Five years ago I accepted a sales and marketing position at the Tucson Convention Center. I made the bittersweet decision to leave my promising hotel career with one of the most successful hotel companies in the world for a challenging and potentially rewarding public sector job. It was quite a change for me. I was used to working in the private sector and now needed to make the adjustments to that of a pubic servant. I was on board, wanted to be part of the team and wanted to do well.

First, I met with several community leaders including my mentor, Rick Vaughn Sr., vice president of sales and marketing for the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau, to seek guidance.

Rick immediately recommended I "connect with our community." A broad statement yet, as I look back, I understand his recommendation was encouraging me to use the supportive approach adapted from Hershey and Blanchard’s Situational Leadership Model. As an apprentice it was my responsibility to make use of my abilities and established commitment to my new job.

To enhance that fit, I took the advice of another community friend who suggested I apply for Greater Tucson Leadership’s adult leadership program. She had just completed the program and felt it had been a great benefit for her, both personally and professionally.

Essentially, the program teaches the history and present services available in our community as well as outlines the many issues Tucson faces. Prominent leaders in a variety of fields present timely and relevant subject matter. I appreciated getting to know the next generation of leaders who were in the class with me and many of them have become close and trusted advisors.

As I put together the documents required for the program, I learned the adult leadership program is not unique to Tucson. There are similar programs throughout the United States, in Chicago, Denver, Phoenix and Washington D.C., to name a few. As a matter of fact, Michelle Obama is a 1993 graduate of the Leadership Greater Chicago program. City Councilman Rodney Glassman graduated from the Tucson program in 2007.

Greater Tucson Leadership is not just for us public sector types either. Jannie Cox, CEO emeritus of the Carondelet Foundation, graduated in 1981 and Bill Holmes, vice president and community relations manager for Wells Fargo, graduated in 2003. Maricela Solis de Kester, president and CEO of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, graduated with me in the class of 2005.

I recently read that effective public relations practitioners need to be at the table in real time, know the issues, and understand the big picture. I refer to the adult leadership program on a daily basis. I understand current marketing conditions in education, arts, environment and economics. I had the opportunity to follow a juvenile judge for a day and understand issues of our youth.

If you look at the program’s alumni list you will see a diverse "who’s who" of Tucson’s leaders. The adult leadership program provided me the opportunity to truly connect with the community as Rick Vaughan had instructed me to do.

These leadership programs around the nation are sort of a fraternal organization, sprinkled with networking opportunities and education which provide community knowledge.

Greater Tucson Leadership adult leadership program began in 1980 and is well established. Our graduated list includes over 300 Tucsonans who have been given the foundation to launch into public office or into "C" status.

Three years later after graduating from the program, I continue my involvement with Greater Tucson Leadership. Public relations is about relationships, and this organization offers me the opportunity to stay connected, meet new people, and learn about real issues in our community.