KCSA Emerging Leaders Program – 2025–2026 Schedule

Session One: Leadership Excellence

Location: Bowling Green, KY 
Dates: September 16-18, 2025
Time Zone: Eastern

Tuesday, September 16

• 12:00–1:00 p.m. – Lunch at Conference Center

• 1:00 p.m. – Program Kickoff

  • Welcome – Nick Rodgers, KCSA Executive Director

  • Program Overview & KCSA Background – "Why We Exist"

  • Afternoon Theme: Getting to Know Each Other

  • Participant Introductions

  • Topic: Leadership & (Not or) Management – Greg Coker, Consultant

  • Breakouts/Debrief

• 5:00 p.m. – Adjourn

• 6:00 p.m. – Dinner - Guest Speakers Brian Mefford &  Lt. General Steven Bashem

Wednesday, September 17 

• 8:30–9:00 a.m. – Breakfast

• Guest Speaker: Elected Official / Business Leader

• Topic: Leadership Excellence

• 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. – Lunch1:00 p.m. – Guided Tour the Corvette Museum & Corvette Racetrack 

• Day 2 Debrief

• 6:30 p.m. – Dinner Event - Guest Speakers Drew Beard (Gaddie Shamrock, LLC,  Jeremy Goad (Scotty's Contracting) & Mike Law (Scotty's Contracting)

Thursday, September 18

• 8:30–9:00 a.m. – Breakfast

• Quarry Tours - Scotty's Contracting & Martin Marietta

• 11:30 a.m. – Lunch / Adjourn

Session Two: Trilogy, Leading and Managing

Location: Asland, KY
Dates: November 19-21, 2025
Time Zone: Eastern

KCSA Emerging Leadership Program – Ashland Session

Day 1 – Half Day | Wednesday, November 19

• 12:00–1:00 p.m. – Lunch at Delta Marriott
  
• 1:00 p.m. – Session begins (Little Sandy Conference Room)

Leadership Presence

Continuation: Best Version of Me

The Trilogy

Day 1 Debrief

• 5:00 p.m. – Adjourn
• 6:00 p.m. – Group Dinner/Activities at Camp Landing

Day 2 – Full Day | Thursday, November 20

• 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. – Breakfast at Delta Hotel
• 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. The Trilogy
• 11:30 a.m. Session Wrap-Up
• 12:00 p.m. – Lunch (TBA)
• 1:00 p.m. – Quarry Tour – Mountain Aggregates, Valley Quarry - 

• Day 2 Debrief
  6:30 p.m. – Dinner at The Winchester (hotel steakhouse)

Day 3 – Half Day | Friday, November 21

• 7:15 a.m. – Breakfast at Delta Hote
• 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. – Best Version of Me Wrap-Up

Session Two Debrief

Next Steps / Reading Assignment(s)

Preview of Session Three: KY Politics – hot topics, legislative prep, how a bill becomes law

Guest Speaker: [TBD]

• 11:30 a.m. – Lunch at the hotel / Adjourn

Session Three: Legislative & Policy

Location: Frankfort
Dates: March 11-13, 2025
Time Zone: Eastern

Wednesday, March 11

• 12:00 p.m. – Lunch

• 1:00 p.m. – Legislative & Policy Overview

  • How a Bill Becomes Law

  • Lobbying Strategies

  • Social Styles in the General Assembly

  • Kentucky Legislature Overview

• Dinner/Activities in Lexington

Thursday, March 12

• Breakfast at Hotel

• Day on the Hill – Capitol Annex & Capitol:

  • Attend Committee Meetings

  • Individual Legislative Meetings

  • House & Senate Proceedings

• Lunch at Capitol Annex

• Dinner at Local Downtown Restaurant – Guest Speaker TBA

Friday, March 13

• Breakfast at Hotel

• Quarry Tour – TBA

• Session Debrief & Next Steps

• Preview Session Four

• Lunch / Adjourn

Session Four: Strategic Planning, Work/Life Balance, Negotiation, Customer Service, Finance / Mini MBA

Location: Green Turtle Bay
Dates: May 6–8, 2026
Time Zone: Central

Wednesday, May 6

• 12:00 p.m. – Lunch

• 1:00 p.m. – Focus Areas:

  • Soft Skills Training

  • Strategic Planning

  • Negotiation

  • Customer Service

• Dinner/Activities

Thursday, May 7

• Breakfast at Hotel

• Guest Speaker: TBA

• Continue Soft Skills Training

• Lunch

• Quarry Tour

• Dinner at Local Restaurant – Guest Speaker TBA

Friday, May 8

• Breakfast

• Guest Speaker: TBA

• Final Reflections & Program Debrief

• Lunch / Adjourn

Graduation

Location: KCSA Summer Meeting – The Homestead,  Hot Springs, VA
Dates: June 29–30, 2026