Investing in people is critical to thriving organizations and communities. That’s the focus of the 2026 Leadership Monadnock Summit presented by EVERSOURCE, a ticketed full-day professional development experience bringing together community leaders on Friday, April 24th at Keene Country Club.
A Day of Learning, Connection, and Leadership
This event is hosted by the Greater Monadnock Collaborative's community leadership program, Leadership Monadnock.
Join us for a one-day Leadership Monadnock Summit. Spend the day with fellow leaders from across the Monadnock Region — connecting, reconnecting, and exploring the ideas and issues shaping our communities.
The Summit will include expert presentations, engaging group sessions, and a full day of meaningful networking. Registration also includes two meals, snacks, and a closing cocktail/mocktail hour to continue building relationships.
We are excited to welcome all participants, including Leadership Monadnock Alumni, current participants of the Class of 2026, and anyone that is Leadership Monadnock curious. When professionals learn and grow together, the entire region benefits!
Event Details
📅 Date
Friday, April 24
⏰ Time
8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Check-in begins at 8:30 AM. The program concludes with a closing reception, ending at 5:30 PM.
📍 Location
Keene Country Club
755 W Hill Rd.
Keene, NH
👥 Audience
This event is open to all
🎟 Cost
$150 per person
🎫 Tickets
Limited to 100 and expected to sell out
📅 Registration Opens
Monday, March 16
Summit Presenters
ADAR COHEN
Adar Cohen leads conversations in conflict zones, family rooms, and other places where people can save the world. His work has been featured by The New York Times, TED, MSNBC, and NPR.
He holds a PhD in conflict resolution from Trinity College Dublin and has lectured at Harvard University, West Point, the University of Chicago, and at Sherubtse College in Bhutan. Adar is a co-founder of Civic Leadership Foundation, which has supported more than 25,000 young people in preparing for success in school, in their careers, and as citizens.
Adar lives in New Hampshire with his wife and their two tough little negotiators.
“New Hampshire is the only place in the country where every citizen still has the opportunity to meet the people who lead them.” — Adar Cohen
ADAM WADE
Adam Wade is a 20-time Story Slam champion at The Moth and the creator of the #1 bestselling Audible Original audio memoir You Ought to Know Adam Wade. His storytelling and comedy albums have been featured in The New Yorker and have reached the top of the iTunes charts.
A fixture in the New York City storytelling scene for more than twenty years, Adam’s monthly storytelling show at Under St. Marks Theatre has been a New York Times, CBS News, and Time Out NY Critic’s Pick.
He has taught storytelling to more than 4,000 students and has led workshops for organizations including the United Nations, Google, Apple, Pinterest, Etsy, and The New York Times.
Adam is a proud Keene State College alum, and has said that choosing to go there was one of the best decisions he ever made:
"The college and the people in that community had a profound impact on my life, and I remain deeply grateful for that experience." — Adam Wade
BRIAN GOTTLOB
Brian Gottlob serves as Director of the NH Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau. Prior to that, he was Principal of PolEcon Research, an economic consulting firm based in Dover, NH.
For more than two decades, Brian has analyzed economic, demographic, labor market, and industry trends for corporations, trade associations, government agencies, and legal and lobbying firms. He has completed studies on a wide range of economic, demographic, energy, financial, fiscal, and labor market issues in New Hampshire and 30 other states.
Before founding PolEcon in 2001, Brian served as Vice President for Fiscal and Economic Policy at the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire.
CORINNE BENFIELD
Corinne Benfield is the Executive Director of Stay Work Play New Hampshire, where she champions initiatives to ensure young people not only choose New Hampshire but can also thrive. She is passionate about making space at the table for young voices and creating an environment where the next generation feels valued, considered, and optimistic about building their lives in the Granite State. With experience spanning nonprofit leadership, community partnerships, and workforce development, Corinne is known for her vision and her ability to forge connections that strengthen both organizations and communities.
Named to the Union Leader’s “40 Under 40” in 2023 and NH’s Top 200 in 2025, she is dedicated to enhancing New Hampshire’s cultural vitality, economic opportunity, and quality of life for young people.
Corinne lives in southern New Hampshire with her husband and their two rescue chows. Outside of work, she enjoys baking sourdough bread, practicing hot yoga, running the NH rail trails, exploring local restaurants, and traveling whenever she can.
JULIE SCHOELZEL
Julie Schoelzel is the President & CEO of the Greater Monadnock Collaborative (GMC), the Monadnock Region’s chamber of commerce. She has been a part of the organization since 2021, when she was hired to lead the GMC’s Magnify Monadnock initiative. Julie works closely with business leaders, municipalities, educators, and state partners to address regional challenges including housing, childcare, workforce retention, and long-term economic competitiveness.
In 2025, Julie was recognized as one of New Hampshire’s 200 by New Hampshire Business Review, honoring influential leaders shaping the state’s future. She serves on the Board of Directors for Stay Work Play New Hampshire, the City of Keene's Airport Marketing Committee, and is a member of the Monadnock Housing Collaborative Advisory Council.
Julie is deeply committed to building a resilient, connected business community and believes that strong regional collaboration is the foundation for long-term prosperity.
Session Details
The summit features five dynamic sessions designed to spark conversation, strengthen communication, and explore the future of our region.
How to Have a Difficult Conversation
Adar Cohen
Conversations create the future whether or not we have them, and how we have them, is up to us. A 75 minute in-person workshop focused on how to have a difficult conversation (for yourself, with others in your work, community, or family—or all of the above!)
With a special emphasis on doing this vital work in the context of community during an increasingly volatile and polarizing time, the session will be a hybrid between a keynote and a workshop – allowing for interaction, engagement, and opportunities for participants to practice and pressure test the skills.
Live Storytelling Performance
Adam Wade
A live storytelling performance, 10-12 minutes in length, forms the foundation of the second session through demonstration of the concepts to be learned.
Economic Outlook for Cheshire County
Brian Gottlob
Understanding regional economic trends is essential for leaders making decisions about workforce, investment, and organizational growth.
In this session, economist Brian Gottlob will provide a data-driven overview of the economic forces shaping Cheshire County. Using labor market data, demographic trends, and industry indicators, he will examine workforce participation, employment patterns, and the economic challenges and opportunities facing the county.
Participants will gain insight into how broader economic trends are affecting the local workforce, businesses, and communities across Cheshire County, helping leaders better anticipate change and plan for the future.
Communicating with Clarity, Authenticity, and Impact
Adam Wade
A 90-minute interactive storytelling workshop with individual reflection, small group exercises, and facilitated discussion. The four elements of effective storytelling are explained to ensure effective storytelling in a professional setting.
Participants apply the framework by developing a short story based on the same prompt. Emphasis is placed on structure, clarity, and relevance. Participants are encouraged to organize their story using a clear narrative arc. Participants then practice by sharing their stories in supportive small groups. This is followed by a facilitated discussion connecting the exercise back to workplace communication. Learnings are summarized with actionable insights that participants can immediately apply in meetings, presentations, and everyday communication.
Rooted and Rising: Attracting, Retaining, and Supporting Young People in Rural New Hampshire
Corinne Benfield & Julie Schoelzel
Rural regions like the Monadnock Region face urgent challenges, like aging populations, outmigration of young adults, and misaligned education and workforce systems - but through collaboration and innovation, new solutions are taking shape.
In this session, Julie Schoelzel of the Greater Monadnock Collaborative and Corinne Benfield of Stay Work Play NH will share how their organizations are reframing the narrative to attract and retain young people by highlighting workforce strategies such as place branding and marketing, more flexible advancement pathways, cross sector collaboration (surveys, toolkits), and reimagined workplace structures.
By building multiple on-ramps, strengthening housing and community infrastructure, and breaking down silos between local and state efforts, they’ll showcase how rural communities can create more visible, viable opportunities for the next generation of leaders.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The Leadership Monadnock Summit presented by EVERSOURCE brings together business, nonprofit, and community leaders from across the Monadnock Region for a day of ideas, collaboration, and connection.
Summit sponsors demonstrate a clear commitment to strengthening leadership and economic vitality throughout the Monadnock Region.
Sponsorship provides meaningful visibility among an engaged audience of business, nonprofit, and civic leaders while helping the Greater Monadnock Collaborative deliver a dynamic program that brings people together to share ideas, build relationships, and explore the future of our region.
If your organization is passionate about supporting regional leadership development and has services that can benefit our employers, nonprofits, and community partners, we invite you to consider becoming a Leadership Monadnock Summit sponsor.
Several sponsorship opportunities are still available!
For full sponsorship details and program advertising opportunities, download the Leadership Monadnock Summit Sponsorship Guide or contact Pam Wilder at 603-903-4228 or pam@silverdirectinc.com for more information.