8:00 – 10:00 AM

Registration

Hallway Outside The Cask Room

9:30 – 9:45 AM    

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Lisa Berry, Conference Chair and Senior Philanthropy Officer, Berea College

Candis Arthur, Conference Co-Chair and Associate Vice President for Philanthropic Operations, Berea College

9:45 – 10:50 AM

Keynote Speaker: Bobi Conn

The Barn

The Power of Storytelling: A Call to Consciousness  

Stories are an essential aspect of the human experience. We tell stories to children with the goal of instructing and entertaining them. As we develop the ability to create our own narratives, we create a story to trace the path of our individual development. Collectively, we look at history and shape a narrative around events to help us understand who we are, how we became, and the extent of our possibilities. The transformative power of storytelling is now recognized in therapeutic settings and used to help individuals reclaim their agency and reshape their identities. Stories provide a unique and powerful point of entry to reach virtually every kind of audience, making it an effective engagement tool. During this presentation, Bobi will discuss these aspects of storytelling and their applications, allowing time for a Q&A at the end of the session. 

11:00 – 11:50 AM   

Breakout Sessions    

The Cure for Imposter Syndrome

The Barrel Room 

Kristin LaFontaine, Co-Founder LaFontaine Preparatory School, Owner LaFontaine Early Learning Center

Imposter syndrome undermines individuals and teams from performing at their peak level. This inclination infiltrates the subconscious and leads people to minimize, diminish, or even ignore their contributions and accomplishments.

Kristin will shine a light on imposter syndrome during this session. She will help attendees learn how to identify this behavior in themselves and others. Kristin will share practical tools that will help individuals and leaders develop healthier and stronger functioning teams.

 

Change is Hard: How to Embrace It and Move Your Team Forward 

Rockbridge Reserve

Candis Arthur, CFRE, Associate Vice President for Philanthropic Operations, Berea College

Johnna Thomas, Senior Director of Development Operations, Eastern Kentucky University

“Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by discomforts.” – Arnold Bennett

Change is hard. Learn about the strategies and tactics that Candis and Johnna have used with their teams as they made process improvements in their departments. Whether you are change-averse or you are managing a team through change, you can gain tools, skills, and techniques to support change initiatives in this session.

 

Dealing with Difficult Conversations 

The Carriage Room

Chad Berry, Vice President of Alumni, Communications and Philanthropy, Berea College

Early intervention can prevent many issues from mushrooming into major problems. Sometimes we delay difficult conversations with colleagues because we lack the expertise to encourage change or don’t know how to tactfully deliver bad news. Or it’s just easier to put off a difficult conversation rather than having one. What skills and strategies might we develop to facilitate difficult conversations? Participants will explore how to have a frank conversation with a colleague and will have an opportunity to practice proven techniques.



NOON – 1:00 PM    

Lunch     

The Barn

 

1:10 – 2:00 PM  

Breakout Sessions 

Career Success: What path did you take? How would you advise others? [A Panel Discussion]

Bluegrass Ballroom A

Success can take many paths and not all paths are linear.  Leaders from around Kentucky will share how they advanced in their careers. Learn how they successfully overcame some of the greatest barriers to career growth and acquired new skills.

These leaders will share insights into what they are looking for when they consider hiring or advancing others.

Panelists:

• Julie Dials, Interim Vice President for University Advancement, University of Louisville
• Elea Fox, Vice President of Philanthropy, University of Louisville Health and Associate Vice President, University of Louisville, Advancement
• Betina Gardner, Vice President for University Development and Alumni Engagement, Eastern Kentucky University
• Caroline Arthur, Director of Alumni Relations for the College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky
• Cris Perkins, Associate Vice Chancellor, Strategic Advancement, Tennessee Board of Regents

Moderator:

Kara Salsman, Senior Director of Development, Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville Health Philanthropy

 

Change is Hard: How to Embrace It and Move Your Team Forward

Rockbridge Reserve 

Candis Arthur, CFRE, Associate Vice President for Philanthropic Operations, Berea College

Johnna Thomas, Senior Director of Development Operations, Eastern Kentucky University

“Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by discomforts.” – Arnold Bennett

Change is hard. Learn about the strategies and tactics that Candis and Johnna have used with their teams as they made process improvements in their departments. Whether you are change-averse or you are managing a team through change, you can gain tools, skills, and techniques to support change initiatives in this session.

The Cure for Imposter Syndrome

The Barrel Room 

Kristin LaFontaine, Co-Founder LaFontaine Preparatory School, Owner LaFontaine Early Learning Center

Imposter syndrome undermines individuals and teams from performing at their peak level. This inclination infiltrates the subconscious and leads people to minimize, diminish, or even ignore their contributions and accomplishments.

Kristin will shine a light on imposter syndrome during this session. She will help attendees learn how to identify this behavior in themselves and others. Kristin will share practical tools that will help individuals and leaders develop healthier and stronger functioning teams.

Dealing with Difficult Conversations 

The Carriage Room

Chad Berry, Vice President of Alumni, Communications and Philanthropy, Berea College

Early intervention can prevent many issues from mushrooming into major problems. Sometimes we delay difficult conversations with colleagues because we lack the expertise to encourage change or don’t know how to tactfully deliver bad news. Or it’s just easier to put off a difficult conversation rather than having one. What skills and strategies might we develop to facilitate difficult conversations? Participants will explore how to have a frank conversation with a colleague and will have an opportunity to practice proven techniques.

 

2:10 – 3:00 PM    

Go Further Together – Networking & Round Table Discussions 

The Barn

Facilitators:

• Yvette Eastham, M.Ed., CFRE, Chief, Institutional Advancement, Executive Director, HCC Foundation Inc., Hopkinsville Community College
• Amanda James, Assistant Director of Young Alumni & Student Philanthropy, University of Louisville

 “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” -African Proverb

The work of advancement professionals varies widely, and we often don’t understand or appreciate the roles of others.  As individuals, we can become so narrowly focused on the immediate tasks in front of us (going fast) that we lose sight of our common goals (going far).  The magic happens when we work in partnership with our campus colleagues. 

Join in roundtable discussions to share success stories and explore ideas for working with campus partners to make the magic happen.

 

3:10 – 4:00 PM   

Luxury or Necessity? How Self-care and Wellness Lead to Better Performance 

The Barn

Sue Reimondo, Ph.D., LPCC, Director of Counseling Services, Berea College

Even on the best days, stress can prevent us from being fully focused and doing our best work. And too much stress can lead to burnout, disengagement, more sick days, and strained relationships in the workplace. Join this session to learn some practical techniques and new tools to tackle stressors and enhance your overall performance.

 

4:00 – 4:15 PM   

Closing Remarks and Evaluations