Winthrop Rockefeller Institute’s Post

It is great to see Michael Pegues recognized for his leadership and vision at the City of Aurora. His team has made their smart city platform a core economic driver to attract businesses and data centers with high-speed connectivity, eliminate the digital divide by delivering fiber to the home and provide an economic foundation for the local community to create jobs and retain people by working with local charities to introduce and train the youth in STEM skills. This is the template for cities to follow by delivering compelling technology services to their constituent that create an economic engine for prosperity and opportunity for ALL.

LinkedIn friends and colleagues. This is an event you don't want to miss. If you are a middle market business owner, our speaker and his firm Lafayette Square should be on your radar. We look forward to seeing you there. #privatecapital #equity #credit #EBITDA #scale #firesidechat #leverage #privateequity #SBIC #funds #economics #economicmobility #business #middlemarket #wealth #acquisition #franchise #growth #jobs #humancapital #investing #speakerseries

🌍 Cooke Industries – A Legacy of Leadership and Community 🌍   Thank you to Cliff Cooke and Justin Nichols at Cooke Industries for their dedication to investing in their team and our region. Cooke Industries, a proud family business with a global reach in specialty pool equipment, exemplifies the spirit of giving and community leadership. Their long-standing support of community events and initiatives, including the Northern Mallee Leaders Program, has not only created strong leaders but has also fostered a culture of growth, appreciation, and connection.   At Cooke Industries, giving and appreciation aren’t just words—they’re actions. By investing in their staff, Cooke Industries creates better team members, parents, coaches, friends, and neighbours. Their commitment to leadership doesn’t end with the workplace; it echoes in the community, building individuals who see themselves as others often do—with potential, kindness, and resilience.   After some heavy persuasion from Leticia Price – fellow team member at Cooke Industries and 2022 NMLP Graduate – Demetrious Zaxos joined our program this year as a sponsored participant from Cooke Industries. His journey has been transformative, and we look forward to celebrating his graduation with the Cooke Industries team, reflecting on the growth and impact they inspire in each person they support.   Thank you, Cooke Industries, for making a difference and for inspiring everyone around you to be better, not only in their careers but in every role they play in life. 🌟   #CookeIndustries #CommunityLeadership #FamilyBusiness #NorthernMalleeLeaders #CreatingBetterCommunities #LeadershipThroughGiving  

🌟 Igniting Change: Empowering Board and Staff Members to Flourish After a recent milestone session, board leadership declared, "It is clear you have found the key to initiate the change needed to help us move forward with confidence, competence, and commitment." Such words of acknowledgment aren't just a testament to individual prowess, but a collective recognition of a shared journey towards excellence. Natalie Miller, Melvin J. Scales, D.Div.,Honoris Causa, and The Historic Magnolia House stand at the threshold of a new era, marked by the resolute commitment of their board and staff members to embrace change, wielded as a catalyst for progress. Few accolades resonate as profoundly as those acknowledging a transformative vision. As we reflect on this endorsement, it serves as both a beacon and a challenge. It reminds us that the journey towards positive impact is not solitary but shared—a collective odyssey marked by collaboration, innovation, and relentless pursuit of goals and your preferred future. In the days ahead, Katherine Shugart Weaver, Pam Cash, and Jim Weeks will draw inspiration from this resounding vote of confidence. 

Last week, I had the privilege of facilitating Britam's Board Development Program at Strathmore Business School. This is an annual program, undertaken by all Britam Holdings and subsidiaries Directors. This year's program featured the theme "The Board of the Future" and insightful keynotes from Kieran Moynihan, Managing Partner at Board Excellence. Kieran emphasized the crucial elements of a high-performing board team, highlighting that Board leadership contributes 20% to board success, with CEO/CS/EXCO support and partnership adding 15%. Factors such as Board composition, diversity, work ethic, quality debate, strategic capability, and performance culture were also noted as significant contributors. According to Kieran, fostering a genuine "board team" that supports and empowers the CEO/Executive team is essential for effective oversight. Building trust, handling setbacks, intuition, and forward-thinking were underscored as critical for individual and collective excellence, benefiting employees, shareholders, and stakeholders alike. #BoardLeadership #BritamBoardDevelopment #CorporateGovernance #BusinessDevelopment #ExecutiveManagement #StrategicCapability

𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝟯 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗚𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗚!! 🤩 In January 2021, Sandler Connecticut – PEAK officially launched the 𝗣𝟮𝗣 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹, an educational/networking initiative for like-minded, upper echelon business leaders from local non-competing industries.   Co-sponsored by the Bridgeport Regional Business Council (BRBC), the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce the 𝗣𝟮𝗣 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 immediately attracted a core group of select members.   That they’re all still actively participating in this program more than three years later is a testament to the value each of them receives from our monthly get togethers. That’s the good news! 🥳   Here’s the better news...   We’re looking to expand the existing group and (possibly) launch a second one. And because of the limited number of available seats, we’re giving special consideration to early inquiries from qualified candidates.   Watch the video below for a more detailed 𝗣𝟮𝗣 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 overview, and click on the link to see what our current members have to say about the program... 👉 👉 👉 https://bit.ly/3IL68Gl   After all that, get back to me directly if you have any clarification and/or “next step” questions. 🤔 #ceomindset #ceoleadership #businessstrategy #leadershipdevelopment

Everyone is in need of advice from time to time. Regardless of what industry we work in or what situations we might face in our personal lives, none of us are exempt from receiving guidance. The best part is, you never quite know where that advice will come from, either. For D CEO‘s May Issue, we asked Kelly Ann Winget, Matthew Ogle, and Irish Burch to share the best advice they’ve received during the course of their lives, personally or professionally, and how they have applied it to their leadership roles today. Read what they had to say at the link below. #DCEO

What does your brand say about you? Earlier this year, I had the privilege of working with the amazing Neighborhood Leadership Fellows, a program hosted by University of Missouri-Saint Louis and MU Extension. Their mission? To amplify the voices of local residents at civic decision-making tables, creating policies that lead to more equitable neighborhoods. During my training, “Crafting Your Brand: Defining and Directing Your Narrative,” we focused on two key questions: 1. How are you defining yourself, and how are you being defined by others? 2. How do your goals align with the brand you’re building? These questions are at the core of every personal and professional brand. Whether you’re influencing civic policies or growing your business, knowing how you’re perceived and aligning your goals with your brand is crucial to creating lasting impact. You have the power to define your narrative before anyone else does. If you don’t take charge of your story, someone else will. Are your goals in sync with the brand you’re putting out into the world? If not, it’s time to OWN YOUR STORY. Whether you’re building a personal brand, company or shaping the voice of an organization, I’m here to help you define and direct your story with purpose and confidence. 💬 Let’s make it happen! Dwayne T. James, P.E., Ed.D. Thank you for allowing me to train your leaders. Brittany Raji Alberty, thank you for your partnership.✨

Insights from 12 Cities and a Decade of Alumni: How Leadership Programs Are Bridging Divides The dust has settled on the 2024 presidential election, but the divisions remain palpable. In times like these, we often ask ourselves: how can we reconnect and rebuild when the rift feels so vast? One powerful answer lies in community leadership programs. For decades, these organizations have been at the forefront of fostering connections across differences, empowering individuals to lead in ways that unify rather than divide. A recent study by the National Community Leadership Collaborative (NCLC) examined over a decade of alumni from programs across the country. The findings are inspiring: these programs equip leaders to understand complex community challenges, forge diverse networks, and confidently drive positive change. Most importantly, they develop the critical ability to communicate across differences—a skill our nation needs now more than ever. NCLC is a collective of community leadership programs working together to expand their local and national impact. Programs like these serve as a vital force for bridging divides and strengthening communities. Now is the time to take action. Read our blog post with full results here: https://lnkd.in/eX_MhC7Y Survey respondents included alumni from the 2013, 2018, and 2023 flagship programs of these twelve community leadership organizations: Leadership Austin, Leadership Charlotte, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Leadership Greater Washington, Leadership Jacksonville, Leadership Louisville Center, Leadership Oklahoma, Leadership Perimeter, FOCUS St. Louis, Leadership Tallahassee, Leadership Tomorrow, St. Paul Area Chamber

The Role of the Board During Leadership Transitions - by Valtas Group In too many cases, a nonprofit board’s approach to leadership turnover is hectic, not well thought out or planned, reactive instead of proactive. Most often, the board is group of passionate, well-meaning volunteers who are now faced with the single most important role they will have: selecting a new leader. How the board navigates the transition will directly impact the future and potential viability of the organization. https://hubs.ly/Q02dXBqZ0 #cfoselections