To a packed crowd at last night’s 18th annual TrendLines conference at the Reagan Building, outgoing Delta Research founder Greg Leisch said everyone’s been asking him what he’ll be doing. At first he joked he was going to Disney World. But afterwards, he confided exclusively to us his real plan.

He wishes to become a National Geographic wildlife photographer.

How did he acquire this vaulting ambition, besides his 35 years of drawing excellent charts and graphs at Delta? Here's how: He took this picture of a sunrise four weeks ago in Queenstown, New Zealand. He believes it worthy of a Pulitzer, or perhaps a Nobel, if the latter prize should ever be awarded for a photograph. We hope it works out. We would advise him to keep his day job in the meantime, but unfortunately he’s already given it up. He leaves mid-March, and has not announced alternative plans in the remote event his National Geographic hope does not materialize.

Greg’s successor as Delta CEO will be David Weisel, center, currently president of the firm’s consulting division. Wishing David and Greg well: Transwestern Americas president Chip Clarke and Transwestern’s DC Market co-leaders Keith Foery and Phil McCarthy.

Charles E. Smith legend Bob Kogod valiantly declined our suggestion to be in the center, saying Vornado/CES EVP Laurie Kramer belonged there. Her other other bookend: Arnold & Porter legal ace Michael Goodwin. They and many others were on hand to cheer Vornado/CES president Mitchell Schear and Lerner Enterprises principal Mark Lerner, who were named Trendsetters of the Year. (Pictures in today’s Scene Bisnow.)

Greg’s wife of 45 years, Nancy, has missed only two Trendlines. Greg says she’s evidence of his view that “Behind every successful man is a woman rolling her eyes.” For her part, she says she fully supports any job path he wishes to pursue, provided he continues to work outside the house.