In early March a group of business, nonprofit, and community leaders from the Fox Cities will travel to Charleston, South Carolina for the Fox Cities Chamber’s first Leadership Exchange & Benchmarking Tour.
This is not a study visit.
It is not a conference.
And it is not a traditional business trip.
Instead, it is a focused, peer-to-peer learning experience designed to help our region think differently, learn boldly, and return home ready to act.
The Leadership Exchange is a community-wide strategy that brings together leaders from across sectors to study how peer regions are addressing shared challenges and opportunities.
Our goal is simple, but ambitious: To learn from places that are doing things well and translate those insights into action here in the Fox Cities. Most importantly, this experience is designed to move beyond observation and toward application. What we learn will inform future strategy, partnerships, and investment in our region.
Why Charleston?
Like the Fox Cities, Charleston is a mid-sized region with strong community identity, a growing economy, and a reputation for quality of life. Over the past decade, however, Charleston has also experienced rapid growth, increasing national visibility, expanded aerospace and waterway development, and significant success in attracting young professionals and innovative employers. In fact, they are drawing young professionals at THREE TIMES the national average.
By learning from Charleston, we gain valuable perspective on how to position the Fox Cities for long-term vitality. This is benchmarking in action: learning directly from peers who are living the realities we may face next.
One of the most important elements of this Leadership Exchange is who is at the table. Participants include Fox Cities leaders from business, nonprofit, education, and civic sectors. This is intentional. The future of our region is shaped not by any one organization, but by how well we collaborate across systems.
By traveling, learning, and reflecting together, participants develop shared understanding and a shared language, the foundation for meaningful regional progress.
From Learning to Action
The ultimate purpose of this exchange is transformation. When participants return, our work is just beginning. Insights from Charleston may help inform:
- Economic development priorities
- Workforce initiatives
- Leadership programming
- Public-private partnerships
- Long-term community planning
Our intention is to use this experience as a foundation for future action, creating a roadmap for continued collaboration and impact.
In the weeks leading up to our visit, during our time in Charleston, and in the days that follow, we will share reflections through The Leadership Exchange Journal: Charleston.
Our hope is that this series provides transparency, insight, and inspiration for the broader community, reinforcing why investing in leadership development and regional learning matters. Together we will strengthen our ability to lead our region forward.
We look forward to sharing this journey with you.