Carolina Foothills Hospice nurse Gwen Painter, clinical manager of the Hospice House in Landrum, is a 2010 graduate of the Grassroots Leadership Development Institute (GLDI).

GLDI is a special initiative of The Spartanburg County Foundation, providing leadership training, resources and support for individuals to strengthen their inner leadership capacity in order to improve the services of the communities in which they work. Painter joins more than 120 individuals who have participated in the institute in its first six years.

Graduation speaker Dr. Benjamin Dunlap, president of Wofford College, challenged the 30 recent graduates to seek knowledge and live what youve learned. He noted that leaders have the following attributes: the power to inspire; the ability and wisdom to listen to those they lead; a sense of humor; and the gift of brevity.

Painter described her six-month GLDI experience as one of much learning, stretching and good fortune that put me in contact with so many accomplished leaders in Spartanburg County.&bsp; She was especially appreciative to have time with leaders in the health care system and used what she learned to evaluate her own leadership skills and style in her job with Carolina Foothills Hospice.

Painter takes with her a challenge from GLDI speaker Greg Blake whose words during the Institutes first session still ring in her ears: Legacy leaders put their organization and others in the position to do great things after they have retired, resigned, or died in office.

Jean Eckert, executive director of Carolina Foothills Hospice, says: I have great faith that Gwen is a legacy leader.&bsp; She is someone who leads by example to always do what is best for those we serve.