Author Laura Emberton Owens
In her book, “Becoming the Red Sock in the Laundry Basket—Simple Strategies to Everyday Leadership,” author Laura Emberton Owens teaches how leadership is the product of perfecting the critical elements of credibility: image, attitude, teamwork, and communication.
“Leaders are much like a red sock, rubbing off on others even when no one expects it,” Owens said. “Whether through calculated strategies or unintentional actions, true leaders impact those around them.”
Owens will share her strategy for effective leadership on Thursday, June 23, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at a free leadership seminar presented at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset. The one-day training seminar, which also includes a free lunch, will provide the essential tools for developing what Owens considers the four critical elements toward becoming a highly effective leader.
The event is presented by The Center and funded through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
To register for the seminar, contact Patti Simpson at The Center at 606-677-6110 or via email. Pre-registration is required, and registrations must be received by June 9. Space is limited, so register early to reserve your spot.
“The Center is committed to providing the resources and training to help individuals within our 42-county primary service region better serve their home communities and the region,” Lonnie Lawson, president and CEO of The Center, said. “The region’s future rests in the hands of those who are willing to step up as leaders and serve Southern and Eastern Kentucky.”
Owens has spent the last 30 years involved in workforce training, education, and government. Before forming her own company, Advancement Strategies LLC, she served as Kentucky’s secretary of education and was former state commissioner for Kentucky Department for Workforce Investment. In her role as commissioner, she was responsible for a department of 2,300 employees and a budget of nearly $1 billion dollars.
Her commitment to service has been noted on both state and national levels. She received appointments from both former Governors Paul Patton and Ernie Fletcher and served on a White House commission at the invitations of former President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama.
Prior to her work in Frankfort, Owens also served as a teacher, published writer, TV host, and elected city official.
“Becoming the Red Sock in the Laundry Basket—Simple Strategies to Everyday Leadership” is Owens’ second published book. She shared stories of life’s inevitable moments, as seen through a mother’s eyes, in her first literary work, “Thank You for Blue Horses—Lessons I Have Learned from My Children.”
The Center for Rural Development, a nonprofit economic development organization, is located at 2292 South U.S. 27 (at Traffic Light 15) in Somerset, Ky.
