Building Future Leaders of York County Conference

Description

Building Future Leaders of York County is the first conference of its kind in York, Pa.  Eight different York County organizations are combining forces to bring this valuable conference to the future leaders of York.  The day will incorporate several educational sessions on what it takes to be an organizational leader.  Participants will hear from a panel of CEOs and a national keynote speaker, Cordia Wilkinson Harrington.  The day will also provide excellent networking opportunities. 

Cordia Wilkinson Harrington is an entrepreneur who has excelled in manufacturing, transportation, the quick service restaurant segment, and real estate & construction.    
Harrington is owner and founder of The Bakery Companies, which includes four plants and 12 product lines, serving elite customers in the United States, Caribbean and South America. In addition, her businesses include Bakery Express (trucking) and Cold Storage of Nashville (a freezer facility). Harrington’s focus on regulations, sustainability, employee policies and state-of-the-art equipment have led the company to grow organically into one of the Top 50 Fastest Growing Woman-Owned Businesses, and earn awards such as  EY Entrepreneur of Year (2015-Southeast Program) and 2016 Most Admired CEO, Lifetime Achievement. Her passion and drive to create opportunities, make a difference, and impact lives has enabled her to recruit top talent and earned respect in a traditionalist industry. Elite customers include McDonald’s, Five Guys, Sara Lee, Whole Foods, Jason’s Deli, ConAgra and others. 
Harrington’s past entrepreneurial enterprises include an award-winning real estate and construction company opened in 1981 and sold to Coldwell Bankers in 1989. In 1989 Harrington graduated McDonald’s Hamburger University as a registered applicant and purchased a McDonald’s franchise. Proving her ability to lead and motivate, Harrington earned the opportunity to build two additional McDonald’s restaurants. With the addition of a Greyhound Bus franchise to the McDonald’s complex, Harrington served over 80 buses per day, increasing restaurant sales to top 40 in the United States.

Along with impeccable business ethics, Harrington has leadership experience with community, business and civic boards. She served on the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Nashville Branch from 2008-2013. She is a member of Belmont University’s Board of Trustees (2008-present), Chief Executives Organization (CEO) Board of Directors-President Elect, American Bakers Association (ABA) Board of Directors-President Elect, the BarbaraBush@90 Committee and Points of Light Committee honoring President George H. W. Bush. Governor Bill Haslam appointed Harrington to serve on the Tennessee Education Lottery Board of Directors in 2015.

Harrington has corporate board experience, serving on the boards of Zoës Kitchen (NYSE: ZOES), and Williams Food (Kansas City).

Harrington has been recognized in dozens of local and national media outlets for her commitment to excellence, enthusiasm and business savvy. In 2016, she was recognized as the University of Arkansas Johnson Fellow, received Millikin University’s Excellence in Entrepreneurship award and was inducted into the YWCA Academy of Women of Achievement. The Bakery Companies were also named to the list of 50 fastest-growing private companies in Tennessee and were finalists in the Business with Purpose awards. Harrington has received dozens of awards for her dedication to furthering female entrepreneurship.

Thank you to our Partner Organizations:
Cultural Alliance of York County 
Hanover Area Young Professionals
Leadership York
United Way Emerging Leaders Society
YorIt - York County Community Foundation
York County Economic Alliance
York Jaycees
York Young Professionals

Thank you to our sponsors:
RKL
York Traditions Bank
P.H. Glatfelter
WellSpan Health
York County Community Foundation
The Kinsley Foundation
Bailey Coach