Class of 2025 Retreat
Leadership Augusta Class of 2025 embarked on a journey across the state to Columbus, GA for their class retreat last week. After an exciting and enlightening Leadership Afternoon just a week before, the class was poised to lean into the overnight endeavor that highlighted some of the major similarities, and differences Augusta shares with Columbus.
The class spent Friday morning interacting with two panels. The first included Gary Allen (Columbus Mayor Pro-Tem), Doug Jenkins (GA Power Regional Executive) and Jerald Mitchell (Columbus Chamber CEO). The focus of this group was to discuss key economic development successes and drivers for Columbus. Through discussions amongst the panel members and afterward during the Q and A session, it was clear that a unified governmental approach and a few key public/private partnerships that focused on development along the river and Uptown Columbus were key factors in Columbus’s success.
The second panel included Stoney Mathis (Columbus Chief of Police), Mary Ann Todd (President of Columbus Technical College), Ed Wolverton (Uptown Columbus CEO) and Peter Bowden (President/CEO of Visit Columbus). Its focus was primarily on the current struggles facing Columbus and how they are being addressed. There was lots of good discussion about the importance of Community Policing and how it has positively impacted Uptown Columbus and surrounding areas. There was also good discussion around community leaders and employers leaning into local organizations, Technical Schools as well as Fort Moore to ensure the community workforce is being properly recruited and trained.
After the panels, the class spent the afternoon diving into identifying and addressing some of the tough issues that face Augusta and how we can come together to tackle them. We took that momentum and went through an exercise put on by The Fanning Institute from UGA called STAR Power. It was a game that involved individuals working to gather the most points and highlighted some interesting methods of problem solving as well as how different groups within a society can feel differently about certain issues based on their core belief system, socio-economic status etc.
Finally, the class celebrated the day with a happy hour at the rooftop patio, a delicious dinner and a highly entertaining talent show that showcased just how many diverse talents we all bring to the table. Including but not limited to delicious cocktail recipes, hilarious skits, unbelievable dance moves and even a semi-professional yoga lesson, the class ended the official program for the day on a high note. We then took to the streets of Uptown Columbus to take in the night life and show the locals how Augusta gets down.
Saturday morning, we broke into groups of whitewater rafting, ziplining across the state lines and an escape room experience to cap off an amazing time! After such a great session, the class is more unified than ever on our mission to DREAM BIG for our City and looking forward to the next adventure!
-Will Walker, SD Clifton