Leadership Wilmington Class of 2026 Retreat Recap

The Class of 2026 kicked off the 20th anniversary of Leadership Wilmington with a retreat at White Lake. During the short bus ride, we shared personal mementos—a great icebreaker that revealed a lot about each other. I learned I’m not particularly sentimental, which was… enlightening.



Day 1: Communication, EQ, and Churros
We dove right in with Jody Fletcher from e5 Professional Coaching, who introduced us to the Communication Formula: Understanding = Appreciation = Communication = Teamwork. Movie clips helped drive the message home—though some of us (Robin!) might need a movie night to catch up.
We were then introduced to Work on Wilmington (WOW), a community-wide service initiative led by Leadership Wilmington. On April 18, 2026, hundreds of volunteers will complete dozens of projects in just four hours—making it the largest single-day volunteer event in New Hanover County.
Lunch from Ski Burger was a hit, followed by sessions on Emotional Intelligence (EI). Jody led us through the review of our EI assessments across five categories and explored strategies to improve balance and self-awareness. The weather wasn’t ideal for lake activities, but the Bunk House became our social hub. After a delicious Mexican dinner (yes, there were churro carts), some of us ventured out to Goldston’s Beach—thankfully, no one hit rock bottom at the Glass Bottom Boat.



Day 2: Leadership, Core Values, and Chaos (Organized)
After breakfast, Jody led a session on defining leadership. A highlight was the Core Values exercise, where we narrowed hundreds of words down to our top 3–5 values—forming the foundation for our personal leadership goals and action plans.
Team building took a lively turn with a picture-book sequencing challenge. Initially chaotic, KB restored order with her school principal signature clap, and Brenna—holding the book title—helped us organize the pages. We completed the task in record time (allegedly), but the real win was learning the importance of clear communication and leadership roles—especially for WOW.
We welcomed guest speaker Sheri Leavens, who shared lessons from her book My Mama Always Say… and gifted us copies along with The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle for our leadership libraries. Her Southern wisdom resonated with all of us—whether native or transplant.
Committee selections followed, with alumni preparing a low-country boil feast. Some chose committees aligned with their expertise; others, like me, stepped out of their comfort zones. I joined the Marketing Committee, led by seasoned pros Lee Davis and Travis McCracken—thankfully, they know their way around Canva and social media.


Day 3: Norms, Goals, and Project Management
After another hearty breakfast (and a reminder for the Alumni to read the fine print—bring your own linens!), we set group norms and goals. Class energy was low, but Laura kept us focused and inclusive, not to mention caffeinated.
The Class of 2025 shared insights from their WOW experience—Rule #1: double-check supply calculations. Alumni then joined our committee tables to help build schedules and action plans, offering invaluable guidance.
We wrapped up with a Project Management session led by Jason Lovelace (Class of 2023), who emphasized the logistical challenges of executing WOW. Fortunately, our Projects and Logistics committees are stacked with talent.
The bus ride home was quieter—emails and reality awaited. But we returned with a deeper understanding of ourselves and the leaders we aspire to be.
Huge thanks to Laura Primavera and the Chamber team for organizing such a meaningful and fun retreat. Our monthly sessions begin in September with Arts, History, and Culture, led by Advisory Committee Lead Rebekah Thurston. Stay tuned for more updates from the Class of 2026!