Leadership Central Kentucky Orientation Recap

By: Anthony Allen, Leadership Central Kentucky Class of 2025-2026

Leadership Central Kentucky class of 2025-2026 kicked off with a great start at the Historic Boone Tavern in Berea, Kentucky. Nestled on the edge of the Greater LEX region, Berea captures the natural beauty, diverse landscape, and communities of the eight-county partnership that makes up Leadership Central Kentucky. For some of us, including myself, the foothills of Appalachia are a familiar feeling. For others, it was a new and welcome experience. 

Anthony Allen and Morgan Humphries participate in an icebreaker exercise.

Dr. Virgil Grant led a two-day orientation to introduce the new class to the program and foster connections among class participants. Nestled between the creative ice-breaker activities, Dr. Grant provided some key leadership principles and lessons each of us found effective reflecting on our own professional development. Self-leadership, conflict resolution, trust, the enneagram, and the importance of regionalism were all key takeaways from the event. Although each topic was helpful for self-reflection and positive lessons to take back to our employers, the key point that stood out to me was how we approach conflict. Disagreement is part of our everyday lives, from personal to professional. Dr. Grant had the class critically think how we as professionals address and take on conflict. This lesson not only shaped our approach to workplace challenges but also strengthened our collaborative efforts toward regionalism.
The orientation for Leadership Central Kentucky brought together diverse communities and individuals from the Greater LEX region, representing the urban-rural divide, Appalachian and Bluegrass cultures, and various companies and organizations. Through this experience, our class gained a deeper appreciation for the unique strengths that make the Greater LEX region a competitive, vibrant, and appealing place to live, work, play, and raise a family. Although conflict between those differences is a key point of awareness, learning how to collaborate, resolve, and manage those conflicts can make us a stronger region.
The orientation featured several ice-breaker activities designed to foster connections within our class efficiently and personally. One particularly memorable activity involved writing a poem about our origins, revealing more about each other than anticipated. While some found it challenging, others embraced the opportunity to express their creativity. Ultimately, this experience deepened our understanding of our classmates on both professional and personal levels, setting a strong foundation for a successful year ahead.
As we embark on this 10-month journey throughout the Greater LEX region, our class will learn more about each other’s communities, towns, and counties. The goal is to foster strong relationships and embrace the power of collaboration, recognizing that we are better together.

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Bob Quick, President of Commerce Lexington, speaks on regionalism.