AIKEN — Leadership Aiken County’s mission is to prepare local residents to become movers and shakers.

Since the program’s establishment in 1981, there have been nearly 1,000 graduates.

They include Aiken City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh; former S.C. Rep. Bart Blackwell, R-Aiken; Children’s Place Executive Director Peggy Ford; former Aiken Mayor Rick Osbon and Western SC Economic Development Partnership President and CEO Will Williams.

Leadership Aiken County’s areas of focus include human services, cultural awareness and quality of life, education and horses and history.

The others are law enforcement, state and local government, health care and the county’s economy and industries.

Each class also completes a project.

Three Leadership Aiken County board members — President Shayne Farrell, Vice President Nicole Regan and Lee Bodie — spoke to the Rotary Club of Aiken about the program June 16 at Newberry Hall.

For more information about the program, visit leadershipaikencounty.com or emailinfo@leadershipaikencounty.com

There also is a Junior Leadership Aiken County program for 10th graders.

Bodie is a member of the Rotary Club.