The Executive Leadership Academy (ELA) was established many years ago to provide valuable training to advancing leadership within the South Carolina provider network. It is conducted every other year and encompasses topics that include person center philosophy, working with a board of directors, leadership skills and skill building, strategic vision and planning, working with external relationships and stakeholders, effective communication to include working with your legislators and community, quality assurance processes/practices, financial management to include contracts, human resources and legal considerations, risk management and media relations before, during and after a crisis, marketing and branding, and other topics an executive would need to know.