Sartell Chamber sponsors annual leadership conference

by Vicki Ikeogu

news@thenewsleaders.com

Hundreds of area business professionals and aspiring leaders from around the Sartell area had the opportunity to hear from experts and known industry leaders at the annual Leadercast event hosted by the Sartell Area Chamber of Commerce.

“I really enjoy attending the Leadercast event,” said Jessica Houle, vice president of the board of directors for the Sartell Chamber. “It’s a mix of personal and professional development. And everyone who attends is inspired to make positive changes in their life and in their workplace.”

Houle said this was the seventh year the Sartell Area Chamber of Commerce has hosted the international simulcasted event.  The event, which took place May 4, was hosted at the Waters Church in Sartell to a sold-out crowd of 180 people.

“Each year the theme of Leadercast focuses on something different,” Houle said.

The 2018 theme for Leadercast was “Lead Yourself.” According to Houle, speakers focused on the aspects of how to be a good leader, how to develop those internal leadership skills, which would eventually carry over to daily interactions with others both inside and outside the workplace.

The speakers for the event included: retired baseball manager and current Chief Baseball Officer for Major League Baseball Joe Torre, U.S. Navy’s first female F-14 Tomcat Fighter Pilot Carey Lohrenz, author Andy Stanley, acrobat and aerialist Jen Bricker, CEO of the Michael Hyatt & Co. Michael Hyatt, NASA astronaut and first woman of color to enter space Dr. Mae Jemison, author Ian Morgan Cron, psychologist Dr. Jim Loehr, and COO and President of FOCUS Brands North America Kat Cole.

In addition to simulcasting these world-renowned speakers, Houle said the Sartell Area Chamber of Commerce makes a point to bring in a local leader to speak to attendees during the lunch hour.

“During lunchtime we try to bring in a local speaker who relates to the topic being discussed at Leadercast,” Houle said. “We want to provide our participants the chance to hear from someone within their community and be able to connect with them and learn from them.”

This year, that speaker was Sauk Rapids resident Sarah Cords. Cords is a Coaches Training Institute-certified leadership development facilitator and motivational speaker who has worked with executives, entrepreneurs and others throughout North America on improving leadership within companies.

The Chamber continues to provide access to Leadercast, not only to Chamber members, but members of the public, because according to Houle, attendees feel re-energized and ready to implement real changes in their daily lives.

“Out of all of our attendees, many of them have attended Leadercast events for multiple years,” Houle said. “They see value in returning to an event like this. To them, it is definitely worth their time and investment.”