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// Wednesday, April 23, 2025
// 7:30 A.M. – 3 P.M.
// Business Education Center

 

THANKS FOR EVERYONE WHO JOINED US!

The 2024 event is over, but you can still contact our Business Developers to schedule Business and Leadership training for your organization. Otherwise, sign up to be notified when registration opens for this event in 2025.

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Meet Our 2024 Conference Keynote Speaker

Keynote Speaker: Jean Davidson

Jean Davidson

Jean Davidson brings 30 years of experience in business, education, entrepreneurship, consulting, and coaching into her work. Her background includes consultation, management, training, facilitation, and coaching in the healthcare, financial services, retail, pharmaceutical, and technology industries as well as higher education and local government. Jean has been a business owner for a total of 40 years and has expertise in team and leadership development, leadership coaching, as well as the successful implementation of change initiatives. Her passion lies in working with the human and cultural elements of change, team development, communication skills, and coaching leaders to reach their full potential. In short, Jean believes that life is most fulfilling when we are intentional about how we show up in the world, understand our impact on those around us, and embark on a lifelong journey to being our best selves.

Jean is an Insights Licensed Practitioner, accredited in the entire Insights suite of tools. She is an International Coaching Federation credentialed coach (PCC), as well as a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) and Certified Neurotransformational Coach (CNTC). She holds an Ed.D. in Organization Development from the University of St. Thomas and her research focus is leadership transition and organizational change. Her recent work projects include several e-books which you can learn more about on her website.

In her spare time, she can be found crocheting, quilting, playing board games, working on jigsaw puzzles, or spending time with her family (husband, 3 children, 13 grandchildren, and 2 Siberian huskies) in Cumberland, WI, where she has recently moved to experience life in the north woods on a lake. She wears dancing and golf shoes; 40 years as a Jazzercise instructor and 10 years of attempting to golf. She highly recommends golf to stay humble!

2024 Conference Schedule

7:30 - 8 a.m.  |  Coffee & Conversation

8 - 8:15 a.m.  |  Welcome

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8:15 - 9 a.m.  |  Keynote Presentation

3 Keys to Move Toward Balance

Presented By: Jean Davidson
Feeling stressed? Overwhelmed? Out of balance? It all starts with your brain! Learn three simple neuroscience-based tools to increase your personal effectiveness.

9 - 9:15 a.m.  |  Break

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9:15 - 10:15 a.m.  |  Breakout Session #1

How to Lead with Emotional Intelligence

Presented By: Marya Wilson
Emotions are wide-ranging, and in the current disruptive and transformational time of change, they can surely be tricky. Join us for insight and tools to help you manage and transform difficult emotions using emotional intelligence.

Microsoft Outlook Tips and Tricks

Presented By: Sheila Kohls
Review tips for organizing and sending emails, working with tasks, scheduling appointments, and maintaining contact lists. Develop email etiquette, customize Outlook, and learn shortcut keys.

Your Voice Matters: Tactics to Bring it into the Room

Presented By: Jean Davidson
At some point, we all face situations where staying quiet seems easier, but speaking up becomes necessary. Choosing silence is an option, but not the best one! Discover simple techniques to ease anxiety and boost confidence. This session tackles common reasons for holding back. Don’t let others dictate your words. Your voice matters – share your perspective. Join us to learn how to find your voice and create a new narrative!

Mindfully Working: How to Incorporate Mindfulness and Movement into Your 9-5

Presented By: Kayla Sygulla
Mindfulness is a meditative practice in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you're sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment. During the first half of the presentation, Kayla will introduce you to formal and informal mindfulness practices. During the second half of the presentation, you will have the opportunity to put these mindfulness techniques into practice and try them out. Overall, this mindfulness session will offer a glimpse at how you can incorporate simple mindfulness practices into the workplace and your everyday life!

10:15 - 10:30 a.m.  |  Break

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10:30 - 11:30 a.m.  |  Breakout Session #2

Leading from the Middle

Presented By: Marya Wilson
Leading from the middle can be challenging because there are responsibilities below and above. In this session, we will have an interactive session discussing and creating tools to help you be successful individually, with your team, and for your organization.

Apps/Tools for Work Efficiency

Presented By: Melody Brennan
Several apps and technology tools have been designed to make work and personal tasks easier to manage. How do apps help you achieve your goals and keep you connected in collaborative settings? In this session, we'll show you how Microsoft, Google, and other productivity apps can be used to work more efficiently and finish tasks with focus.

Mastering the Art of Workplace Communication

Presented By: Hanna Bartels
In this session, we will unravel the nuances of effective workplace communication, providing practical strategies to elevate team dynamics and collaboration, navigate challenges, foster a culture of understanding, and create a positive work environment for increased productivity and morale.

Speed Networking (Cancelled)

Presented By: Claire Lindstrom
Join this dynamic 60-minute speed networking event to connect with other Learn Grow Lead attendees! Engage in focused, 3-minute conversations with fellow participants, sharing career insights and personal interests. Forge valuable relationships, explore opportunities, and elevate your network in a fast-paced, efficient environment.

Presentation Design Using PowerPoint

Presented By: Jean Maher
PowerPoint has been the tool of choice for many years when creating presentations. This session will provide some simple ideas and tips to enhance your PowerPoint slides. Many of us have sat through boring PowerPoint presentations that are difficult to understand. In this session, learn some tips you can use now to make your next presentation far more impactful.

11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.  |  Lunch & Networking

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12:45 - 1:45 p.m.  |  Breakout Session #3

Managing Psychosocial Risks in the Workplace

Presented By: Julie Bates-Maves
Psychosocial risks result from psychological factors interacting with the surrounding social environment (i.e., workplace culture and norms). These types of risks can promote or interfere with functioning and wellness. Attendees will learn about psychosocial risks and strategies for identification, prevention, and response.

Mission Control: Strengthening Opportunities for Focused Growth

Presented By: Ken Pearson
In this session, you will learn how a purposeful mission statement and understanding your strengths, areas of improvement, opportunities, and challenges can keep you on track for intentional, professional growth. You'll learn how to prioritize and act on the meaningful activities that will bring you fulfillment and make you more efficient, how to approach areas of improvement strategically, and how to let go of activities that have no relevance to your professional goals.

The Power of Shaping Productivity with DiSC®

Presented By: Connie LeCleir-Meyer
Join us for an Overview of the DiSC® Personality Model that describes four basic personality styles. Learn how you can develop the social and emotional "know-how" for more effective interactions that impact your performance and bring organizational success.

The Opportunity of AI at Work

Presented By: Erin Trowbridge
AI is everywhere these days, it's moving and changing quickly, and many are hesitant to try it. While there are valid risks and legal questions to consider, there are also opportunities for you to use AI tools to assist in your day-to-day work. We'll explore some of the most popular tools and how to use them, discuss how to use them at work responsibly and cover a few risks and uncertainties.

1:45 - 2 p.m.  |  Break

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2 - 3 p.m.  |  Breakout Session #4

Maximizing Your Time – Working Smarter

Presented By: Connie LeCleir-Meyer
There are not enough hours in the day. That leaves us to decide how to make the most of the hours we have! In this session, you'll learn the importance of time management, including what steals your time, saves your time, and how to create a plan to control your time.

Cybersecurity for Everyone

Presented By: Stephen Casselman
Cybersecurity is one of the biggest buzzwords used in industry and the media, but what is it really? This session will pull back the curtain on some of the misconceptions of what cybersecurity, viruses, and hackers truly are and give professionals a better understanding of what it means to be secure.

Unleash the Power of Excel Data: Tips & Tricks

Presented By: John Cook
This session will focus on practical applications to enhance your efficiency with Excel data manipulation. Discover functionalities and time-saving techniques that will transform your approach to spreadsheets, making you a more proficient Excel user. We'll cover skills including advanced data formatting, efficient data transformation, dynamic visualization, and automation.

Personal Branding and Building Your Network

Presented By: Erin Trowbridge
Does going to that next networking event to meet new people make you want to crawl into a hole? Are you ready to make new connections, but you're just not sure what to say or how to introduce yourself? Welcome to the majority! Most people struggle with putting themselves out there, telling their story in a way that's relevant to others, and building a relationship that later turns into business. We'll talk about what it means to build your personal brand, simple things you can do to build your personal brand no matter your job, and how to take that personal brand out into the world to build meaningful business relationships.

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Marya Wilson

Marya is the Principal and Organizational Dietician for MW Advising and Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She serves the manufacturing, service, higher education, non-profit, and government sectors. She brings first-hand knowledge to the learning experience and a clear understanding of the underlying emotional processes that drive behaviors and create individual and team success. She has a BA in Psychology, MS in Management Technology, MA in Human Development, and a Ph.D. in Human and Organizational Systems.

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Sheila Kohls

Sheila is an adjunct instructor for CVTC Workforce Solutions and the CVTC Business Management program. She is a business professional with over 30 years of experience holding leadership positions in process improvement, project management, information technology, contact centers, and customer service across various industries.  She has a BA in Computer Science - Business Applications, associate degrees in computer information systems and accounting, and a Six Sigma Green Belt.

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Kayla Sygulla

Kayla has been with CVTC for almost three years and is currently working as an Educational Technology Specialist to support students, staff, and the college’s Learning Management Systems. Kayla is also certified to teach yoga, and her day-to-day work inspires her to educate others on how to achieve personal goals in the physical body and mind.

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Jean Maher

Jean Maher is an expert PowerPoint designer. She has found this tool to be an amazing and flexible canvas that professionals can use to make more meaningful connections with the audience. She works with clients to polish keynote presentations, create proposals, present on corporate strategies, and develop training materials. She believes the tool should complement the speaker and their message and delivery and make an emotional connection to the audience. Jean has worked with large and small businesses and organizations on presentations, training, and video production.

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Melody Brennan

Melody holds a PhD from the University of Minnesota in Curriculum and Instruction and is currently the director of educational technology. Previously, she was the interim associate dean for the Business, Arts, Sciences, and Academic Initiatives Division and a program director and instructor for the Foundations of Teacher Education program at Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC). Melody was an Assistant Professor and Program Director of Early Childhood Education in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Melody previously worked as an elementary and middle school teacher in the Wayzata School District in Minnesota and as a preschool teacher and director in Eau Claire, WI.

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Hanna Bartels

Hanna is a working writer with a background in operational management. She received her BA in Writing from Northwestern University and her MFA in Fiction from Queens University of Charlotte. Her writing has appeared in The Sun Magazine, Brink, Moon City Review, and elsewhere.

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Claire Lindstrom

Claire Lindstrom is a Business Development and Continuing Education Specialist at Chippewa Valley Technical College. Claire has a master's degree in information and communication technologies from UW-Stout and a bachelor's degree in mass communication from UW-Eau Claire. Claire has experience in communications, marketing, event planning, business development, and adult education. She is passionate about helping others learn and grow to succeed in their chosen careers.

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Julie Bates-Maves

Julie, Ph.D., LPC, is a Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at The University of Wisconsin-Stout. Her clinical experiences and teaching focus on trauma, substance use disorders, and reducing the stigma of mental health care.

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Ken Pearson

Ken Pearson, Business Development & Campus Manager at CVTC-Chippewa Falls & Neillsville, has been driving small business and economic development since 2013. With a degree from UW-Superior and an MPA from Texas A&M, he offers expertise in strategic planning, marketing, and finance. With a diverse background, including roles in HR, business consulting, and media sales, Pearson is dedicated to empowering professionals for mission-driven success through strategic goal setting and resource management. Passionate about supporting businesses, he draws inspiration from his father's experiences as a self-employed logger in Wisconsin's Northwoods.

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Connie LeCleir-Meyer

Connie is an experienced leader with over 35 years of experience in the fields of electronics manufacturing, legal, health insurance, healthcare, education, and training. She has held leadership positions in human resources, customer service, production management, corporate training, and project management. Her skills include soft skills training, public speaking, facilitation and coaching, project management, team building, leadership development, and learning management. She has a bachelor’s degree in organizational management and communication and a master's degree in Adult Education and Distance Learning.

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Erin Trowbridge

Erin is a co-owner of Four Peas Consulting. She has worked in various organizations as a marketing leader over her 15-year career and now consults with a small number of clients to help them solve their marketing challenges. Her deep knowledge of digital marketing, insights into connecting with customers through storytelling, and process-driven operational focus help start-ups and established companies explore new ways to grow their businesses and make meaningful changes in the world.

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Stephen Casselman

Stephen Casselman has a master’s degree in Cyber-Defense and Ethical Hacking and has worked in I.T. in various I.T. positions over the last decade, with the last half focused on providing cybersecurity for organizations. At CVTC Stephen has worked to teach and develop new courses for the Advanced Cybersecurity Analyst and participated in national committees on cybersecurity education.

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John Cook

John Cook is a seasoned educational technology specialist, holding a master’s in educational technology. His career is characterized by experience in teaching, software development, and tech leadership. John specializes in using educational and productivity software, as well as developing efficient workflows. His approach combines technical skills with an understanding of educational needs, making him effective in delivering hands-on technical training. John's commitment lies in practically integrating technology tools to enhance engagement and efficiency.

Maps & Parking

Where to Find Us

This event will be held at the CVTC Business Education Center located in Eau Claire.

CVTC Business Education Center
620 W. Clairemont Ave
Eau Claire, WI 54701

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Parking Information

Parking will be available in lot P3 or P4, as noted on the parking map.

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