Leadership Santa Rosa

10/06/2026

Thank you, Blackwood Financial Group!

Richard McCool, Bessann Watson and the Blackwood team have long been huge supporters of our community, and we're proud to have them behind Leadership Santa Rosa Class 39's community solar project.

Class 39 is building free solar charging stations in Santa Rosa County parks: a place to charge a phone and get some shade, every day and especially after a storm.

There's still time to be a part of it: givebutter.com/SupportLSRClass39

Learn more about Blackwood Financial Group: https://www.facebook.com/blackwoodfg

10/01/2026

YOUR VISION. OUR TEAM. SANTA ROSA’S FUTURE.

Leadership Santa Rosa is opening a new opportunity for local nonprofits through our annual RISE project, and applications are now open!

Each year, an LSR class rolls up its sleeves to help a local organization turn a community need into lasting impact. Class members contribute hands-on work, project management, teamwork, and practical support to build programs, enhance services, or improve community spaces across Santa Rosa County.

Does your nonprofit have a project or concept that could move forward with a dedicated team of leaders?

We invite registered 501(c)(3) organizations in good standing in Santa Rosa County to submit a proposal.

Successful proposals should:
✅ Include meaningful, hands-on class involvement.
✅ Require no more than $15,000 in resource development, materials, or fundraising support from the class.
✅ Include a clear plan for your organization to maintain the project after the class graduates.

Your overall project budget may exceed $15,000 if other funding is secured; the amount needed from the class must remain within that limit.

📅 THE ROAD TO RISE
• October 1: Applications open
• November 15: Submission deadline
• By December 18: Top three finalists notified
• February: Finalists pitch to the class, and the project is selected

📄 Review the RFP and apply: https://www.leadershipsantarosafl.com/rise-community-project

📧 Questions? Contact [email protected].

Know a nonprofit with a great idea? Tag them below or share this post to help us reach organizations throughout Santa Rosa County!

09/22/2026

🌊☀️ Our LSR Alumni September Social on September 17 welcomed good friends and fostered great connections with an unforgettable backdrop! 🤩

A huge THANK YOU to SpringHill Suites Navarre Oceanfront and LSR Class 38 Alum Melissa Taylor Knowlton for hosting an amazing evening of networking and great conversations for our Leadership Santa Rosa Alumni and members of LSR Class 39!

From catching up with longtime friends to meeting new members of the Leadership Santa Rosa program, evenings like this are a great reminder that your LSR experience doesn’t end when your class graduates - it grows! 🤝

Across generations of Leadership Santa Rosa classes, our alumni continue to lead businesses, nonprofits, civic organizations, and community initiatives throughout Santa Rosa County. When we stay connected, we create opportunities to collaborate, mentor, support one another, and make an even greater impact in the community we all care about.

Interested in getting more involved with Leadership Santa Rosa? Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn to stay up to date on our LSR program, fundraising, networking and community engagement opportunities!

09/21/2026

Emily is back, and this time she’s not asking… she’s pointing directly at YOU! 👉😂

TODAY is your LAST CHANCE to apply for Leadership Santa Rosa Class 40!

If you’ve been waiting for a sign, THIS IS IT! Join us for an unforgettable year of leadership, community connections, behind-the-scenes experiences, and memories that will last a lifetime.

⏰ Applications close TONIGHT at MIDNIGHT — September 21!

💻 APPLY NOW: www.leadershipsantarosafl.com

Don’t make Emily point at you again. 👀⚖️

Class 40 — Let’s make it the BEST CLASS EVER!

09/18/2026

⚖️ EMILY WANTS YOU… FOR CLASS 40! 👉

The robe is on. The finger has been pointed. The ruling is final.

You need to apply for Leadership Santa Rosa Class 40.

Our very own Class 39 member Emily got a little carried away during our trip to Tallahassee, but she has an important message:

🚨 THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE! 🚨

We extended the deadline because we want Class 40 to be the BEST CLASS EVER, and we wanted to give a few more future leaders the opportunity to say, “Alright, alright… I’ll apply!”

If you've been thinking about it, waiting for a sign, or telling yourself you'll get around to it later…

👆 THIS IS THE SIGN. Emily is literally pointing at you.

Experience Tallahassee. Go behind the scenes of Santa Rosa County. Meet incredible people. Build relationships. Learn about the community you call home. And make some memories—and apparently questionable judicial career choices—along the way. ⚖️😂

📅 FINAL DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 21, 2026

💻 Apply now: www.leadershipsantarosafl.com

No more extensions. No more excuses.

Emily has spoken. Court adjourned. 🔨

Leadership Santa Rosa
Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders, Today.

09/15/2026

🚨 DEADLINE EXTENDED — YOU STILL HAVE TIME! 🚨

We said we wanted Leadership Santa Rosa Class 40 to be the BEST CLASS EVER, and we mean it.

After receiving tremendous interest in Class 40, the Leadership Santa Rosa Board has made the decision to EXTEND the application deadline through September 21! 🎉

Why?

Because Class 40 is a milestone, and we want to make sure we give everyone who wants to be part of it the opportunity to apply.

We want a class that truly represents Santa Rosa County, our businesses and industries, military community, educators, healthcare professionals, nonprofits, government leaders, entrepreneurs, agriculture, public safety professionals, and the emerging leaders who will help shape our community for years to come.

Maybe you’ve been thinking about applying but haven’t hit submit.

Maybe someone told you, “You need to do Leadership Santa Rosa.”

Or maybe you know someone who belongs in Class 40 but hasn’t applied yet.

This is the extra time you’ve been waiting for.

🔥 NEW DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 21, 2026 🔥

Help us build an incredible Class 40. Apply. Share this post. Tag someone. Encourage a coworker. Nominate a leader.

Let’s make sure the people who should be in the room have the opportunity to get there.

💻 APPLY TODAY: www.leadershipsantarosafl.com

Class 40. Let’s make it the BEST CLASS EVER.

Leadership Santa Rosa
Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders, Today.

09/13/2026

Free solar charging towers in our county parks. Built by Leadership Santa Rosa Class 39.

Power and shade when the grid goes down — and any regular day at the ballfield. No cost, no app, no sign-up.

$20,000 gets it built. $3,400 in so far.

givebutter.com/SupportLSRClass39

09/10/2026

⏰ TIME IS RUNNING OUT! ⏰

🔥 ONLY 5 DAYS TO GO! 🔥

Applications for Leadership Santa Rosa Class 40 close at MIDNIGHT on September 15, and we don't want you to miss your chance to be part of this milestone class!

🏛️ Travel to Tallahassee for Legislative Days
✈️ Experience our military community firsthand
🏭 Go behind the scenes of local business and industry
🚔 Explore government and public safety
🎓 Learn about education and workforce development
🏥 Connect with healthcare and community leaders
🤝 Build relationships with leaders from across Santa Rosa County

Class 40 is calling. Will you answer?

If you've been thinking about applying, now is the time.

🚨 5 DAYS LEFT
📅 Deadline: September 15, 2026
⏰ Applications close at midnight
💻 REGISTER TODAY: www.leadershipsantarosafl.com

Tag someone who belongs in Class 40 and help us spread the word!

Leadership Santa Rosa
Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders, Today.

09/08/2026

We're 17% of the way there.

The first gifts are in, and every one of them moves a solar charging tower closer to the ground in Santa Rosa County.

$16,600 to go. If you've been meaning to give — now is the moment it counts most.

Donate: https://givebutter.com/SupportLSRClass39

09/04/2026

Look at that! We're in the NEWS!!!! Santa Rosa Press Gazette

Sign up for Class 40 before it's too late!

www.leadershipsantarosafl.com

https://srpressgazette.com/applications-open-for-leadership-santa-rosa-class-40/

Applications are open for the 40th class of Leadership Santa Rosa, with a deadline of midnight Sept. 15.