First-ever Talent Development Think Tank opens in Sonoma Wine Country

Ground-breaking industry event opens despite flight delays, stomach bugs, an injury, and wildfires.

SANTA ROSA, CA - Bennett Phillips knows how to roll with the punches. When wildfires last November forced him to reschedule the first-ever Talent Development Think Tank and juggle new dates to try to accommodate an cast of busy keynote speakers, facilitators, and participants from throughout the U.S., he managed to realign almost everyone for a new date in January.

But nothing could stop the effects of an apparent stomach bug that found its way to co-host Andy Storch and his wife, Cortney, on their way from Orlando and kept them from being able to attend the opening reception and wine-tasting Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, keynote speaker Julie Winkle Giulioni is recovering from a moderate injury that prevented her from travel, so Phillips arranged for break-out speaker Christine DiDonato to pinch-hit a keynote and called on thought leader and colleague Kelly Dozois to join the lineup with a new session on influencing others within the realities of gender bias.

Numerous attendees flying in on Monday and Tuesday experienced flight delays or diverted landings that postponed their arrivals, but on Wednesday morning some 130 people, including more than a few early risers attending a free yoga class, gathered to begin the first-of-its kind event for leaders in talent development and human resources.

"Welcome, everyone, welcome to the inaugural Think Tank 2020, it was supposed to be in 2019, and some of the signs still say that," Phillips told the group at the welcome reception and wine tasting Tuesday night. "I just want to thank you all for sticking with us, for being here tonight."

This morning, Storch was up by 5am, feeling a little better, and made his way down to begin filming some video promos before the event's official opening:

Get live updates on the event via LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter via the hash tag #TDThinkTank.