Citizens who actively learn, collaborate, and engage across both public and private sectors to ensure that Polk County continues to advance and prosper.
Citizens are engaged when they play a meaningful role in discussions, decisions, and projects that affect their lives and livelihoods. Polk Vision develops events and programs that address current and emerging challenges, inform community members about critical issues, and encourage diverse perspectives to strengthen communication and understanding between government and citizens.
Leadership Polk is the area’s premier leadership development program, bringing together individuals from across the county who have demonstrated a high degree of civic engagement. Since its inception in 2007, the program has cultivated a diverse network of resourceful, informed, and proactive visionaries committed to building a more vibrant future for the entire community.
Over the course of ten months, participants explore critical issues, such as growth management, education, economic advancement, and community health and safety, through immersive site visits, expert-led discussions, and experiential learning. Most importantly, Leadership Polk fosters lasting relationships and equips leaders with the insight and connections needed to achieve Polk County’s shared Vision.
Leadership Polk reminded me that the best leaders never stop learning. The recipe is simple: bring together leaders from different backgrounds, unite them with a shared heart for serving Polk County, and create opportunities to learn and grow together. The finished product is a lasting impact. I’m grateful for the friendships we’ve built and look forward to seeing all that Class XIX accomplishes across Polk County. Serving as Class XIX Chair has been a true privilege.
Founder & CEO, A Higher Calling Consulting LLC
Leadership Polk Class XIX Chair
Contact Information
Lindsay Persohn, Ph.D.
lindsay@polkvision.com
863-860-3904
The class selection process begins each spring with a call for nominations. Nominations are welcomed from employers, colleagues, friends, or family. Individuals may also self-nominate.
Once nominations are closed, nominees will receive an invitation via email to submit a formal application. Please note that completion of the application does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
The following qualifications must be met at the time of the application:
Additional notes for consideration:
Applications are reviewed by a Selection Committee, which performs the difficult task of selecting a representative cross-section of leaders as members of the upcoming class. The composition of the Selection Committee is kept confidential to prevent outside influence.
Because the program is limited in size, there are typically more qualified applicants than spots available, and many qualified individuals must be deferred. Those not accepted are encouraged to reapply.
Leadership Polk requires a serious commitment of time and energy. All dates are published in advance for planning purposes.
The ten-month program year begins with a mandatory orientation in August and an overnight retreat in September. In order to complete the program, participants may not miss more than two class days. Class members who miss two class days will be required to make up one of their absences with the next class. Those who miss more than two class days will be withdrawn from the program.
Attendance requirements are strictly enforced to maintain the integrity of the program and respect the commitment made by other class members.
The $2,150 tuition fee is all-inclusive, covering transportation, meals, program activities, and other incidental expenses.
The Leadership Polk Alumni Association (LPA) is an engaged network of Leadership Polk program graduates united by a shared commitment of leadership, service, and the advancement of the Vision for Polk County.
Guided by the Leadership Polk Alumni Advisory Council, LPA provides meaningful opportunities to stay connected, informed, and impactful while actively supporting Polk Vision’s work.
Each year, LPA hosts a variety of networking and educational events that reinforce its role as a strong and relevant resource for its members. New this year was Leadership Polk Rediscovered, a half-day experience for members to rediscover community learning opportunities that current Leadership Polk classes visit that may have changed or not even have existed when members first went through the program. In January 2026, LPA members spent the afternoon in Auburndale, visiting the newly opened Auburndale Civic Center on Lake Ariana, SunTrax, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s new warehouse and central operations center.
The Leadership Polk Alumni Association is a separate and independent 501(c)(6) entity. While it holds a historical connection with Polk Vision, Inc., it now operates independently in its governance, programming, and fundraising efforts.
Senior Economic Development Manager, Visit Central Florida Chair, Leadership Polk Alumni Advisory Council
Class VII
Inside PCPS is a countywide leadership program developed in partnership between Polk Vision and Polk County Public Schools. Over the course of ten months, participants are immersed in a comprehensive experience designed to highlight and demystify the complexities of our school district by answering critical questions, such as:
Since its inception in 2022, leaders have received a unique behind-the-scenes look at one of the largest school districts in the nation, leaving them with a new understanding of the challenges, innovations, and impact of public education in Polk County.
Contact Information
Lindsay Persohn, Ph.D.
lindsay@polkvision.com
863-860-3904
The class selection process begins each spring with a call for nominations. Nominations are welcomed from employers, colleagues, friends, or family. Individuals may also self-nominate.
Once nominations are closed, nominees will receive an invitation via email to submit a formal application. Please note that completion of the application does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
The following qualifications must be met at the time of the application:
Additional notes for consideration:
Applications are reviewed by a Selection Committee, which performs the task of selecting a representative cross-section of leaders as members of the upcoming class. The composition of the Selection Committee is confidential to prevent outside influence.
Because the program is limited in size, there are typically more qualified applicants than spots available, and many qualified individuals must be deferred. Those not accepted are encouraged to reapply.
Inside PCPS requires a serious commitment of time and energy. All dates are published in advance for planning purposes.
The ten-month program year begins with a mandatory orientation in August. In order to complete the program, participants may not miss more than two class days. Class members who miss two class days will be required to make up one of their absences with the next class. Those who miss more than two class days will be withdrawn from the program.
Attendance requirements are strictly enforced to maintain the integrity of the program and respect the commitment made by other class members.
The $500 tuition fee is all-inclusive, covering transportation, meals, program activities, and other incidental expenses.
The Public Service Leadership Course^ honors the legacy and outstanding tradition of civic, public, and nonprofit leadership in Polk County.
Facilitated by Dennis A. Ross, Former Member of the United States Congress and current Director of the American Center for Public Leadership at Southeastern University, this course offers a series of engaging sessions over the course of five days that guide participants in discovering their passions, identifying where they can make the greatest impact, and developing a plan for meaningful long-term community involvement.
This course is free of fee to qualified participants and includes lunch during each class day. Each class day is hosted in a different municipality, highlighting the size and diversity of communities across Polk County while giving participants a firsthand look at leadership in action.
This program is made possible through a grant from the Bell-Barnett Family Fund within the GiveWell Community Foundation.
Participants must commit to being fully available to attend all five of the day-long sessions listed below. Those unable to make this commitment should apply in a future year.
Class size is limited, and participants will be selected in a highly competitive, essay-based application. A balanced mix of class members that reflects Polk County’s diversity is important to the effectiveness of the program and will influence the selection process.
Note: Applicants may be contacted for additional information
Class members are selected based on the following criteria:
Dennis A. Ross is a former Member of the United States Congress, former Member of the Florida House of Representatives, and currently serves as the Director of the American Center for Public Leadership at Southeastern University, where he is also a distinguished professor of political science.
A native of Lakeland, Florida, Mr. Ross graduated from Auburn University in 1981. Mr. Ross attended the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and, in 1987, graduated and became a Member of the Florida Bar. Mr. Ross is also a Member of the Washington DC Bar Association and has an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest ethical rating for a lawyer.
Mr. Ross initially practiced law at Holland & Knight in Lakeland, Florida, for two years. Mr. Ross was then employed as an attorney at Walt Disney World before starting his own law firm, which grew to 27 employees.
In 2000, Mr. Ross was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, where he served for eight years before being term-limited. In the Florida House, he served on various Committees and Chaired the House Committee on Insurance, where he marshaled significant legislation to assist the state of Florida in recovering following the devastation of three successive hurricanes crossing the state of Florida in 2004.
In 2010, Mr. Ross was elected to the United States House of Representatives, where he served Florida’s 15th Congressional District for eight years. Mr. Ross served on various House Committees, including the House Financial Services Committee for six years, the House Judiciary Committee, the Education and Workforce Committee, as well as two terms on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, serving two years as the Chair of the Federal Workforce and United States Postal Service Subcommittee.
After retiring from Congress in 2019, Mr. Ross joined Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, as a Distinguished Professor and as the Director of the American Center for Public Leadership (ACPL). The ACPL is dedicated to the mission of advocating for increased civic engagement through the development of research-based curriculum, which teaches civil discourse and promotes citizen participation.
Mr. Ross has published the book “Reaching Across the Aisle”, a reflection of his experiences in politics. In addition, Mr. Ross is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator and serves as a Board Member for the Former Members of Congress organization (FMC) and formerly served on the Board of Trustees at Ariel University in Israel. Mr. Ross was inducted into the Workers’ Compensation Institute’s Florida Workers’ Compensation Hall of Fame for his efforts in that industry over the last 33 years.
He is married to Cindy Hartley Ross, and they have two sons, Shane and Travis, and three grandchildren.
Youth Leadership Polk (YLP) is a FREE leadership training program for teens, focused on cultivating key leadership and employability skills.
Through a combination of site tours and classroom lessons, class members are immersed in an experiential learning curriculum that exposes them to a broad range of careers, topics, and skills – all while deepening their understanding of and pride in the history and culture of Polk County. As a bonus, class members meet and interact with influential community leaders, business professionals, elected officials, and educators from across the county to help build their networks and explore potential careers!
Being allowed the opportunity to experience and participate in the Youth Leadership Polk program has not only given me the opportunity to meet and learn about influential people in my community, it has also changed my view and definition of one.
IB at Bartow High School
Class VII
Contact Information
Lindsay Persohn, Ph.D.
lindsay@polkvision.com
863-860-3904
Application Window: February 12, 2027 – March 12, 2027
Orientation: April 23, 2027, 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Nominations open annually in January for high school sophomores and juniors. Nominated students will receive an invitation via email to submit a formal application in February. Students will be chosen based on the following criteria:
While it is completely free to participate in YLP, it does require a serious commitment of time and focus. Class dates are published in advance, and attendance is strictly enforced out of respect for the sponsors, hosts, instructors, and fellow class members and to preserve the program’s integrity.
Youth Leadership Polk is made possible through the generous support of our community partners, donors, and the Leadership Polk Alumni Association. We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsors.