Leadership Bend Class of 2025 Kickoff Retreat: A Memorable Start by Kimberly Liszka

As I reflect on the Leadership Bend 2025 kickoff retreat, I am filled with a sense of excitement and gratitude. Over the course of two days, I had the privilege of joining an incredible group of individuals from diverse backgrounds, all coming together to embark on this leadership journey. The anticipation we all felt for the unknown was quickly replaced by a sense of ease and belonging the moment we stepped through the doors.

From the outset, we were welcomed with warmth, enthusiasm, and genuine kindness, setting the tone for what was to come. And let’s not forget the impressive spread that greeted us for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—it was as much a highlight as the retreat itself! The attention to detail in every aspect of the retreat, from hospitality to learning, truly made us feel valued.

Our days seemed to fly by, driven by our collective eagerness to learn and the curiosity about what would unfold. The program’s creators and facilitators brought an infectious energy, while the presenters shared their deep knowledge and expertise. Each session was designed to be interactive, leaving us hungry for more conversation and deeper engagement.

One of the standout moments came at the end of the first day, when we had the chance to connect with alumni from previous Leadership Bend classes. This was a brilliant opportunity to ask the lingering questions and hear firsthand about their experiences. Their enthusiasm and high praise for the program only fueled our curiosity and excitement for what lies ahead.

I cannot speak highly enough about how well the retreat was organized. The program’s creators ensured that we felt safe, connected, and genuinely valued as participants. The mutual eagerness between the program organizers and the attendees was palpable, forging an immediate bond among the group.

As we move forward, the anticipation for what’s to come is strong, and I am confident this experience will continue to shape us as leaders. Stay tuned for the next newsletter, where we’ll share updates on how the cohort is progressing in this incredible journey!

Retreat Reflections by Amanda Windlinx 

Leadership Bend has been a goal for me for as long as I have been involved with the Bend Chamber. I am blessed to have developed in my life and career to a point where applying to attend became an option for me and I cried out of joy when Talena informed me I was accepted into the 2025 cohort. To help you understand why I subjected dear Talena to an emotional outburst rather than a warm ‘thank-you’ like any normal person might respond, let me invite you into my brain a little further (proceed at your own risk). 

I was born and raised in Bend. I grew up with a fire in my heart to serve those around me and grow to become a servant leader in my community but didn’t fully know how to start as I didn’t have a specific dream career field or passion for an industry when I started working. How do leaders get started anyway? The only thing I knew for 100% sure I wanted when I grew up was to be able to wear high heel shoes every day. This has been my childhood goal since I can walk (mom has pics of me toddling around with her heels on to prove it) and perhaps many who know me may not be surprised by this. Welcome to my brain but I digress. 

Bringing us to the present, I am proud to have explored different industries in my search to find where leaders come from. Hospitality, retail, banking, and now non-profit. How exciting to learn that leaders start at all of these and more! And how wonderful to find so many diverse experiences to learn from all conveniently at Chamber of Commerce events. Through the years I would ask these wise mentors for advice to understand how I could further develop and learn how to serve Bend. I’ll give you one guess what theme kept resurfacing with highest regard. You got it - Wear high heel shoes every day! Attend Leadership Bend!  

Everything that I heard and learned about this wonderful program just made so much sense to me. As the years went on, I encountered so many happy graduates in every possible corner of our community and found that so many of the people I admired most were either alumni or strong advocates of the program, even if they had not themselves attended. With my heart for our community that has always been my one and only home, and many years of being pointed in this direction, perhaps now my reaction to Talena is at least a little more understandable. To be fair, I’m sure I also would’ve cried if I didn’t get in. I’m sure glad I got the happy tears version of events. 

As I’m writing this, the two-day retreat has only just concluded. It was fully beyond the most I could have hoped for in every possible way – forming deep, meaningful connections, hearing from some of the amazing past graduates, receiving high value development from highly qualified coaches, wonderful meals provided, and mentally preparing ourselves for the difference we get to make through our Impact Project in these coming months. Truly a dream come true beyond what I can express. I can’t wait to see myself and my colleagues develop over these next nine months then see how the relationships and trust we just built over these last 48 hours continue to serve us and Bend over the next 30+ years!