Who We Are
Supporting and promoting local government officials and employees’ continued education.
Who We Are
The Pennsylvania Leadership Institute (PLI) is a 501(c)(3) organization that was formed in 2014 with a stated purpose of supporting and promoting local government officials and employees’ continued education. PLI is governed by a board of directors with significant governmental and public and private educational experience. There are currently five directors.
PLI solicits support from individuals, corporations, foundations, and others interested in promoting an educated local government infrastructure. PLI also partners with organizations to develop issue-specific programs.
Board of Directors
Governed by five directors with significant government, public and private educational experience.
Harris Gubernick
Board President
Ron Wagenmann
Secretary
Kathy Rader
Michael Keller
Vice President
Kim Coon
Why We Exist
The role of local government has expanded dramatically over the past several decades in significant part due to increased mandates imposed by the state and federal governments. Continual education is necessary for local government officials and employees to ensure that they remain compliant with their obligations and provide services to their residents and businesses in the most effective and efficient manner.
PLI uses funds raised to underwrite the costs for training for elected officials and employees, allowing people to register at a reduced cost to them and/or their local government. The PLI supports local government officials participation in training that may include educational topics such as leadership development, communications and public speaking, public safety and emergency management, public works and infrastructure support, land use planning and zoning, and finance and administration, including budgeting and human resource management.
Pennsylvania local government officials from all classes of government including townships of the second and first class, boroughs and cities are eligible to apply for a scholarship.
Our Impact
The Pennsylvania Leadership Institute is headquartered in central Pennsylvania and has the potential to serve more than 10,000 elected and appointed local government officials and their staff members, who govern more than 13 million Pennsylvania residents. Since its inception, the PLI has provided full or partial scholarships to more than 500 local government officials to assist them in deferring the costs of attending relevant local government training.