Educational Resources: Connecting the Dots Annual Conference
Connecting the Dots Conference Session Descriptions
(The schedule is tentative and may be revised.)
Keynote
9:00-10:15am
Always Change a Losing Game: You Have More Control Than You Think
David Posen, M.D., Physician and Stress Specialist/ConsultantIn our busy, fast-paced world, most people are feeling overloaded and stressed. It’s easy to blame this on external pressures, but we often add to the problem by trying to do too much. Identifying stress-prone personality traits and belief systems, Dr. Posen will explore these “losing games” and offer some strategies and solutions. In his warm and entertaining style, he will also discuss the problems of too little sleep and too much caffeine.
David Posen graduated from the University of Toronto Medical School and was a family physician for 17 years before specializing in stress management and lifestyle counseling in 1985. Also known as Doc.Calm, David speaks widely to education, government, business and professional groups across North America and is the author of three best-selling books. His latest, The Little Book of Stress Relief, has been translated into six languages and is being sold around the world.
Block 1 Sessions
10:30-11:45 am
1. The Work-Life Balancing Act
David Posen, M.D., Physician and Stress Specialist/Consultant (our keynote presenter)Work-Life Balance has become an elusive goal for most people. In this hands-on breakout session, Dr. Posen will invite participants to look at their current state of work-life balance and then imagine how they’d like it to be. He will explore the wide range of choices people have in their lives every day and then lead a discussion on “How to Make Time for Leisure – When There Is No Time for Leisure.”
See above for biography
2. Innovating “You”
Mary Ceccanese, Trainer Affiliate, Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship, U-M Ross School of BusinessAre you faced with a challenge in your professional or personal life? This session will empower you to develop and implement breakthrough ideas, expand your innovation approach, and design an action plan that is specifically focused on your goals. Innovation “You” is based on the work of Professor Jeff DeGraff (known as the Dean of Innovation) and promotes discovery and experimentation to develop ideas and transform them into successful results. It will change how you view yourself, your community, and your world so that you‘ll become more receptive to the powerful opportunities around you.
Mary has a B.A .in Human Resource Administration and has worked at U-M for over 20 years. She is a Trainer Affiliate with the Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship at the Ross School of Business. For the last five years, she has worked closely with the POS faculty in designing and presenting classes based on their research to over 100 groups both inside and outside U-M. In 2009, she received a Voices of the Staff Champion Award and in 2010, the Candace J. Johnson Award for Excellence.
3. Being a Parent to Adolescents and Young Adults
Nic Cooper, Ed.D., L.P.C., L.M.S.W., Faculty, Teacher Preparation Program, Baker College; therapist, Still Waters Counseling, Saline; state director of the Schools to Watch programAs our children grow into adolescents and beyond, our parenting tools must grow with them. Our goal is to raise adults, not children. That means doing what it takes to build independence and a strong identity, becoming an effective guide and sounding board, and often, recognizing that their direction may be different than what we may have envisioned.
Nic has 34 years of experience in public education as a counselor, assistant principal and principal, primarily in middle schools. He has also been a licensed counselor and social worker, working in substance abuse programs and doing out-patient therapy adolescents, young adults, couples and families. He has co-authored two books – “How to Keep Being a Parent When Your Child Stops Being a Child” (with Rick McCoy) and “Developing a Learning Classroom” (with Dr. Betty Garner).
4. Three Ways to Accelerate Debt Reduction and Cut Interest
Kathryn Greiner, Accredited Financial Counselor, Director of Credit Education, U-M Credit UnionMany working their way out of debt are discouraged by the real cost of credit, including default interest rates and risk-based re-pricing. Attendees will learn about the credit card tactics that make them hard to pay off, and how to avoid those problems. Learn the impact of your monthly payment and annual percentage rate (APR) on debt reduction. You will also get information on the software programs that can help you roll-up payments to save time and interest without hurting your credit rating.
Called the “Budget Guru” by the Ann Arbor Observer, Kathryn Greiner is a credit counselor who has been helping people improve their budgeting skills for 36 years. Kathryn meets with members of the U-M Credit Union one-on-one to help them clarify financial problems and map out solutions. Her service is free to UMCU members. Ms. Greiner has published many articles, hosted a call-in radio talk show for two years, and speaks to groups throughout the United States.
5. Yoga
Wendy Dolen, M.S., Wellness Coordinator, MHealthy, Health and Well Being Services"Yoga," meaning "union" in Sanskrit, is known for a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline originating in ancient India. Yoga is a set of breathing exercises and postures or asanas. Relax and rejuvenate by learning the yoga breath and a few simple yoga asanas you are sure to enjoy. Please wear loose-fitting clothing and bring a yoga mat or towel.
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.
Block 2 Sessions
1:00-2:15pm
1. Panel – Creating a Positive Work Environment: A Discussion with Work/Life Champion Supervisors
Moderator: Jennie McAlpine, Director of Work/Life ProgramsThese 2011 winners of the Work/Life Supervisor Award were nominated by their staff members as supervisors who consistently demonstrate trust, respect, appreciation, flexibility, and high standards for their teams. They can provide ideas about how you too can influence your work environment in a positive, supportive way – regardless of your position as manager or staff. Please join in our discussion about ideal managers and ideal work places with those who have created highly positive work environments.
Panelists/award winners: Olidia Thomas, Health Center Manager, Briarwood Family Practice; Sandra Iaderosa, Clinical Social Work Manager, UMHS; Jose Diaz, Research Investigator, Vascular Surgery, Medical School; and Dennis Grimard, Managing Director – LNF, College of Engineering
2. What’s In Your Sandwich? 10 Ingredients for Career Success
Jocelyn Giangrande, M.A., S.P.H.R., C.C.D.P., President & Founder of SASHE, LLC
This presentation is perfect for those whom find themselves stuck in ruts, with unlocked potential and/or those looking to advance their careers. What are the right ingredients to ensure a healthy and successful career? Jocelyn will take the mystery out of career success by outlining the key ingredients to advance in today’s organizations, and will share engaging stories and lessons-learned along with strategies that successful leaders use to unlock their potential, obtain their competitive edge and propel careers. Participants will be able to look inside themselves and discover what may be holding them back from success.Featured in Women’s Day and HR Magazine, and author of “What’s In Your Sandwich?” Jocelyn helps professionals build the confidence to unlock their potential. She has over 15 years of corporate experience, spanning industries such as higher education, hospitality and healthcare, including membership on the executive team for a top health care organization. She earned recognition for her leadership as an HR executive at Hilton Hotels, and is the creator of “Coffee Break Coaching with Jocelyn” and the blog site, “The Confident Woman. A certified Senior Professional in HR (SPHR), and a graduate of Cornell University Diversity Leadership Program, Jocelyn earned a BA degree in psychology from Colby College, an MA degree in HR Management from Marygrove College, and is a graduate and facilitator of Inforum’s Center for Women’s Executive Leadership program.
3. Planning for Retirement – You Can Start Today!
Pamela Capstick, Benefits Administrator, UHRBring your paper and pencil, you will learn about retirement planning tools available to you now, along with tips and information you can use as you get nearer and nearer to retirement. You’ll learn the new eligibility rules for retirement that are beginning in 2013. We’ll answer questions about benefits in retirement, income options, survivor benefits, and many other mysteries and myths you have always wanted to know.
Pamela has 12 years of benefits administration experience at U-M. As part of her current role, she provides guidance to employees and units regarding retirement and benefit plan eligibility, and acts as liaison between employees and our retirement plan vendors, TIAA CREF and Fidelity Investments.
4. How to Resolve Resentment for a Happier Ever After
Annie Zirkel, L.P.C, Practice HowPeople go into committed relationships thinking love is the key. But over time resentment can kill love. Fortunately it can be prevented or treated -- but you have to know how. This presentation gives participants insight and strategies on how to avoid, resolve and replace resentment so that your love relationship can live a healthier, happier and longer life.
Annie is a Relationship Consultant based in Ann Arbor who works with individuals, families and groups interested in moving their relationships past surviving to actually thriving and having more fun. Whether in her practice, presentations, writing or her own life, she tries to practice what she teaches. Annie's sought-after relationship advice helped her become a finalist in ABC's Good Morning America Advice-Guru search. She is currently completing her latest book: What's Your Mantra? Thinking Positive & Living Your Best Life.
5. Abs & Back
Diana Rose, M.S., Health Educator, MHealthyStrengthen your “core” with a variety of exercises. Please wear loose-fitting clothing and bring a yoga mat or towel.
Diana has a M.S. degree in exercise physiology, with specialty in exercise modification for special populations. She currently works with MHealthy Weight Management and is a personal trainer and a teacher of group exercise classes.
Block 3 Sessions
2:30-3:45pm
1. Making the Most of What You’ve Got: The Path to Positive Aging
Helen Kales, M.D., Associate Professor and Director, Section of Geriatric Psychiatry, U-M; Research Scientist, VA Center for Clinical Management Research; Research Scientist, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center; Director, U-M Program for Positive Aging, a multidisciplinary effort to improve emotional wellness in later lifeDr. Kales will describe threats to positive aging as well as strategies that can be employed to make the aging process more positive.
Dr. Kales is board-certified in both General and Geriatric psychiatry and is recognized as an expert in outcomes related to depression in later life as well as those associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, and in pharmaco-epidemiology research related to the use of antipsychotics in the elderly. Her research program is directly informed by her clinical work and experiences with patients, families, providers and systems, to diminish the barriers to effective and quality care for older patients with mental health issues.
2. Seven Skills that Give You the Extra Edge
Deborah Orlowski, Ph.D., Senior Learning Specialist, U-M Human Resource DevelopmentUsing, among other sources, Debra Fine’s The Fine Art of Small Talk, Betsy Myer’s Take the Lead, Kathleen Reardon’s It’s All Politics, and research on increasing everyday creativity, we will cover 7 skills that go beyond the norm to give you that extra edge. They include learning how to be authentic, developing a great story, practicing engaging “opening lines,” knowing when and how to say no and when to always say yes, being aware of what is going on around you and using the “Santa Principle” to increase your effectiveness.
Deborah’s areas of expertise include: conflict resolution and improving communication and teamwork, especially when impacted by intercultural issues; leadership development; and personal styles identification. She is also the lead for special events. In the past she served as a faculty member in the off-campus program at Central Michigan University. She is a graduate of Wayne State University’s Multicultural Experiences in Leadership Development (MELD) program and New Detroit’s Cultural Immersion program. She holds a B.A. in sociology from U-M; an M.P.A. from EMU, and a Ph.D from the California Institute of Integral Studies.She is a member of the Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR) and the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME). Deborah sits on the board of Jazzistry, an educational program that weaves together American culture and history using jazz as the connecting thread.
3. Panel – Balancing Work and Family from a Dad’s Perspective
Moderator: Janell Kilgore, Faculty and Staff Counselor, U-M Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FASAP)Join our panel of dads who work in various U-M academic and business departments as they talk about their roles and challenges in balancing their work and personal lives. Whether you are a mom, or a dad, or someone who is interested in hearing their stories, bring your questions and hear our panel talk about their experiences as working parents of pre-school through young adult children.
Panelists: Ron Dick, Associate Director of Academic HR; Andrew Greifer, Faculty and Staff Counselor, Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FASAP); Irfan Bhabhrawala, Associate University Registrar; Darrell Washington, Senior Human Resource Representative; Matt Snyder, Human Resource Communication Specialist, HR Strategy and Planning; James Piazza, Lean Coach, Lean for Clinical Redesign CQI
4.Building Your Reservoir: Cultivating Positive Energy to Manage Stress
John Sonnega, Program Manager, Thrive!, MHealthyThis interactive session will explore ways to fill your reservoir of energy, and discuss different possibilities for feeling renewed and ready to respond to stress. We will consider the use of positive emotions in fostering the capacity to manage stress.
John Sonnega is the Program Manager of MHealthy’s stress management program. John has a Ph.D. in Public Health Psychology from Johns Hopkins University. Previously, he was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health at U-M – Flint, and a Research Investigator at the Institute for Social Research. John approaches the complexities of stress with a salutogenic rather than pathogenic outlook. This view focuses on positive psychology.
5. Sports Conditioning
Brad Gebauer, M.S., A.C.S.M. Certified Personal Trainer, Wellness Coordinator, MHealthyLearn simple exercises to develop strength, power, and agility, to help you become better in your exercise routine and prevent sports-related injuries. Discussion will include: proper warm-up, general strength training, core exercises, and stretching. Please bring tennis shoes and wear loose-fitting clothing.
Brad has a master’s degree in exercise physiology and is an American College of Sports Medicine certified personal trainer. He was an accomplished athlete – in 2007, he was the indoor NCAA National Pole Vault Champion. He trained and studied under Ty Sevin, Olympic Training Center Head Track Coach, and Randy Huntington, a USATF Master Coach – both of whom guided multiple medalists in multiple Olympics and World Championships.