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Inaugural Lake Leadership Summit planned for Oct. 10
LUCERNE, Calif. – The Lake County Regional Economic Development Committee announces the inaugural Lake Leadership Summit at Marymount California University’s Lucerne campus on Friday, Oct. 10.
Limited to 100 participants, the summit runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.
The event is crafted for local business leaders, owners and entrepreneurs who are interested in developing their business and in growing Lake County.
The summit offers an audacious program featuring speakers who will share practical information that participants can use immediately.
Summit participants also will have access to experts who can help them long after the event is over.
The cost is $35 per person or $50 for two.
“The Economic Development Committee really wanted to do something different than the usual booth-space-networking-event to help our existing businesses thrive,” said Alan Flora, deputy administrator for the county of Lake and summit co-creator. “We intentionally aimed to shake things up with the Summit format. We looked to TedTalks for inspiration and kept the speakers’ presentations short and provocative.
“One of our breakout sessions is called ‘Arranged Marriages’ and highlights ways that businesses can partner to cross-market; it even includes a speed dating kind of exercise,” Flora said. “Ultimately, we want Lake County to become a magnet for outside investors and industries to consider when they’re expanding or starting a new business.”
Michelle Scully, executive director of Marymount California University’s Lakeside Campus and summit co-creator, added, “We’re excited about the potential for Lake County with the addition of the first four-year college right here in Lucerne and looking forward to more positive opportunities and new beginnings for our community. The Lake Leadership Summit was developed to give our existing businesses some real-time tools to add to their toolboxes and to encourage our residents to embrace who we are.
“We’re offering completely optional afternoon activities to Summit participants to urge them to see Lake County with new eyes,” Scully said. “They can choose between the Pirate’s BootyCycle Tour of Kelseyville, the Haunted Walking Tour of Lakeport, or the Lake County Scavenger Hunt by bus. Bottom line: we know that we’re not Napa, we’re not Sonoma, and we can’t compete with the Bay Area. We’re Lake County, and we want to focus on doing what we can to make Lake County the very best it can be.”
The summit’s keynote speaker is David Woolson, chief executive officer and president of Walla Walla Valley Chamber of Commerce, whose presentation is entitled “How a Sleepy Ag Community Changed Its Rep and Became a World-Class Destination for Wine Drinkers.”
Other speakers include Robert Freedman, marketing director for Focus Financial Partners, who will present: “Google+, Vine, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Etc. – and Why the Hell They Matter,” and Maureen “Mo” McElroy, Certified Tourism Ambassador for Sonoma County, with the session, “More Than an ‘Open’ Sign: The Art of Customer Service.”
The O’Meara Brothers and Mendo Lake SUP will be featured during the “Arranged Marriages” portion of the summit.
“The ‘What I Love About Lake County Is …' chalkboard walls going up around the county and the summit are just the beginning,” said Rebecca Southwick, development and public relations officer with Sutter Lakeside Hospital and one of the Summit’s co-creators.
“Early next year, we would like to have Peter Kageyama, the author of ‘For the Love of Cities,’ conduct a community workshop in Lake County to help us recognize all that’s great about our community and to form an attainable revitalization plan,” Southwick said. “We all live here in Lake County on purpose with purpose. The Regional Economic Development Committee wants to ensure that our established businesses have what they need to grow, while also doing everything that we can to be a viable place for new businesses to consider for investment.”
The Lake Leadership Summit is sponsored by PG&E and St. Helena Clearlake. It is generously supported by Marymount California University, the county of Lake, Sutter Lakeside Hospital, St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake, CalRecycle, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, and the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport. Additional sponsors are welcome.
To register online for the event, go to www.EmbracetheLake.com . Limited seating is available.
If you have questions, please call Rebecca Southwick at 707-349-8105 or write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .