Wednesday, August 7 | 10:00 - 11:30 AM Workshops

Using Organizational Landscape Maps As Tools To Inform Leadership Transitions • Dana Ginestet & Mark Kravatz | Alidade Consultants
Session Room: Providence II & III 

Leadership transitions can be fraught with stress amidst uncertainty. It doesn't have to be this way!

This workshop is meant for organizational leaders and board members who may be involved in a future leadership transition. When managed well, a leadership transition can build trust and confidence in and across an organization, attract new supporters and donors, and propel the organization forward. In this workshop, participants will learn how visual tools, including organizational landscape maps, can inform a leadership transition process by rooting it in current realities. When organizations consider the roles played by their departing leader and existing staffing configurations and capacity, they can carefully and thoughtfully design a process to meet the organization's most pressing needs. Workshop participants will examine a set of organizational maps and discuss ways in which data-rich decision-making can help reduce stress and set their organizations up for a smooth leadership hand-off.

About the Speakers: Dana Ginestet is an organizational consultant recognized for her practical approaches to community and organizational development, engaging and disarming facilitation style, and firm commitment to creating equitable and inclusive social change. Dana draws on nearly thirty years of professional experience that crosses nonprofit, private, and public sectors. In her consulting work, she supports organizations and their leaders to build internal capacity, improve organizational culture and effectiveness, manage change and growth, and deliver the highest quality results.

Dana has dedicated herself to improving the quality of life for those living in communities impacted by poverty, disinvestment, and disaster. For more than a decade, Dana worked in nonprofit leadership roles in Rhode Island with the goal of boosting economic resilience, personal livelihoods, and educational outcomes. Dana also spent ten years as a public sector consultant and project manager responsible for leading large teams to design, implement, strengthen, and evaluate humanitarian and development projects in various locations across the United States and abroad. She has served on several nonprofit boards, including Ronald McDonald House of New England and Girls on the Run Rhode Island. She was the winner of $25k in the inaugural Nonprofit Innovation Lab sponsored by Social Enterprise Greenhouse and the United Way of Rhode Island. Dana earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and an MS in Community Economic Development from New Hampshire College and is a certified mediator and project manager.

Mark Kravatz is the visionary behind Alidade Consultants, a boutique consultancy firm specializing in strategic analysis and visual mapping solutions to propel organizations toward success. With a mission to empower organizations to thrive, Alidade Consultants provides invaluable insights into both internal dynamics and external landscapes, enabling informed decision-making to achieve strategic objectives. Mark earned his Public & Community Service Studies degree from Providence College, where he cultivated expertise in asset-based community development mapping - skills core to Alidade Consultants' work. Over 20 years, Mark's career as a non-profit executive director and government consultant has garnered national recognition in workforce development, energy efficiency, renewable energy, public health, affordable housing, and community development. 

His comprehensive consulting skill set encompasses expertise in business analysis, strategic planning, organizational & program design, implementation, and process improvement. Mark's strategic prowess and hands-on approach have enabled him to tackle multifaceted challenges in strategy, governance, operations, and change management, making him a sought-after partner for organizations seeking tangible results. Beyond his professional endeavors, Mark finds peace and inspiration in music, hiking, travel, and gardening. He resides in South Kingstown, RI, with his partner, Lizzie, their two children, and their lazy dog, Sugar.

Leadership is no passive exercise. Nor, then, should be preparation for the job. For over 30 years, the Maine Development Foundation (MDF) has incorporated the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School's (HIOBS) "Learn through challenge" practices within its annual "Institute for Civic Leadership" and "Leadership Maine" programs. Rather than quietly discussing assigned readings and academic models, MDF / HIOBS participants face very real challenges requiring them to operate in a team setting amidst time and resource constraints, changing variables, limited information, and divergent ways of thinking.

These experiences surface teaming and leadership behaviors analogous to those found in workplace environments. The result is that participants see, hear, and feel the effects of various behaviors and dynamics in action, making learning meaningful and lasting. Join us to learn more about the synergistic relationship enjoyed by the Maine Development Foundation and Hurricane Island Outward Bound Schools and how their proven approaches to inspiring growth in individuals and groups could be applied in your own programming.

About the Speakers: Andrew Spofford thrives on opportunities to help people pursue their passions, honor their values, and discover more within themselves. He hit his career bullseye in 2017 by joining the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School as the director of its "Outward Bound Professional" program, which serves executives and organizations intent on developing collaborative teams, self-aware leaders, and differentiated organizational cultures.

Jan Kearce, Senior Program Director at Maine Development Foundation, is a change leader, strategic partner, facilitator, and coach who brings deep passion and experience to her work with leaders, teams, and organizations. Perhaps equal to Jan’s depth of passion and experience is her commitment to building leadership capacity and operational excellence that leads to sustainable, thriving organizations and communities.

The Courage Keeper: Lean into Vulnerability and Take Action to Bring out the Best in Self, Others, and Organizations • John Yeager | Leadership Marshall County, IN
Session Room: South County

Take a deep dive and discover how courage shows up in your community leadership life, programs, and the lives of those you work with and care about. The Courage Keeper workshop provides a formalized and step-by-step mental framework that helps leaders develop their capacity to make courageous decisions and give strategies to model, mentor, manage, and motivate others to call upon skills that build their unique courage muscle.

Deep down, we all have moments where we've exhibited courage and moments where we wished we had been more courageous. But the courage we see exhibited daily is more of an inner drama than an exterior kind of visual sword and shield battle that we see with rare and monumental acts of courage. Through an interactive and engaging approach, learn how to develop the Courage Keeper in yourself and others more effectively. The workshop focuses on three areas: self-managing courageous action through understanding your "Courage Footprint," leading and empowering others (Courage Seekers) to build their courage muscle through six distinct pathways, and 3) building collective courage in teams and organizations.

Never have we needed a courage 'North Star' more in tackling the challenges and opportunities of leading others, taking risks, and being vulnerable in the quest for building and maintaining healthy communities and supporting community leaders in their personal and professional growth.

About the Speaker: John Yeager is the Program Director at Leadership Marshall County, Indiana, and also the Chief Education Officer at Yeager Leadership, focusing on organizational behavior with community leadership, education, business, and athletic organizations.  His presentations and training programs have inspired audiences around the United States.

John’s interests include the development of Psychological Capital (Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, and Optimism) in individuals and organizations as well as integrating Polarity (Both/And) Thinking with teams.  He earned his doctorate at Boston University and as a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Masters in Applied Positive Psychology program, he incorporates positive psychology concepts in all his work. 

He has authored/co-authored four books and several book chapters.  His books include SMART Strengths: The Parent/Teacher/Coach Guide to Building Character, Resilience and Relationships in Youth; Character and Coaching:  Building Virtue in Athletic Programs; Our Game: The Character & Culture of Lacrosse; The Coaching Zone: Next Level Leadership in Sports.  Book chapters are included in Character Strengths Matter: How to Live a Full Life; and Positive Psychology in Sport and Physical Activity.  He has written for Sports Illustrated.com and has been quoted in Sports Illustrated and in The New York Times magazines.  He is excited about his current book project The Courage Keeper: Lean into Vulnerability.

The Power of Everyday Equity • Matisa Wilbon | Wilbon Enterprises
Session Room: Newport/Washington

Psychology suggests that the head, the heart and the hands form what is known as the leadership trifecta. Through the lens of her Everyday Equity principles, Dr. Matisa Wilbon will empower attendees to utilize the leadership trifecta to establish a more equitable culture in any organization.

Everyday Equity suggests that when we practice equity incrementally every day, we see sustained change from the top down. Throughout this session, Dr. Wilbon teaches leaders how to utilize the leadership trifecta to become more inclusive leaders on all three levels:

• Educating themselves to understand different equity perspectives, experiences, and challenges (the head)
• Highlighting inclusive practices by which leaders can cultivate a culture of inclusion (the heart)
• Inspiring participants to become equity advocates who champion fairness and equitable practices from their leadership position (the hands)
  
  

About the Speaker:  Dr. Matisa Wilbon is a TEDx and keynote speaker who uses her 18 years as a sociologist and 10 years as an equity and impact specialist to help institutions understand the power of making spaces more equitable. Dr. Wilbon earned her B.A. in Anthropology/Sociology from Centre College in Kentucky. She received her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Sociology from The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. Dr. Wilbon is the CEO of Wilbon Enterprises (WE), a consulting firm specializing in grant writing, Equity and Impact. Through her disruptive leadership model, strategic planning, training and evaluation, she helps organizations move from intention to action.  Dr. Wilbon is a sought-after empowerment speaker, as well. She travels extensively, speaking to corporations, non-profits, college campuses, and leadership groups across the country. Her most recent TEDx talk entitled, Good Grief has garnered thousands of views. It highlights the importance of finding gratitude as well as the good in grief. Her second TEDx talk, "The Power of Every Day Equity" will be published in the Fall of 2024.  

Developing Your Compelling Superhero Origin Story • Tino Chow | Giant Shoulders
Session Room: Bristol

Whether you aspire to launch a new program, advance your career, or make a memorable impression at a party, the ability to captivate others through a compelling story helps you go further, faster. Branding isn't just reserved for companies; it's a great tool for leaders to build meaningful relationships. Join Tino in this workshop and learn about his proven branding framework to help you establish authentic connections by crafting compelling intro stories that leave a lasting impression.

About the Speaker:  Tino Chow came into branding with an unexpected background. As a former military officer in the Singapore army who went to art school, he discovered his niche by combining experience in operations with creativity. Tino works with purpose-driven leaders and companies to leverage the power of brand strategy, design thinking, and design doing to grow their impact.

Before starting Giant Shoulders, Tino spent over a decade building creative cultures and collaborative teams with agencies in New York and startups in Silicon Valley. He holds a design degree from Rhode Island School of Design and is an Adjunct Professor at Brown University. Tino frequently gives talks on branding and design thinking and is a TED Fellow.

Becoming Conscious Allies: Gender Identity & Acceptance • Julio E. Berroa | Haus of Codec
Session Room: Kent

In today's diverse and interconnected world, understanding and supporting gender identity is more important than ever. "Becoming Conscious Allies: Gender Identity & Acceptance" is an engaging and transformative workshop designed to equip individuals with the knowledge, skills, and empathy needed to be effective allies to the transgender and non-binary community. This workshop will help to educate participants on the fundamental concepts of gender identity, including terminology, pronouns, and the spectrum of gender, raise awareness of the challenges and discrimination faced by transgender and non-binary individuals, and provide practical tools and strategies for becoming effective allies in both personal and professional settings.

About the Speaker: Julio E. Berroa (BER ROH-uh) (He, They, Xe) was born in Salcedo (s-aa-l-s-EH-d-oh), Dominican Republic, and a Providence resident since 2012. Berroa earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Digital Media Curriculum and a minor in Photography. His passions include the Arts, Sex and HIV Education, and Youth Advocacy. All of this drives him to share his experiences through Art to help advocate for young aspiring artists of color. He hopes to inspire and influence his viewers.

Known for his multi-faceted approach to art and design which weaves both the analog and digital, artist Julio E. Berroa often creates hyperreal and immersive scenes of intense experiences using vivid colors and organic shapes and textures depicting very intimate moments. Berroa was an Andrew W. Mellon intern in Creative Production at the RISD Museum in the summer of 2020 and a 2021 Rhode Island College Senior Art Award Recipient.