Culver City founder Harry Culver donated the first parcel of land on which Loyola Marymount University was established. The relationship remains strong, as this fall, the Culver City Chamber of Commerce and Loyola Marymount University will join together to host their first Leadership Culver City Certificate Training, designed to familiarize potential officials and leaders of Culver City with its political structure and special features. Important members of city government and businesses will verse trainees in the city’s agenda.

            “Culver City is an island in the metropolis of Los Angeles County,” says Steven Rose, president of the Chamber. “Leadership is more than reading a book; it includes communicating, making connections and understanding the process.”

            The team that will lead the partnership is headed by Dr. Kevin Walsh, Ph.D., the instructor of LMU Extension’s Nonprofit Leadership Development Certificate program. He has been helping facilitate partnerships between the university and other chambers of commerce for the past five years. One of those, the LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce, recently graduated its third class of leadership trainees.

            “The LAX Leadership Academy brought together some amazing and powerful people from the community, said graduate Sarah Helene from G2 Gallery, Supporting Art & the Environment. “It allowed me to form a tightly knit network of business and government leaders with whom I continue to collaborate.”

            Interested individuals, businesses and organizations interested in citywide dynamics, interests, challenges and fiscal responsibility, may register by Aug. 26 to receive the early bird special and be in the inaugural class of Leadership Culver City, beginning Sept. 15 and continuing on a monthly basis for eight sessions. For more information, call Peggy Dobreer at (310) 338-1971.