Inside Business the Hampton Roads Business Journal CONNECTIONS
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civic IMPACT Inside Business The Hampton Roads Business Journal CONNECTIONS. They matter now more than ever. At Kaufman & Canoles, we’re always there for our clients, both personally and professionally. It’s how we’ve built our business—one conversation, one solution, one relationship at a time. And that will never change. We can. And we will. 2 | Inside Business | CIVIC leadership Institute • www.civichr.org MESSAGE What is FROM SARAH JANE KIRKLAND PRESIDENT AND CEO | CIVIC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE CIVIC? I recently read an One recurring lesson of history is that great online article that leaders emerge from great challenge. With In 1996, CIVIC Leadership Institute was Our region is also incredibly diverse. Diversity began with the that in mind, there’s no other organization I’d founded by a small group of leaders from enriches our everyday lives, inspires creativ- provocative head- rather be part of moving forward than CIVIC across the region. They joined together to ity, and drives innovation. CIVIC participants line, “Are these the Leadership Institute, and there’s no other explore the idea of creating programming explore ways the region can better embrace worst days of our region I’d rather call home than Hampton for senior executives in the region looking our diversity, while examining the impact lives?” The article Roads. This is our community and these to garner a better understanding of the that systemic racism has on our society. suggests that our are our challenges, and we are all in the intricacies that make up Hampton Roads. It is critical that we look at the role leaders innocent Janu- proverbial “arena.” CIVIC has engaged its These individuals were the ultimate servant play in building an equitable and inclusive ary aspirations for leadership network to confront these chal- leaders and connectors. They understood community for all. 2020 were quickly lenges head-on. Through honest dialogue, the importance of leadership, service, The impact of this global pandemic was overcome by the realities of a devastating respectful acknowledgement, and healthy philanthropy, and volunteerism, but most unimaginable. It has exposed and empha- pandemic, economic uncertainty, civil unrest, debate, meaningful change and practical importantly, they understood the power of sized the country’s economic and health racial inequity, a polarized electorate, and solutions can transpire. That mission, above connections. disparities that compromise our ability to extreme weather patterns. 2020 has no all else, is the vital role of CIVIC Leadership make progress. As leaders, we are tasked doubt been a challenging year. Lives have Institute. Perhaps this galvanizing principle The network of alumni has now grown to over 950 executives. The connections that with finding ways to not only recover from been lost and economic hardship continues has never been more necessary than right now. this crisis, but to rebuild and repair those to be a reality. These devastating times have are formed in CIVIC provide opportunities I do have one request: If you concur that global for a wide array of people from across the systems that are fractured. also allowed us time for meaningful “recali- outcomes start with regional cooperation, bration.” For instance, we’ve had a chance region to engage in thoughtful dialogue and Programming focuses on the economy, the please join us. If you believe that extraor- participate in sessions led by our region’s development of a robust talent pipeline to to re-connect with our families and prioritize dinary results arise from local classrooms, what’s truly important. Our country continues subject matter experts. Participants take support our region’s industry clusters, the boardrooms, and places of worship, please a deep dive into some of our community’s education system, environmental issues, to confront its own past, its current systems, join us. If you agree that Hampton Roads is and its innate prejudices — a process that will toughest issues. transportation, health and human services, in a unique position to influence real change and regional collaboration. Our participants hopefully lead to real change. Through the nationally, please join us. Let’s all roll up our Our region has tremendous resources, with smoke of deadly wildfires and the gales of each community having its own unique identity. take an introspective look at how their talents sleeves together. Great leaders emerge from can best be utilized to support these initiatives. constant hurricanes, we’re taking seriously the great challenge. Our time is now. Understanding that complexity, as well as impacts and realities of climate change. And the challenges and opportunities that face If you are interested in finding out more about through all this, perhaps the most encouraging each locality, strengthens the very fabric of CIVIC Leadership Institute, please visit our outcome of 2020 has been the unrelenting our community, and helps advance change website: www.civichr.org presence of genuine leadership. to better the lives for the people in the 757. KIT CHOPE OLD POINT CIVIC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE BOARD CHAIR VICE PRESIDENT OF SUSTAINABILITY | PORT OF VIRGINIA IS A PROUD CIVIC Leadership Insti- and stakeholders in our events. tute’s motto is Regional I can assure you that we have been directly SUPPORTER Relationships, Regional engaged across the spectrum of the region’s Results. For more than response, recovery, and reconstitution efforts 20 years, we’ve brought OF THE CIVIC associated with the unprecedented impacts of together influential and the COVID-19 pandemic. We welcomed the Class engaged leaders from of 2021 into the Executive Program in September, across Hampton Roads LEADERSHIP and offered them insights and opportunities to in an unbiased, non- become involved in the long overdue conversations political, and open exchange of ideas. Countless on social equity and racial injustice. INSTITUTE! connections have been formed over those years which have brought positive changes to the I would rather be writing you today to share my social and economic landscape of our region personal congratulations to our Darden Awardees, and beyond. We’ve tackled the issues most but we were forced to make the tough decision important to our collective well-being including to forego that superb event this year. We look recent initiatives focused on coastal resilience, forward to our next large event, the 2021 Founders’ growth of regional broadband, hospitality career Luncheon scheduled for next May. pathways, and the megaregion concept. Addition- Whether you’re a prospective class member, ally, CIVIC alumni incorporate their experiences, long-time sponsor, or interested supporter, I knowledge, and relationships into their business believe that an affiliation with the CIVIC Leadership and altruistic pursuits. Institute will greatly benefit you both personally The events of 2020 have challenged CIVIC in and professionally. I invite you to reach out to many ways, not only in our approach to how we me, our staff, members of the board of directors, bring leaders together, but also in the focus of and our more than 950 alumni to hear inspiring 757.728.1200 our programming. While we’re all eager to escape stories associated with our involvement with the bonds of virtual meetings, we have embraced CIVIC. Come grow your relationship with the OldPoint.com that technology and opened our discussions to CIVIC Leadership Institute- we promise you’ll include a diverse collection of speakers, partners, see results. Opportunity awaits. Inside Business | CIVIC leadership Institute • www.civichr.org | 3 WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? On May 25, 2020 our nation witnessed a there are varying opinions. Sadly, the issues work is so important. Because developing most heinous crime. A Minneapolis police of our day are not new. Some of them were great leaders in every sector in Hampton officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd established in the founding of our nation. Roads is important. The title of my article is for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. His life was What can and should be different today is “Where do we go from Here?” The answer taken from him even after he stated at least how leaders choose to address the chal- to that question is as far as leadership is 20 times he couldn’t breathe. Even after lenges we face. If ever there was a time we willing to go. So, I ask you, how far are you those who witnessed the event, implored needed bold, courageous leadership, it is willing to go for social justice? How far are the officer to stop. Even after the three now. We need leadership that is willing to you willing to go to promote diversity and other police officers stood by and watched. seek to understand the issues, conclude equity? How far are you willing to go to With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing our what is truth and stand upon it, no matter change the culture of your organization? nation to “slow down,” this incident quickly how costly it may be. This type of leadership How far are you willing to go to look deeply became a national story and subsequently will be the difference between maintaining within yourself to see where your personal the issues of race, racism, white supremacy, the status quo vs creating a different path, biases and blind spots may be? How far are police brutality, Black Lives Matter and one that is more inclusive and tolerant of you willing to go to stand for something that more came back to the forefront. But there various viewpoints. This type of shift is not you truly believe in, even if it is unpopular? was no escaping it this time; America had easy, but neither is great leadership. Just The people in the organizations we lead are to address these issues whether it really because someone is in a high-ranking watching us.