County Leadership Curriculum
About
The County Leadership Curriculum is a program dedicated to enhancing the professional development and leadership skills of Counties officials and staff. Recognizing the evolving landscape of Counties governance, NACo’s curriculum is designed to reflect the continuous growth essential for effective leadership.
Structure and Tracks
The CLC offers a structured learning experience through three specialized tracks with training spanning over two years. Workshops are held at NACo’s Legislative Conference, Western Interstate Region conference and the Annual Conference. In order to successfully complete the program, attendees must attend a minimum of 16 workshops within a two-year period and must successfully complete Robert’s Rules 101 and 102, Financial Management 101 and 102 and 12 other workshops of their choice. Participants can satisfy the required number of workshops through in-person sessions or online sessions.
Track One
Governance and Operations
Dive into the nuts and bolts of county government through this track. These sessions provide officials with comprehensive insights into county government and its inner workings. This track equips participants with the knowledge needed to navigate the intricacies of county operations. This track will explore the intricate parts of county government such as county budgets, parliamentary procedures, disaster preparedness and more.
Track Two
Personal Development
Explore the art of leadership with Track Two. Designed to elevate individual leadership capabilities through tailored topics to strengthen professional and leadership traits. Workshop topics include building consensus, mastering change management, facultative leadership and more to help strengthen create effective county leaders.
Track Three
Communication and Delivery
Acquire tools for effective public communication, a critical skill in modern governance. This track enhances participants' communication proficiency, allowing them to engage effectively with the public and navigate the challenges of communication in today's digital age. Session topics range from media relations, message development, social media usage and more.
In-Person Sessions
Annual Conference
Track One
- Robert's Rules 102 | Advancing Your Meeting Mastery for Effective Governance
- 111-113, 1st floor | 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. | July 14
- Financial Management 101 | Unveiling the Essentials of County Budgeting and Financial Management for Elected Officials
- 122-123, 1st floor | 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. | July 14
- Navigating Personal Safety: Keeping You and Your Sphere Safe
- 122-123, 1st floor | 10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. | July 13
Track Two
- Fostering Civility in Public Discourse Navigating Personal Safety: Keeping You and Your Sphere Safe
- 122-123, 1st floor | 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. | July 14
Track Three
- Media Relations Mastery: Navigating Press Interactions
- 3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m | July 15
Upcoming Workshops
Webinar Sessions
Track One
- Robert's Rules 101 | Rule the Room: Mastering Robert’s Rules for Effective Governance
- June 6, 2024, at 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET | Click here to register
- Financial Management 102 | Beyond the Balance Sheet: Advanced Strategies for County Budgeting and Financial Mastery
- County Chronicles | Unlocking the Roles that Shape County Government: County Planners
Track Three
- Mastering Crisis Communication: Strategies and Tactics for Effective Response
Modern Networks, Smarter Budgets: A County Leader's Perspective
Join us for a fireside chat with Orleans County, NY, as they share how their team successfully transitioned from a traditional capital expense (CapEx) model to an operational expense (OpEx) model for network services.
When faced with rising maintenance costs and an expiring carrier contract, the county seized the opportunity to modernize its network and lock in predictable monthly costs. By bundling connectivity services with unified communications, they achieved immediate savings of over $124,000, eliminated recurring charges such as long-distance fees and third-party integration costs, and gained access to operational upgrades like call analytics and auto-attendants.
This shift not only strengthened financial planning through fixed monthly expenses but also freed up IT staff to focus on strategic initiatives.
Key takeaway: Rethinking your budget model can be just as impactful as upgrading your technology — delivering fiscal stability and enhanced services for your community.
2026 NCCAE Presidents and Executives Directors Meeting
Join NACo and the National Council of County Association Executives for the Presidents & Executives Meeting January 14–16, 2026 in Washington, D.C.
What to Know Before You Go to NACo’s Legislative Conference
Join NACo’s Membership Chair and staff to learn ways to maximize your experience at the NACo Legislative Conference.
2026 NACo Legislative Conference
The NACo Legislative Conference brings together nearly 2,000 elected and appointed county officials to focus on federal policy issues that impact counties and our residents.
2026 Western Interstate Region (WIR) Conference
The NACo Western Interstate Region (WIR) Conference brings together county officials from across the nation to focus on pressing issues facing Western counties and our residents.
2026 NACo Annual Conference & Exposition
Save the date for the 2026 NACo Annual Conference & Exposition, the premier annual gathering of elected and appointed officials from the nation’s 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs.
Questions?
For any questions or concerns about the program, please reach out to arathi@naco.org.