In the eyes of many, Shawn Collins personifies the core of the mission of Leadership Evansville: Develop effective leaders committed to using diversity and creativity for the betterment of the community. Whether he’s volunteering as a baseball coach, sending his staff to skill-building classes, or promoting online training as a sales-generator for clients, he believes that, “To train, is to gain.” Since 1977, Leadership Evansville has trained over 2,000 individuals representing hundreds of companies and organizations in the Evansville community.
Professionally, Shawn Collins leads EXTEND GROUP, a marketing firm which includes EXTEND COMMUNITY, the arm that connects not-for-profit organizations with the communities they serve, plus the automotive aftermarket-focused EXTEND PERFORMANCE, which is recognized nationally as the definitive innovator in online training.
According to Lynn Miller-Pease, CEO of Leadership Evansville (LE),“Shawn brings the innovative creative energy to package and propel our incredible mission into the future. He developed three websites for us, and through his leadership, LE is able to reach more people through cutting edge technology. ”
With his drive, volunteer spirit, and reputation as digital innovator, it only makes sense that Shawn was among the young leaders included in Evansville Business Journal’s “20 Under 40” in 2012.
Shawn Collins has the qualities that make him, “a great president of Leadership Evansville,” observes Miller-Pease. These include, “Passion and heart-felt, relationship building capabilities.” She adds, “And he values connecting people to the vision.”
Collins was officially installed as Leadership Evansville President of the Board of Directors, at the organization’s annual meeting, May 19, 2015.