Pressing On

Tomorrow we welcome September and enter month six-ish since COVID-19 hit Montana. Like you, we have spent the last months adapting and responding to our changing world. Exhausting, isn’t it?

Yet here we are preparing to press on. Next week, we welcome the Class of 2021 in Big Sky. We made the decision to press on with our live programming as long as we are allowed to host meetings up to 50 people under Phase 2 of re-opening.

Our colleagues in Wyoming held their orientation retreat recently in Jackson and remind us that “we can’t pause leadership”. In fact, we need this work more than ever. We need time and space to address the issues of the day. We need to help each other listen, learn, and lead. We must press on.

As Anna and I have traveled the state over the last weeks meeting with our new class members, our exhaustion has shifted to excitement, gratitude, and hope. These remarkable Montana leaders have said “YES” to this unique experience during this challenging time and we are ready to guide them through this journey.

My gratitude goes to our COVID-19 Task Force for helping us create plans and contingencies to ensure we all feel prepared, and to Anna, Jerry, and Carmen for modeling leadership every step of the way.

Here we go.

Be well, lead well.

Chantel M. Schieffer
President & CEO
Class of 2010, Masters 2019