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
  • 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

Upcoming Webinars

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Webinar

Efficiency in Action: Saving Millions, Serving Better — Summit County’s Success Story

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how technology can drive significant improvements in government efficiency and constituent outcomes. Register for the webinar today and join the conversation on transforming community services.

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Webinar

Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, June 12

Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week three of a biweekly series on key developments from the White House and Congress. Discussions will focus on policies and actions that directly impact counties — from federal funding and regulatory changes to intergovernmental partnerships. Tune in for an inside look at how these evolving federal dynamics may shape county priorities, responsibilities and operations.

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Webinar

LUCA: Improving Census Data. Here’s How, Starting Now

The Census Bureau’s first operation in preparation for the 2030 census is the Local Update of Census Addresses, or LUCA, and it needs your help in updating its address list. Preparation starts now. States, local jurisdictions and tribal nations can identify areas with hidden and low-visibility housing, lots of in-fill and new residential developments; areas recovering from disasters; and areas with nontraditional addresses. 

In this webinar cosponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National League of Cities, the International City/County Management Association and NACo, learn about the steps you and your partners can take now to get this critical census activity right! 

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Webinar

Impacts of Federal Action on Local Jurisdictions: A Conversation on County Administration

In this webinar, you will hear from a panel of county administrators as they unpack their local responses to the current federal and political environment and, ultimately, prioritize good governance and high-quality service delivery.

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Webinar

Eyes on the Surge: Harnessing AWARE Flood Sensors via NACo PPP–Safeware for Hurricane Readiness & Rapid Recovery

Wednesday, June 18, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET

Discover how counties can deploy the AWARE Flood System—rugged, solar-powered IoT sensors available through the competitively bid NACo Public Promise Procurement Safeware contract—to turn rising water into actionable intelligence. We’ll show how each lightweight node tracks depth, temperature and barometric pressure, pushes real-time alerts over cellular or Iridium satellite link, and keeps reporting for seven days even without sunlight. Learn the simple “piggy-back” procurement steps inside Public Promise Procurement (PPP), funding streams that pair with FEMA categories and see a live dashboard demo that lets EOCs map flood conditions before, during and after landfall.
 

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Webinar

Building Trust: The Framework for Responsible AI

As AI becomes an integral part of business operations, the imperative for responsible integration with existing county technology grows. This webinar will explore the critical considerations and frameworks necessary for implementing AI ethically and effectively. By exploring the core themes of transparency, accountability, reliability, safety, privacy, security, fairness, and human oversight, we aim to provide a comprehensive guide for harnessing AI's potential responsibly.

Our county guest speakers will share their experiences with AI deployments, providing valuable insights into overcoming challenges like reducing fears, addressing bias, and enhancing constituent trust. They'll share practical strategies for ensuring AI initiatives are both effective and efficient, delivering tangible benefits to communities. 

Questions?

For any questions or concerns about the program, please reach out to arathi@naco.org.