Young Leaders Development Series -- Fall 2026

Develop leadership skills through three engaging workshops on resilience, AI implementation, and feedback in the workplace. Lunch included.
About this Event

Attention verified members of the Young Professionals and Emerging Leaders groups: You can obtain a discount on the cost of the program. See information below.

Young Leaders Development Series

Fall 2026 Training

Develop the Workplace Skills That Set Leaders Apart

Invest in your future with the Young Leaders Development Series—a three-part professional development program designed to help emerging professionals strengthen leadership skills, expand their professional network, and gain practical tools they can immediately apply in the workplace.

Designed for young professionals ages 21–39, this interactive series brings together experienced regional business leaders to share practical strategies for today's workplace.

Whether you're beginning your career, preparing for leadership, or looking to sharpen your professional skills, you'll leave each session with ideas you can use immediately.

Why Attend?

In three interactive lunchtime sessions, you'll gain practical workplace skills that help you lead with confidence and make an immediate impact.

You'll learn how to:

• Build resilience and prevent burnout
• Use AI effectively and responsibly
• Strengthen communication and leadership skills
• Give and receive feedback with confidence
• Expand your professional network
• Learn from experienced regional business leaders

Fall 2026 Session Details

Session 1: Managing Stress & Preventing Burnout

Wednesday, August 19, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at Wor-Wic Community College, Room FOH200

Led by Amy Thompson, President/CEO, Ocean City Chamber of Commerce

This session explores practical strategies for creating "micro-breaks" in a world where the to-do list is never complete and priorities are constantly shifting. Through real-world examples, lessons learned, and group discussion, participants will explore ways to navigate today's challenges with greater resilience.

What You Will Learn:

• Everyday strategies to reduce the overwhelm
• Practices to maintain energy and sustain effectiveness over the long term

Instructor: Amy Thompson believes strongly in helping build up resilience in leaders so the normal--and unexpected--activities in professional life don't derail one's success. In focusing on the real-world fundamentals of work life, she uses an engaging coaching/training style to keep learning lighthearted yet productive. Through her extensive experience in corporate and nonprofit professional experiences, she is skilled in managing multi-functional teams. Amy currently leads the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce with the same skills she teaches: setting strategic direction, navigating the unique challenges, and encouraging and supporting her staff and diverse members.

Session 2: The AI Advantage: Smarter Prompts, Safer Data & Faster Decisions

Wednesday, September 16, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at Wor-Wic Community College, Room FOH200

Led by Justin Kelley, Founder and CEO, IMPACT Technology Group

AI is already changing how you write, research, and make decisions at work — the question is whether you're using it well or just using it. In this energetic, conversational session, you will learn what separates professionals who get real value from AI from those who get generic, unreliable output. This involves how to write prompts that actually get you what you need, how to spot AI answers you shouldn't trust, how to keep sensitive company and client information out of the wrong hands, and how to fold AI into your daily workflow without adding risk — practical habits you can start using as soon as you are back in the office.

You will learn how to:

• Write clear, specific prompts that get useful results on the first try
• Spot the difference between a confident AI answer and a correct one, and knowing when to double-check
• Protect sensitive company, client, and personal data when using AI tools at work
• Apply two or three AI habits immediately to speed up research, communication, or decision-making

Instructor: When founding IMPACT Technology Group in 2006, Justin Kelley operated with a single guiding mission: provide Delmarva businesses with a technology partner that they can trust to truly understand their challenges. Two decades later, IMPACT has developed into an award-winning firm serving hundreds of organizations throughout Maryland, Delaware and Virginia with experienced IT services management. Today, Justin is at the forefront of helping business leaders navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape—guiding organizations in the processes of strategically adopting AI and automation to improve efficiency, empowering their teams, and driving meaningful growth. Justin’s leadership philosophy is rooted in his military service in the United States Marine Corps and later in the U.S. Coast Guard, instilling the discipline, accountability, and systematic thinking that shape his approach to developing both businesses and their leaders.

Session 3: Authenticity in Giving and Receiving Feedback

Wednesday, October 21 ; 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at Wor-Wic Community College, Room FOH200

Led by Kevin Hughes, Founder, Chesapeake Learning & Development; adjunct leadership facilitator at TidalHealth

Giving and receiving feedback with authenticity involves developing skills in both delivering and accepting feeback in a culture founded on open communication. What keeps young leaders from openly communicating with others, particularly when it's not an easy conversation to have? This session focuses on two concepts: (1) The TeamRule, by psychologist and author Dr. Joe Currier, and (2) The OIS (Observe, Impact, Suggestion) Model.

At the end of the session, you will be able to

• Analyze the obstacles preventing you from giving and receiving feedback with employees and colleagues
• Define the Team Rule and the Observe/Impact/Suggestion model for giving and receiving authentic feedback
• Demonstrate the ability to plan and conduct both positive and constructive one-on-one conversations

Instructor: Kevin Hughes founded Chesapeake Learning & Development in 2023, building on his more than 25 years of experience in the learning and development field on behalf of a wide variety of business, governmental, and nonprofit organizations. In addition, Kevin serves as an adjunct leadership facilitator for the staff of TidalHealth. One emphasis in Kevin’s work with leaders is an integrated collaboration: ensuring all levels of employees in a workplace receive whatever they need to grow professionally. Kevin is certified in several training courses, including DISC, Situational Leadership Experience, Self-Leadership, Targeted Selection (Behavioral Interviewing), and is a Harrison Assessments coach.

Registration

Investment: $65 (plus Eventbrite fees)

[$45, plus fee, for verified members of the Salisbury Area Young Professionals, the Ocean City Young Professionals, and the United Way's Emerging Leaders of the Lower Eastern Shore with the promo code YLDSFall2026]

Your registration includes:

• Admission to all three workshops
• Lunch at each session
• Leadership development materials
• Networking with fellow young professionals
• Practical tools you can immediately apply in your career

Space is limited. Register today to reserve your seat.

Invest in Your Leadership Journey

Whether you're launching your career, preparing for your next leadership opportunity, or looking to strengthen your professional skills, the Young Leaders Development Series will equip you with practical tools you can use immediately in the workplace.

The mission of the Eastern Shore Leadership Institute, a strategic initiative of the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, is to equip emerging and established professionals with leadership skills that allow them and their organizations to achieve their goals, strengthen the workforce, and contribute to a vibrant, prosperous Eastern Shore. ESLI's courses are offered in partnership with Wor-Wic Community College.