Growing Leaders through Leadership North Fulton

Farah McIntyre, Visitor Engagement Director

At Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC), we strive to give staff every opportunity to pursue leadership development courses and continuing education.  Leadership North Fulton (LNF) has been one of the most impactful leadership development programs in North Fulton for more than 30 years.

Each year, the LNF program begins in September with a two-day kick-off retreat designed to help participants bond and get to know one another. Following the retreat, classes are held once a month, with each session focused on a different topic relevant to the North Fulton area, such as Arts, Culture, Tourism, Government & Infrastructure, and Economic Development. These sessions offer participants the opportunity to learn about the inner workings of local institutions and businesses, engage with community leaders, and explore ways to get more involved in the region.

To graduate, LNF students must create and fund a community service project to benefit the community, such as providing fresh food to those in need and alleviating food insecurity.  Projects can help organizations like North Fulton Community Charities, or they can be standalone endeavors. For example, The Drake House was created by the Leadership North Fulton class of 2004.

Farah McIntyre, Visitor Engagement Director, was accepted into the Leadership North Fulton class of 2025. “I am so honored to have been accepted. It means a lot to me to have my colleagues and supervisor at CNC support my application and acceptance into LNF.” She continues, “I am most excited by the community service project and getting hands-on experience in creating and executing this project. I recognize the importance of branching out and connecting with others in the community where I live and work. This is a huge opportunity for me to grow my professional career and confidence in my leadership skills.”

There are currently two LNF alumni at Chattahoochee Nature Center: Tamara Kinmon, Senior Director of Special Events, Marketing, and Camp, Class of 2019, and Fabiola Clermont, Events Supervisor, Class of 2023.

“As a result of LNF, I have stayed involved with the Chamber of Commerce through its Emerging Leaders Program, focusing on youth engagement,” says Kinmon. “Leadership North Fulton has been one of the best decisions of my professional journey at Chattahoochee Nature Center.”

Clermont noted that the program helped her develop networking and social skills. She states, “As a very introverted person, this program is a great opportunity to help bring out your communication skills.”

Farah has already noticed the impact of the program in the kindness, support, and welcoming nature of the other LNF participants. “It has given me the confidence to demonstrate my leadership skills and take risks. On February 1, I jumped into Wills Park Pool for the annual Alpharetta Rotary Polar Plunge to support my LNF class and help fund the construction of a new community garden. The Polar Plunge is not something I would normally volunteer to do, even for a fundraising cause, but my fellow LNF colleagues were very supportive and excited for me and cheered me on from the poolside!”