Cory Wilbanks, director of leadership development for the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, recently graduated from the Institute of Organizational Management, a four-year professional development curriculum designed for professionals who demonstrate the knowledge and leadership required for successful nonprofit management.

Wilbanks

“In her time at the Chamber, Cory has redesigned and developed our leadership programming as a key asset for our members and the community,” said John Seymour, president and CEO of the Chamber. “What she has learned through the Institute program is already paying dividends in how this Chamber operates and what benefits our members receive. The impact of her professional development will be seen for years to come.”

Institute is the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and was designed to enhance individual performance, elevate professional standards, and recognize association, chamber of commerce and other nonprofit professionals who demonstrate the knowledge essential to the practice of nonprofit management. Its curriculum, comprised of four weeklong sessions, is taught by university professors, industry experts and leading practitioners in the chamber and association industries. Each session is five days long and is offered at five locations across the country annually. Wilbanks attended Institute at the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga.

Graduates of the four-year Institute program receive the IOM Graduate Recognition, signifying 96 hours of course instruction in nonprofit management.

Wilbanks joined the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber staff in 2009. Previously, she worked for the Chamber of Commerce in Corinth, Miss., as the community development director. Prior to working for the Chamber of Commerce, she was employed by Colonial Bank as a private banking officer for northwest Alabama. Wilbanks is a 1999 graduate of the University of North Alabama with a degree in communications. Her responsibilities include membership recruitment, direction of the Chamber’s leadership programs and coordination of the Commodore program. She is a native of Athens and resides in Hartselle.