2021 Virtual Conference

*Schedule is tentative
** All times are EST

Session Leaders:
Aaron Miller, Ashley Mudd

• Wednesday, July 14
  1:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

• Leadership Louisville Center, KY
  Leadership Institute of Acadiana, LA

• The eternal question in our industry is "how do we engage alumni?" The first answer for many of us is "use them to plan program day content!" But does that really lead to the best programming for your current class? If not program day committees, how else can we keep our alumni engaged after they graduate? Or are we maybe too focused on strategies to keep alumni engaged and not focused enough on our current program participants (and getting more new people in the door)? This session will feature different perspectives from different cities (big and small) to discuss (and possibly argue about) different models for program day planning - and why using alumni to plan program days is essential OR a complete waste of time and resources. We will discuss other strategies for engaging alumni and where they can add the most value to our organizations.

Session Leader:
 Nancy Dering Mock

• Monday, July 12
  12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

• Nancy Dering Mock Consulting, FL

• This presentation explores the value of stepping back and getting a broader, more comprehensive perspective on community leadership development. What do you really want graduates to understand?  What do you want them to be able to do? Even more importantly, what do you want them to actually do? And, how do you measure all this?  Participants will be guided through a four-step process of 1) Model Building; 2) Identifying core competencies; 3) Developing curriculum; and 4) Summarizing and Evaluating Learning.  Input from the participants will be invited at each step.

Session Leader:
 David Shar

• Monday, July 12
  12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

• Illuminate PMC, MD

• Stress, burnout, turnover, and interpersonal conflict are occurring at epidemic levels within the workplace. As organizations manage the new demands and uncertainty of business in a COVID-19 reality (and beyond) it is more important than ever to infuse meaning, gratitude, and support into your work culture. In this presentation, burnout & meaningful work expert, David Shar uses the power of story, humor & interactivity highlighting the latest research in Industrial / Organizational Psychology to explore tactics and benefits of creating a supportive and mission-driven workplace culture.

Session Leader:
 Matt Lofy

• Monday, July 12
  2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

• Leadership Westerville, OH

• For more than three years, Leadership Westerville has witnessed its mission at the heart of more community collaborations, revamped programming and increased class sizes than ever before in its 20-year history. In the midst of this dynamic growth is a management agreement with the Westerville Area Chamber. In this workshop, hear the good, the not-so-good and the small victories of a Chamber partnership, leave with three key questions and see if this partnership could be your next step towards building a better commUNITY.

Session Leader:
 Evie DuVernay

• Monday, July 12
  3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

• Cleveland Leadership Center, OH

• Polarization continues to strengthen within our media, politics, and communities. With few examples of civil civic discourse, how will our next generation of leaders build the skills necessary to engage productively with one another and effectively address civic issues? This session will explore approaches to teaching these vital skills to high school students and co-creating learning communities where civil discourse is the norm.

Session Leader: 
Michael Wilkinson

• Wednesday, July 14
  1:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

• Leadership Strategies, Inc., GA

• A major shift has been occurring in the workplace that requires leaders to be able to facilitate rather than dictate. Leaders are recognizing the need to inspire employees rather than command and control them. And employees are seeking to participate in decision-making and not just be impacted by it. They must understand how to inspire people, develop trust, manage group interaction, resolve conflict, and build consensus.

Session Leader: 
John Riordan

• Monday, July 12
  3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

• John Riordan & Associates, VA

• You can't just bring in coffee and donuts anymore! Forget a LOT of what you know about leadership. Leading effectively in a virtual context is a whole new challenge! While many of the fundamental objectives remain the same, the strategies and tactics for engaging with your virtual team will need to change significantly. In this Workshop we will focus on three core objectives: First, Rethink Leadership: reframe your mental model. Second, Reassess Your Strengths: apply a new set of skills and competencies. Third, Restrategize Engagement: learn a unique set of strategies, practices and tools.

Session Leaders:
  Lisa Zaken, Michelle Long Spears

• Monday, July 12
  12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

• Leadership Gwinnett, GA

• Want to lead a racial equity initiative in your community? Ready to move past conversations on racial equity to action? Not sure how to do it? Co-presenters, Lisa Zaken and Michelle Long Spears, will present a case study on how a county-based leadership program designed, planned, scaled and launched a community-wide racial equity initiative in partnership with a regional racial equity organization. Participants will learn what worked, what didn't, how to engage 'usual and unusual' stakeholders in a multi-sector collaboration, and activation strategies that broadly reach to grasstops AND grassroots -- so that ALL community is engaged in advancing equity.

Session Leaders: 
David Sachs, Janese Murray and Rajan Patel  

• Wednesday, July 14
  12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

• The LEADERship, MD

• In May of 2020, despite two-months of increasingly effective virtual offerings, we decided to pause our one and only program, thereby putting 85% of our revenue at risk. Seeing this massive disruption as an opportunity to push for change and innovation, we adapted our pre-pandemic strategy of Leadership Development at Scale for a new reality. Integrating elements of Design Thinking, Adaptive Leadership and Systems Thinking with frameworks for Leading for Inclusion and Equity, we created our new Leading Now program portfolio. Join us as we share our story of how the events of 2020 sparked our creativity and opened a conversation about how all of us in the ALP network can continue to innovate.

Session Leader:
  Barbara Boone

• Wednesday, July 14
  11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

• Leadership Tallahassee, FL

• It is a well known fact that graduates/alumni of community leadership programs are most energized to give back to the organization in those first few years after program completion. Join us for a highly interactive session where you can explore how leveraging your alumni as program developers and more can be a boost for them in deepening their skills, relationships, visibility, and commitment to community success. Learn how leaders have engaged alumni, kept them engaged and the awesome results. Share your own ideas, questions, and techniques of engagement!

Session Leader:
  Patrick McAnnaly

• Tuesday, July 13
  12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

• Leadership Tennessee, TN

• After a tumultuous 2020 and a rough start to 2021, Americans are more divided than ever. Despite the polarizing rhetoric that floods our news cycles, Americans have much more in common than we think. Identifying those commonalities will help us all move forward together, maybe if even just a little less broken than before. Living Room Conversations is a useful tool to help perfect strangers and friends alike come together to listen with pure intentions, and hopefully, leave with more respect for one another.

Session Leaders:
 Mike Ritz, Michelle Carr

• Tuesday, July 13
  2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

• Leadership Rhode Island, RI

• Between 2010 and 2020 (the organization‘s fourth decade of existence), the number of alumni who financially contributed to Leadership Rhode Island more than quadrupled (319% increase). In this workshop explore engagement concepts that harness the power of the alumni network and strategies that place alumni at the center - building organizational relevancy, broader transformational impact and a culture of giving.

Session Leaders:
Lori Weir, Deann Bradford, Jeff Gregg,  Victor Wynn, Kayla Curry

• Tuesday, July 13
  2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

• Leadership L‘Evate, TN

• Let's examine three pillars of the L'Evate Virtual Experience: Discover how to leverage your Legacy Program as a springboard for excellent virtual experiences. Learn how historically successful program elements can be used in a fresh way to create a bonded class who care deeply about each other and their community. And examine an innovative and practical approach to creating a safe space for conversation to ensure that everyone feels seen and heard in equal ways.

Session Leader:
 Pam Brunet

• Monday, July 12
  2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

• Leadership Greater Syracuse, NY

• For 11 years, Leadership Greater Syracuse has offered a short program that teaches the nuts and bolts on what it takes to run for office. This nonpartisan program now has community credibility and reduces the number of uncontested races in Central New York. 'Political Pathways' inspires and connects citizens to the political process and provides tangible curriculum. Further, Leadership Greater Syracuse has identified unique sponsors to ensure that this program generates revenue for the organization. In this session you will learn their 'secret sauce' on what has made this program a success.

Session Leader:
 Kristin Bakke

• Wednesday, July 14
  11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

• LEAD Brevard FL

• Are you new to your CLP role? Have you been a CLP leader for some time and have tips of the trade to share? Have a ‘what is best practice for ? question but don’t know whom to ask? Attend this ‘open space’ session and let’s solve that issue together. Use this hour to learn from your peers – one of the best benefits of being present for this national conference. We’ll include a ‘lightning round ‘ of ‘best practices’ from all who join us.

Session Leader: 
Karla Wludyga, Paige Cserhati

• Wednesday, July 14
  12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

• PRADCO, OH

• By the end of this session, participants will understand the benefits of having a succession plan. Learn how to evaluate current talent and identify potential leaders. Gain insights and knowledge on how to further develop identified leaders. Increase familiarity with programs, resources and techniques that will help support succession planning efforts.

Session Leader:
 Jay Shepley

• Monday, July 12
  3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

• Leadership Greater Washington, DC

• Storytelling doesn't have to be difficult. This session will share practical tactics for telling the stories of the collective impact of the members of your leadership organization. Stories can come in a variety of styles and formats but there are some key elements that you should have to make sure your stories are memorable, engaging, and appeal to people on an emotional level.

Session Leader: 
Kathy Coffey

• Wednesday, July 14
  1:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

• Leadership Snohomish, WA

• COVID had shined a light on many inequities in all our systems. While these conversations are not specifically about equity, you cannot look at systems without having an outcome of noticing who is being served well and who is not. That equity extends from racial equity to rural vs urban and socio-economic indicators. This session will describe how to engage your region in dialogue around all the topics of your individual Education or Challenge Days. 

Session Leaders: 
Carrie Richardson, Don Harkey,
Mike Brothers, Caitlin Kissee

• Wednesday, July 14
  12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

• Leadership Springfield, MO

• Learn from a panel of Leadership Springfield alumni, board members, program facilitators and staff about their journey from an affiliate program to a fully independent program. Learn how to scale up with intention, manage change, put resources up front, and navigate transitions. Identify what data you need to set yourself up for success during times of change and what to do if you don't have the data you need. Leave with practical tips for pivots, changes and scaling up and a how to (and how not to) guide for making big strategic transitions.

Session Leaders: 
 Tara Sargeant, Christina Williams

• Tuesday, July 13
  12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

• Leadership Washington County, MD

• The summer of 2020 reignited calls for racial equity and a reckoning with law enforcement after several deaths of several unarmed black men and women. We witnessed significant protests in many cities in the U.S. While most protests were peaceful, some were destructive. Like most organizations, community leadership programs felt called to address the inequities. LWC created three different opportunities for graduates and current class members to engage on the topic of racial equity. Our session intends to describe the programming created by LWC as well as our process and the execution of the events.

Session Leader: 
Rachel Ciomcia

• Tuesday, July 13
  2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

• Cleveland Leadership Center, OH

• Evaluation is a key capacity for organizations to inform decision making and to understand the impact and quality of their work. When designing programs, organizations need to know what works to bring the most value to their constituents and the communities with which they engage. This session provides a space to explore how organizations can effectively implement an evaluation program and utilize results to enhance the impact of their work internally with staff and externally with constituents.

Session Leaders: 
Chris Donovan, Kristin Zosa Puleo

• Monday, July 12
  2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

• Leadership Rhode Island, RI

• Nothing beats in-person interactions. And, leadership programs (and the leaders behind them)are uniquely positioned to create high quality, engaging experiences, which can be transitioned into the virtual space by re-thinking and re-imagining design and facilitation. Join us to explore best practices that engage leaders and learners, drive collaboration and performance, and overcome digital fatigue.

Session Leader: 
Jayme Sweere

• Wednesday, July 14
  11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

• Jayme Yoga Therapy

• We have all felt how stress and overwhelm cause frustration, tension, fog, and fatigue. In this session, we will overview the science of the nervous system and why particular techniques are so beneficial and supportive for stress management. We will then learn simple and easily applicable tools for managing stress with breath and movement practices. These practices give space for clarity, calm, creativity, and coherence in the work environment. This 60-minute experiential learning session will support you in developing a stress management toolkit. You will know what works for you by feeling for yourself!

Session Leader: 
Makita Hill, Shalia Ford  

• Tuesday, July 13
  12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

• Focus St. Louis, MO

• Youth are engaged in civic issues across our communities, regions and nation; and in many instances, they are leading innovative solutions to civic issues that impact where we live, work and play. An effective youth leadership program involves various components, however, one approach that must be at the foundation of curriculum planning and implementation is youth voice. In this session, you will receive a toolkit to incorporate youth voice from the design of programming to the civic leadership discussions developed for and led by youth leaders.

LEAD Brevard, FL
Session: Program Best Practices - Ask/Share/Learn 

Bio coming soon...

Leadership Tallahassee, FL Session: Leverage Alumni for Your Program/Their Fulfillment

Bio coming soon...

Leadership L’Evate, TN
Session: Pivoting for Impact

Bio coming soon...

Leadership Springfield, MO Session: Taking the Leap: Transitioning from a Chamber Affiliate to Independent Sustainable CLP

Bio coming soon...

Leadership Springfield, MO Session: Political Pathways - A Program That Generates Revenue and Aligns with Mission

Bio coming soon...

Leadership RI
Sessions: 
 - Organizational Relevance & Fundraising through Alumni Engagement
  - Open Space discussions:
 Most influential books, articles, music for you 

Michelle Carr serves as Deputy Director at Leadership Rhode Island where she oversees programs, training and strategic initiatives; develops thought leadership and operational strategy; and stewards human capital and impact measurement. A Cuban-American, and the first in her family to go to college, Michelle has spent her career creating environments and designing experiences where individuals step beyond their comfort zones, find common ground, and grow personally, professionally and as engaged community members.

Cleveland Leadership Center, OH
Session: Understanding Your Impact: Meaningful Evaluation for Programs

Bio coming soon...

Leadership Snohomish, WA
Session: Systems Conversations as a tool for Growth, Civic Engagement and Equity Awareness

Bio coming soon...

PRADCO, OH
Session: Securing Your Organization's Future Means More Than Fundraising 

As a Management Consultant at PRADCO, Ms. Cserhati is dedicated to ensuring organizations receive high-quality insights to make excellent decisions around talent acquisition and employee development. Though she works across the organization, Ms. Cserhati‘s expertise lies in conducting behavioral assessments, creating insightful candidate reports, and delivering valuable feedback to leaders. Additionally, she leverages her background in learning and development by collaborating with PRADCO‘s Organizational Development leaders to facilitate programs and develop learning content.

Leadership L’Evate, TN Session: Pivoting for Impact

Bio coming soon...

Leadership RI
Sessions: 
  - Open Space discussions:
 Most influential books, articles, music for you 

Teresa DeFlitch has decades of experience in experiential learning, project and program management, and training. A leader in education innovation, she began her career in museums and public history. She has consulted with several organizations on projects that explore new boundaries in teaching and learning.  Most recently, as Director of People and Education, she led the development of a people-centered HR strategy for the James Beard-nominated Pittsburgh Distilling Company (Wigle Whiskey and Threadbare Cider) while leading special projects, including the launch of a new spirits tourism trail across Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Washington, DC.

Leadership Rhode Island, RI
Session: Virtual Design & Facilitation - Yes, AND!  

Christopher is the Events and Communications Specialist with Leadership Rhode Island. His background as a stage manager in the performing arts drives him to deliver seamless experiences that keep the ’magic‘ in the spotlight, while keeping all of the nitty gritty details ’behind the curtains‘. As a problem-solver that loves technology, the shift to a virtual landscape has allowed him to combine his strengths and talents. He reimagines the traditional structure of events by asking "why" instead of "what", and uses those answers to create virtual experiences that leave attendees feeling energized and inspired.

Cleveland Leadership Center, OH
Session: Civil Civic Discourse 101 for High School Students

Bio coming soon...

Focus St. Louis, MO
Session: Youth Programming

Shalia Ford is the Director of Leadership Programs at FOCUS St. Louis where she manages the women and youth programs. Her career in the nonprofit sector spans more than 20 years. Shalia's passion to see women and girls flourish inspires her volunteerism with the Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis, RUNG for Women, and the Pam Kendall-Rijos Women’s Mentor Program.  

Leadership L’Evate, TN Session: Pivoting for Impact

Bio coming soon...

Leadership Springfield, MO Session: Taking the Leap: Transitioning from a Chamber Affiliate to Independent Sustainable CLP

Bio coming soon...

Focus St. Louis, MO
 Session: Youth Programming

Makita Hill provides strategic direction and management to civic leadership development programs as a Leadership Program Manager with FOCUS St. Louis. She brings experience in both local and state government. Makita is a member of the Washington University's Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement’s Community Advisory Council, and volunteers with the Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis. She holds a Master of Public Policy Administration from University of Missouri-St. Louis, and a Bachelor of Arts in English and minor in public policy administration from Truman State University. 

Leadership Springfield, MO
Session: Taking the Leap: Transitioning from a Chamber Affiliate to Independent Sustainable CLP

Caitlin Kissee is a self-proclaimed recovering perfectionist and leadership nerd. A passionate communicator, Caitlin is energized by propelling individuals and organizations toward their mission driven objectives. As a Gallup-certified Strengths Coach, Caitlin founded Propel People Development LLC, four years ago, where she challenges individuals and teams to focus on their strengths. Through that business, she coaches professionals, builds and facilitates leadership development curriculum for teams and walks alongside organizations to develop stronger leaders.

Leadership Westerville, OH
Session: Chamber Partnerships and Stronger CommUNITY 

Matt has been the Executive Director of Leadership Westerville for nearly four years, while serving as Director of Marketing and Community Outreach for the Westerville Area Chamber. In his roles, he is responsible for all Leadership Westerville programming for their adult and youth programs, the MLK Legacy Project (an alumni committee which hosts the Annual Martin Luther King Day Breakfast and Community Conversations on racial diversity and inclusion) and all communications for the Chamber, including managing the Westerville Scholarship Foundation and Westerville Music & Arts Festival.

Leadership Tennessee, TN
Session: Listening to Bridge the Divide with Living Room Conversations

Bio coming soon...

Leadership Louisville Center, KY
Session: Alumni Engagement

Bio coming soon...

Nancy Dering Mock Consulting, FL
Session: Assuring a Solid Foundation: Designing a Comprehensive Community Leadership Model

Bio coming soon...

Leadership Institute of Acadiana, LA
Session: Alumni Engagement

Ashley's passion for developing leaders inspired her to develop and launch UL Lafayettes interdisciplinary minor in leadership studies. Ashley joined the team at Girl Scouts of LouisianaPines to the Gulf leading their recruitment and retention efforts to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Leadership Institute of Acadiana, a non-profit designed to convene, build, and activate leaders in the Acadiana community. Under her Leadership, LIA has grown its programming, launched a new brand, and implemented its first strategic commitment to diversity and inclusion. 

The LEADERship, MD
Session: Leading Now: Leveraging a Changing World to Catalyze Innovation

Bio coming soon...

The LEADERship, MD
Session: Leading Now: Leveraging a Changing World to Catalyze Innovation

Bio coming soon...

Leadership Rhode Island, RI 
Session: Virtual Design & Facilitation - Yes, AND!  

Kristin is the Director of Programs at Leadership Rhode Island, overseeing the
curriculum development and implementation of LRI‘s Core and College Programs. Prior to
joining the Leadership Rhode Island team in 2017, Kristin was at Johnson & Wales University‘s
department of Providence Campus Events, executing high-level events for the administration,
board members and executives.

Leadership Springfield, MO Session: Taking the Leap: Transitioning from a Chamber Affiliate to Independent Sustainable CLP

Bio coming soon...

John Riordan & Associates, VA
Session: Impactful Leadership in the Virtual Environment

Bio coming soon...

Leadership RI
Session: Organizational Relevance & Fundraising through Alumni Engagement 

Under Mike's leadership for the past 11 years, Leadership Rhode Island has received numerous accolades, including the Excellence in Public Service Award by Common Cause RI, two National Innovation Awards from the Association of Leadership Programs and three Community Outreach Awards from the RI Press Association for public forums in partnership with The Providence Journal and Rhode Island College. LRI‘s innovative Make RI Stronger social enterprise is recognized by Gallup as an inspiration for the global strengths movement.

The LEADERship, MD
Session: Leading Now: Leveraging a Changing World to Catalyze Innovation

Bio coming soon...

Leadership Washington County, MD
Session: Two White Women Navigate Racial Equity Programming

Bio coming soon...

Illuminate PMC, MD
Session: Building a Burnout-Proof Work Culture: Infusing Meaning & Preventing Burnout In A COVID-19 World & Beyond

Bio coming soon...

Leadership Greater Washington, DC
Session: Storytelling that Moves Your Audience

Bio coming soon...

Leadership Gwinnett, GA
Session: Leaders Advancing an Equitable Community: From Conversation to Activation

Bio coming soon...

Movement Collective Studio
Session:Yoga Therapy for Stress Management

Jayme Sweere, is a Yoga Therapist and Performance Coach that has spent the last decade researching and developing relevant ways of integrating movement and mindfulness teachings into today’s lifestyle and workday. 

Learn more about her and her programs at JaymeSweere.com 

Leadership L’Evate, TN Session: Pivoting for Impact

Bio coming soon...

Leadership Strategies, Inc. Session: The 8 CORE Practices of Facilitative Leaders

Bio coming soon...

Leadership Washington County, MD
Session: Two White Women Navigate Racial Equity Programming

Bio coming soon...

PRADCO, OH
Session: Securing Your Organization's Future Means More Than Fundraising

Bio coming soon...

Leadership L’Evate, TN Session: Pivoting for Impact

Bio coming soon...

Leadership Gwinnett, GA
Session: Leaders Advancing an Equitable Community: From Conversation to Activation

Bio coming soon...