Delta Force is back in session! After taking a hiatus for the past year and a half due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s group of Delta Force students (and some of last year’s students who missed out on some of the 2021 sessions) met on Thursday to meet and learn from members of the local media.
A total of 27 Delta Force students participated in the first session of this year’s Delta Force series—‘Media and Communications Day.’ The day started with breakfast, sponsored by The Daily Press and Radio Results Network (RRN), at the Delta County Commerce Center.
Chamber Executive Director Vickie Micheau welcomed the Delta Force students. She stressed the importance of the work of Delta Force in our local community as they learn from local leaders and network with one another.
Facilitators also welcomed the Delta Force students. Facilitators for the Feb. 24 session included Corky DeRoeck, publisher of The Daily Press, Jesse Huff, RRN general manager, and Mike Daniels, RRN’s director of network operations. Delta Force students each then introduced themselves to the group and listened to Jay Fisher, RRN’s director of sales, speak on the topics of “Telling Your Story a New Way” and social media.
The next panel of professionals discussed marketing tactics, specifically focusing on how to cater your message to your target market and retain customers through effective marketing channels and strategies. This interactive discussion was led by Dylan Bloniarz of Embers Credit Union, Bethany Leitner of Insight Design Company and Highline, along with Jesse Huff and Jay Fisher.
Lunch followed at Hereford & Hops, also sponsored by the Daily Press and Radio Results Network, followed by a field trip to The Daily Press, where students received hands-on practice writing a news story under the pressure of a deadline, facilitated by Daily Press Editor Brian Rowell.
The humorous story “tip” Rowell gave to the Delta Force students centered around a Bigfoot hunter. Students were given 15 minutes to research and write the story on the Daily Press computers, with the typical interruptions of a working newsroom.
“It was nerve-racking having to write a full story in just minutes, but I learned a lot,” smiled Terri-Lynn Thompson, one of the Delta Force students. “It gave me a new appreciation for news reporters.”
“This assignment is designed to give them an understanding of the pressures experienced by reporters in a working newsroom,” Rowell explained. The students also received valuable advice from Rowell on how to write effective press releases when submitting news to the media.
Next, the students went to Radio Results Network’s studio and offices for a tour and discussions of the radio stations with Mike Daniels, RRN’s Director of Network Operations.
Daniels noted how he sees it as exciting that the leaders in our community give up their time and resources to teach the Delta Force students and provide them with valuable hands-on knowledge of their business’ operations.
Finally, students met with TV6/Fox UP Multimedia Journalist and Weekend Anchor Grace Blair at the Escanaba WLUC TV6/ Fox UP office where they got to try their hand at an on-the-spot interview/discussion of why they became involved with Delta Force.
“I see all of these folks as our next generation of business and community leaders,” Daniels said. “And, they’re getting valuable networking opportunities. After this [Delta Force experience,] they will truly understand how the community works.”
The Delta Force students were excited about this opportunity to learn about the inner workings of their community. One student, Kevin Chown, owner of G1 Productions, who recently moved back to Escanaba and now works as a team member with Visit Escanaba, was making valuable connections with other Delta Force members.
“Delta Force is a great way to meet people who have a forward-thinking perspective about the future of Escanaba,” Chown said.
The objective of Delta Force is to identify participants with potential for community leadership; acquaint these leaders with community issues, resources and opportunities; increase the leadership skills of program participants; provide participants with opportunities to network and exchange ideas with each other and with community leaders; assist participants in finding volunteer roles in the community; and encourage graduates to continue their involvement by participating in community service programs.
Created and facilitated by the Delta County Chamber of Commerce, Delta Force encompasses a series of ten full-day sessions covering such areas as media and communications, education, health and community services, law and order, government, and other key segments of our community.
Sessions are typically scheduled for the last Thursday of each month and are designed to be highly interactive and thought-provoking. A typical day involves a combination of group discussions, field trips, and presentations by respected local leaders. Visit www.deltami.org/delta-force-leadership-program for more information about Delta Force.
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