Chris Palmer, a project manager for Choate’s Charleston Division, was recently selected for the 2016 class of Leadership Charleston. The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce’s 10-month program is designed to identify and develop future community leaders across a variety of market sectors.

Throughout the course of the professional development program, Palmer and fellow participants will take part in a multitude of networking and educational activities, such as serving as “Principal for the Day” at a local K-12 school to participating in a tour at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center. Each of the activities is focused upon creating a broader awareness of the primary regional issues affecting the area. Such issues include workforce development, crime prevention, educational initiatives, infrastructure challenges and the legislative process.

“I’m very excited and honored to have been selected for this program. It’s a great way to not only meet business leaders in the community but to really understand how the inner-workings of our community through the eyes of those career fields beyond construction. There’s really nothing else like it in Charleston,” said Palmer.

Since the program’s start in 1974, more than 2,000 have graduated from the program. Several Choate team members have taken part, including Mike Hampton, Chief Operating Officer; Matt Brewer, Charleston Division Manager; Andy Reinhardt, Senior Project Manager; and Tim Heichelbech, Charleston Division Director of Operations.