Highlights from Leadership Wilmington

Session 6 - Business Growth & Development

Our class has made no secret that we enjoy each other’s company, and we proved that again by doing something unprecedented: getting up early and hanging out socially before 8am. Instead of partaking in an after-hours event, we all got together and prepped for the day ahead by enjoying coffee and lattes at Social Coffee, which has become a local favorite for many of us and a small business staple in our community.

Bryan Finlayson

Session 5 - Infrastructure

We began the morning with transportation and planning insights from the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, gaining a deeper understanding of how data, collaboration, and long-range planning shape the future of our community. That carried into a discussion on the statewide impact of the North Carolina State Ports Authority, followed by an on-the-ground terminal tour led by fellow class member Elly Kane, whose perspective helped bring global commerce into a very local lens.

Cynthia Cheatham

Session 3 - Environment Day

Katelyn Tull

Session 2 - Education Day

Dana Lingenfelser

Session 1 – Arts, Culture and History

An excited and caffeine-fueled leadership group began the morning learning about Wilmington’s history including many interesting facts that have shaped who we are today as a community. Among the highlights were old photos and accounts of how the Wilmington business sector has changed over time, particularly post-WWII through present day. After lunch, we embarked on a journey with Dr. Chris Fonvielle, emeritus professor of history at University of North Carolina at Wilmington, visiting downtown sites and

Mark Hairr

Leadership Wilmington Class of 2026 Retreat Recap

Koo MacQueen