2020 ALC Networking Retreat
The ALC Retreat planned for Oct. 7-9, 2020, in Kansas City, was cancelled due to COVID-19.
No retreat was planned for 2021.
2019 ALC Networking Retreat Recap
ALC Retreat Welcome Reception
We hosted an exciting ALC Retreat Welcome Reception, sponsored by Farm & Ranch Magazine and TerraStride, ahead of the event. We broke the ice (and pored a drink over it) by networking with fellow ALCs and RLI Carolinas Chapter members over light bites and drinks.
Retreat Day One
Motivational Speaker: Captain Paluso
Captain Paluso, a 1989 mathematics graduate of The Citadel, was commissioned into the Navy from The Citadel. He served as a Navy SEAL officer on active duty as the commander of the Naval Special Warfare Group 3 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The group consists of 700 specialized SEAL and fleet personnel. He has held leadership roles commanding special operations forces in Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan. Paluso’s service awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Joint Achievement Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal.
Saturday Networking Bus Tour
Charleston Tea Plantation
We kicked off the tour with a stop at the Charleston Tea Plantation. What makes it so special? It is the only tea plantation in North America – talk about a unique use of land! We saw hundreds of thousands of tea bushes stretching out acre after acre for almost as far as the eye can see and learn about the plantation’s history. For tea lovers, this is a once in a lifetime experience. We even had the opportunity to walk their tea production building where we saw all the equipment it takes to make tea from field to package.
Deep Water Vineyard
Our next stop was at the Deep Water Vineyard. Deep Water is a name with many meanings, first and foremost you hear the term deep water in the Lowcountry as coveted access beyond the pluff mud of the marsh. What makes this winery so unique? The wine itself is made from one of the only truly native grapes to the US, and this winery truly embraces it. The wine is made from muscadine grapes, a fruit native to the Southeastern United States. From it, the winery produces authentic muscadine wine in five different labels from four varieties of grapes.
Firefly Distillery
The next stop was the Firefly Distillery, located on Wadmalaw Island, SC, twenty miles south of Charleston. What made this stop so worthy of our tour? It is the largest distillery in the state and has become a top destination in the Charleston area. We learned about the distillation process and met the folks who made it. In the Firefly Tasting Room, we were able to choose samples from all of the Firefly brands. We kicked back and relaxed while we enjoyed the local flavors in this scenic location.
Angel Oak
As a land professional, we know you’ve seen a lot of trees; however, the final stop on our tour had us all gazing in awe at the The Angel Oak Tree. It is conservatively estimated to be in excess of 400-500 years old, stands 66.5 feet tall, measures 28 feet in circumference, and produces shade that covers 17,200 square feet. From tip to tip Its longest branch distance is 187 ft. There is considerable debate about the age of the Angel Oak with some contending that it is as old as 1,500 years – just think of all it has seen in its life!
Retreat Day Two
Leadership Speaker: Bret Pinson
Bret Pinson is the President of Pinson & Associates, a business consulting firm based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After graduating from Louisiana Tech University, Bret spent 20+ years of his career working across the United States with major corporations in the areas of management, marketing, recruitment and development. All of these organizations were global-leaders in their industries; including AT&T, Hartford, and 3M Company. There he was introduced to world-class business approaches and processes. Focusing on the growth of organizations and people, he led the implementation of some of America’s most innovative business and leadership development programs. Bret has worked with RLI Leadership & Staff in developing their 2017-2020 Strategic Plan and is familiar with our industry and organization through his time with us.
ALC Networking Retreat Sponsors
Thank You To Our ALC Networking Retreat Event Sponsor!
Discipline Advisors, Inc. (DAI) offers personalized, integrated investment strategies and management to individuals and families of significant wealth. We understand that our clients face unique challenges and situations as they continue to build their wealth and form their legacies. At DAI, we are focused on helping to manage and mitigate those opportunities and challenges with more than the traditional investment solutions. We take a disciplined approach to each phase of our client relationships. It starts with building trust through taking the time to have a deep understanding of our clients’ needs and desires. This allows us to bring fresh ideas forward and put our extensive knowledge to work implementing a strong, comprehensive strategy in growing, preserving and protecting our clients’ wealth.
