Douglas County EDC

10/15/2026

Meet the Class | LeaderUP 2026–2027

Jarod Pugh | COUNTRY Financial

What we know and what we have learned about Jarod’s work is that it involves helping people prepare for what’s ahead. But our first step in preparing for the future is self-awareness. Understanding our strengths, tendencies and communication styles may not come with an insurance policy but it can certainly help protect a team from a few unnecessary misunderstandings.

10/14/2026

Meet the Class | LeaderUP 2026–2027

Jim Means | Echoasis

What we know and what we have learned about Jim is his work is in a world where communication matters, which made our first class especially fitting. Because before we can make sure a message resonates with someone else, it helps to understand the way we naturally communicate. Different colors, different approaches, one very important reminder: how we say something can matter just as much as what we say.

10/13/2026

Meet the Class | LeaderUP 2026–2027

Sarah Daly | R**e Advocacy, Counseling & Education Services

What we know and what we have learned about Sarah’s work is that it is rooted in listening, advocacy, education and meeting people where they are.

Our first class offered another reminder of just how
differently people communicate, process and respond. It helped to highlight why understanding those differences matters when our work is centered around people.

10/09/2026

Meet the Class | LeaderUP 2026–2027

Daphne Coffey | Douglas County Museum

What we know and what we have learned about Daphne is that there’s always more to a story than what you see on the surface. At the Douglas County Museum, she helps preserve the people, places and stories that shaped the community. For Daphne our first class wasn’t just digging into local history, it was little digging into our own history, tendencies and personalities.

Our True Colors lesson showed that understanding where we come from applies to people, too.

10/08/2026

Meet the Class | LeaderUP 2026–2027

Ashley Berkheimer | Coles County Council on Aging

What we know and what we have learned about Ashley is that she spends her days making connections. For Ashley, our first class was all about connecting the dots about herself. From marketing and community relationships to helping people discover resources they didn’t know existed, Ashley’s work is all about finding the thread that brings people together.

Our True Colors lesson turned that lens inward: How does understanding who you are help you better understand who you serve?

10/07/2026

Meet the Class | LeaderUP 2026–2027

Avery Kessler | Green Mill Village Hotel & Suites

What we know and what we have learned about Avery and about hospitality is understanding what people need to feel welcomed. Avery sure knows a thing or two about that. Our True Colors class flipped the reservation book around and gave Avery the opportunity to check in with herself. Knowing our True Colors can help us understand what makes us feel heard, motivated and valued, too. No checkout time required.

10/06/2026

Meet the Class | LeaderUP 2026–2027

This past week we completed our first full day in the classroom. This lesson reminded us that leadership starts long before we lead a team, organization or community. True leadership begins with understanding ourselves.

We had the opportunity to dive into the True Colors personality assessment that allowed us to explore how our natural strengths, communication styles, motivations and approaches to working with others can look very different. Learning these metrics also gives the opportunity to better understand how those differences can make a stronger team.

We may come from aging services, museums, advocacy, hospitality, communications, finance, government, banking, consulting and economic development but leadership gives us common ground.
With the great group of individuals we have for this class, we can definitely call it a colorful one!

10/05/2026

Larsson Woodyard & Henson, thank you so much for your continued investment in the Douglas County EDC

Send a message to learn more

10/05/2026

Beniach Construction, thanks so much for your continued investiment in the Douglas County EDC

09/30/2026

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