The 2025 Leadership Wyoming Alumni Summit will be held on Friday, April 25th, 2025 in Sheridan at the Historic Sheridan Inn. This event is open exclusively to Alumni and current class members of all three programs and past programs—the Core Program, the Wyoming Academy, the Brio Collective, Anglin & Morris, and Emerge.

Agenda

In a new location, new speakers and experiences, join us for a completely different Alumni Summit.

12:00pm — Lunch and Alumni Connect

  • Keynote Speaker, 9 Lessons in Leadership from a Life on the Edge with Mark Jenkins

2:30pm — Workshops & Tours

  • Be a Starfish, Not a Spider: How to Share Power in Business with Becky Cooper, Kennon Products

  • Beyond the Flames; A Look Behind the Scenes of the Elk Fire

  • Supporting Industry - Sheridan College Innovation Center Tour

  • There's No Crying in HVAC: Being a Tough Leader in a Soft World with Ken Thorpe, Powder River Heating & A/C

  • Everest: The Hard Way with Mark Jenkins, Explorer & Foreign Correspondent

  • The Road Home with Caitlin Addlesperger, Ucross Foundation and Erin Butler, WYO Theater

All workshops have limited capacity and require sign up ahead of time.

4:00pm — Break

4:30pm — Happy Hour, Black Tooth Brewing

6:00pm — Evening Reception

7:30pm — Music & Dancing

Live music by House of Cards, featuring our own Alumni musicians

opening keynote with mark jenkins

9 Lessons in Leadership from a Life on the Edge

Mark Jenkins is a critically acclaimed author, internationally recognized speaker, and award-winning journalist who has been covering conflict and adventure around the world for over thirty years. A former National Geographic and Outside Magazine correspondent, Jenkins has explored some of the most extreme and remote locations on Earth. He walked across northern Afghanistan during the war to report on the Taliban, was captured and held by the junta in northern Burma while investigating human trafficking, and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for bicycling across the USSR. A seasoned mountaineer, he has made countless first ascents across the globe and undertaken extraordinary expeditions, from summiting Everest to navigating the depths of the Congo. His compelling storytelling—shaped by firsthand experiences of survival, resilience, and leadership under pressure—offers profound insights into risk, decision-making, and perseverance. Jenkins has earned some of the most prestigious accolades in journalism, including the National Magazine Award, the Overseas Press Club Award, and the American Alpine Club Literary Award. A proud Wyoming native and University of Wyoming graduate, Jenkins brings a powerful and thought-provoking perspective to every audience, making his presentations both inspiring and unforgettable.

Workshops

Be a Starfish, Not a Spider: How to Share Power in Business with Becky Cooper, Kennon Products

If you cut off the leg of a spider, it will die. If you cut off the leg of a starfish, it will grow a new one. Becky Cooper is the CEO of Kennon Products and held that position while it transitioned to 100% employee ownership. She will share her experiences in distributed power and decision making without losing control as the leader.

Beyond the Flames; A Look Behind the Scenes of the Elk Fire

Local law enforcement and Forest Service officials provide a behind-the-scenes look at the emergency response and multi-agency coordination during the massive 98,000-acre Elk Fire that impacted Sheridan County's forestland last fall.

Supporting Industry - Sheridan College Innovation Center Tour

Explore the Sheridan College Innovation Center, a cutting-edge facility that fosters educational opportunities in manufacturing and construction trades, complete with a new Manufacturing Incubator designed to support both students and the wider community.

There's No Crying in HVAC: Being a Tough Leader in a Soft World with Ken Thorpe, Powder River Heating & A/C

Ken Thorpe comes from a family where his grandfather fired his own son for not bending over to hammer in a nail. Today Ken leads Powder River Heating and AC and carries on the legacy of high expectations and tough love. Ken will share lessons for all leaders, not just blue-collar industries, on how to get the most out of your employees through communication, accountability, and leading by example.

Everest: The Hard Way with Mark Jenkins, Explorer & Foreign Correspondent

This is a story of the madness and the macabre of the world's highest mountain. The price of arrogance, and the point of the summit. 

The Road Home with Caitlin Addlesperger, Ucross Foundation and Erin Butler, WYO Theater

Two dynamic arts leaders, Caitlin and Erin will share their personal journey’s of returning to Wyoming. This workshop will explore how meaningful work, creative collaboration, and community values shape the experiences of young professionals in the state.

Hotel room blocks

We have room blocks at two different hotels in Sheridan. If you’re traveling from out of town, we recommend getting a room for the night of Friday, April 25th.

the Historic sheridan inn

$129.99 nightly rate

Book by March 25, 2025 to join room block

To Book: Call (307) 674-2178 and say that you’re a part of Leadership Wyoming.

*Note: These rooms are historic, so they do not all have a regular shower or TV.

Best Western sheridan center

$107 nightly rate

Book by March 11, 2025 to join room block

To Book: Call (307) 674-7421 and say that you’re a part of Leadership Wyoming.

tickets

Join Leadership Wyoming the afternoon of April 25th to be inspired and connect with Alumni around the state. Ticket levels are below.