Summertime is a funny mix for LAA. In many ways "There's no vacation for Leadership" and we are the opposite of slowing down as we welcome new Board Members and Staff and prepare for a class of 52 new Flagship participants; yet at the same time, with longer days and warmer temps, we have the opportunity to lean into the gifts of living in Anne Arundel County. I hope you take some time to savor life on and around the Bay in the coming weeks. Making a commitment to slow down just enough to breathe in new ideas and opportunities will serve us well when we find ourselves in a new season come fall. 

 

Speaking of transitions, we are excited to welcome Kesha Weldon to LAA's Staff as our new Operations and Membership Manager. You can learn more about Kesha here and you can come out and meet her at the next Leadership and Lattes on Friday August 15 (details here).

 

While we share our gratitude for two longtime Board members stepping down from six years of Board service, including past Chair Derek Matthews FLG19 and Trish Farrell FLG17, we welcome two new Board Members, Kelly Anderson FLG20 and Emily Owens Channell FLG24 and new Officers including new Chair Monica Rausa FLG20 and Vice Chair Shawn Ames FLG22. Read all about it here. (New Chair Monica Rausa, pictured at right front with new Board Member Kelly Anderson and fellow BOD members Kristi Krankowski FLG20 and Jenese Jones NLA19, FLG20.)

 

Next month it will be my pleasure to introduce a new full-time Director of Programs and events and we'll be that much closer to announcing the members of the 2026 Flagship cohort!

 

For now, in the midst of all of the above, I'm looking for every opportunity to hop on my new inflatable paddle board, I'm taking long, hot walks with the dogs, enjoying a myriad of watermelon salads (some with nectarines, basil and feta!) and taking a quick trip to visit family in Traverse City, Michigan. 

 

I hope you find time to reflect on the last season and to gear up for the next while leaning into the gifts of the present!