Leaders from Hospice of Lansing and Transformation GEMS Women Entrepreneur Startup Accelerator will attend the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce’s leadership initiative, Leadership Lansing, at no cost this year thanks to a pair of scholarships provided by Resch Strategies.
Matt Resch, who heads the Lansing-based public relations and public affairs firm, said the scholarships are being offered for the fourth consecutive year.
“Given the quality of scholarship applicants we received, and level of program demand we experienced, we decided to offer two scholarships this year,” said Matt Resch, president of Resch Strategies. “Both organizations are making a difference in our region and can benefit from the leadership skills and connections they’ll build through Leadership Lansing.”
The Resch Strategies Leadership Lansing Scholarship was first established in 2015 to help area non-profit leaders participate in the program by covering the full cost of tuition. Participants in the program engage in seven workshops and an overnight retreat where they are exposed to key local institutions, industry sectors and business leaders.
“Leadership Lansing is dedicated to advancing new skills and connections for the best and brightest talent in our community,” Resch said. “Through the Resch scholarship program, we hope to strengthen nonprofit leadership, so organizations like Hospice of Lansing and Transformation GEMS Women Entrepreneur Startup Accelerator will be equipped to transform even more lives.”
Hospice of Lansing, established in 1979, is an independent, local, nonprofit hospice providing compassionate, meaningful end of life care, as well as comfort and support to patients and their families.
Hospice of Lansing’s Andi Earl with Matt Resch.
“Without this generous scholarship from Resch Strategies, participation in the Leadership Lansing program would not be an option for a nonprofit organization like my own,” said Andi Earl, Operations Supervisor for Hospice of Lansing. “I am excited to learn from and grow with the leadership represented in the Leadership Lansing program.”
Transformation GEMS Women Entrepreneur Startup Accelerator, a leadership coaching and consulting nonprofit agency created by Carmen Thomas, was established in the fall of 2017. The agency focuses on helping women in the Lansing community develop business opportunities and provide them with empowerment, startup funds and resources.
Transformation GEMS’ Carmen Thomas with Matt Resch.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to be a participant in the Leadership Lansing Program. I’m even more excited to have been selected as a Resch Scholarship recipient,” said Carmen Thomas, owner of Transformation GEMS Women Entrepreneur Startup Accelerator. “I’m planning to implement and share the knowledge I learn with the organizations I’m connected with and to make a positive impact with the women I serve in making Lansing a better community.”
Last year, the 2017-18 recipient of the Leadership Lansing Scholarship was awarded to the Lansing Art Gallery and Education Center.