As part of our commitment to provide high-quality professional development and network-building opportunities for our members, MAX facilitates a competitively selected, cohort-based leadership development program known as Leadership MAX (L-MAX).
L-MAX is a leadership development program designed especially for existing and emerging leaders in the workforce development field. L-MAX is comprised of a combination of full-day, field trip, and retreat style learning opportunities and projects over the course of a year.
Click here to meet members of our inaugural cohort, the Leadership MAX Class of 2025.
MAX is now seeking applications for our second annual cohort – the Leadership MAX Class of 2026!
“One of the greatest benefits of MAX is the networking and getting to know who’s who in the state and region, especially the decision-makers,” says Jenny Taylor, Chair, MAX Board of Directors, and Vice President and Chief Mission Officer, Goodwill of North Georgia, noting how because of MAX, we advance our collective mission and operate at the ‘Speed of Trust’. Says Taylor: “I am confident that Leadership MAX will be an accelerant, both for the emerging and experienced leaders in the cohort AND for the workforce development ecosystem.
A few things to note when considering Leadership MAX:
- L-MAX is for emerging, existing, and seasoned leaders a like.
- L-MAX includes commiting to a mix of full-day, field trip, and retreat style learning opportunities over the course of a year.
- Our second cohort will be comprised of 20-30 professionals of diverse backgrounds.
- Content-specific Learning Days will be held on a monthly basis (second Thursdays), such as:
- Public Policy Day
- Resource Development Day
- Business Engagement Day, etc.
- The 2026 Leadership MAX class will be announced at our MAX Annual Meeting on December 10, 2026.
- Here is the anticipated schedule for 2026:
- Opening Retreat: Thursday, January 8 – Friday, January 9
- Learning Day 1: Thursday, February 12
- Learning Day 2, Thursday, March 12
- Learning Day 3: Thursday, April 9
- Learning Day 4: Thursday, May 14
- Learning Day 5: Job Shadowing Experience in June or July
- Learning Day 6: Job Shadowing Experience in June or July
- Learning Day 7: Thursday, August 13
- Learning Day 8: Thursday, September 10
- Learning Day 9: Thursday, October 8
- Learning Day 10: Thursday, November 12
- Closing Program, Graduation, and Dinner: Thursday, December 10
The deadline for applications is September 26, 2025.
If you’re looking to grow in the workforce development community and develop into a community of peer leaders that you can continue to connect with to solve problems together in the years to come, then we encourage you to apply for our 2026 Leadership MAX Cohort!
Applications are due September 26, 2025. You can click here to access the application or click on the following QR code. Click here for a flyer.
