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

Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, October 16

Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week ten 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.

Aerial view of historic buildings around Downtown Portsmouth in New Hampshire in the fall
Conference

2025 NCCAE Annual Meeting

Rockingham County, N.H.

The National Council of County Association Executives (NCCAE) provides a vehicle through which its membership improves the administration of the various associations of counties and associations of county officials and provides a forum through which members meet and exchange information of importance.

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Webinar

Community Care: How Counties Leverage Real-Time Technology to Improve Behavioral Health

In this webinar, we’ll explore how counties can harness behavioral health empower providers and community stakeholders to help streamline care collaboration and improve outcomes for the communities they serve. 

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Webinar

Cyber Resilience In Action: County Leaders Share Their Strategies

Join county IT leaders to hear how they are defending local government systems, staff, and constituents from ever-increasing cyber-attacks. The panelists will discuss specific examples of cyber-attacks they are experiencing, how elected officials are integral to the defense, as well as monitoring, education and interactive staff activities they provided during October Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Energizing Counties
Webinar

GoFundMe’s Crisis Response Playbook: Trusted Solutions for Counties

This webinar will showcase how GoFundMe serves as a trusted partner for counties and communities in times of crisis. 

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Webinar

Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, October 30

Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week eleven 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.

Questions?

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