From Strengths to Speaking with Confidence: LEAD December Class Day

This week, the LEAD Institute Class of 2026 returned to the Medina County Career Center South Campus for a full day of learning, connection, and leadership development—with a festive twist of holiday sweaters and seasonal treats woven throughout the day.

The morning began with coffee sponsored by Antoinette’s Coffee, whose compostable, rentable coffee equipment helped set an energizing tone for the day. With warm cups in hand, the class dove into one of the LEAD Institute’s most anticipated experiences: the Clifton Top 5 Strengths Workshop, led by Judy Bodenhamer and Perry Recchio of Client Experience Group. This session is always a favorite, and for good reason. Participants were reminded that effective leadership is not about reshaping ourselves to fit an ideal, but about understanding and leveraging both strengths and weaknesses—our own and those of others. The discussion was made even better with a generous snack spread sponsored by Cathy Posner of Transition Consulting and Coaching.

Midday brought an opportunity to refuel and connect over lunch, generously sponsored and provided by class member Ed Zackery, Director of the Medina County Veterans’ Service Office. Big Dog Daddy’s delivered crowd-pleasing pulled pork sandwiches and their signature mac & cheese, followed by an impressive spread of holiday cookies that added a cheerful note to the afternoon.

Following lunch, the class transitioned into a powerful Your Leadership Edge session led by LEAD Institute leader Terri Greene. Titled Managing Self: Know Your Strengths, Vulnerabilities, & Triggers, the session built naturally on the morning’s strengths-based work. Participants were encouraged to reflect honestly on what triggers them in the workplace and to explore strategies for addressing those moments intentionally rather than allowing them to linger or escalate.

The day concluded with a high-energy Presentation Skills workshop led by Lisa Lebowitz of Potentialize LLC. A consistently high-demand session, Lisa’s approach brings both structure and enthusiasm, creating a supportive environment for practice and growth. While the Class of 2026 is already made up of confident and experienced communicators, the session helped sharpen skills and boost confidence even further. A special thank-you goes to classmate Kaitlin Newcombe for sponsoring and providing afternoon snacks that kept everyone engaged through the final session.



Days like this highlight what makes the LEAD Institute experience so impactful: meaningful learning, shared experiences, and a community of leaders who support one another every step of the way.