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2025 Alumni Board Retreat

Shaping the Future Together

RETREAT HOTEL

THE STARLING ATLANTA MIDTOWN

188 14th St NE
Atlanta, GA 30361

 

 

RETREAT FAQs

 

Thursday (Evening)Casual (i.e., jeans and a nice top) is fine.

 

Friday (Day): Business casual. Refer to this style guide blog post for inspiration.

To assist CCSF with the compilation of Scholar-centric media, all AB members will have photos taken (headshots, group photos, and lifestyle/candid) and will be interviewed on video answering a set of questions.

For professional uniformity of group and individual photos and video, please do not incorporate any Coca-Cola or Coke Scholar apparel (i.e., t-shirts) into your outfit - such branding or attributes will be incorporated in other ways throughout content captured.

Headshots will be taken from the waist up.

 

Friday (Evening): Wear something comfortable that you can move around in!

 

Saturday (Day): Casual (no sweats).

 

 

RETREAT GOALS

1.

 

Community and Relationship Building

Create opportunities for board members and CCSF staff to build stronger relationships with each other, fostering a collaborative environment.

2.

Recognize and Appreciate Unique Thinking Preferences

Foster an environment of collaboration by acknowledging, valuing, decoding and applying the cognitive diversity of each board member, promoting a culture of mutual respect and support using helpful tools, like the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI) assessment.

3.

Maximize Committee Engagement

Develop 12-24 month committee objectives with associated KPIs that advance CCSF's strategic goals and utilize the talent of committee members.

4.

Brainstorm for the 2028 Leadership Summit

Imagine and explore possibilities for the next Leadership Summit to develop a collective vision for 2028.

5.

Refresh Alumni Board Visual Assets

On Friday afternoon, a photographer and videographer will capture board headshots, candids, and interviews to help tell the AB and Coke Scholar story.

 

 

 

RETREAT AGENDA

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9

 

Welcome to Atlanta!

Check-in at the Starling Atlanta Midtown hotel is at 4 pm. 

Be prepared to possibly have to wait and work in the lobby if you arrive earlier than 4 pm.

 

5:15 PM              New Members Meeting and Continuing Onboarding

New Board Members (Sarah, Tina, Nilofer, and Julia) will meet with Ben, Courtney, and Carolyn at the hotel. Carolyn will text the exact location.

 

6:00 PM            Dinner at Establishment

This restaurant is conveniently located next to the hotel. Food will include sliders, veggie burgers, chicken wings, and salads. Your first alcoholic drink (if you want one) is on us! You are welcome to start a tab at the bar for more beverages.

 

8-9 PM              Evening Programming

 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10

** It's picture day! See what to wear. **

 

8 AM                  Arrive at The Coca-Cola Company

If you are driving yourself: Guests who drive themselves or with a group of people and need to park a vehicle should use the guest entrance located at 1 Coca Cola Plaza NW where they will enter through the CRB.

If you are being dropped off: Guests being dropped off by a taxi/Uber/Lyft or someone else or if they bike or walk in should use the Luckie Loop entrance located at 528 Luckie St. where they will enter through the TEC building.

Once you arrive, a CCSF team member will walk you to the meeting space.

 

8-8:30 AM         Light Breakfast at Coca-Cola Headquarters

Room: USA Building, Second Floor, Room "REACH"

Menu: Breakfast Sandwiches with Fruit

        • Scrambled Egg, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Burrito (flour tortilla)
        • Egg White Vegetable Scramble Burrito (whole wheat wrap)
        • Honey Butter Fried Chicken, Buttermilk Biscuit
        • Seasonal Fruit Tray

 

8:30 AM            Welcome & Morning Inspiration

Jane Hale Paulsen & Morgan Everett, CCSF Board Member and Vice Chair of Coca-Cola Consolidated

 

9:00 AM            Celebrating Our Accomplishments & Historical Overview

Carolyn Norton & Ben Nicol

 

9:30 AM            Strategic Plan Integration & Impact Alignment

Jane Hale Paulsen, Jamie Williams, Kyle Walcott, Carolyn Norton, & Lauren O'Brien

 

10:00 AM           BREAK

 

10:15 AM            Purpose and Desired Outcomes of Committee Time

Ben Nicol & Courtney Lynn

 

10:30 AM           Committee Planning

 

12-1:30 PM        Coke Store & Lunch

Menu: Salads, Sandwiches, & More

        • Composed Salads
        • Meat Sandwich & Veggie Sandwich
        • Vegetarian Entree
        • Variety of Sides & Desserts

 

1:30 PM             Expanding Our Reach

Carolyn Norton

                                           

2:15 PM             Committee Planning, Headshots, & Interview Filming

Committees will meet while individual AB members are briefly pulled for headshots and video interviews nearby.

 

4:15 PM             Wrap Up & Day 2 Preview

Courtney Lynn

 

4:30 PM             Return to Hotel

Freshen up if you'd like! We have a team-building activity after dinner, so wear casual, comfortable clothes and shoes that you can move around in.

           

5:30 PM             Rideshare to Chicheria Mexican Kitchen

202 Chattahoochee Row NW, Suite C, Atlanta, GA 30318

 

6:00 PM             Dinner & Drinks, Olé!

Dinner (up to $30pp) and your first alcoholic drink is on us! You are welcome to open a tab for additional items.

 

7:30 PM             Group Walk to Team-Building Activity

Hmm...what could it be?!

 

8-9:30 PM          Surprise Team Building Activity

 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11

 

8 AM                  Arrive at The Coca-Cola Company

Check out of the hotel before you leave and bring your luggage with you.

If you are driving yourself: Guests who drive themselves or with a group of people and need to park a vehicle should use the guest entrance located at 1 Coca Cola Plaza NW where they will enter through the CRB.

If you are being dropped off: Guests being dropped off by a taxi/Uber/Lyft or someone else or if they bike or walk in should use the Luckie Loop entrance located at 528 Luckie St. where they will enter through the TEC building.

Once you arrive, a CCSF team member will walk you to the meeting space.

 

8-8:45 AM         Light Breakfast at Coca-Cola Headquarters

Room: USA Building, Second Floor, Room "REACH"

Menu: Donuts, yogurt, and coffee

 

8:45 AM            Welcome Back & Day 1 Recap

Ben Nicol

 

9:00 AM            2026 Service Summit Share

Sarah Williams & Jordan Scarboro

 

9:30 AM             Visioning Session: 2028 Leadership Summit

Jamie Williams, Kyle Walcott, & Carolyn Norton

 

10:50 AM           BREAK

 

11:00 AM           Cross-Committee Collaboration

 

12:15 PM            Working Lunch & Game

Menu: Salad & Sandwiches from McAllister's Deli

 

1:00 PM             Committee Report-Outs

 

1:45 PM             Closing Reflections & Next Steps

Ben Nicol & Courtney Lynn

 

2:00 PM            So long, farewell!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9

 

Welcome to Atlanta!

Check-in at the Starling Atlanta Midtown hotel is at 4 pm.

Be prepared to possibly have to wait and work in the lobby if you arrive earlier than 4 pm.

 

5:15 PM      

New Members Meeting and Continuing Onboarding

New Board Members (Sarah, Tina, Nilofer, and Julia) will meet with Ben, Courtney, and Carolyn at the hotel. Carolyn will text the exact location.

 

6:00 PM

Dinner at Establishment

This restaurant is conveniently located next to the hotel. Food will include sliders, veggie burgers, chicken wings, and salads.

Your first alcoholic drink (if you want one) is on us! You are welcome to start a tab at the bar for more beverages.

 

8-9 PM

Evening Programming

 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10

** It's picture day! See what to wear. **

 

8 AM

Arrive at The Coca-Cola Company

If you are driving yourself: Guests who drive themselves or with a group of people and need to park a vehicle should use the guest entrance located at 1 Coca Cola Plaza NW where they will enter through the CRB.

If you are being dropped off: Guests being dropped off by a taxi/Uber/Lyft or someone else or if they bike or walk in should use the Luckie Loop entrance located at 528 Luckie St. where they will enter through the TEC building.

Once you arrive, a CCSF team member will walk you to the meeting space.

 

8-8:30 AM

Light Breakfast at Coca-Cola Headquarters

Room: USA Building, Second Floor, Room "REACH"

Menu: Breakfast Sandwiches with Fruit

  • Scrambled Egg, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Burrito (flour tortilla)
  • Egg White Vegetable Scramble Burrito (whole wheat wrap)
  • Honey Butter Fried Chicken, Buttermilk Biscuit
  • Seasonal Fruit Tray

 

8:30 AM

Welcome & Morning Inspiration

Jane Hale Paulsen & Morgan Everett, CCSF Board Member and Vice Chair of Coca-Cola Consolidated

 

9 AM

Celebrating Our Accomplishments & Historical Overview

Carolyn Norton & Ben Nicol

 

9:30 AM

Strategic Plan Integration & Impact Alignment

Jane Hale Paulsen, Jamie Williams, Kyle Walcott, Carolyn Norton, & Lauren O'Brien

 

10 AM

BREAK

 

10:15 AM

Purpose and Desired Outcomes of Committee Time

Ben Nicol & Courtney Lynn

 

10:30 AM

Committee Planning

 

12-1:30 PM

Coke Store & Lunch

Menu: Salads, Sandwiches, & More

  • Composed Salads
  • Meat Sandwich & Veggie Sandwich
  • Vegetarian Entree
  • Variety of Sides & Desserts

 

1:30 PM

Expanding Our Reach

Carolyn Norton

 

2:15 PM

Committee Planning

                                           

4:15 PM

Wrap Up & Day 2 Preview

Courtney Lynn

 

4:30 PM

Return to Hotel

Freshen up if you'd like!

We have a team-building activity after dinner, so wear casual, comfortable clothes and shoes that you can move around in.

           

5:30 PM

Rideshare to Chicheria Mexican Kitchen

202 Chattahoochee Row NW, Suite C
Atlanta, GA 30318

 

6 PM

Dinner & Drinks, Olé!

Dinner (up to $30pp) and your first alcoholic drink is on us! You are welcome to open a tab for additional items.

 

7:30 PM

Group Walk to Team-Building Activity

Hmm...what could it be?!

 

8-9:30 PM

Surprise Team Building Activity

 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11

           

8 AM

Arrive at The Coca-Cola Company

If you are driving yourself: Guests who drive themselves or with a group of people and need to park a vehicle should use the guest entrance located at 1 Coca Cola Plaza NW where they will enter through the CRB.

If you are being dropped off: Guests being dropped off by a taxi/Uber/Lyft or someone else or if they bike or walk in should use the Luckie Loop entrance located at 528 Luckie St. where they will enter through the TEC building.

Once you arrive, a CCSF team member will walk you to the meeting space.

 

8-8:30 AM

Light Breakfast at Coca-Cola Headquarters

Room: USA Building, Second Floor, Room "REACH"

Menu: Donuts, yogurt, and coffee

 

8:45 AM

Welcome Back & Day 1 Recap

Ben Nicol

 

9 AM

2026 Service Summit Share

Sarah Williams & Jordan Scarboro

 

9:30 AM

Visioning Session: 2028 Leadership Summit

Jamie Williams, Kyle Walcott, & Carolyn Norton

 

10:50 AM

BREAK

 

11 AM

Cross-Committee Collaboration

 

12:15 PM

Working Lunch & Game

Menu: Salad & Sandwiches from McAllister's Deli

 

1:00 PM

Committee Report-Outs

 

1:45 PM

Closing Reflections & Next Steps

Ben Nicol & Courtney Lynn

 

2 PM

So long, farewell!