Blue Ox Business Academy: 2025-2026 Leadership Experience

Description

The Blue Ox Business Academy's Leadership Experience is an immersive experience in personal leadership growth through the exploration of community sectors, challenges, and opportunities.

Join a growing group of more than 500 individuals who have graduated from our Leadership Experience program. This 9 month, 10 session program is designed for emerging leaders and high-potential employees to develop essential skills and insights into their leadership character. Seats fill up fast, so don't wait to register.

Through Leadership Experience training, participants will build relationships and gain an inside view of the region's public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Throughout the program, all are challenged to take the next step in their organization and community.

This program is only offered to Chamber Members. Cost is $1,795 per person and limited to 40 individuals. Through the support of Anderson Brothers Construction, scholarships (25% discount) are available to small businesses (up to 5 employees) and non-profit organizations with financial limitations. Just ask.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

• Business owners, leaders & managers.
• Emerging leaders & high-potential employees.
• Those who are new to the Brainerd Lakes Area.
  
  

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

SESSION 1: Thursday, September 25 & Friday, September 26, 2025
Opening Retreat: DiSC Assessment, Next Level Leading, Effective Communication, Managing Change and Reducing Conflict, Community Service Projects (One overnight stay on September 25th. Session attendance is mandatory.)

SESSION 2: Thursday, October 9, 2025
Tourism Experience

SESSION 3: Thursday, November 6, 2025
Non-Profits Experience

SESSION 4: Thursday, December 4, 2025
Manufacturing and Construction Experience

SESSION 5: Thursday, January 15, 2026
Health Care Experience

SESSION 6: Thursday, February 5, 2026
Mid-year Retreat: Deep dive into Leadership Development including additional assessments (MBTI/Emotional Intelligence 2.0), conflict resiliency skills, revisiting goals for the year, and team building.

SESSION 7: Thursday, March 5, 2026
Education Experience

SESSION 8: Thursday, March or April, 2026 
(Date is TBD based on state legislative schedule.)
Community Experience: Legislative Day at the Capitol and a stop at KSTP with Anchor Kevin Doran

SESSION 9: Thursday, April 23, 2026
Public Service Experience

SESSION 10: Thursday, May 7- Friday, May 8, 2026
Media and End of the Year Retreat with additional leadership development, a review of assessments and their application to growth in leadership, and next steps.
Afternoon/Evening of the 7th with overnight stay optional finishing at noon on the 8th.

Commencement and Class Reunion will be held at the Celebration of Excellence in November 2026.

RETREATS
Session 1 (Kick-off) will be held at Grand Casino Mille Lacs. Overnight lodging is strongly recommended. Participants may reserve rooms at Grand Casino Mille Lacs for an additional fee.  

Session 6 (Mid-year) will be held during the day at a local TBD location and will include additional assessments and leadership development and training.

Session 10 (End of the Year) will be held at a local conference center/resort which will include leadership development and training. Overnight lodging optional. Participants may reserve rooms for an additional fee. More info to follow during program year.

COMMITMENT
Individuals are required to attend 10 full (8AM - 5PM approximately) sessions. Only 1 absence will be accepted. Applicants need to review their schedules to make sure that they can attend all of the sessions prior to applying.

UNLEASH YOUR TALENT

• An investment of $1,795 per person (or 2 payments of $897.50 will be accepted) includes meals, assessments, speakers, and all course materials.
• Pay with a credit card or receive an invoice.
• Staying overnight at Grand Casino Mille Lacs for the beginning retreat on September 25 is strongly recommended. Information will be supplied after registration.  
• The Leadership Experience program is only offered to Chamber Members and limited to 35-40 participants.
  
  

TAKE IT FROM OUR GRADUATES

• "I enjoyed getting to know the area better and the industries within. The increased knowledge makes me a more well rounded person which in turn, increases my confidence and leadership."
• "...Why wouldn't you want your employees to increase their business network?"
• "Building leaders to improve the businesses in our community."
  
  

SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships (25% discount) are available to small businesses (up to 5 employees) and Non Profit organizations with financial limitations. Just ask.

REGISTRATION
Register online. Please be sure to add your title to registration. If you need help contact Paula Chapulis at BlueOx@BrainerdLakesChamber.com. This program will fill quickly, so don't delay!
Registration Deadline is September 11, 2025.

Program Trainers & Facilitators

Erik is the founder of Think GREAT and draws from his experiences as a U.S. Marine, executive business leader, sales professional, and entrepreneur to help organizations achieve new levels of success. He uniquely combines leadership development, team building, sales training, and goal-setting into strategies and techniques that empower team members and leaders to exceed expectations.  

Erik has inspired audiences at companies such as US Bank, Sam’s Club, Shutterfly, RE/MAX, Hubbard Broadcasting, Thomson Reuters, U.S. Foods, armed services commands ranging from the Air National Guard to the U.S. Marine Corps, charities like The American Cancer Society, law enforcement and government agencies, and organizations in the health care and education industries.

Think GREAT is a Certified Veteran-Owned Business and Erik is also author of The Think GREAT Collection. Erik shares the successful, proven concepts in his six books to give individuals and organizations the competitive edge needed for achieving new levels of success. 

Hallie Pond is the founder of Truespace Consulting, a mediator and conflict resiliency trainer with 15+ years of experience across retail, nonprofits, and tech. With a master’s in organizational psychology and advanced certification in conflict resolution from Columbia University, she helps workplaces transform conflict into connection through candid, skillful dialogue. She is a certified DiSC trainer and her Gestalt-based approach emphasizes presence, somatic awareness, and strengths—supporting leaders to communicate with confidence, courage, and care.

Hallie has worked with clients spanning industries (nonprofits, technology, professional services, and government) including Ideascale, FirstAML, WonderTrek Children’s Museum, and The Sowing Room. Known for her warm, intuitive facilitation style, she helps teams align, resolve tension, and thrive. Through coaching and workshops, her clients build stronger communication skills, deeper collaboration, and resilient, joyful teams.

Nichole is a dedicated professional with a passion for empowering businesses to thrive. For the past four years, she has served as the Director of the Pequot Lakes Chamber and subsequently the Director of Tourism, where she focuses on connecting businesses to each other, to the chamber and advocating and celebrating tourism in the Brainerd Lakes Area.

Before assuming her pivotal role at the Pequot Lakes and Brainerd Lakes Chamber, Nichole garnered invaluable experience in the financial industry and management in the Twin Cities for the past 10 years. During her tenure there, she distinguished herself through her expertise in training new employees and facilitating Lean Six Sigma sessions, embodying a commitment to excellence and efficiency.

Nichole's recent certification in MBTI marks another milestone in her journey of professional development. Armed with her newfound expertise, she has embarked on facilitating sessions, leveraging her background in creating training materials and conducting engaging sessions. Her innate ability to connect with individuals, coupled with her infectious enthusiasm for teaching, enables her to excel in both one-on-one interactions and large classroom settings.

With 30 years experience working with profit and non-profit organizations, as well as owning three businesses, Paula is an accomplished leader and entrepreneur.  As a Professional Certified Coach and owner of Aiyana Coaching she specializes in coaching executive and emergent leaders. Paula helps leaders hone their leadership goals and develop strategies for enriched personal, team, and organizational performance.

Paula’s approach is warm, purposeful, and action oriented. She uses high level coaching strategies along with her deep professional experience coaching leaders to gain momentum toward their goals. Her passion for excellence is brought to every session, along with her humor, calming personality, and sense of curiosity.  Paula has developed training programs, loves to teach adults, and has facilitated boot camp business programs.

Panel Discussions will be conducted by area business owners, representatives and nonprofit organizations.

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With support from Anderson Brothers Construction, the Blue Ox Business Academy delivers local, affordable, and high-quality training that strengthens our community by helping businesses succeed.

By investing in yourself or your employees, you achieve the highest possible returns in enhanced skills, confidence and job satisfaction. Blue Ox trainers are professional presenters with engaging personalities and real world experiences. Participants make great peer connections and leave with tools and idea to immediately put into action.