In the past year, change converged on Kitsap Regional Library staff member Glenna Matteson's daily life as she transitioned from the Teen Services Librarian at the Port Orchard library to Branch Manager at the bustling Bremerton — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. library and was accepted to the Class of 2025 Leadership Kitsap cohort.
Founded in 1993 by the Kitsap Chambers of Commerce and the United Way of Kitsap County, Leadership Kitsap aims to build a new and continuing source of leaders by bringing together people from many professional fields to facilitate access and the merging of leadership across the community. Every year, Leadership Kitsap accepts applications from prospective cohort members, who are generally supported by their respective organizations throughout the leadership program.
An Opportunity to Grow & Build
For Glenna, Leadership Kitsap was "an opportunity to connect with local leaders, resources, and places" while developing and strengthening her leadership capacities. In her words, it was "an opportunity to dig into community and to my own work," asking herself, "What is important to me to build in my community?"
A transplant to Kitsap County, Glenna shares that when considering applying for Leadership Kitsap, "I was at a turning point in my time here with the Library and Kitsap County. I had been a Teen Services Librarian for five years, and felt like it was time to push myself to develop new skills.
As it happened, it lined up with a role shift for me here at the Library. Leadership Kitsap ended up being a lovely touchpoint to guide and center me as I acclimated to a whole new role and responsibilities at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It informed my new work. It provided me with some necessary "big picture" perspective at a time when I was really focused on the micro day-to-day needs of a new role and branch."
Digging Into Kitsap
The structure of Leadership Kitsap is spread across an almost year-long commitment for cohort members. Glenna says, "We had monthly 'challenge days' that focused on different areas and aspects of our community. These days were attended by my entire cohort. It was great to hear from community leaders while also connecting with other cohort members who are serving Kitsap through different organizations.
"In between challenge days, I met regularly with my project team, who were working to develop a lasting community project with local nonprofit, One Heart Wild. Together, we planned a community event, promoted, and worked with One Heart Wild to meet the sanctuary's goals and impacts. It was a lot of work!"
Since its inception, Leadership Kitsap has graduated 745 leaders into the community and developed 131 community service projects throughout the county.
Throughout the ten-month process, Glenna had moments of reflection and surprise.
"On the very first challenge day, Leadership Kitsap's curriculum shifted the perspective on what it means to be a leader. Leadership is separate from supervision or management. Anyone, in any role, can be a leader if they choose to advocate for and support their community. It was meaningful for me to align with this leadership vision and consider how I might nurture that vision in others."
A Leadership Kitsap Graduate
Post-graduation, which occurred this past June, Glenna has moved onward and upward with newly formed relationships throughout the community, confidence in the future of Kitsap County, and a feeling of solidarity and support with her cohort and beyond.
"I was incredibly gratified and honored to be a part of the class cohort of 2025. Building relationships with individuals in our community has meant so much, and I know I can call on them for support or ideas. I love running into my fellow alums at community events or even just when I'm out doing errands!
I am also taking away the confidence and support that there are SO many individuals and organizations in Kitsap County working to make our community a better place.
We all have slightly different perspectives, talents, and expertise, and what a gift that is! I love knowing that I (and the library!) am not alone in working towards the best Kitsap we can be. I get a lot of strength and encouragement knowing that others share that vision and goal, and I can work with them to help lead our community."
Now a part of the Leadership Kitsap alumni group at Kitsap Regional Library, Glenna says, "I want to thank Leadership Kitsap alumni within the Library, especially—they were so encouraging and supportive to me, and they gave me much-needed grounding and perspective."
She adds, "More than anything, I am grateful for all the connections I made through Leadership Kitsap. I left the program feeling deeply connected to our community and deeply grateful that this is where I decided to call home."
Way to go, Glenna!
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