CenterState Banks of Florida Inc. Announces a Leadership Development Program


DAVENPORT, Fla., Aug. 8, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Budgeting dollars for leadership development is a challenge most organizations face on a regular basis and especially during our current local, state, and national economic crisis.

One regional banking group, CenterState Banks of Florida Inc. (Nasdaq:CSFL), is addressing this issue through an innovative collaboration with the University of South Florida Polytechnic.

The partnership has produced a unique Leadership Studies Certificate program; open through a selection process made available to CenterState Bank employees.

"This is all about education and business forming a partnership and customizing a program to develop our future leadership," says Mike Wilkerson, senior vice president and chief human resource officer, CenterState Banks of Florida, Inc.

This certificate program encompasses four upper-level academic courses addressing such issues as leadership fundamentals, communication, organizational design, ethics, critical thinking and problem solving and much more, according to Dr. Alice Murray, USFP's associate vice president for campus facilities and educational outreach.

Wilkerson has announced the current cohort of the new program consists of 20 students, drawn from throughout CenterState's nine-county service area. The selection process, according to Wilkerson, included a self-nomination process, endorsement by the applicants' immediate supervisor and respective Bank President and admission to USF Polytechnic.

Students are asked to commit to successfully completing all four courses, and, in return, their employer commits to picking up the tab for tuition, books, transportation costs, and compensated time off to attend class. Students who complete the program receive transferable college credit, a USF Polytechnic Certificate, and a gift uniquely designed by CenterState Bank for each graduate.

USF Polytechnic faculty members teach the classes, which start with USFP's fall semester in late August and meet one day a week at the bank's Posner Park location off U.S. Hwy 27 in Davenport, just south of I-4....a location that is central to all 38 CenterState Banking facilities.

"We appreciate USF Polytechnic's willingness to work with us and customize its existing leadership curriculum," says Wilkerson. "What's important to the bank is the expertise, credibility and prestige that USF Polytechnic brings to this customized program, as well as the transferable college credit our employees will receive. Some students will enter the program with little or no college experience, and we anticipate they will see they can compete at a collegiate level and go on to finish a degree or other advanced training."

"Either way," said Wilkerson, "we consider these employees to be HIGH POTENTIAL CANDIDATES to fill future leadership roles within our organization and of the communities we serve. We consider this program a wise investment even in these tough economic times and important to our strategic growth plans."

According to Murray and Wilkerson, USF Polytechnic and CenterState Bank plan to expand the program in the near future, making it available to other businesses as well.

Headquartered in Polk County, CenterState Banks of Florida, Inc. is a multibank holding company with 37 locations in nine Florida counties. It operates CenterState Bank of Florida (12 locations), CenterState Bank N.A.(13 locations), CenterState Bank Central Florida (7 locations), and Valrico State Bank (with 5 locations).

The CenterState Banks of Florida, Inc. logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3539



            

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