b'From the President and CEOFirst, congratulations to all of our 90 graduates in 2024! It was an exciting year with two highly engaged classes who continued the tradition of seeking personal and professional growth.At the end of 2023, I had mentioned to be on the lookout for some major announcements in 2024. We kicked off in January with the launch of our new Emerging Leader (EL) Program, and in May we welcomed 39 participants from across the state. With overwhelmingly positive feedback, this program will continue, and we eagerly await our second EL class in 2025. David A. Fike 16 (LM)Shortly after that, we announced a new event: our Alumni Reunion that took place in Ocean CityPresident & CEOin September. The reunion drew 80 attendees from 16 different classes and provided a wonderful opportunity for alumni to interact in a casual setting. We plan to make this an annual event each September and will hold it in different locations around the state. Stay tuned for this years save-the-date, as this fun event is set to become the dont miss gathering of the year.Later, we announced the Encore Program for our Executive Program alumni. The intent was to launch Encore in 2025, but after some great feedback weve tweaked the program and will relaunch it in 2026, with all of the details coming out early this year so that you can plan ahead. The idea for Encore originated with our alumni who requested a program designed to continue their learning journey. We believe we have created just that for you and look forward to the first cohort in 2026. Dont miss your opportunity to be a part of the inaugural Encore class. In the fall, we announced the launch of our new Mentoring Program. Once again, this idea originated with our alumni who asked for an opportunity to give back. The Mentoring Program is directly tied to our Emerging Leader Program, whose graduates will have the opportunity to pair up with a mentor from among our alumni to help guide them in their professional journey. A huge thank you to those who volunteered to be mentors this year. If you missed it, please contact me and well add you to next years list. We ended the year with our largest-ever graduation event, uniting both classes with more than 200 guests. As our programs grow, we see this gathering becoming an even larger celebration for our alumni community.While we reflect on this years success, were focused on the work ahead. Our staff and board remain committed to improving the organization and enhancing member benefits. We encourage you to join us on this journey by renewing your membership, engaging in our statewide events, and joining one of our many committees.Heres to you, and to a successful 2025!Sincerely, BLE TrainingDavid A. Fike 16 (LM)President & CEOa better learning experienceYour local bottler2 Leadership Maryland 2024'