Thursday, April 11, 2024
12:30pm – 5:00pm
University Club at Virginia Tech (185 Beamer Way)
Spots are limited. Secure your place today!
This summit is courtesy of Onward NRV AND various sponsors at no cost to you.
Contact Max Davenport for any questions at max@onwardnrv.org.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Keynote Topic:
Come Here, Stay Here: How to Help Your Top Talent Fall in Love with the NRV
You may adore the New River Valley. Your new employees? Not so much. It can take years for newcomers to develop their own sense of place attachment—the kind of rootedness that makes them want to stay where they live and work. That’s why employers need to be key partners in developing strategies and programs that expedite the place attachment process, increasing the chances that you retain the talent you worked so hard to recruit. In this interactive keynote, Melody Warnick, a Blacksburg resident and author of two books on thriving where you live, shares stats, stories, and action items for how employers can boost their employees’ (and their own!) community connection, belonging, and engagement right here in the New River Valley.
Keynote Speaker: Melody Warnick
Melody Warnick is the author of This Is Where You Belong: Finding Home Wherever You Are, an exploration of the ground-breaking concept of place attachment and a practical guide to loving the place where you live. Her second book, If You Could Live Anywhere: The Surprising Power of Place in a Work-from-Anywhere World, describes how location-independent people choose where to live and how communities can attract and retain them. Melody’s books have been featured in the New York Times, Time magazine, Fast Company, Psychology Today, and others. She’s also written for such publications as the Washington Post, the New York Times, Slate, Reader’s Digest, The Guardian, Good Housekeeping, and Woman’s Day. A regular speaker about how residents can thrive in their communities, Melody lives with her family in Blacksburg, Virginia. You can find out more and subscribe to her newsletter about place at her website, melodywarnick.com.
Through an engaging keynote address, enlightening panel discussions, and interactive breakout sessions, attendees will have the opportunity to:
Goal #1
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Gain invaluable insights on the latest trends and best practices in talent acquisition and retention.
Goal #2
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Explore proven strategies for attracting top talent, fostering employee engagement, and nurturing a culture of excellence within their organizations.
Goal #3
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Forge meaningful connections with fellow professionals, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing that will drive success in the long term.
Goal #4
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Discover the unique advantages and opportunities that our region offers for businesses looking to recruit and retain top-tier talent.
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12:30 – Arrival and Networking
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1:00 – Sponsor Introduction & Remarks: Ridge View Bank
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1:05 – Welcome: Katie Boswell, Executive Director at Onward NRV
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1:15 – Keynote Address: Melody Warnick
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2:15 – Breakout Sessions #1:
– The Remote Work Revolution: Located in the Private Dining Room (PDR)
– The Science of Employee Onboarding: Located in 6 North (6N)
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3:00 Coffee Break (Sponsored by Ignite Leadership Consulting Group)
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3:30 Breakout Sessions #2:
– Workforce Infrastructure: Childcare: Located in 6 North (6N)
– Cracking the Code on Collegiate Talent Recruitment: Located in the Private Dining Room (PDR)
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4:15 Closing Remarks: Max Davenport, Onward NRV Talent Strategies Coordinator
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4:20 Networking (Sponsorship available)
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5:00 Program Concludes
BREAKOUT SESSIONS #1
The Remote Work Revolution:
The shift to hybrid and remote work has transformed talent management practices. This session will explore strategies for effectively managing remote teams, including communication best practices, remote onboarding techniques, and tools for fostering collaboration and engagement in a virtual environment.
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Panelists:
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Jim Cowan, CowanPerry PC Law Firm
Jim is the Chairman of CowanPerry PC, a corporate law firm with offices in Blacksburg and Roanoke. CowanPerry specializes in representing businesses and their owners on corporate, tax, employment, immigration, intellectual property and commercial real estate matters. Over the past 25 years he has represented companies throughout our region in federal and state courts across Virginia in the defense of employment cases and in business litigation.
Jim also serves as outside general counsel to a number of prominent companies and non-profits in the region. Jim has been recognized for over a decade as one of “The Best Lawyers in America” and as a Virginia “Super Lawyer;” and has also been repeatedly named to Virginia Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” for Labor/Employment and Business law.
Wendi Pannell, Pannell Consulting
As the fractional COO, Wendi Pannell serves as a clarity catalyst and execution champion, guiding both organizations and individuals to articulate their ideal futures and engineer foolproof plans to bring them to fruition. With a commitment to empowerment and authenticity, Wendi provides fierce doses of motivation and wisdom gleaned from her own experiences. Drawing from her extensive background as a seasoned leader at HP, GE, and smaller technology firms, Wendi brings a unique blend of strategic simplicity and operational expertise to her work. She leverages her award-winning leadership skills to unleash the potential of solopreneurs and corporations alike, transforming operations through a potent combination of people, processes, and systems.
Wendi’s journey from corporate ladder climber to founder of Pannell Consulting is a testament to her passion for clarity and action. Beyond her professional endeavors, Wendi actively champions women in technology and treasures her roles as a wife, mother of three boys, and devoted dog mom to two border collies.
Eileen Quirk Baumann, Uncork-It
Eileen Quirk Baumann is a technology marketing strategist. She is founder and CEO of Uncork-it, a marketing firm that specializes in connecting innovators and introducing emerging technologies to the marketplace. She has deep experience in how technology can help and hinder organizational goals and the ability to scale.
Uncork-it is a leader in virtual presence and is on a quest to optimize hybrid work. This requires focus on the in-person experience, the virtual experience, and the interaction between the two.
Baumann’s team has supported hundreds of virtual experiences and helps organizations incorporate metaverse experiences in their day-to-day work and special events. They have worked with small remote work teams, multi-location Fortune 10 teams, events with thousands of attendees and everything in between.
The Science of Employee On-boarding:
Effective onboarding is crucial for employee retention and satisfaction. In this session, uncover best practices for designing and implementing onboarding programs that accelerate new hires’ integration into the organization, align with company culture, and set them up for long-term success.
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Panelists:
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Wendy Glass, Ignite Leadership Consulting Group
Wendy Glass is the Founder of Ignite Leadership + HR Consulting Group, a Christiansburg-based leadership coaching and development and HR consulting firm. She has nearly two decades of experience helping organizations accelerate their talent strategies, using proven approaches to recruitment, retention, and engagement. She’s held executive leadership positions in healthcare, on state and local government and non-profit boards, and has experience in higher education.
Prior to opening Ignite, Wendy served as a Market Vice President of Human Resources with HCA Healthcare; a Fortune 500 company based in Nashville, TN. In that role, she led the people strategy for multi-facility health systems across five states; and before joining HCA, she worked at Carilion Clinic and Virginia Tech.
Wendy’s holds a Master’s degree in Leadership & Management, a Bachelor’s degree in Management & Organizational Development, and is a Certified Leadership Coach and Senior Consulting HR Professional.
Elijah Sharp, New River Valley Regional Commission
Elijah “Eli” Sharp is the Deputy Director of the New River Valley Regional Commission, a regional planning organization that has approximately 20 employees. As Deputy Executive Director, Eli is responsible for managing the agency-wide annual work program and executing the day-to-day operational activities of the agency. In addition, Eli has the distinct pleasure of leading the planning and GIS team, who contribute to more than 50 projects across the New River Valley each year.
Eli has nearly 20 years of combined private and public sector experience. Eli enjoys working with state and local partners on collaborative projects that bring community visions to life.
Eli has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering Technology, from Bluefield State University, WV. He currently serves on various boards and committees that focus on transportation planning at the local, State, and National levels.
Young-Kook Moon, Radford University Department of Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Dr. Young-Kook Moon received his PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the Central Michigan University and is now an assistant professor at the Radford University. His research program involves employee turnover and retention, occupational health psychology, workplace meeting and individual differences. He loves his family, watching basketball game, dramas, and movies.
BREAKOUT SESSIONS #2
Workforce Infrastructure (Childcare):
This session will focus on the importance of workplace infrastructure in supporting employee well-being and productivity. Explore initiatives and best practices related to childcare assistance resources that can help attract and retain talent in the region. Hear from experts and local organizations about innovative solutions and collaborative efforts to address these critical needs.
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Panelists:
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Sandee Cheynet, Virginia Tech
Sandee Cheynet serves as Associate Vice President of Talent for Human Resources at Virginia Tech, bringing over 15 years of diverse experience from notable sectors such as Fortune 500 and 100 companies, healthcare, and logistics. Her career is marked by a strategic approach and dedication to advancing workforce development and cultivating an organizational culture that aligns with Virginia Tech’s mission to promote an inclusive and vibrant working environment. Cheynet and her team are leading initiatives that span the employee lifecycle – from talent acquisition and development to employee relations and wellness – thereby playing a crucial role in supporting the university’s commitment to its community.
Cheynet, who is also a Virginia Tech alumna, earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business management from the university, a testament to her deep-rooted connection and dedication to her alma mater. She holds several HR professional certifications, including SHRM-SCP and SPHR, and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. In addition to her primary responsibilities, she participates in a variety of strategic initiatives and boards. Through these roles, her goal is to continue driving innovations in HR policies and practices that not only enhance Virginia Tech’s organizational framework but also establish standards of excellence in the domain of human resources management.
Haden Polseno-Hensley, Red Rooster Coffee
Haden Polseno-Hensley founded and co-owns Red Rooster with his wife Rose McCutchan. Established in 2010 in downtown Floyd, VA (pop 432), Red Rooster was created with the simple notion of roasting excellent coffee for the owner’s existing coffee house. Soon, word of Red Rooster’s quality spread around Virginia and up and down the East Coast.
Today, Red Rooster employs over 40 people while roasting some of the best coffee in the world. To help with staff retention, Red Rooster began a child care service for their employees. And while they have won numerous awards and accolades for their coffee quality, their true passion is in making a positive social impact both at home and abroad at the coffee’s origin.
Jessica Wirgau, Community Foundation of the New River Valley
Dr. Jessica Wirgau has been Chief Executive Officer of the Community Foundation of the New River Valley (CFNRV) since 2011. Serving the counties of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Wythe, and the City of Radford in Southwest Virginia, the CFNRV invests in the region by encouraging charitable giving, supporting innovative programs, and nurturing collaboration. The CFNRV awards approximately $600,000 annually in grants to nonprofits and scholarships to students. In addition, the CFNRV provides funding and administrative support to regional collaborations focused on food assistance, aging in place, early childhood education and development, and nonprofit leadership.
Jess earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Duke University and the University of Virginia, respectively, and earned her doctorate in public administration and policy from Virginia Tech. Jess serves on numerous boards and committees including the Advisory Board for the Engagement Center for Creative Aging at Virginia Tech, the Renaissance Music Academy Board of Directors, and the Oversight Board for the New River Valley’s Regional Housing Trust Fund, among others.
Kristi Snyder, Rainbow Riders
Kristi Snyder has worked with Rainbow Riders Childcare Center in Blacksburg for over 37 years. Starting as a part time teacher during high school, she found her calling. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Virginia Tech in Family and Child Development with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. After graduation, Kristi returned full time to Rainbow Riders as Director and shortly after, became the Owner/Administrator. Kristi serves on an array of boards and committees that allow her to advocate for the rights and well-being of young children and their families.
Cracking the Code on Collegiate Talent Recruitment:
Learn how to develop and amplify your employer brand to attract top talent. Discover strategies for crafting compelling employer brand narratives, leveraging social media platforms effectively, and creating an authentic employer value proposition that resonates with prospective employees.
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Panelists:
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Tonya Dinkel, Kollmorgen a Regal Rexnord Brand
Tonya Dinkel serves as a senior HR leader directly supporting Kollmorgen’s North America HR and functional teams. She is responsible for efforts regarding organization planning, development, performance management, recruiting, employee relations, compensation and the execution of special programs. Tonya oversees the development, modification, coordination and implementation of policies covering employment, employee relations, salary administration, engagement, communication and retirement.
Rachel Taylor, Corning
Rachel Taylor is the Human Resource Manager at Corning Incorporated. Rachel is a graduate of Rutgers University – New Brunswick with a degree in Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration.
Austin Prosser, Torc Robotics
Austin Prosser was born and raised in Blacksburg, with a love for the outdoors. He attended the University of Mary Washington where he was on the soccer team. Austin is currently the University Recruiter for Torc Robotics where he has been working for a little over 3 years. As the University Recruiter, Austin works with all teams at Torc to determine what type of intern/co-ops they are looking for, then heads out to different colleges to recruit for those roles.