Class of 2026 builds connections at Leadership Shelby County Opening Retreat
Published 4:41 pm Friday, September 19, 2025
Members of the Leadership Shelby County class of 2026 bonded over the course of the annual overnight opening retreat Sept. 9-10. (Reporter photos/Alec Etheredge and For the Reporter/Neal Wagner)
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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor
COLUMBIANA – Members of the Leadership Shelby County class of 2026 bonded over outdoor exercises, heard from guest speakers and were introduced to the program’s concepts during an overnight opening retreat.
The Leadership Shelby County Opening Retreat took place Sept. 9-10 at the Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana and offered the new class a variety of team-building exercises and informative lessons.
“I walked in feeling overwhelmed and underqualified,” said Brandon Jones, a member of the class of 2026 and the owner of Valley Tax Partners. “With all of the guest speakers and people that I’ve got a chance to meet, I feel like I’ve developed a new community and just a sense of belonging. It’s been a great experience.”
The opening retreat served as a chance for members of the new leadership class to get acquainted with one another, introduce the main concepts of the program and allow the members to engage in activities together. Some of the activities included messages from guest speakers, exercises that utilized small groups and on-site activities like rope courses and races.
When the class of 2026 wasn’t spending time outdoors at the 4-H center, they were listening to a series of powerful speeches by the event’s guest speakers while in the Discover Shelby Conference Room. The class also participated in a series of comical skits that introduced each of the class members to each other and alumni.
The following individuals served as guest speakers at the 2025 opening retreat:
- Butch Ellis, Shelby County attorney at Ellis, Head, Owens and Justice
- Kevin Morris, president and CEO of AmFirst – LSC class of 2007
- Elizabeth Huntley, attorney at Lightfoot, Franklin and White and author of “More Than a Bird”
- Marquis Forge, CEO of Eleven86 Real Artesian Water
- Nedra Moore, owner of Creations Galore & Moore, LSC class of 2025
- Kendall Williams, director of Tourism and Events for Shelby County, class of 2012
“It really offered authentic leadership lessons,” said Josh Sisk, a member of the class of 2026 and Shelby County Commissioner for District 6. “The one thing you can’t fake is authenticity, and everything about it was authentic and applicable and it was inspiring without ever being forced.”
Now, with the opening retreat completed, members of the class of 2026 will go on to learn about various aspects of the county with lessons and workshops on local government, education, economic development, justice and health and community services.
The program will conclude in May with the annual graduation dinner cementing the class of 2026 as alumni of the program.
“I really enjoyed Leadership Shelby County,” said Ahzshaka Johnson, a member of the class of 2026 and the county director at the Shelby County Department of Human Resources. “This leadership program is not the traditional program that I expected. I expected to come and to get a guest speaker—maybe from out of state—but what we got was local heroes, our local leaders here. I really enjoyed learning that aspect of what you can do in your own county.”
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