Program aims to develop professionals in Craven County

Chocolate. That’s a word Denise Ryan sometimes uses to get people’s attention.

Ryan is the guest speaker at the New Bern Professional Development Conference at Riverfront Convention Center on April 20, and she promises to snare the guests’ attention with the delectable treat and deliver interesting and useful information.

“We’ll do a chocolate tasting and then the point is to savor life,” Ryan said recently.

Ryan is a motivational speaker, and among her repertoire is a “Motivation by Chocolate” presentation she developed on the leadership styles of some very famous chocolatiers – Milton Hershey, Forrest Mars and Henri Nestle. She tosses in Debbi Fields, of Mrs. Fields’ Cookies fame, to round out examples of the four predominant leadership styles. Then, she helps each participant identify his or her style with one of the sweets industry greats.

“Their leadership styles were very different, but very successful,” Ryan said.

Hershey was a supporter-relater, Mars was a director, Nestle was a thinker-analyzer, and Fields is a promoter, one who cheers others on. Pretty much everyone falls into one of the four styles, Ryan said, and she helps participants discover their particular way of communicating and how to use it to effectively interact and lead.

“I love the communicating style thing. I give them tips for communicating with different styles,” Ryan said. “I’ll give them tips on how they can be more effective.”

Ryan is scheduled to kick off this year’s event – formerly Administrative Professionals Day – organized by New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce. The organization expects about 250 participants at this year’s event, said Teresa Suhrie, the Chamber’s director of membership development and events. Other highlights of the approximately four-hour program include lunch, catered by The Flame, and door prizes. The cast of New Bern Civic Theatre’s “Willy Wonka Jr.” will perform some of the show’s tunes, too. Dominic Brown, WCTI – TV weatherman, is the emcee.

‘It’s an event that is fun but yet it’s a great learning experience,” Suhrie said. “There’s always something that you can take home with you that you can use in your personal life as well as your professional life.”

Tickets remain available and cost $40 each for Chamber members and $60 each for non-members. Suhrie is able to accept reservations through Monday, she said. The day begins with registration at 10 a.m. and should conclude at about 2 p.m.

“It’s really a pampering day away from work for them,” Suhrie said.

Additional information is available from Suhrie at 637-3111.

P. Christine Smith can be reached at 252-635-5673 or pcsmith@freedomenc.com.