Lori Gerhart of Telford, billing coordinator at Moyer Indoor Outdoor in Souderton, has completed the Community Leadership Institute (CLI) presented annually by the Indian Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Gerhart and her 12 classmates were honored for their accomplishment at a graduation hosted by the Chamber on June 19 at the Indian Valley Country Club. Attending from Moyer Indoor Outdoor in support of all the graduates and the CLI program were John Moyer, president; David Moyer, vice president; Bob Williamson, general manager; Tana Wishwanik, senior accounts receivable clerk; Dan Wile, billing clerk; Denise Seiler, accounts receivable clerk; Kahari Trawick, transportation coordinator; and Ed Cardell, heating fuels manager.

“The people in my class are from all different backgrounds and companies in the Indian Valley region,” says Gerhart. “I was able to get to know them and learn from their approach to leadership and service. This opportunity showed me how much it takes to make a successful community: all the different businesses and nonprofits, working together.”

The CLI class members develop skills that make them more effective in their own organizations and prepare them to take on volunteer roles in the community. Participants attend one day-long session each month, September through June. Each class carries out a service project that aids the community and reinforces learning, and class members agree to serve for three years on a nonprofit or municipal board or committee.

The CLI program, customized for the greater Indian Valley and North Penn business community, explores a variety of topics, offering opportunities to learn from leaders from the arts, education, government, and profit and nonprofit businesses. To fulfill the requirement to participate in a community-based project, Gerhart’s class worked to provide health care in diverse low-income neighborhoods through CHIP, Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance Program. They partnered with area churches and nonprofits and took part in events within the target neighborhoods, including a health fair in Hatfield, a booth at an Asian market and a program with the United Way—and signed up 40 families with CHIP. The 2009 group also spent a day in Harrisburg, meeting with PA Senator Robert C. Wonderling (R-24) and touring the Capitol.

Past Moyer graduates of the program are David Moyer, Bruce Landis and Kahari Trawick.

Bob Williamson, Lori Gerhart, and David Moyer