Fall Leadership Retreat

Lakeside Sunset.

Quick update on the previously referenced AEC Leadership Retreat. The retreat is presently scheduled for the week of September 21, 2020. I'm cautiously optimistic that we can still get together in 8 weeks so now is a good time to provide more detail and get a show of hands. And if you know someone that might also be interested please feel free to pass this along.

The gathering will be held at a an informal retreat type camp center in North Florida. The location has been selected but is yet to be announced. Attendance is capped at 50. Plan on arriving Monday afternoon / evening of September 21 and departing on Friday morning September 25. If you’re flying, you'll want to fly in and out of Gainesville, Florida. The camp is a 30 minute Uber ride from the airport. The cost to attend is $600 per person.

The weather should be warm and comfortable. The camp is on the edge of a clear freshwater lake with a clean sandy bottom. It’ll be pleasant enough during the day for outdoor activities, walks and discussions. The lake will be warm enough to relax, swim and water ski before dinner. Daytime highs in the mid-80s and evening lows in low 70s.

This is a rustic yet clean and comfortable facility. I've spent many summers here. The air is scented of pine trees. There's a few modest hotel style rooms. There's also a few modest lake side rooms. The majority of rooms are cabins. The cabins typically sleep about 12 to 20 per room but during the retreat will sleep ~4 adults. Keep in mind that some adults snore. Room selection is on a first come first serve basis. :-)

We'll have the entire camp retreat center to ourselves. Suffice to say if you're expecting a five star hotel you will be disappointed. But if the idea of staying at a summer camp in the fall in north Florida and exchanging business attire for less formal blue jeans, shorts, tennis shoes / sandals and t-shirts appeals - you'll feel right at home. :-)

Food will be high-quality buffet style. Freshly prepared hot and cold options and salads. Not plated dinners with linen napkins, tablecloths and formal centerpieces. Sorry - no alcohol. Coffee, tea, water, juice. We can all manage without alcohol for one week. I’ll be okay.

There won't be a keynote speaker. There won’t be sponsors, exhibitors or an exhibition hall. There will be thoughtful questions and discussions about the challenges of leadership while managing people, expectations, emotions and budgets along with all of the stresses that comes from working with people that don't always agree.

I've been in very close contact with wonderful facilitator and coach Randy Benn. Randy is a lawyer in Washington DC and holds degrees in Political Science, Psychology and Juris Doctor from Duke University. He's also the brother of Wesley Benn, the Executive Chairman at Digital Built Environment Institute. You’ll have probably met Randy at one of the many BILT conferences.

I've known Randy for many years and he’s an executive coach for individuals and groups. He’s incredibly thoughtful, kindly spoken and even a talented musician (I hope he'll bring his guitar :). He laughs easily. When I reached out to Randy to share ideas on holding a non-technical, professional yet informal leadership retreat our visions immediately aligned and he was graciously on board.

The overall vision is to be professional and prepared, yet open and informal. We're leaving the Powerpoint Presentations at home. We’ll try to avoid the impulse to look at our phones for one whole hour. We’re setting aside time for meaningful discussions. Maybe this is a little experimental. I hope this will be memorable and meaningful. Let’s all try to unplug, listen, learn and be kind. I’m optimistic and hope you’ll be too.

I've known a lot of you a long time. We’ve shared ups and downs. It seems that many of us may have got our big break in technology yet have evolved into roles that are about people. I think we can all relate to the epiphany that deep expertise in the first doesn't necessarily prepare you for the stresses of second. 

If you've read this far: Thank You. If what I've described sounds interesting please let me know if you’d like to attend via email (along with a brief why). This will let Randy and I can get a better sense of how we might cautiously proceed.

Kind regards - 

Phil Read / CEO ReadThomas / phil@readthomas.com