Posts Tagged ‘leadership monadnock’
When Storyteller Adam Wade Returned to Keene
When Storyteller Adam Wade Returned to Keene
May 19, 2026 | Jessica Johansson
Adam Wade has told this story many times.
He has shared it on stages in New York City and beyond, to audiences who have never set foot in New Hampshire, never walked across the Keene State campus on a late April afternoon, and never shared a heart-shaped pizza from Athens Pizza on Valentine's Day.
But recently, he came back to Keene to tell it, and something extraordinary happened.
Adam Wade is a 20-time Story Slam winner at The Moth and the creator of the #1 bestselling Audible Original audio memoir, "You Ought to Know Adam Wade." He is also a proud Keene State College alum and was one of the featured presenters at the inaugural Leadership Monadnock Summit presented by Eversource, held on April 24th at Keene Country Club.
In his storytelling special, Small Town Lover, Adam reflects on his years at Keene State College, including a memorable college date, the kindness he experienced at Athens Pizza, and mentor Bob Gunther, adviser to the Keene State College Film Society, a man with a remarkable claim to fame. The way Adam tells it, Bob was exactly the kind of person you hope to find when you are young and just figuring things out.
It is a story about place, about people, and about the unexpected ways a community shapes you. And it found its way back to where it began.
GMC President and CEO Julie Schoelzel had come across Adam's story and reached out earlier this year to invite him to speak at the GMC Annual Gala. The timing didn't work out then, but the Leadership Monadnock Summit finally brought him back.
During his storytelling session, Adam reached the part of the story about Bob Gunther, the unforgettable KSC Film Society adviser, and stopped to ask the audience if anyone knew him.
In a room filled with more than 100 community leaders from across the Monadnock Region, a voice answered. It was Marti Fiske, Director at Keene Public Library and a Leadership Monadnock alum. Bob Gunther was her uncle!
There was an audible reaction across the room as people took in the coincidence... a story Adam had told for years suddenly became something new.
At the end of his story, Adam received a standing ovation from the audience. Later, during his workshop session, he reflected on how stories evolve over time. He shared that from now on, the story would always include the moment the Greater Monadnock Collaborative brought him back to Keene to tell it, where he received a standing ovation... and unexpectedly met Bob Gunther's niece.
Stories evolve because people do. Communities do too.
And maybe that is the story beneath the story.
In the Monadnock Region, local businesses and institutions do more than serve a community. They become part of its stories.
Athens Pizza. Keene State College. The City of Keene, home to the Keene Public Library. All GMC members. All woven together in one story shared in one room on one April day.
Without these businesses, without these institutions, without the people who choose to invest in this region, there is no story.
This is what a connected community looks like.
We cannot wait to do it all again. Watch our calendar/social media for details on the 2nd Annual Leadership Monadnock Summit, coming in Spring 2027.
If you missed the Summit, you can watch Adam’s storytelling special here: Small Town Lover
Building Stronger Leaders and Organizations: Leadership Monadnock Summit
Building Stronger Leaders and Organizations: Leadership Monadnock Summit
March 11, 2026
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.
This event is open to everyone and is hosted by Greater Monadnock Collaborative's nine-month community leadership program, Leadership Monadnock. The event will help participants grow leadership capacity, strengthen collaboration, and apply practical tools they can use immediately in their work.
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!
Presenters
- Adar Cohen, internationally known mediator and author
- Adam Wade, 20-time Story Slam champion at The Moth and Keene State College Alum
- Brian Gottlob, Director of NH Employment Security’s Economic and Labor Market Bureau, and Principal of PolEcon Research, a Dover-based economic research company
- Julie Schoelzel, President & CEO of the Greater Monadnock Collaborative
- Corinne Benfield, Executive Director of Stay Work Play New Hampshire
Adar Cohen remarked, “I am excited to work with your community!”
"I’m a proud Keene State College alum, and choosing to go there was one of the best decisions I ever made,” wrote Adam Wade. “The college and the people in that community had a profound impact on my life, and I remain deeply grateful for that experience."
Program Details
- Hands-on learning sessions
- Peer networking and collaboration
- Strategies for tough conversations, effective storytelling, and a deepened understanding of regional opportunities and challenges
Event Details
- Date: Friday, April 24th
- Time: 8:30am (check in begins) to 5:30pm (conclusion of closing reception)
- Location: Keene Country Club - 755 W Hill Rd., Keene NH
- Registration: Opens Monday, March 16th
- Audience: Open to All
- Cost: $150 per person
- Tickets: Limited to 100 and expected to SELL OUT
Full Details & Sponsorship Opportunities: greatermonadnock.com/leadership-monadnock-summit
About Greater Monadnock Collaborative's Leadership Monadnock Program
LEADERSHIP MONADNOCK is the signature community leadership program of the Greater Monadnock Collaborative - regional chamber of commerce and your gateway to a deeply engaging experience in the Monadnock Region, ideal for community leaders looking to become more familiar with this remarkable area. Once a month for nine months, from October to June, you’ll explore the fascinating elements that define this region—think of it as a blend of education and fun!
With expert presentations, engaging group discussions, and hands-on activities, you’ll dive into various topics that shape the area’s character. You’ll have the chance to connect with other influential community leaders from business, government, nonprofits, education, and the arts.
For more Information, contact: Michelle DellaVita, Director of Leadership Monadnock for Greater Monadnock Collaborative at michelle@greatermonadnock.com