The Association of County Commissions of Alabama (ACCA) recently announced the participants chosen for the PLAN 2018 statewide leadership program. PLAN, short for passion, leadership, accountability, and networking, is an 18-month course that seeks to develop second-term county commissioners, chairs, and probate judges into more effective leaders.

PLAN emphasizes hands-on learning about successful programs in other Alabama counties, the state Legislature, Congress, as well as ACCA’s insurance funds and affiliate organizations for key county staff leaders. Each participant in PLAN 2018 will be mentored by a member of the PLAN 2016 class, and, with the input of their peers, will implement a “passion project” in their home community.

Area participants chosen for the PLAN 2018 class include Kenneth Northey, Covington County; Joey Peavy, Butler County; Jimmy Jones, Coffee County; and Johnny Andrews, Conecuh County.

Over the next 18 months, participants will attend a monthly a meeting, webinar, conference or seminar, all tailored to provide the class with leadership skills that they can take back to their home counties. The PLAN 2018 program held its kickoff meeting on Jan. 12 at the ACCA office in Montgomery.