LEADERSHIP KENTUCKY 2024 kicks off in Berea!
Written by Hollie Spade, AT&T Kentucky, Director, External Affairs, LKY Class of 2024
Leadership Kentucky Class of 2024 kicked off its seven-month journey with a session in Berea at the Historic Boone Tavern Hotel June 17-19, 2024. The level of enthusiasm was contagious from the start with a noise level to match, but the group eventually settled in for Day One at the Boone Tavern Event Center. The program started with a welcome from Teresa Hail, a member of the LKY Class of 2008 and current LKY Board member. Class members were then paired off and given the task of learning enough about each other to introduce his/her partner. All of the introductions included interesting facts, rather than the typical resume bullet points.
Next up was a "Berea Treasure Hunt" organized by Berea Tourism. Class members were assigned to groups to compete in the hunt which provided an opportunity to get to know the members of their groups. The intense heat did not keep the teams from moving quickly from one historic or artistic location to another and the group gained an appreciation for Berea and its people.
After refreshing cocktails in the Boone Tavern lobby, the group headed to the University Club at Arlington, a beautiful estate donated to Eastern Kentucky University in 1967. The class enjoyed an opportunity to socialize, a lovely dinner, and an engaging presentation by Colleen Chaney, Chief of Staff and Chief Communications Officer for EKU and alumnus of LKY Class of 2023. Colleen shared highlights about EKU and insight on her LKY experience.
Day Two was primarily dedicated to the SIMSOC exercise (IYKYK). The Class did its best to work through challenges that face every city, county, community, state, and the world as a whole. The team members forged even deeper and more meaningful connections with each other while “working” and finding solutions to real-world problems through negotiation and brainstorming. It was both enlightening and exhausting. After a brief respite, the class gathered for a delicious supper at Boone Tavern and heard from Scott Alvey, Executive Director, Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) and LKY Class of 2022 alumnus, and Tommy Druen, a member of the KHS Board who provided a comedic approach to Kentucky history and a 2013 alumnus of LKY. The socializing continued in the Boone Tavern lobby until time to turn in for the night.
Day Three started with breakfast and some great advice from retired Duke Energy Executive, Chuck Session, a member of LKY Class of 2016 and Lisa Murrell Award Winner. Chuck gave advice on how we can all be better people and better community members. He certainly set the bar high with his own example. After breakfast it was time to receive individual results from the Predictive Index. The Class had time to reflect on their individual results as well as breaking into teams and discussing ways to accommodate the needs of each member in a way that will benefit the whole team entity.
Needless to say, the Class of 2024 is already showing signs of being the BEST CLASS EVER! There is so much more to come, and I have no doubt that each and every member of the Class is already looking forward to the next session in Ashland. Thanks to Historic Boone Tavern, Eastern Kentucky University, the alumni who took time to be in Berea with us, the very special LKY staff, and all of the LKY sponsors for this amazing session!
