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GEARS

Develop Your Leaders. Strengthen Your Team. Advance Your Industry.

This community leadership program, a collaboration between the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Springfield, is built exclusively for the manufacturing sector — whether you’re leading today or preparing to lead tomorrow. Through monthly, high-impact sessions hosted at local manufacturing facilities, participants will sharpen their leadership skills, expand their network, and gain practical insights from industry experts and peers. This program equips manufacturing leaders to grow personally and professionally, drive meaningful action within their organizations, and contribute to the continued strength of our regional manufacturing economy.

What to Expect:

Growth: Strengthen leadership potential through targeted development focused on both individual and organizational growth.

Education: Gain valuable insights through workshops and exposure to industry best practices. 

Action: Turn learning into action by identifying real-world solutions for workplace challenges and opportunities. 

Relationships: Build connections with manufacturing peers, Chamber members, and industry stakeholders to strengthen your network. 

Success: Define and achieve success through measurable outcomes, leadership growth, and enhanced community ties. 

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Registration open for the second GEARS cohort

Registration opens: Aug. 24, 2026
Registration deadline: Oct. 20, 2026
Cohort begins: Jan. 2027

Reserve Your Seat Now

Watch: How GEARS Develops Manufacturing Leaders - See what a cohort session looks like and hear from past participants.

Want more detail? Watch the extended GEARS video here.

Program Cost:

$1,250 for Chamber Members
$1,600 for Non Chamber Members

Program Benefits

  • Six cohort sessions and a formal graduation ceremony.
  • Subgroup learning based on discipline, job type or management levels.
  • Monthly professional development and networking opportunities

Additional Benefits:

Option 1 - For young professionals under 40

  • One year membership to The Network
  • One ticket to the SBDC Manufacturing Outlook held in Dec.

Option 2 - For experienced professionals

  • Four Good Morning, Springfield! tickets
  • One annual Business After Hours pass
  • One ticket to the SBDC Manufacturing Outlook held in Dec.

 

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