My name is Chris Scheeren and I have had the pleasure of serving on the Lakeland Youth Center board with Kyle Dukes for the past three years. His leadership and service are an enormous reason our organization can have such a significant impact on the community, and without him, I have no idea how we would function so effectively.
I am not in law enforcement, and I am not involved in local politics. My life is leadership and success. I run a learning and development company and teach effective leadership to companies all across the globe. When you spend your days training and developing, analyzing and working with top leaders in companies like Walmart, Microsoft, Bridgestone, professional sports teams and the United States Army, sometimes you can't turn that critical lens off. You see leadership and management everywhere; analyze its success, pick apart its flaws everywhere you go.
It is through that critical lens that I couldn't be more excited to endorse Kyle Dukes as the sheriff our community needs and deserves. Success isn't accidental, and change doesn't happen haphazardly. It requires focused intent, diligent effort and passionate commitment. I have observed no one who better exudes those qualities than Kyle Dukes.
I have watched the way he has helmed the LYC as president; the ability to reach out across the community to build partnerships and support; the vision he provides for where the organization can go and what is needed to get there; and the communication he provides to unite our efforts. I have seen him manage budget requirements, deal with personalities and conflict, and overcome obstacles by creating positive solutions over and over again — and do it all with an attitude of enthusiasm and servant leadership.
Keep in mind, all of these tasks — the dedicated leadership and passionate all-in commitment — would be a full-time job for most people. Yet Kyle does all these things as a volunteer. His full-time job is serving our community as a 17-year law enforcement veteran, a job he has dedicated his life to since graduating college. Kyle doesn't just "get involved" in our community and "give back" where he can. He leads it.
I am encouraged to know the ambitious ideas being discussed by Kyle will become reality when he focuses his intent, effort and passionate commitment to Kosciusko County as our new sherriff. I am excited for the leadership and fresh start we will receive when we elect Kyle Dukes our sheriff next week!
