Leadership Lakes starts 21st year

LACONIA — Leadership Lakes Region began its 21st year recently. The leadership Class of 2019 kicked off the new program year with orientation at Gunstock Mountain Resort. 

“This new class is our largest ever with 27 people enrolled,” said Program Coordinator Jennifer McLean. “Class 2019 includes banking, education, healthcare, insurance, engineering, marketing, retail, hospitality, social services and facilities management professionals,” she added. The 27 class members represent 14 different hometowns including in the Lakes Region, Manchester, Thornton, Elkins, Concord and Rochester. 

Orientation Day is a time for the class to get acquainted, with student-staff introductions, a leadership speaker, and recreational team bonding experiences. The leadership speaker at orientation was program graduate Julie Baron, president and CEO of Make-a-Wish New Hampshire. The day included a lift ride to the summit at Gunstock where Rich “Mr. Rich” Regione, founder of YouthBeatz, led the group in a highly interactive drumming session and friendly drum competition. Activities concluded with an afternoon reception for the new class with alumni members of Leadership Lakes Region. Over 360 professionals have graduated from Leadership Lakes Region since 1998. Orientation Day was planned by graduates Willow Furey, Mike Roth, Bryan Murphy and Andrew Gilman, and was sponsored by Gunstock Mountain Resort and its in-house caterer, Centerplate Food Service. 

Next up for the leadership group is November’s History and Culture Day. For more information, visit www.leadershiplakesregion.org.