The Rise and Thrive Women's Retreat is perfect for women ready to invest in themselves, elevate their personal and professional lives, and connect with like-minded individuals. This two-day, three-night women’s retreat is your opportunity to step into a space designed for self-discovery, growth, and connection. Join us at Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs for our 2026 retreat.
Register today! Don’t miss your chance to be part of this transformative experience.
Dates don’t work? Join us in Mexico in 2028! Get on the list
Event Details:
Dates: April 15-18, 2026
Location: Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs
6811 Hwy 8, Madras, OR 97741
Schedule (Time Allocation):
April 15: 4PM, Welcome
April 16 & 17: 8:30AM, Retreat, 6PM Dinner
April 18: Check out and return home
Cost: $1,700 (Shared Lodge Room)
*Upgrade to VIP Retreat House or Book Your Own Room Options are available.
Hosts: Dr. Christine Fonner and Dr. Kristine Medyanik
What You’ll Experience
This retreat is thoughtfully crafted to provide you with:
Leadership development workshops led by expert facilitators
Techniques to improve communication in challenging conversations
Strategies to create actionable systems for personal and team success
Reflective practices to align your goals and leadership style
A supportive community of women committed to personal and professional growth
Through immersive activities and guided reflection, you will leave with tools to confidently navigate challenges, align your strengths with your goals, and build a vision for the future you want to create.
The Ch(K)ristine’s
Wednesday 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Arrival & Resort Check-in
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Rise & Thrive Meet + Greet (Location: Hot Springs River Front Cabanas)
Thursday
8:30 AM
Settle in, coffee and fruit provided
9:00 AM
Opening workshop and Breathwork
10:30 AM
Understanding Overwhelm
12:00 PM
Lunch - Charcuterie
1:45 PM
Routines and Rituals - Increasing your capacity for Joy - Dr. Christine Fonner
3:00 PM
Free time, reflection, connection time
5:00 PM
Dinner
6:00 PM
Soaking pool/River front Cabanas
Friday
8:30 AM
Room opens, settle in for coffee and fruit/yogurt
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Breathwork and Setting things down that don’t serve you. - Dr. Kristine
10:15 AM
AM break
10:30 AM
Vision board intro - Dr. Kristine
11:00 AM
Vision Boarding and Lunch (check out of rooms if needed)
12:30 PM
Radical Care Leadership: A new framework for Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs - Dr. Christine
2:00 PM
Personal reflection time - What are your 3!
4:00 PM
Action planning and closing
6:00 PM
River front Cabana time
You can head home after or stay Friday night as it’s included with your time!
Saturday - Check out as desired
What's Included:
- Daily workshops and engaging activities
- All workshop supplies and materials
- Expert facilitation designed to unlock your potential and equip you with actionable strategies
Accommodations:
Registration includes 3 NIGHTS in the TEEPEE shared with new friends.
About Your Facilitators
Dr. Kristine Medyanik
Dr. Kristine K. Medyanik, DBA is a professor, leadership strategist, and curriculum designer with deep expertise in business, organizational behavior, and leadership development. She currently serves as a full-time professor at Corban University, where she designs and teaches MBA- and undergraduate-level courses with a focus on ethical leadership, strategy, and real-world application.
In addition to her academic work, Dr. Medyanik is a fractional Chief People Officer and leadership facilitator with The Evolving Leader Fellowship. She partners with organizations ranging from 10 to 500 employees to strengthen leadership capacity through workshops, keynotes, retreats, and customized development programs. Her work centers on helping leaders build self-awareness, navigate complexity, and lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Dr. Medyanik is also the creator of several innovative leadership learning experiences, including the Leadershit UnCourse, which uses humor and practical insight to explore common leadership missteps—and how to grow beyond them. Known for blending research-based frameworks with approachable, human-centered teaching, she brings warmth, wit, and candor to every room she leads.
She holds a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) and has extensive experience in project management, curriculum development, and cross-generational leadership. Whether in the classroom or the boardroom, Dr. Medyanik is passionate about developing leaders who are both effective and deeply human.
Dr. Christine Fonner
Dr. Christine Fonner is a holistic leadership expert, keynote speaker, and educator with over 25 years of experience across nonprofit, government, corporate, and educational sectors. She blends strategy, empathy, and experience to integrate systems thinking, trauma-informed leadership, emotional intelligence, and relational communication. She supports leaders in their own leadership development and in creating spaces for meaningful dialogue, aligned action, and culturally relevant approaches rooted in both accountability and care.
Christine holds a PhD in Organizational Leadership, a Master’s in Transformational Leadership and Change Management, and a Bachelor’s in K-12 Education. Her PhD research focused on the impacts of toxic leadership on the safety, esteem, and belonging of women leaders, and her career emphasizes leadership development and cultivating radical care in the workplace.
With experience leading teams, coaching executives, and facilitating transformation in high-stress environments, Christine supports leaders and organizations to reconnect to purpose, build trust, and lead with authenticity—honoring both strategic and humanistic elements of leadership.
