Recap: Fun, Learning and Reflection at Leadercast Event

Building marshmallow towers out of uncooked spaghetti and tossing bouncy balls were just part of the fun at this year's Leadercast Women: Amplify, held at the Pine Barn Inn on April 25 and sponsored by Geisinger.

Kicking off with an icebreaker facilitated by Brianna Apfelbaum-Kula and Patricia Leighow of the Community Giving Foundation's Women's Giving Circle, guests at the Chamber's annual women's leadership program make fast connections as they competed in teams to build towers of uncooked spaghetti strong enough to hold a marshmallow (not an easy task).

The timed activity stretched the nearly 70 guests at the event and challenged them to discern what leadership looked like under pressure. while offering the crowd some welcome hysterics - plenty of structures were built, but confidence in their ability to stand for very long was as tenuous as the pasta was brittle.

Building on the fun, guests enjoyed three presentations from nationally recognized speakers Judi Holler, Amy O'Dell, and Kim Anthony.  Following each streamed presentation, local facilitators Linda Brown, Stephanie Andreacci, and Christine Orlando, (all members of the Community Giving Foundation's Women's Giving Circle) kept the conversation going with additional activities and time for reflection.  Linda Brown, Chief Administrative Officer of Service 1st Federal Credit Union, followed up the first presentation with the playful awarding of bouncy balls and leadership books, and then shared about the very serious significance of the importance of philanthropy and support for women in business.

Representing Geisinger, Dr. Robin Skrine, MD, offered remarks about the technological advances in breast health medicine, the importance of mammograms, and compassionate support for women across all ages and demographics.  Stephen Lylo, representing MyBenefit Advisor, the Chamber's lunch sponsor, shared about the beauty and the interconnectedness of the people in Columbia and Montour Counties and the business culture reflected not only in the presentations but in the people he encounters here.  "That's what we all try to do here.  We try to help each other," he said.