Professionals Graduate EPIC Leadership Program

Roanoke, Va. - The Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Cortex Leadership Consulting, recently celebrated the graduation of 25 professionals from the EPIC Leadership Program. This five-month immersive coaching and mentoring experience is designed to build emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and leadership skills in highly engaged professionals.

Taylor Hubbard, an EPIC graduate and one of the speakers at the graduation ceremony, shared her experience: "This journey has really taught me a lot. One of my biggest insights was shifting from the Dreaded Drama Triangle (DDT) to the Empowerment Dynamic (TED). Recognizing that you control how you react and assuming people have good intentions helps shift into a solutions mindset."

At the graduation ceremony, graduates and leaders shared reflections on the program’s impact. Melissa Glick, another graduate, recalled her introduction to EPIC after starting at Metis: "My fifth day on the job, I found myself at Wilderness Adventure with a group of total strangers. After warm-up activities, we faced the harrowing swing drop. We cheered each other on and completed the challenge. Just when we thought the hardest part was over, we were taken to the Cat Walk—an eight-inch log 60 feet in the air, 100 feet across. A group of strangers came together, connected, encouraged, and cheered each other on."

April Woodward, President of the Board of Directors for the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce and Vice President of Oncology at LewisGale Medical Center at HCA Healthcare, spoke at graduation about why it was important for the Chamber to partner with Cortex to bring this program to the area, saying: "When this program was presented to the Chamber and Lynda and her team came and presented it, the first thing I thought of was okay, I would love to have a training program where instead of a rules session orientation and the obligatory code of conduct, the first day we go to Wilderness Adventure. I mean, I’m just saying, that’s a pretty cool way to start any leadership session. So, I don’t know of another program out there like EPIC. And when I heard that I thought okay, they offer in-person classes, data-driven information, and one-on-one mentorship with certified leadership coaches. That’s pretty impressive."

The EPIC program stands apart as a turn-key leadership development experience that combines in-person learning, data-driven insights, and one-on-one mentorship with certified leadership coaches. This cohort met monthly at the South County Library, tackling key topics essential to leadership growth. Each session began with foundational concepts before diving deeper into practical application.

The program’s structured approach focuses on intentional leadership development, with each month dedicated to a core leadership skill:

• Communicating with Intention – Using the DISC/Driving Forces assessment, participants, known as Adventurers, gained self-awareness in the area of communication.

• Acting with Intention – Adventurers learned to recognize when they are creating drama and how to shift toward proactive thinking and actions.

• Thinking with Intention – From decision-making to collaboration for innovation, Adventurers applied a simple but impactful problem-solving framework.

• Managing Priorities with Intention – Participants assessed time management habits and implemented tools to manage multiple priorities effectively.

• Building Trust with Intention – Through Conversational Intelligence, Adventurers gained a deeper understanding of how they build and maintain trust in professional relationships.

The program’s impact extends beyond personal growth—it prepares participants for leadership roles within their organizations. Chris Carey, President of Metis, emphasized the role EPIC plays in developing future leaders: "We don’t have direct mentorship like we used to when people worked side by side every day. EPIC has helped bridge that gap by developing our people and ensuring they have the skills they need as they progress."

Jeanne Newby, a facilitator of the EPIC program, reflecting on the graduates' dedication, shared: "This graduating cohort has set a new standard through their commitment and engagement. It was the first class to be entirely in-person, achieving the highest attendance. Even more impressive is that they embraced every challenge with curiosity and openness. Their willingness to dig deeper and explore new approaches reflects leadership that will strengthen teams and communities."

Graduating from EPIC is more than an achievement—it marks a transformational journey for professionals eager to enhance their leadership capabilities. As this cohort moves forward, they carry with them not only new skills but also a strengthened mindset, a network of support, and the confidence to lead with intention.

Apply for the EPIC Leadership Training Program here!