The Blue Way Blog | Blue & Co. Careers

Talent Development Hosts Building Leaders Alumni Event in Cincinnati

Written by Sam Crist | Jun 22, 2023 10:53:39 PM

On Monday, June 19, the Talent Development team hosted the Building Leaders 5 program at the Champion Mill Conference Center in Cincinnati, OH.

This two-day event served as a workshop for the BL5 group where they brainstormed project ideas and sought feedback from alumni of the program.

Brainstorming Session

Each class of Building Leaders picks a final project that addresses a key issue within the firm. This session was one of the first times the group had an opportunity to brainstorm with their teams.

Above: Shawn Wise smiles at Jill Moore while brainstorming ideas for their Building Leaders project.

Above: Rebecca "Becca" Meredith listens intently as Jessica Hidalgo talks.

Left: Debbie Herbert smiles as her team as they brainstorm.

Initial Feedback Discussion with Managing Partner

Following the brainstorming sessions, the Building Leaders team met with Brad Shaw, the managing partner of Blue. Brad was able to provide guidance to the team to help them narrow down their ideas.

Left: Matthew Howard  (left) chats with Building Leaders 5 Alumni, Andrew Brock (right) at the Alumni event. 

Team Building Activity with BL Alumni

After the Alumni joined the Building Leaders group at the conference hall, the group headed next door to the athletic facility for some good ole' fashioned gaming.

Below, four teams battled in an intense game of Sheet Volleyball.

Above, Kurt Beier (left) and Larry King (right) both smile as they play sheet volleyball with their teams. Both Kurt and Larry are Directors in Charge of their offices and were members in the inaugural class of Building Leaders that took place in 2010.

Lance Williams smiles as his team catches the volleyball in their sheet.

Other games included Trash Can Pong, Frisbee, and Basketball. Points were awarded for successfully scoring in each game and the final three teams with the highest score won gift cards. 

Alumni Provide Feedback on Project

On Tuesday, BL5 members and alumni gathered again to present their initial project ideas. 

After a brief explanation of their thoughts, alumni were asked to use stickers to vote on the project that they felt would be most impactful for the organization. 

Pictured are Shannon Borden and Sara Jacobi voting on their selections. Discussions followed, providing the BL5 group with additional context.

Reality-Based Leadership Workshop

The event concluded with a workshop on Reality-Based Leadership, led by the Talent Development Officer, Jan Green. Building Leaders 5 and Alumni worked through a workbook that allowed them to think critically about their own leadership styles and ways to improve what they're currently doing.

About the Building Leaders Program at Blue & Co.

Building Leaders is Blue's award-winning, advanced leadership program for Managers and Senior Managers. This extensive 18-month long program was created to develop the non-technical skills of future leaders in our organization. 

For more information, visit our Talent Development page.