Past Dinners

2025

Wednesday, September 10, 2025
“Harmony for a Better Tomorrow – An Evening on the Transformative Power of Music”
Guest Presenter: David Fisk, CEO/President, The Charlotte Symphony

Tuesday, August 12, 2025
“Jack Ossa: The Architecture of Becoming”
Guest Presenter: Jack Ossa, AIA, CEO - Ossa Studio

Tuesday, July 15, 2025
“A Seat at the Table: Building Communities of Kinship through Philanthropy.”
Guest Presenter: Charlie Elberson, CEO, Reemprise Fund

Monday, June 16, 2025
“Transformational Leadership in Healthcare: The Case for Whole Health.”
Guest Presenter: Russ Greenfield MD, Integrative Medicine and Whole Health Expert

Thursday, May 29 , 2025
“Cultivating Global Citizens: Reflections on a Life Between Cultures.”
Guest Presenter: Ljubomir (L.J.) Stambuk, CEO World Affairs Council of Charlotte

Tuesday, April 22 , 2025
“The Evolving Self: Embracing Open-ended Life Possibilities”
Guest Presenter: Mark Peres, Founder of The Charlotte Center for Humanities and Civic Imagination

Tuesday, March 18, 2025
“The Heart of Leadership: Stories of Growth, Purpose, and Change”
Guest Presenter: Elizabeth McKee, President of Leadership Charlotte

Tuesday, February 18, 2025
“The Seven Weapons to Silence the Imposter”
Guest Presenter: Gary Frey, author of “Silence the Imposter”

2024

Tuesday, November 19, 2024
“The Path from Entrepreneurial Passion to International Resonance”
Guest Presenter: Manuel “Manolo” Betancur, Owner - Manolo’s Bakery, Artisen Gelato - World Bread Hero 2021

Tuesday, July 9, 2024
“Leadership and the Power of Disciplined Listening”
Guest Presenter: Michael Reddington, Executive Resource, Certified Interviewer and Author

Tuesday, June 11, 2024
“Leading with Your Kinder, Higher Self”
Guest Presenter: Angela Gala, Entrepreneur, Founder and Non-Profit Executive

Tuesday, May 7, 2024
“Innovation is a Leadership Strategy”
Guest Presenter: Louis Foreman, CEO and Founder, Enventys Partners

2019

Thursday, November 14, 2019
“Finding Inspiration to Lead”
Guest Presenter: Stephanie Ansaldo, President, The Echo Foundation

Wednesday, October 23, 2019
“Find Your Voice and Lead”
Guest Presenter: Katie Oates, Folk Music Artist

Thursday, August 29, 2019
“Stories to Lead By”
Guest Presenter: Jack Grossman, Entrepreneur, Author and Philanthropist

Tuesday, May 23, 2019
“Cowboy Up: Recover from Defeat and Succeed”
Guest Presenter: Chaz Seale, CEO of Billie Jean King EyeCoach

Monday, January 14, 2019
“Transforming Through Collaborative Leadership”
Guest Presenter: Candice Langston, Managing Director, The Lee Institute

2018

Tuesday, September 25, 2018
“Building a Legacy of World Class Service”
Guest Presenter: Timothy Miron, Catering Manager, The Ritz Carlton Charlotte

Monday, August 27, 2018
“Leading through Mastery and Meaning”
Guest Presenter: Peter Reinhart, International Bread Expert

Tuesday, May 22, 2018
“The Magic of Networking”
Guest Presenter: Cindy Sisson, Marketing/Sales & Networking Expert

Tuesday, April 24, 2018
“Living Creatively”
Guest Presenter: Matt Olin, writer, host of Creative Mornings Charlotte

Wednesday, March 14, 2018
“The 7 Keys of Extraordinary Leadership”
Guest Presenter: Lou Gayoso, International Business Leader

Wednesday, January 31, 2018
“The Magic Within”
Guest Presenter: Hannibal, world-renowned Magician

2017

Wednesday, December 6, 2017
“Using Big Data Analytics for Social Good”
Guest Presenter: Rishi Bhatnaghar, CEO of Syntelli Solutions

Thursday, September 7, 2017
“Swiss Leadership Wisdom for Entrepreneurs”
Guest Presenter: Prof. Dr. Andres Pfister, ZHAW Switzerland

Thursday, July 6, 2017
“Passionate Entrepreneurship”
Guest Presenter: Mac Lackey

Tuesday, May 23, 2017
“Leading with Significance”
Guest Presenter: Laura Meyer Wellman

Wednesday, February 22, 2017
“Influence: The Power of Great Ideas”
Guest Presenter: Mark Moore, CEO of Mana Nutrition

2014 - 2016

Wednesday, September 14, 2016
“Deep Friendships”
Guest Presenter: Roger Baumgarte

Thursday, June 9, 2016
“Making Meaning” 

Saturday, April 30, 2016
VIP Event - TheSircle Olympic Gold Event
U.S. Olympic Swimmers Time Trials and Dinner
Queens University Levine Wellness Center

Thursday, February 18, 2016
"The Most: Living in Joy"

Thursday, January 21, 2016
"Lead with a Story"

Thursday, December 3, 2015
"Purpose Your Big Why"

Thursday, October 29, 2015
"Real Connections"

Wednesday, July 29, 2015
"Captivate Your Audience and Get Buy-In"
Guest Presenter: Dianne Chase, partner at C4CS

Thursday, May 21, 2015
"Reinvent Yourself and Lead"
Guest Presenter: Michael Solender - Writer

Thursday, March 19, 2015
"The Sartorial Factor: Dress Your Purpose"
Guest Presenter: William Wilson, CEO, William Wilson Clothing

Thursday, February 19, 2015
"From $0 to $100 Million"
Guest Presenter: Ben Dominitz, Vistage Chair, CEOGuru LLC

Thursday, January 15, 2015
"In Leadership as in Art"
Guest Presenter: Jerald Melberg - The Jerald Melberg Gallery

Tuesday, December 2, 2014
"Leading through Simplicity"
Guest Presenter: Deborah Bosley - The Plain Language Group

Tuesday, September 23, 2014
"Leading through Creativity"
Guest Presenter: Sheila Mullen - McColl Innovation Institute

Thursday, August 21, 2014
"Awakening Your Professional Soul"
Guest Presenter: David Pinkley - The Career Sage

Thursday, July 24, 2014
"Communicating Your Essence"
Guest Presenter: Marcia Merrill - Red Rover Communications

Tuesday, May 20, 2014
"Leadership WISDOM"
Facilitated by Carlos Salum 

Tuesday, March 25, 2014
"Charlotte and the Media"
Guest Presenter: Allison Latos - News Anchor WSOCTV-ABC

Tuesday, February 25, 2014
"Fully Engaged Leadership in Action"
Guest Presenter: John Paul Galles, publisher Great Charlotte Biz

2011 - 2013

Wednesday, November 20, 2013
"Radical Connectivity: People, Ideas, Action"
Guest Presenter: Mike Watson, Emcee TEDxCharlotte, AIC

Thrusday, October 3, 2013
"Leading through a Theory of H.O.P.E."
Guest Presenter: Jay Jaboneta - Social Entrepreneur

Tuesday, August 20, 2013
"Leadership in North Carolina, then and now"
Guest Presenter: Mary C. Curtis - award-winning journalist 

Tuesday, July 23, 2013
"The Power of Entrepreneurial Innovation"
Guest Presenter: Louis Foreman, Founder & CEO of Enventys

Wednesday, June 20, 2013
"Cultural Breakthrough"
Guest Presenter: Astrid Chirinos, President LACC

Wednesday, May 22, 2013
"The Entrepreneur's Search for Meaning"
Guest Presenter: Fabi Preslar, President of SPARK Publications

Wednesday, March 27, 2013
"Beyond Winning: Life Lessons from Sports"
Guest Presenter: Trudi Lacey, WNBA/Executive Coach

Wednesday, January 30, 2013
"Leadership and Community Engagement"
Guest Presenter: Elizabeth Nisbet Miller, Connector 

Wednesday, December 12, 2012
"How I lead: Manifest Your Leadership Style"
Facilitated by Carlos Salum  

Thursday, October 8, 2012
"Going Deep Quickly Authentic Trust"
Guest Presenter: Mark Peres, Prof. Johnson & Wales

Thursday, September 27, 2012
"The John Love Experience" (what is it?)
Guest Presenter: John W. Love, Jr. - Interdisciplinary Artist

Wednesday, August 22, 2012
On Leadership: "The Resetting of America"
Guest Presenter: Bruce Fritch, Principal - Fritch Consulting

Wednesday, July 25, 2012
"Fulfilling Your Compelling Vision"
Guest Presenter: Manny Ohonme - Founder, Samaritan's Feet

Wednesday, May 23, 2012 - TheGrandSircle
"A Brave New You"  Evolving Brands - Global Impact
Presenters: Tom Morgan - Melanie Buchanan - Carlos Salum

Tuesday, April 24, 2012
"Spring Up: Evolving through Challenges"
Guest Presenter: Dr. Sam Santander, MD, MPH

Thursday, February 16, 2012
"Developing Your Philanthropic Vision"
Guest Presenter: Chris McLeod, Philanthropy Advisor 

Tuesday, November 15, 2011
"Personal Branding"
Guest Presenter: Melanie Guinn, President of ZGM Brand

Thursday, September 8, 2011
"Inspiring Stories of Personal Achievement"
Guest Presenter: Kenneth Kahn, President, Black Label Advisory

Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Inaugural Dinner
"Enduring Value Creation"
Presenters: Jim Alexander and Carlos Salum

2010 - ReNEW Interactive Series (5 dinners) - Hodges Taylor Gallery

2009 - Interact Live Series on Leadership (6 dinners) - Interact Studio