Bergen LEADS Class of 2010 Begins!

The Bergen LEADS Class of 2010 met on September 21 for a two-day retreat to kick off the new seminar year. The goals of the retreat were for the group to get to know each other, learn more about Bergen County and gain insight into their own personal leadership style and strengths.

The class of 30 - whose members had only met once previously - started the day with lively introductions, then immediately took off for points throughout the County for a scavenger hunt. Teams returned for lunch, tired but exhilarated, with pictures of everything from "the way we eat" to "the way we work."

Phil Dolce from Bergen Community College - Mr. Suburbia - helped the class see the suburbs in a different light, while Kevin Wright from the Bergen County Historical Society delivered a primer on the history of Bergen County and home rule.

Mike Kelly, columnist for The Record, spoke about ethics and provided great background for the ethics case study that followed.

Several local leaders - including Sheriff Leo McGuire, Freeholder Vernon Walton, Mike Stern (Kreisler Industrial and LEADS '09) and Ellie Ferdon (United Way and Girl Scouts USA) - spoke to the group about leadership and shared both their philosophies and their advice on leading in a very complex world.

The retreat ended with the results of the DISC Behavioral Profile, which each class member had taken previously. Our LEADers will use the report as a tool to understand themselves and enhance their interactions with other people.

Everyone left feeling tired but energized, and looking forward to the October session on Community & Government.

Click here to see pictures of the class in action!