The Pinnacle Prom Returns as Lighthouse Documents $5M in Business Movement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHARLOTTE, N.C., September 15, 2026.

Lighthouse Leadership Consultants™ will host The Pinnacle Prom™ on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at The Hamilton in Charlotte. The public evening includes dinner, cocktails, professional Prom portraits, the second annual Queen of Connection™ ceremony and dancing. Tickets are $200, with 99 paid seats available.

Created by executive strategist Kristi Straw, MBA, The Pinnacle Prom brings Lighthouse’s measured room method into a public event. Guests participate phone-down. Seating is intentionally curated. Direct asks and post-event follow-through are built into the experience. Lighthouse tracks clients, jobs, capital, partnerships, sponsorships, speaking invitations and other business activity connected to relationships formed or advanced through its rooms.

More than $5 million in documented business movement has been connected to Lighthouse rooms and relationships over nearly 18 months. The figure represents documented commercial activity connected to those relationships. Lighthouse and event revenue are tracked separately.

“We have documented more than $5 million in business movement connected to these rooms and relationships,” Straw said. “The Prom gives founders, executives, artists, operators, advisors and community builders enough time and intention for useful relationships to begin.”

Marie Kelly, the inaugural 2025 Queen of Connection™, will pass the crown to Dr. Jennifer M.L. Adelhardt. Adelhardt is an adjunct professor of management at UNC Charlotte whose work includes entrepreneurship, neurodiversity, leadership and psychological safety. The Queen of Connection™ recognizes a woman known for making thoughtful introductions, creating belonging and following through.

The commercial record is visible in the relationships that continue after each room. After attending a Lighthouse room, Drew Burdick of StealthX booked Straw to host operator dinners with him at CLT Startup House. The Pinnacle Dinner™ holds a 9.8 out of 10 average overall experience rating.

The November 12 experience will also include a special Pinnacle Prom edition dessert created by Manolo Betancur. The first 50 ticket holders will receive a limited-edition Presence Check™ item. Dress is black tie optional.

Current partners include Sally Awad, Anchor Presenting Sponsor and Crown & Prom Portraits Partner; Faith Hill, Community Partner; and Stetson Patton’s Socially Stetson, Social Media Partner.

Tickets and full event details are available at https://thepinnacleprom.com.

Direct ticket checkout: https://unicornleader.myflodesk.com/pinnacleprom/checkout

About Lighthouse Leadership Consultants™

Lighthouse Leadership Consultants™ is a strategy firm that makes markets for expertise easier to buy, sell and refer. Founded by executive strategist Kristi Straw, MBA, Lighthouse works with founders, executives and organizations on executive strategy, trust, decision-making, authority and relationship-driven business development. Its work includes Authentic Authority™, BetterStory Studio™, The Pinnacle Dinner™, Pinnacle Powered™ and Rare Rooms™. More than $5 million in documented business movement has been connected to Lighthouse rooms and relationships over nearly 18 months. Learn more at https://lighthouseleadershipconsultants.com.

Media Contact

Kristi Straw, MBA
Founder & CEO
Lighthouse Leadership Consultants™
kstraw@lighthouseleadershipconsultants.com
704-665-7151
https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighthouseleadershipconsultants/