Discover how innovation, resilience, and public service can strengthen your leadership and expand your impact.

During this immersive three-day experience in Dayton, you will examine how inventors, civic leaders, and community builders turned challenges into opportunities and bold ideas into lasting progress. From the birth of aviation to the emergence of the council-manager form of government, Dayton’s story offers enduring lessons in adaptability, collaboration, vision, and innovative leadership.
You will connect these lessons to the challenges facing local governments today and leave with fresh perspectives and practical strategies for leading organizations, strengthening communities, and preparing for the future.

What to Expect: 
Your leadership journey will bring Dayton’s legacy to life through visits to historic sites, facilitated discussions, and experiential learning activities. You will examine how inventors, entrepreneurs, and civic leaders used bold decision-making, adaptive thinking, and a commitment to public service to influence both their community and the local government profession. Each experience will help you translate historic lessons into practical approaches to organizational leadership, community engagement, and local government effectiveness.

Learn more about ICMA Dayton Leadership Institute »