Melvina Smith

Minot Area Chamber EDC Women Connect will present a new event Feb. 5 to showcase leadership vision for the new year.

This is a hands-on event at which participants will organize ideas and goals by making their own vision boards, leaving with a custom-made visual created to help manifest desired outcomes and take on the new year. A vision board is a collage of images, pictures and affirmations that represent visions and goals to depict the outline of a journey or result one is trying to achieve.

Chief Master Sgt (Ret.) Melvina Smith will attend virtually to lead the vision board design session. A distinguished military career of 32 years in the Air Force saw Smith rise to the role of Command Chief of Air Force Global Strike Command. Displaying exceptional leadership in fast-paced environments, business operations and management, she guided 33,000 personnel within the mission of nuclear deterrence. Now headed into retirement, Smith is sharing her keys to success.

“We are incredibly excited to have Mel sharing her expertise for this session,” said Brekka Kramer, Minot Area Chamber EDC president/ CEO. “The community really resonated with her story when she was the keynote speaker at our Women Connect signature event in the fall, brought in thanks to our presenting sponsor Hess Corporation. She discussed vision boards and how setting achievable goals contributed to her success, and it just made sense to have her back to inspire and educate the Minot area community in the same way. She was

a high-demand guest that really resonated with our attendees, and we’re honored to have her kicking off our 2025 Women Connect events.”

Facilitating the course in person will be Michelle Wall, member of the Women Connect Committee and trainer for Dale Carnegie of North Dakota and Minnesota.

Supplies for the vision boards will be provided; however, attendees are encouraged to bring special pictures, graphics or affirmations to include.

The event will be hosted from 3-5 p.m. in The Foundry’s Makery space, on the second floor of the Brick-and-Mortar District Building at 400 E. Central Ave. in Minot. There is elevator access for ease of accessibility.

All Women Connect events are open to everyone, not just women. Ticket information is available by contacting the Minot Area Chamber EDC.