Leadership Visit 2016 Participants Bring Ideas Back from Fort Collins
From October 4-6, 2016, the Chamber facilitated a trip for our largest group yet of 58 business, civic, educational, and community leaders to Fort Collins, Colorado for Leadership Visit 2016. While in Colorado, the group had opportunities for panels, presentations, breakout sessions, and casual networking with local leaders from Fort Collins and Larimer County. They heard about the challenges they face, strong collaboration between organizations and entities, and community resources that contribute to a high quality of life and set them apart.
Day One of the Leadership Visit included group travel to Denver and on to Fort Collins, an overview session on the community, and a conversation on government relationships with the Mayor, City Manager, and Chamber President.
On Day Two, the delegation covered topics including quality of life and relationship to workforce; Colorado State University’s economic impact on the region; downtown transformation and revitalization; and hot topics and local issues. Small groups broke off to have conversations with local hosts surrounding Real Estate, Education, Arts & Culture, and Policing & Crime. The delegation also had an opportunity to tour and hear about two unique examples of partnerships including the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, a public-private partnership between the City of Fort Collins and a nonprofit, and the Colorado State University Powerhouse Energy Campus, a partnership between the City, CSU, and private companies. In the evening, the group had an opportunity to further network with other attendees at the New Belgium Brewery and Fort Collins Country Club.
On the final day of the trip, the delegation heard from a panel on transportation, including discussion of the Fix North I-25 Business Alliance, the Fort Collins Bikes program and complete streets, and the MAX bus rapid transit. Finally, the delegation then had an opportunity to dialogue as a group what surprised them about Fort Collins and what most stood out as possible takeaways to bring back, before travel back home to Columbia.
Delegates will be gathering again this month to continue discussions regarding the key learnings from this visit and actionable items. Be sure to join us at the Chamber’s Quarterly Membership Breakfast in January, when we present a video showing the highlights of our trip and an announcement of the location of Leadership Visit 2017.
Read the entire visit’s blog
Sponsors
Presented by: Forum Development Group
Appreciation Dinner Sponsor: AT&T
Welcome Reception Sponsor: Commerce Bank
Breifing Book, Nametag, & Gift Sponsor: Columbia Mall
Gold Sponsors: Jes Holdings, LLC, Maly Commercial Realty, Inc, Veterans United Home Loans
Silver Sponsor: University of Missouri Operations
Lunch Sponsor: Providence Bank
Breakfast Sponsor: Huebert Builders, Inc.
Transportation Sponsors: Boone Electric Cooperative and First State Community Bank
Video Sponsor: Word Marketing