Executive Program | Leadership Southern Maryland

Programs

EXECUTIVE PROGRAM

Are You a Catalyst for Change? Apply for Our Executive Program.

As an Executive Program participant, you’ll join a cohort of up to 40 executives in Southern Maryland who are passionate about creating a better Southern Maryland for all. Your cohort will reflect a cross-section of our region, representing a diversity of industries, professions, races and ethnicities, ages, gender identities, geographic locations, and more. You’ll interact with top leaders in virtually every sector of our community to deepen your understanding of the Southern Maryland ecosystem and discover ways to collaborate to address our community’s challenges.

What Does the Program Include?

Our nine-month educational program is intense, thought-provoking, … and life-changing. Your understanding of Southern Maryland and your position within it will be transformed by your immersion with others in exploring these facets of our community:

Defense & Industry

Economic & Workforce Development

Education

Energy & Environment

Healthcare

Agriculture

Housing & Human Services

Our Stories

Public Safety

Key Benefits of the Program

Better equips participants to influence positive change through a greater understanding of the distinctive forces that make the Southern Maryland region
Allows participants to examine their own values, philosophies, and beliefs while coming to understand those of others
Broadens the scope and diversity of each participant’s professional network with insider access to the region’s leadership and nearly 500 local alumni
Raises each participant’s profile among professional peers with valued leadership training
Creates and nurtures a network of informed decision-makers while weaving new leaders into the region’s civic fabric
Strengthens public/private partnerships
Links corporate resources with community organizations
Reduces “six degrees of separation,” enabling participants to achieve more with greater efficacy

What to Expect

A mandatory two-day September Orientation Retreat, followed by 10 sessions (one or two per month) focusing on regional topics. Participants who miss one day of Orientation will be ineligible to complete the program.*
Fully participating in all 12 sessions held from September through May (with a potential June make-up date, if needed) and typically from 8:00am to 5:00pm Participants who miss more than two (2) program days (16 hours) will be ineligible to complete the program.*
Traveling to locations within Southern Maryland that relate to each month’s topic of discussion
A 12-hour day when taking into account travel as well as the social event held at the conclusion of each session
A 25-hour volunteer commitment or project to be completed outside of the session days. Hours must be completed by March 15 in order to be eligible to graduate.

* Participants who become ineligible to complete the program forfeit the full program tuition.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates for the Executive Program must be mid- to upper-level executives who live or work in Southern Maryland (Calvert, Charles, or St. Mary’s County). Additionally, we seek professionals who are:

Passionate for the people and future of our region
Committed to community, as evidenced by past and present activities
Representative of Southern Maryland’s diversity (e.g., industry, profession, geography, race/ethnicity, gender)
Committed to completing Executive Program requirements with full support from their employer
Interested in enhancing their leadership influence and professional network
Committed to supporting leadership and stewardship of Southern Maryland during the program and beyond

Tuition

Tuition of $4,250 per participant by check or $4,550 by credit card is due on or before August 15 (applicants may secure the sponsorship of a business/organization to pay tuition).
Tuition may be paid online or by mailing a check to Leadership Southern Maryland, P. O. Box 524, Leonardtown, MD 20650.
Should a selectee choose to defer participation to the following Executive Program year, the decision must be communicated to LSM in writing before August 15. Any withdrawals after that date will be assessed a $500 administrative fee.

Class of 2026 Session Dates

Participant engagement and interaction in the following 12 Executive Program sessions are essential to the success of class members and the program. Therefore, missing more than two session days (16 hours) or missing one day of the Orientation Retreat disqualifies participants from program graduation.

September 22 & 23, 2025 – Orientation Retreat (mandatory)
October 8, 2025 – Economic & Workforce Development
October 20, 2025 – Agriculture
November 6, 2025 – Education
December 4, 2025 – Defense
January 15, 2026 – Housing & Human Services
February 5, 2026 – Our Stories
March 5, 2026 – Healthcare
April 8, 2026 – Public Safety
April 30, 2026 – Energy & Environment
May 14, 2026 – CLOSING RETREAT & GRADUATION: 7:30am to 5pm (OR Program Session Make-Up Date, if needed)
June 10, 2026 (tentative) – Alternative Date for Closing Retreat and Graduation (if Program Session Make-Up is scheduled on May 14)

Class of 2026 Information Sessions

LSM will hold five information sessions in March and April 2025. These sessions provide attendees with a more complete understanding of the program and the application process. They are also a wonderful opportunity to meet LSM alumni and ask questions.

Tuesday, March 11, 9:30-10:30am, via Zoom
Thursday, March 13, 5:00-6:30pm – Calvert – Brick Wood Fired Bistro, 60 Sherry Ln, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Thursday, March 20, 5:00-6:30pm – St. Mary’s – Call Signs Restaurant, 46580 Expedition Dr, Lexington Park, MD 20653
Thursday, March 27, 12:00-1:00pm – Charles – Charles County Economic Development Department, 10665 Stanhaven Pl, Ste 206, White Plains, MD 20695
Tuesday, April 1, 5:00-6:00 pm, via Zoom

Advance registration is required. For questions, email info@leadershipsomd.org

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View more photos of the LSM Experience.