Kooper Leadership Academy Joins Florence Chamber and Celebrates with Ribbon Cutting
Kooper Leadership Academy held a ribbon cutting in the James Allen Plaza on Monday, February 28th celebrating joining the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.
Joining owner Gary Kooper and family were Chamber staff and ambassadors. Kooper said he started the consulting business because of his passion for people.
“I have always had a passion for people,” he said.
He said the mission of Kooper Leadership Academy is to “engage the hearts and minds of individuals, empowering them to consider the value they bring to themselves and others on a daily basis.”
He said “every person has the power to lead through their thoughts, words and actions.”Kooper said leadership begins from within.
Through his part-time consulting business, Kooper conducts workshops for companies, schools, organizations and private individuals. After the initial meeting, he customizes the training to the client’s needs.
He said we all have the ability to make a difference through “time, focus and effort.”
It is just how you decide to give back, he said.
“I do a lot of mentoring and coaching,” Kooper said.
He works with Francis Marion University’s Leadership Series, which is open to all students; Coker University’s leadership group, which is by application; the Coker basketball team and Cypress Adventures and others.
His wife, Teri, said it is not about benefiting the employer but the employee. She said it is all about wanting more for yourself, streamlining and making the most of your time.
Kooper helps people to be the best version of themselves. He focuses on leadership, starting with themselves and how you do this is with behavior, emotion and drive, he said.
Kooper said if you have the ability to motivate people you can work with people in all walks of life from business to industry to education. He said you just need to understand what motivates people.
Kooper is employed full time with Sonoco Products Company in Hartsville as director of operations in the Supply Thermoforming Food Division.
The couple has lived in Florence for approximately 20 years. They have four children, Mary and Anna, who attended the ribbon cutting; Rose, who is at Clemson, and Eric and his wife, Katie, in Florence, Alabama.
For additional information, contact KooperLeadership Academy@gmail.com
