Wednesday, August 7 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM Workshops

Empowering The Next Community Leaders: LT NEXT • Alfred Degrafinreid II | Leadership Tennessee
Session Room: South County

Leadership Tennessee NEXT is an innovative, fast-paced, cohort-based program catering to high-achieving mid-career professionals of all industry sectors and geographic areas across Tennessee. Learn how this program has led to organizational growth and impact with an often overlooked demographic of rising leaders. During this session, attendees will discuss programming, selection, funding, and alumni involvement that could be relevant to all programs. 

About the Speaker: Alfred Degrafinreid II is a native of Memphis, Tennessee, and has lived in Nashville for more than two decades. Professionally, he serves as the President and CEO of Leadership Tennessee. Prior to this post, Alfred was the Associate Vice Chancellor for Local Government Relations and Community Partnerships at Vanderbilt University, where he worked closely with campus leaders on institutional priorities and with local policymakers on issues pertaining to zoning and land-use matters.

Alfred is a former public administrator with senior leadership experience on the local, state, and federal levels of government. He served as the chief administrative officer and chief deputy clerk in the Office of the Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk. Prior to that post, he was counsel to a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and coordinated community outreach for Davidson, Dickson, and Cheatham counties. He has vast state legislative experience which includes working for the Speaker Pro Tempore of the Tennessee House of Representatives and for a State Senator. Degrafinreid holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Tennessee State University, a Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) from Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law and is pursuing a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Higher Education Leadership and Policy from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University.

Degrafinreid has served on dozens of boards – both local and national. He is currently an officer and board member of Nashville’s Convention Center Authority (Music City Center), serves on the board of directors for the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA), is the President-elect of the Rotary Club of Nashville, and is an advisory member of Nashville's St. Jude Executive Leadership Council.

Alfred resides in Nashville with his wife, Tiffany Degrafinreid, and their two children, Alfred III (8) and Chancellor Joelle (5). 

Unlock the potential of community service in your class programs through engaging in Community Service Projects. This unique opportunity fosters a secure learning environment, encouraging class members to take risks, step out of their comfort zones, and excel. Collaborate with community leaders to address critical issues and make a tangible impact on the community. Join us for a session that delves into the intricacies of Community Service Projects, covering everything from project team selection to Community Service Project Presentations. As Leadership Montgomery marks its 40th year anniversary, explore the successful track record of creating substantial community impacts and providing experiential learning experiences to class members.

Access comprehensive documentation, including Community Service Project idea submissions, Mid-term Reports, and Final Reports. Gain insights into project team member selection, non-profit acceptance criteria, fundraising strategies, project reveals, and presentation requirements. Celebrate 40 years of leadership with us and become part of a community dedicated to making a difference. Elevate your learning experiences, contribute to meaningful change, and excel in a supportive environment. The journey towards personal and community development begins here!

About the Speaker: Cheryl Johnson has spent her entire life building relationships with people. As a lover of journaling, meeting people, and making a difference in this world, Cheryl has found her dream job as President of Leadership Montgomery, connecting leaders to effect change. While working full-time and raising a family, she attended Troy University at Montgomery to receive a B.S. Degree in Banking. She worked for Regions Bank and Compass Bank for a total of twenty years. She served as Director of Philanthropy and Executive Assistant to the President of Bonnie Plants in Union Springs before joining Leadership Montgomery in July 2017.

Cheryl volunteers her time as a member of the board of directors of the Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama, Past President of the Montgomery Sunrise Rotary Club, and Honorary Commander for the 32nd Student Squadron of the Squadron Officer School at Maxwell AFB. She is also a graduate of Leadership Montgomery Class 33 and Leadership Alabama Class 32. Cheryl is most proud of her recent accomplishment of receiving the distinction of being the first person in Alabama to become a Certified Community Leadership Practitioner. She has two sons; one completed his enlistment in the Marines, and the other is an Intelligence Officer in the Air Force. She will tell you that she raised Super Heroes. She also has three grandchildren, one boy and two girls. Cheryl and her husband love traveling, the outdoors, and new adventures.

Integrating The Enneagram Into All Aspects Of CLP Programming • Andre Santiago & Mae Maloney | Leadership Greater Hartford, CT
Session Room: Providence I & IV

The Enneagram personality type model is an internationally recognized system for personal growth that helps leaders optimize teamwork and collaboration through greater self-awareness and awareness of others. Far from pigeonholing individuals within a narrow category, the Enneagram recognizes that each person is a complex combination of different personality styles. Learn how Leadership Greater Hartford uses this tool in programming to help participants have a deeper understanding of the assets and challenges of their leadership styles/behaviors as well as learn about the talents and gifts of others. This framework is integral to the success of LGH programs. Join us to hear how!

About the Speakers: Andre Santiago serves as the Vice President & Chief Program Officer at Leadership Greater Hartford. In this role, he oversees all programs and extensive consulting and training services at LGH. Since joining LGH in 2007, he has advanced from Program Director of Youth Programs to Senior Program Director before moving into his current role. Andre has led numerous key initiatives, including Hartford Decide$ and the Community Policing Leadership Institute. He is a certified Enneagram trainer, coach, and mentor. Andre holds a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion certificate from Cornell University and serves on the Board of InterCommunity Health Care. Recently elected to the national Board of Directors of the Association of Leadership Programs, he is also a Hartford Commissioner and a member of Hartford Business Journal’s 2016 class of 40 under Forty. Andre earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Connecticut, studied education at Central Connecticut State University, and holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Goodwin University. He is a proud Hartford resident.

Mae Maloney Mae is a proud 2009 graduate of Leadership Greater Hartford’s Quest Program. She is a certified Enneagram trainer. Since 2007, Mae has worked with Leadership Greater Hartford in a variety of capacities, including serving as a Grants Manager and as Program Director for several youth programs. Throughout her tenure at LGH, she implemented an after-school program at Hartford Public High School, developed a summer youth leadership program for teens throughout the greater Hartford region, and organized numerous community service projects throughout the Capital city. Mae currently serves as the Senior Program Director for the Leaders on Board program, where she connects individuals to nonprofits in need of new board members and Quest, a program for high-potential, emerging leaders from the business and nonprofit sectors. She is a Hartford Business Journal 40 Under Forty Award Winner and a CT Magazine 40 Under Forty Award Winner. She has served on numerous boards, including a nonprofit dedicated to providing permanent supportive housing for individuals and families impacted by HIV/AIDS, an organization that supported vulnerable children, and a federally qualified health center. Currently, Mae serves the Windsor Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides funding for innovative projects and programs in the Windsor Public Schools. Mae lives in Windsor with her husband and their young son. In her spare time (if she has any, that is), she enjoys spending time outside, drinking copious amounts of coffee, and binge-watching Netflix. Mae holds a Bachelors from Eastern Connecticut and a Masters from Smith College. 

The Certified Community Leadership Practitioner Program • Jessie Baginski | Association of Leadership Programs
Session Room: Bristol

Launched in 2019, the Certified Community Leadership Practitioner (CCLP) Certification is designed to enhance individual performance, elevate professional standards, and recognize Association, Chamber of Commerce, and other Nonprofit professionals who demonstrate the knowledge essential to program development in a leadership organization.

The Association of Leadership Programs (ALP) oversees the certification process to obtain the CCLP designation.  Training includes a series of learning components covering personal, practical and theoretical leadership.  Candidates must complete 16 hours of CORE training, 24 hours of Mastery (pre-designated) coursework, plus an additional 10 hours of elective coursework for a total of 50 hours prior to submitting an application to sit for the CCLP examination. The final requirement is completing and passing the written exam. All steps must be completed to be eligible to obtain the CCLP designation. Hear from several professionals who've completed the CCLP designation process and explore what earning this certification could do for your path forward! 

About the Speaker:  Jessie Baginski, Ph. D. joined the ALP team in December 2023 after serving as president/CEO of Leadership Lake County (OH) from 2012 - 2023. She has volunteered for the Leadership Lake County Junior Program since 1997, originally as a Health and Human Services Day planner. Jessie was among the first four professionals to receive ALP's CCLP designation in 2022. 

She has over 35 years of experience in communications, marketing, and management in public, private, and nonprofit organizations. Dr. Baginski is a frequent speaker on leadership and building cultures of leadership. Prior to Leadership Lake County, Dr. Baginski was Laketran’s first Director of Public Relations and Marketing from 2000 through 2010. During that time, she earned numerous national awards for communications. She received her Associate’s from Lakeland Community College, her Bachelor’s in Management from Ursuline College, her Master’s in Education from Marietta College, and her doctorate in Urban Education from Cleveland State University. 

She serves as an adjunct faculty member for Cleveland State University’s College of Education and Lake Erie College. Dr. Baginski also reviews for Youth & Society. She enjoys attending many community and charitable events. Among her favorites are the local golf outings and Dancing Under the Stars, where she has served as a dancer, a judge, and an emcee to put the fun in fundraising!

CLPs Collaborating Beyond Boundaries • Cynthia Knapek & Tammy White | Leadership Louisville, KY & Leadership Knoxville, TN
Session Room: Kent

A single Community Leadership Program makes an incredible impact. The root of our power lies at the local level, strengthening the social fabric of our communities, but considering working beyond boundaries could amplify that impact. What might we do collaboratively at a national scale to both support and raise the profile of the work we are doing? Can we secure scalable funding from large foundations to create shared curriculum resources? Invest in cutting-edge technology platforms? Seek multi-region funding for joint endeavors? Pool resources to fund research that quantifies and champions the significance of civic engagement and community leadership nationwide? Join us to learn how several programs have come together to pilot working beyond boundaries to accelerate impact.

About the Speakers:  In 2012, Cynthia Knapek was named President & CEO of the Leadership Louisville Center. The Center is a leader in civic engagement and leadership development whose mission is to inspire and equip leaders to BE BETTER and DO BETTER. In 2020, Cynthia was named one of the Most Admired CEO’s by Business First. Cynthia is particularly proud that the work the Center has done to foster inclusivity and embrace diversity was recognized with the 2016 Champion of Diversity Award from the Urban League. She previously served as the national Chair of the board for the Association of Leadership Programs. Before joining Leadership Louisville, Cynthia’s work included engagements with government, Fortune 500, and other social sector organizations. Cynthia serves on numerous community boards, including the Downtown Development Corporation, and co-chairs the Greater Louisville Inc. (Chamber of Commerce) Business Council to End Racism. She has a master’s degree from the University of Louisville as well as several certifications in leadership training and organizational development.

Tammy White embraces servant leadership as the president and CEO of Leadership Knoxville. She has a strong sense of community and a desire to serve. She joined Leadership Knoxville in 2009, bringing extensive experience in the public, private, and civic sectors. Tammy launched the Mayors’ Leadership Luncheon, an annual event hosted by the City of Knoxville and Knox County mayors to inspire community leaders to positive action. During her tenure, Tammy has overseen the addition of youth and collegiate leadership programs, Youth Leadership Knoxville and Leadership Knoxville Scholars, to create a pipeline of leaders. Additionally, she helped launch Connect Knox and The Big Table, which serves as a civic solutions lab to convene stakeholders on pertinent issues in the community. She oversaw the creation and launch of Encore in June 2023, aimed to help post-professional leaders engage in the community in meaningful ways. Collectively, these programs are helping Leadership Knoxville intentionally build a continuum of leaders across sectors and generations throughout our community and region. Tammy earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of South Carolina and a master’s degree in conflict management from Lipscomb University. She is a Certified Community Leadership Practitioner (CCLP).

Place-Based Belonging: Restoring Cohesion in an Outwardly-Mobile World • Greg Garvin | Gilbane Building Company
Session Room: Newport/Washington

"The Loneliness Epidemic"; Civic Disengagement; Political Hyper-Partisanship; "The Meaning Crisis"; Economic Decline in "Fly-Over Country."... ...Perhaps all of these problems of our modern age (and more) share a common root: "Outward Mobility" or a lack of commitment to PLACE. In this session, participants will explore what it means to BELONG to a place and what we give up when we leave our home. Together, we will discuss how place-based belonging (or lack thereof) impacts ourselves and our own communities and brainstorm steps to take to ensure a greater sense of belonging going forward.

About the Speaker: Greg Garvin was born and raised on a 4th generation dairy farm in rural New Hampshire, surrounded by a large extended family and a tight-knit community. He was the first in his family to go to college and, like many such cases, was thusly "thrown" into the world of upward and outward mobility away from home. Having witnessed firsthand the negative trade-offs of leaving home, Greg uses his voice to advocate for rootedness in the face of economic and cultural enticements that disrupt generational continuity in place. Greg is a lifelong employee of Gilbane Building Company, where he currently works as Director of Global Purchasing. Greg is an alumnus and serves on the Board of Governors for Leadership Rhode Island. He lives in Providence, RI, with his wife and two young children.