Building Tomorrow’s Volunteer Leaders

Leadership Morris Class of 2019

Author: Naoma Welk, Welk Ink and Leadership Morris Alumni Council Member

Since 1991, Leadership Morris has showcased Morris County’s non-profit community to classes of future leaders who have taken the opportunity to learn about Morris County, its non-profits, the local and state government and explore how they might be able to give back to communities in which they live and work. 

Although the program began in 1991, since 2005, Leadership Morris has been under the direction of Dr. Joseph Nazzaro. Leadership Morris is a community education program of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce. Along with co-program administrator, Laura Cust, they have witnessed nearly 1000 alumni morph into servant leaders and community volunteers. “It has been very rewarding to see some of our graduates serve on non-profit boards and even build careers in government. I am proud to have been able to facilitate a program that helps build our non-profit community” said Nazzaro in a recent interview.

Class participants come from an array of professional backgrounds, including sole proprietors and entrepreneurs, mid-level managers, healthcare practitioners and professionals such as attorneys, communications experts and nonprofit executives.  “Our goal,” explains Nazzaro, “is to expose students to our community so they can see the more intricate aspects of what makes our county run.” Each one-day session of the eleven-month program features a field trip. Economic Development Day features a trip to Picatinny Arsenal (the largest employer in the county). Criminal Justice Day is a trip to the County Jail and County Courthouse with meetings with the County Sheriff and Prosecutor. In addition to learning about Morris County, one of the class excursions (for State Government Day) is to Trenton, where students tour our State Capital, meet and hear from a member of the Assembly and President of the New Jersey State Chamber.
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Media Relations/County Government Day involves a visit to JCP&L’s corporate communications department and interacting with a panel of communications and media experts as well as a visit from County Freeholders. Healthcare Day is an exciting trip to both Saint Clare’s and Morristown Medical Center. Human Needs and Services Day focuses on the nonprofit community and affordable housing with interesting visits to both. Environment Day features hiking at either the Great Swamp or Pyramid Mountain culminating with a visit to Fosterfields Living Historical Farm for an environmental presentation.

A graduate of the 2016 class, Deborah Gussoff, President of In Order, Inc. said, “Leadership Morris is a unique opportunity to learn about the wide range of non-profit services the county offers. I learned about homelessness in Morris County and how the community helps those in need.” Sandy Stiles of Planned Parenthood of Northern, Central and Southern NJ said, “I thought I knew about of most of the non-profits in our area, but the diverse range of venues we visited was enlightening.” Anthony Abrantes, Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters Local 254 said, “I loved this program and feel very privileged to have taken it. The exposure to such a variety of organizations helped me grow both personally and professionally.”

Nazzaro explains, “While Morris County offers a bucolic environment with more than forty public parks and nature trails, we see families who, from time to time need housing or nutritional support.” Typically, individuals who find themselves in situations they could never imagine, don’t know where to turn for help. Nazzaro explains, “We live in a compassionate community where services are available to help those in need. Leadership Morris exposes students to the variety of services offered and our hope is that they will find a program that ‘speaks to them’.”   The program also features team building, community service projects, and “board reports” from each class member after interviewing a Non-profit executive. Following graduation, there is an optional active Alumni Association.