Participants should leave each session with language, tools and specific actions they can use with their teams.
The series follows a three-part progression: Reduce friction. Steady the room. Grow the people.
The Aug. 26 session, Generations That Work, will focus on helping leaders move beyond generational stereotypes and address workplace differences with clearer standards and stronger working relationships. Participants will examine the difference between legitimate organizational expectations and personal preferences and consider ways to replace assumptions with more useful conversations.
On Sept. 30, Change Agility will focus on the leader’s role when uncertainty and organizational change increase pressure within a team. The session will address how leaders can communicate clearly, recognize behaviors that increase anxiety and become a stabilizing presence without minimizing urgency.
The final session, Coaching + Accountability, on Oct. 28 will address employee development, delegation and difficult performance conversations. Participants will explore how leaders can coach rather than immediately solve every problem, create clearer accountability and build greater ownership among employees.
“Strong businesses depend on leaders who can handle the day-to-day situations that affect people and performance,” said Mike Downhour, President of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce. “This series is intended to give leaders across Northeast Louisiana practical ways to reduce unnecessary friction, communicate more effectively during change and help their employees take greater ownership of their work.”
The sessions are expected to run from approximately 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the seventh-floor library at ULM. The working capacity is approximately 120 to 125 participants per session.
Registration information, final pricing and additional program details will be available through
Leadership Lab: Generations That Work - Aug 26, 2026
Leadership Lab: Change Agility - Sep 30, 2026
Leadership Lab: Coaching + Accountability - Oct 28, 2026
About the Monroe Chamber of Commerce
For over 120 years, the Monroe Chamber of Commerce has served the needs of the local business community - helping new businesses open their doors and existing businesses expand and grow. We work to strengthen our workforce, build our infrastructure, and improve the overall business environment, creating a place where businesses in Monroe and Ouachita Parish can thrive. We think you'll discover what we already know: Ouachita Parish is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.