Fontenelle Forest

Strategic Planning Simplified

What to Expect and How to Prepare for the Retreat

Process Overview

September 23 2025 - Pre-workshop survey due

September 31-October 1, 2025 - Strategy Planning Retreat

October 15, 2025 - Jeff sends the digital second draft document

November 2025 - Formal Board Approval

January 2026 - Official kick-off of new strategic plan

April 2026 - 90-Day Accountability meeting

What To Expect

Objective: Create a three-year strategy to win and a one-year plan

Outcome: Clarity and alignment on what the Supply Network organization needs to become and what it needs to do over the next three years.

Output: A three-year strategy and a one-year plan document.

Experience: A series of exercises using small groups, Post-its, and Sharpies. We’ll be on our feet, moving about the room.

Dress: Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

Location: Camp Brewster

Tuesday, September 31, 2025
9:00 - 4:30 PM

Part I: Set the Strategy (3-Year: 2026-2028)

  • What strategic problems do we face?

  • What mountain are we climbing?

  • What is our strategy?

  • What capabilities and systems do we need?

  • What are our one-year milestones?

Wednesday, October 1, 2025
9:00 - 12:00 PM

Part II: Build the Plan (2026)

  • What are our 1-year “Big Five” objectives?

  • What must happen in the first 90 Days?

Part III: Test Assumptions

  • What goes on our “Stop Doing” or “Don’t Do” list?

  • What has to be true?

  • What resistance will we face?

  • What will likely go wrong?

How to Prepare for the Session

Required: Complete the pre-workshop survey by September 23, 2025 (15 min)

Helpful but not required:

  1. Read What Is Strategy by Michael E. Porter (10 min)

  2. Read Can you say what your strategy is? (10 min)

  3. Watch the video A Plan Is Not a Strategy by Roger Martin. (10 min)

Learn More About

Jeff Shannon

A master facilitator of corporate strategy workshops, leadership development, and off-site retreats. He conducts over 90 sessions annually for numerous companies in the Midwest and is the author of business guides such as "Lead Engaging Meetings" and "Hard Work Is Not Enough."