My perspective was that this program could be a great opportunity for me to provide high-quality leadership training to the executives who were working for me. So, I enrolled my chief marketing officer, Robin Deitrick, in that very first class. Not only was I enormously pleased with that very first class and Robin's role in it, but I was hooked. So thereafter, while I was PHS's CEO, I made sure we enrolled our executives in each LGB class, and I even continued that practice when we started up the Bluefish baseball team, and later as CEO of ConnectiCare.
Fast forward to the present as we approach the
Commencement for LGB
Class 28. It takes place on Thursday June 8 at Tashua Knolls in Trumbull with 28 classmates poised to graduate and join a veritable greater Bridgeport "Who's Who" of former LGB alumni. See the adjacent column for a listing of Class 28 Graduates.
Congratulations All!
And if you are a golfer, you can sign up for our 8th Annual LGB Golf Outing at 12:30 PM that day at The Glen at Tashua Knolls. Only 36 can play at this nine-hole best-ball tournament which raises money for LGB's Janice Martin Scholarship Fund.
The June 8 Commencement beginning at 6:00 PM is a special event you won't want to miss. Go to our website (www.brbc.org) to sign up. And here's a sneak preview announcement: there will be special LGB Alumni Scholarship fund-raising dinner on Thursday, October 12 at 6:00 PM at Beardsley Zoo (in the Carousel) to honor those companies who have been supportive of the LGB program by enrolling their employees over the past 28 years.
You may ask what has made LGB such a successful program for nearly three decades now. The template hasn't changed much. One day a month the class convenes and gets a full dose of what's happening in our region by subject matter. The subjects are all-inclusive and they cover everything from economic development to environment and infrastructure, health and human services to public safety and criminal justice, government relations and tourism to communication, the arts and education.
What makes it work are all the institutions throughout the region who welcome each class and showcase what they do. And the programs themselves each year are carefully planned by the LGB Board of Directors and the BRBC staff person assigned to manage the LGB Program, and even the classmates themselves.
For example, this year's January program on Health and Human Services added a session on "Facing the Opioid Addiction Crisis" at the request of the LGB class. Experts were recruited from both hospitals as well as the Bridgeport Fire Department to address this current crisis. It is that type of adaptability which has kept LGB fresh and relevant over the years.
Then there are the projects that the class undertakes each year to benefit BRBC non-profit members. This year, for example the class took on projects that provided needed services for the Cardinal Shehan Center, Hall Neighborhood House, Homes for the Brave, and St. Vincent's Swim Across the Sound. The value of these programs is simply priceless!
It is impossible to thank adequately all those who have contributed mightily to LGB's success over the years.
We have been blessed to have some special BRBC executives who have overseen this program in the past, including Carol Adzima (who started LGB in 1990), Janice Martin, Lisa Labella, and Lori King. And
we do want very much to give a tip of the hat to Jim Gildea of R.C. Bigelow Inc. and Rebekah Harriman-Stites of HK Consultling Group our current LGB Board Co-chairs, as well as incoming Board Chair John Swing of The Barnum Museum.
A special thank you goes out to BRBC staff person Laura Campbell who has guided the program these past two years as its Executive Director.
I had been in my job about a week when Laura resigned to take advantage of a great job opportunity that came her way. Fortunately, we were able to make "lemonade out of lemons" as Laura was able to continue to work with us on a part-time basis while we began a search in earnest for her replacement.
And last month we were thrilled to be able to recruit Gwen Brantley to replace Laura. Gwen is an exceptionally well-qualified individual who is a loyal and life-long Bridgeport fan!
In her new role as Director of Leadership Programs for the BRBC, Gwen is also acting as our liaison to the BRBC's newest leadership program affiliate, THRIVE. We couldn't be happier! And, while Laura Campbell will be moving on following the LGB Class 28 Commencement on June 8th, Gwen is already hitting her stride.
Gwen asked me to let everyone who is reading this week's Mickey's Mail know that we are now actively soliciting students for LGB Class 29.
Find out more about LGB by contacting her at the BRBC office or via
e-mail at
brantley@brbc.org
.
