Thank you to Pamela Hermon, COO of Lakeview Village in Lenexa, for submitting the following testimonial about Lakeview’s experience with the LeadingAge Kansas Center for Leadership Fellowship:
The Leading Age Kansas Center for Leadership Fellowship has proven to be highly beneficial not only for new directors but for any staff member stepping into a leadership role. At Lakeview Village, we have witnessed firsthand the impact this program has had—both personally for the employee and organizationally for our community.
In the past year, we had an employee who had been with Lakeview Village for over 17 years transition into a Director role in 2022. While this employee was already deeply knowledgeable about Lakeview and demonstrated strong communication skills, we recognized that leadership development would be an important next step in her growth. We believed the LeadingAge Kansas Leadership Fellowship would be an excellent opportunity—not only to support her personal development but also to strengthen our leadership capacity as an organization.
As her supervisor, I observed a noticeable increase in her confidence throughout the duration of the class. More importantly, I saw her begin to approach daily challenges with greater self-assurance and new strategies. She continued to grow during the program, and the tools and knowledge she gained have become part of her everyday leadership practice.
Since completing the class, she has played a key role in shaping long-term planning efforts at Lakeview Village. She brings fresh ideas to the table and continues to be an asset in problem-solving and collaboration. What’s more, she’s improved her ability to prioritize, handle conflict successfully, problem-solve, see the future for our industry, and support her fellow directors in adopting new approaches and solutions as a team.
Her involvement has also expanded beyond her department—she is now actively engaged in various state and local committees, which has helped raise Lakeview Village’s visibility and presence in the broader community. She has taken on new and challenging opportunities, elevated her team’s performance, and gained a deeper understanding of the organization’s broader vision and goals.
Because of this experience, I would highly recommend the LeadingAge Kansas Center for Leadership Fellowship to anyone who is new to a leadership position. At Lakeview Village, we believe that investing in our employees’ growth not only empowers them personally but ultimately benefits our organization and the residents we serve.
Applications are now open for the 2025-2026 Fellowship Class of our Center for Leadership. Learn more about the program and apply here.
