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2025 IIDA OHKY Directors’ Retreat: Leading with Purpose in Charlotte, NC

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Earlier this month, the IIDA Ohio Kentucky Chapter’s Board of Directors gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina for our annual Directors’ Retreat — a three-day experience designed to strengthen leadership skills, foster collaboration, and set the tone for the year ahead.

Representing all five of our City Centers — Cleveland/Akron, Columbus, Cincinnati/Dayton, Louisville/Lexington, and Toledo — our directors and co-directors were joined by Chapter President Samantha Bonner and President-Elect Kourtni Kesler for an energizing mix of leadership training, strategic planning, and plenty of connection.


Day One: Inspiration and Connection

Our retreat kicked off with a warm welcome from our incredible hosts at Thentic, whose hospitality and curated showroom tours set the stage for a productive and inspiring trip. We explored spaces from Stance, OFGO Studio, and Via Studio, sparking conversations about how product design can support creativity, community, and the evolving needs of the workplace.

After settling into the historic Morehead Inn, our directors shared “brag moments” from the past year — celebrating signature events, strong volunteer engagement, and creative programming — while also identifying growth opportunities for the year ahead. We ended the evening with dinner at Barcelona Wine Bar and a round of Celebrity back at the Inn.


Day Two: Leadership in Action

Friday was dedicated to interactive sessions led by Samantha and Kourtni. Topics included:

  • Defining the director and co-director roles and how to work as a team.

  • Building effective meeting agendas and fostering meaningful discussions.

  • Hosting successful City Center retreats and onboarding new volunteers.

  • Strategies for succession planning and engaging the next generation of leaders.

  • Budgeting, sponsorships, and event financials.

Directors then rolled up their sleeves for 2025 calendar planning, brainstorming events and initiatives aligned with the Chapter’s goals, and finding ways to make a big impact with thoughtful, high-value programming.


Day Three: Goal Setting for the Year Ahead

On our final morning, City Center teams finalized three key goals for 2025–2026, using SWOT analysis insights gathered during the Chapter Retreat earlier this summer. The discussions reinforced that while each City Center has its own unique identity, we are united in our mission — to advance the value of interior design, support our members, and grow our community across Ohio and Kentucky.


A Special Thank You

We are deeply grateful to Thentic for sponsoring this year’s retreat and elevating our experience with engaging vendor presentations, excellent hospitality, and a warm welcome to Charlotte. Thank you also to Sawyer Levack with Stance and Alex Sisk from OFGO for sharing your expertise and inspiring our leadership team.


Looking Ahead

The 2025 Directors’ Retreat left us energized, aligned, and ready to take on the year with purpose. We left Charlotte with clear goals, stronger connections, and a renewed commitment to creating impactful, inclusive, and inspiring programming for our members.

Here’s to an incredible 2025–2026 IIDA OHKY year!



 
 
 
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