Hoover Ready to Choose Inaugural Leadership Hoover Class

HOOVER, AL - Following the lead of several other cities, Hoover will form its first Leadership Hoover class, a group of civic and business leaders tasked with bringing together ideas and discussion over ways to improve the city's business, education and overall quality of life. A committee of 12 people has been put together to choose the inaugural class of 30 for Leadership Hoover. The first group is expected to be selected in September.

Joe Thomas, former president of the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce will serve as the chairman of the organization, and he said he wants to see the group operate like similar groups, such as Leadership Birmingham. Leadership Birmingham chose its inaugural class in 1981, and since then has graduated more than 1,500 city leaders from its classes. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Birmingham Patch morning newsletter.)

The Hoover City Council allocated $50,000 for Leadership Hoover. When the first class is announced, the group will meet once a month through next spring. After that, those who have completed the program will nominate participants for future classes.

(Photo from Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce)