The 2016 Leadership Los Alamos Class kicked off its orientation weekend on Friday Aug. 28 at the Los Alamos Nature Center. The new class consists of 27 adults who live and/or work in Los Alamos, and are eager to become more aware of various aspects of our town with an eye towards enriched community involvement. The class gathered on the patio, enjoying the outdoors as the summer evening turned to night.

Phil Bryson, president, On The Edge Productions, Ltd. led the class in a variety of leadership and team building activities designed to help participants get to know each other. Bryson specializes in developing high performing leaders and teams through the skillful design and deployment of experiential learning initiatives and training programs that help accelerate leadership, team and organizational development. Phil has been involved in corporate training, consulting with executive teams of 40 of the Fortune 100 companies, including Microsoft, Intel, Nike, Lucent Technologies and GE.

On Saturday the class met at the amphitheater in Bandelier National Monument. Class members learned about their unique leadership styles and engaged in team building exercises designed to enhance learning about the styles. Bryson uses a personality test which defines people as analytics, amiables, drivers or expressives. There was a lot of laughter as students gathered by their main personality trait and discussed the pros and cons of each style.

Leadership Los Alamos is dedicated to the development of informed leaders who understand issues, define problems, develop solutions, and achieve positions of higher responsibility in Los Alamos. This year class members will be challenged to observe, discuss and put their leadership skills into action between now and their graduation in May. In addition, Leadership Los Alamos is partnering with the Eastgate Toastmasters Club to provide some training in public speaking.

Fresh air and activity fueled appetites! Dinner on Friday was provided by alumna and former board chair Debbie Huling. On Saturday Ruby K’s and the Blue Window catered, bringing the food out to Bandelier. After dinner entertainment included Jules Carson juggling and Jeremy Smith playing didgeredoo.