Educational Resources: Connecting the Dots Annual Conference
Connecting the Dots Conference Session Descriptions
Keynote
9:00-10:15am
Keynote address:
Strategies for Managing Your Energy at Work: An Introduction to the Energy Audit
Gretchen M. Spreitzer, Ph.D., co-director of the Ross Leadership Initiative and Professor of Management and Organizations, U-M Ross School of BusinessDo you ever wish you had more energy at work? Professor Spreitzer will share research about strategies for more effectively managing your energy at work, debunk some myths about strategies that are less effective, and introduce a tool called the Energy Audit to help you increase your energy.
Dr. Gretchen Spreitzer is Area Chair and Professor of Management and Organizations at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan (RSB). She joined the Michigan faculty in 2001 after spending nine years on the faculty at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. Her research focuses on employee empowerment and leadership development, particularly within a context of organizational change and decline. Her most recent research is examining how organizations can enable thriving. This is part of a new movement in the field of organizational behavior, known as Positive Organizational Scholarship (http://www.centerforpos.org/).
Block 1 Sessions
10:30-11:45 am
1. Using the Energy Audit to Develop a Plan for Managing Your Energy
Gretchen M. Spreitzer, Ph.D., co-director of the Ross Leadership Initiative and Professor of Management and Organizations, U-M Ross School of Business
This session will build on the keynote session on strategies for managing your energy at work. Participants will complete the energy audit and develop a plan for how they can increase their energy.2. Not Blowing Up or Giving Up: Parenting Your Children and TeensSee above for biography
Annie Zirkel, L.P.C., Practice HowLet’s face it, our kids’ behavior is challenging! This session will aim to help you move beyond anger and discouragement, and become the parent you want to be.
Author of You'll Thank Me Later: A Guide to Raising Grateful Children (& Why That Matters), Annie is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Relationship Consultant based in Ann Arbor who works with people interested in not only improving their relationships but exploring the possibilities beyond. Her training and experience range from parenting education, couple's connection, special needs children, bullying prevention, effective communication, power sharing, and -- her passions -- optimism and gratitude. Annie's sought-after relationship advice recently helped her become a finalist in ABC's Good Morning America Advice-Guru search.
3. Leveraging Your Learning Style for Success
Kristen Storey, M.A., Director, U-M Human Resource DevelopmentThis session will focus on the dynamics of learning styles and their impact in the workplace. Based on the Index of Learning Styles by Professors Richard Felderman and Linda Silverman, there will be a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each approach, and how to develop adaptation strategies for workplace success.
Kristen is the Director at Human Resource Development. She provides the overall vision, direction and leadership in aligning HRD’s services in support of the UM community’s professional and career development needs. Her areas of expertise and consultation are in the areas of instructional design, team development, leadership development and customer service development. Over the years she has worked as a lead instructional design consultant on numerous well-respected U-M learning initiatives such as the Research Administrators Instructional Network (RAIN), Foundations of Supervision, and the Budget and Resource Management Academy.
4. Increasing Your Capacity to Feel Good
Jody Tull, M.A., Therapeutic Yoga Instructor, Founder and Director, Be In Awe Yoga Studio, Ann ArborThis session will introduce techniques to reduce your stress level, help you to feel less overwhelmed and allow you to enjoy life more. Your mind and body can work together to make life easier for you, regardless of size, shape, age or physical condition. By tending to your body, you can relax your mind; and by relaxing your mind, you can tend to your body. Mental and physical well-being can be fundamentally improved by learning a few simple tension-lowering techniques – accessible to everyone – to apply throughout your work day. Comfortable, loose clothing is recommended.
Jody is a certified therapeutic yoga instructor who combines music therapy with the ancient healing power of yoga. She received her master’s degree in Music Education from Columbia University, and has 16 years of international music and yoga teaching experience. Her work travels include Europe, India, the Bahamas and the United States. Her company, Be in Awe Yoga (www.beinaweyoga.com, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan) features private and group yoga sessions, meditation and chanting circles, Thai yoga massage, yoga teacher certification, and retreats, including an annual yoga meditation and hiking retreat in the Swiss-Italian Alps.
5. Elder Care Issues from a Legal Perspective
Constance Jones, J.D., Attorney at LawThis session will cover working with an attorney to plan for one’s own or someone else’s aging, including discussion of recommended legal documents for living and dying, planning for incapacity and issues of competence, paying for care, and other issues as requested by participants.
Constance has undergraduate and law degrees from U-M, and has been an attorney for over 20 years, including private practice for the last 18 years as C.L. Jones Law. She specializes in elder care issues, including guardianship/conservatorship, estate planning, and settlement of decedent estates; and was a longtime presenter at the U-M Pre-Retirement Series.
Block 2 Sessions
1:00-2:15pm
1. Energizing Your Workplace: Building High-Quality Connections
Mary Ceccanese, Trainer Affiliate, Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship, U-M Ross School of BusinessEngage your workforce by creating high-quality connections and enhance communication at all levels. Based on research from the Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship, U-M Ross School of Business, this interactive session uses role-play that reflects real-life academic scenarios, video, and interactive discussions. Attendees will learn both the individual and organizational impacts of what high-quality connections can do for you, your department, and the University. Attendees will also practice making high-quality connections and be provided tools that they can take back to their individual departments for implementation.
Mary has a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Administration and been employed at U-M for 23 years. She has participated in Voices of the Staff since its inception in 2005 and has had the opportunity to work closely with Professor Jane Dutton of the Ross School of Business. Under the direction of several POS faculty, she has co-developed a series of practical tools to create positive workplaces. Mary has given over 80 presentations to academic organizations and other industries including media, health care industries, and financial planning companies. She was awarded the 2010 Candace J. Johnson Award for Staff Excellence, which recognizes the value of a positive attitude.
2. Changing Family Spending Habits and Getting Finances in Balance
Kathryn Greiner, Accredited Financial Counselor (A.F.C.), Director of Credit Education, U-M Credit UnionIf your goal is to relax about money and feel safe and secure that you are managing your resources well, this is the class for you. In this workshop you will learn how to develop a plan for spending, bill-paying and saving, so that as income comes in you will know what money you can spend and enjoy, what must go for bills and what to savings – now and 20 years from now! We will discuss ways to help family control spending and reduce dependency on credit cards.
Called the “Budget Guru” by the Ann Arbor Observer, Kathryn is a credit counselor who has been helping people improve their budgeting skills skills since 1976. Kathryn meets with members of the U-M Credit Union (UMCU) one-on-one to help them clarify financial problems and map out solutions. Her service is free to UMCU members. With her unique blend of compassion, realism and humor she helps people find sensible, workable answers to their financial problems. Kathryn has published many articles, hosted a call-in radio talk show for two years, and has spoken to groups throughout the United States about budgeting and the careful use of credit.
3. Getting Organized at Work
Beverly Ann Rogers, President, Organizing to be EffectiveAre you overwhelmed by paper, too much stuff and lack of storage in your work space? Come learn tips for organizing paper, streamlining workflow and expanding storage at work. This session will teach you how to eliminate paper pile-ups, effective delegation, and proper follow-through at work.
Beverly founded Organizing to be Effective in 1992, an organizational consulting firm specializing in the design and implementation of organizational systems and instructional services. As a consultant, trainer and speaker, Beverly’s passion is establishing organizing systems. Her clientele includes Lear Corporation, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), DuPont Corp, U-M, and Macomb Community College, as well as upper level management at Salomon Smith Barney on Wall Street. Beverly’s been featured locally in the Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Michigan Chronicle, Macomb Daily and C&G News Publications. She holds a B.A. in Management and Organizational Development.
4. Your Wellness at Work
Wendy Dolen, M.S., Wellness Coordinator, MHealthy, Health and Well Being ServicesIn this session, you will learn about the many sides of wellness, identify ways to stay well at work, get the chance to practice self-care techniques, and share ideas to improve your health and wellness at work.
Wendy has focused her professional efforts on teaching people how to be physically active and love it! Wendy is an exercise physiologist for MHealthy, Health and Well Being Services at the U-M. She enjoys teaching exercise and relaxation classes and developing health education products and services to help people reach their healthy lifestyle potential. Wendy is dedicated to incorporating physical activity into each person’s health care plan. She has been featured in the Ann Arbor News, Detroit News and on CNN and UMHS podcasts as a physical activity expert. Away from work, she practices ashtanga and vinyasa yoga, and enjoys healthy cooking, outdoor adventures, and spending time with her husband and two children.
5. Detroit Club-Style Ballroom Dance
Calvin Sibert (a.k.a. “Mr. Smooth”), International Ballroom Dance InstructorThis is a fun dance to do at weddings and social events such as balls, parties, clubs and cruises. In addition, this style of dance can be great for exercise, depending on the tempo of the song. In this session, “Mr. Smooth” will teach to slow and fast dance speeds, give an overview of couple dance with lead, follow, pivots, cha cha, turns, and more. Comfortable shoes are recommended. Note: one should check with their doctor before trying any exercise program.
Calvin has taught club-style ballroom for 10 years to adults, teens, and elementary school children. He has taught at Thurston Early Childhood Development Center and Willow Run High School in Ypsilanti; at Baylor and Meek Elementary, Blanchett Middle School, and Inkster High School in Inkster; at Robichard High School in Dearborn Heights; and for the past three years at Thurston Elementary’s 5th grade graduating class in Ann Arbor, with a finale dance at the end of their 10-week session. He also teaches on Carnival Cruises and is the only ballroom dance instructor at Detroit’s MGM Grand Casino.
Block 3 Sessions
2:30-3:45pm
1. Planning for Retirement 101
Chris Miller, Senior Benefits Specialist, U-M Benefits AdministrationBring your paper and pencil – you’ll get money saving tips as you get nearer and nearer to retirement. You’ll learn the new eligibility rules for retirement that are beginning in 2013. Chris will answer questions about survivor benefits, income options and other mysteries and myths you have always wanted to know. It’s Planning for Retirement 101, come to learn and love it!
Chris has over 20 years experience in benefits with large corporations and small. She created the current once a month Planning for Retirement Class that provides benefits planning over a 3-hour session. Hundreds of people attend her classes to receive information for helping to plan their own retirement.
2. You Can Become a More Effective Decision Maker
Denise Stegall, Director of HR Information Systems; and Karen Dickinson, Trainer Affiliate, U-M Ross School of Business Center for Positive Organizational ScholarshipA primary leadership responsibility is to create an environment that values identifying problems and appropriately empowers team members. In this highly interactive session, you will learn key skills that will help you make technically correct decisions that can be effectively implemented. Explore common leadership styles and how they affect decision-making. Avoid common decision-making pitfalls. Understand five decision-making approaches that differ in the amount of participation you allow your colleagues. Extensive research shows that choosing the best approach significantly increases your chance of being successful and getting your desired outcome. Practice the decision-making approaches using a realistic U-M scenario.
Denise has over 30 years of professional experience in leading teams who participated in large system change efforts in manufacturing, service, and academic institutions. Her current assignment is in University Human Resources where she is the manager of the strong HRIS team, involved in VOICES projects, the administrative streamlining transformation project, the B&F leadership academy alumni group, and various other projects. Denise has a passion for sharing knowledge and developing employees.
Karen has over 30 years of professional experience in large scale change efforts and helping people plan and make effective use of new information systems at U-M. She is a recently retired relationship manager whose assignments included nine academic units and several cross campus communities that included both academic and non-academic units. She is currently a Trainer Affiliate for the U-M Ross School of Business Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship (POS). Under the direction of several POS faculty, she has co-developed a series of practical tools for creating a positive workplace.
3. Optimistic … Even in the Face of Reality: Tips and Strategies for Focusing on the Positive
Wendy Shepherd, ALFAB ServicesWith so many of us feeling overloaded or overwhelmed these days, it’s hard to stay focused and energized – at work and at home. You’ll find tips and strategies for staying positive. Optimism can be learned, it’s contagious, and it can only benefit your life. You will learn a strategy that will help you to process events and feelings in an analytical yet upbeat way.
Wendy has been specializing in trainings on stress management, positive psychology, leadership development, communication, parent education, and balancing work/life issues for more than 20 years. Her approach to her work and life is upbeat, emphasizing fun, laughter, and constructive ways to stay engaged. Wendy believes that positive interaction is the best way to share strategies for managing the trials and tribulations we face. Her classes ask participants to view their situations with different and creative perspectives that will guide them to positive solutions. Wendy has conducted hundreds of presentations at conferences, universities, and corporations, bringing her empowering messages to a wide array of audiences.
4.Zumba
Karen Silverman, Certified Group Fitness InstructorThis is a cardio dance class based on Latin and international rhythms including merengue, salsa, cumbia, reggaeton, cha cha, and belly dancing. Comfortable, loose clothing and sneakers are recommended.
Karen is a Certified Group Fitness Instructor with 18 years of experience. She has taught Cardio Dance, Step, Slide and Strength at several locations in Ann Arbor, currently teaches Cardio/Strength, Stretch and Zumba, and has had 15 years of dance training, including ballet and modern dance. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing golf and doing Sudoku puzzles. She is originally from Chicago and now lives in Ann Arbor with her husband and 3 sons.
5. Social Media Networking: Personal and Professional Strategies
Tonya V. Thomas, Instructional Designer/Training Specialist, UMHS, and Instructor, Social Media, Schoolcraft College CEPDThis session offers strategies and perspectives for maximizing and optimizing social media network profiles for both personal and professional interactions, including considerations for getting the most of your online presence, broadening your professional learning network with other social resources, maintain a personal brand, and managing information overload.
Tonya is an instructional design, training and multimedia communications professional with nearly 20 years’ experience, including healthcare, IT, L & D, web and creative design, marketing/PR, corporate communications, social media, service excellence, leadership development and non-profit operations. Currently, she’s an instructional designer and trainer with UMHS Revenue Cycle Education, Development and Quality Management (EDQM); member of the U-M Women of Color Task Force and the U-M Voices of the Staff Technology and Best Practices Team; an instructor and speaker at Schoolcraft College, Livonia; principal and Chief Learning Officer, Kappa Beta Technology & Instruction; author of the Learning Leader Blog (learningleader.org,) an emerging technologies resource for 21st century educators; and a single working mom living with her two teen daughters, two cats and several Mac computers.
6. Effective Conflict Management in the Workplace
Sabrina Garrett-Owens, Associate Director of Labor Relations, Academic and Staff HR; and Patricia Whitfield, HR Consultant – Lead, UMHS HRThis session assists in navigating and resolving workplace conflicts, including aspects of interpersonal communication, performance and team dynamics.
Sabrina Garrett-Owens is the Associate Director of Labor Relations in both Academic and Staff HR Services offices at U-M. Sabrina has a background in employment and union relations and many years of experience acting as an organizational consultant counseling departments in employment-related processes, policies and procedures. She has been very involved in the HR Academy and training with HRD and for other departments on campus, and she is an Adjunct Lecturer at Wayne State University.
Patricia Whitfield is a Human Resources Officer with U-M Health System Human Resources with a background in various Human Resource roles at the University, covering both the Health System and the Campus. Areas of expertise include Labor Relations and Disability Management. She has multiple years’ experience in consulting with departments and employees regarding employee relations issues and performance management. She is involved in staff communication training at the Health System and she is a member of the Greater Ann Arbor Society of Human Resource Professionals.