Fall 2024 Conference Presenters
Amy Perez, Amy Perez Coaching
Keynote: Building a Culture of Psychological Safety in Higher Education: Creating Lasting Change Across Campus
Synopsis: Creating a psychologically safe workspace is crucial for fostering innovation, collaboration, and overall well-being in higher education institutions. This keynote workshop will focus on the essential connection between personal mental health and the creation of a supportive and inclusive workplace culture.
About Amy: Amy’s professional journey began with her work supporting women’s empowerment post-incarceration. Working to reduce recidivism, she partnered with mental health, DOC, child services, vocational rehab, affordable housers, with the women at the center to create a new, healthy life that benefitted her community, family and herself. With over 20 years of experience in non-profit leadership and corporate training, leading a team and community partners all focused on elevating impact through great resilience, accountability and personal agency. Her outcomes included managing multiple counties’ housing network of social services aligned on a shared mission. This leveraged millions of dollars of grant funding, limited community resources, and saved millions in costs. With the launch of her own business in 2020, Amy now supports leaders and teams to development the necessary skills for to elevate their effectiveness in communication, collaboration, and managing productive conflict. Her certifications and credentials include Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She is a Certified Professional Coach (CPC), an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP) and is certified in the Enneagram, a powerful personality typing system which helps us understand ourselves and those around us better. Amy is also dedicated to advancing the coaching profession serving as Vice President of Education for the New England Region of the International Coach Federation and is also a Community Champion for the Women’s Business League, a national organization promoting female business leaders. In both her work and community service, Amy is committed to uniting diverse groups of people for business collaboration, mutual support, and personal empowerment.
Melea Nalli and Suely Simpson, Conscious Revolution
Keynote: Shifting from Traditional to Soul-Full HR Practices
Synopsis: Are your current HR practices truly unlocking the full potential and commitment of your people? This session will introduce you to the core principles of a Soul-Full HR approach. We will explore why this transformation is needed to respond to our current context and to help organizations and their employees thrive. We will study two case studies of organizations who have applied these principles to their recruitment and retention practices. We will introduce a reflection tool you can use to evaluate your own policies and practices and we will provide time to practice applying the concepts to a specific policy or practice that you choose to focus on. This will be an interactive and collaborative session and is designed to spark new thinking and to draw out the expertise and wisdom you already have.
About Melea: Melea has more than 25 years of experience leading organizations and HR functions in the education sector. She has served in HR roles focused on learning and development and organizational culture and she has overseen full HR functions. In addition to her direct work with HR, Melea has served in various senior leadership roles and has always seen the people and culture work as core to any organization’s ability to fulfill its mission. She knows from experience that if the people in an organization aren’t thriving then the organization can’t fully realize its potential. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College and a Masters of Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education.
About Suely: Suely is an HR Professional with a passion for helping organizations realize their true potential through its people with forward thinking and progressive HR practices to promote equitable, resilient, diverse, inclusive and sustainable organizations and communities. She started her career in an international company and has professional experience covering more than a decade and crosses a variety of industries including the educational sector. As an international HR professional, Suely aims to influence her work with her cross-cultural perspective. She has a Bachelor’s in Management and Human Resources from Florida State University and is SHRM-CP certified.
Andrea Chatfield, Sheehan Phinney Bass & Green
Program: From Policy to Practice: Civility Standards & Legal Trends
Synopsis: Establishing a civil workplace is key to promoting an inclusive workplace and avoiding unlawful harassment and discriminatory behavior. This presentation will look at cases and regulatory guidance related to how incivility can lead to legal liability and the measures that go beyond just policies to implementing a culture of civility and inclusiveness. In addition, the presenter will provide scenarios (that are applicable to academic workplaces) and lead the attendees in discussion of best practices for addressing problems behaviors in the scenarios.
About Andrea: Andrea advises employers on risk management issues in the workplace and represents employers of all types and sizes before administrative agencies in discrimination, whistleblower, unemployment, and wage disputes. She conducts in-house trainings for employers and serves as an outside investigator for employers who need to respond to highly sensitive internal complaints of discrimination and harassment. She is a frequent public speaker on employment law issues. Andrea is admitted to practice in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Andrea is listed in Chambers USA as one of the leading employment lawyers in New Hampshire and in Best Lawyers of America® for Employment Law – Management (recognized in 2019 as “Lawyer of the Year” in Manchester for Employment Law – Management). Andrea received the 2022 Ry Perry HR Hero Award at the Granite State HR Conference. In addition, she is the Government Relations & Legislative Chair for the HR State Council of New Hampshire. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the HR/Healthcare/Workforce Development Committee for the Business & Industry Association of NH.
Caitlin Goss, Middlebury College
Program: Iterate & Innovate: an interactive workshop on organizational design through a design thinking lens
Synopsis: This workshop will guide participants through the five stages of design thinking and ask them to consider their own HR department — or another area of their institution — from an organizational design lens. We will touch on succession planning, change management, asking hard questions and bringing stakeholders along. Participants will leave with a set of ideas and questions (maybe more questions than answers!) about their particular organizational design challenge but also with an understanding of design thinking as a tool and an ability to bring it to future conversations.
About Caitlin: A native Vermonter who grew up in Hinesburg, Caitlin Goss holds an MBA in sustainable innovation from the University of Vermont and a bachelor’s in political science and East Asian studies from Dickinson College. As an exchange student, she attended Beijing University, where she became fluent in Mandarin Chinese. Goss also spent two years at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, where she worked and studied leadership as a vehicle for systems change and developed a keen interest in the nonprofit sector and an understanding of the dynamics within a research and teaching institution.
Goss comes to Middlebury from Rhino Foods in Burlington, where she has served as the director of people and culture for the last four years. Previously, she was the team leader for employee engagement in global human capital at consulting firm Bain & Company, where she worked in the Boston and Shanghai offices.
Goss also has been highly engaged in her local communities as a volunteer and board member. She is currently a member of the board for Vermont Works for Women.
Elizabeth Johnson, Verrill Dana, LLP
Program: Investigation Essentials for Higher Ed
Synopsis: This presentation will focus on foundational best practices for conducting investigations, both in the workplace and as part of the Title IX investigation process. During the session, attendees will gain insights on determining when to investigate, conducting a thorough and fair investigation, interview and report drafting techniques, and more to help them effectively prepare for and execute an investigation when warranted. In addition, this presentation will address key distinguishing factors to keep in mind when investigating Title IX matters, including complying with the new Title IX regulations.
About Elizabeth: Liz helps clients find practical solutions for employment-related needs and navigate the evolving employment law landscape. Liz’s practice centers on helping employers stay up-to-date and in compliance with their legal obligations while maintaining a tailored approach with clients’ specific goals in mind. Liz regularly advises clients on a diverse range of employment matters, including wage and hour matters; harassment, discrimination, and retaliation claims; employee leave (FMLA, ADA, paid leave programs, workers’ compensation); reasonable accommodations; diversity, equity, and inclusion; investigations; employee agreements; restrictive covenants; employee handbook and policy preparation; and supervisor and employee training. In addition, Liz represents clients in employment litigation in state and federal courts, as well as before administrative agencies such as the Maine Human Rights Commission and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Liz is also a skilled investigator. She maintains an active workplace investigations practice and is trained in Title IX investigations for higher education institutions. During law school, Liz served as a Bernstein Fellow at the Maine District Court and a judicial extern to the Honorable Kermit Lipez of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. After law school, Liz clerked for the Honorable Andrew M. Mead of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, where she gained invaluable insight into the litigation process from a judicial perspective. https://www.verrill-law.com/elizabeth-t-johnston/
Toni Runci, BlueLion
Program: Managing Conflict and Having Difficult Conversations
Synopsis: Conflict is an inevitable part of any workplace, but effectively managing it can lead to stronger relationships, improved collaboration, and a more positive work environment. “Managing Conflict and Having Difficult Conversations” is a comprehensive training designed to equip professionals with the skills and strategies needed to handle conflicts and engage in challenging discussions with confidence and competence. This course will help you turn potentially negative situations into opportunities for growth and understanding.
About Toni: Toni & Alison are co-founders and co-owners of BlueLion, an HR Consulting Firm located in New England.
Toni has over 15 years experience in the HR field, working with industries such as automotive, healthcare, benefits, construction, technology, hospitality and more. She received her undergraduate from SNHU in Business with a concentration in HR, as well as her Masters from SNHU in HR Management. She holds both her HRCI and SHRM Certifications. Her background is in benefits, payroll compliance, training, and employee relations.
Alison has over 15 years experience in Operations and HR, working in healthcare, benefits, hospitality, and blue collar industries. She received her undergraduate and MBA from UNH. She holds her SHRM-SCP certification. Her skills are in employee relations, and systems integrations and optimization.
Jacqueline Bichsel, PhD, CUPA-HR
Program: Using CUPA-HR Data to Address Current Workforce Challenges and Changes Ahead
Synopsis: Political, economic, and social forces are reshaping and evolving the workforce and the work environment. Higher ed leaders can stay one step ahead of these changes by using data not just to react but to anticipate and plan ahead. In this presentation, you will learn how you can use CUPA-HR data to: 1) plan for ongoing changes to the DOL’s FLSA overtime rule; 2) improve retention in the face of higher turnover rates; 3) decrease leadership gaps that have widespread repercussions; and 4) benchmark department sizes in the face of restructuring challenges. In addition, you will learn about all the data CUPA-HR collects, as well as how you can access and harness this data to cement your status as the go-to resource for workforce data on your campus.
About Jacqueline: Dr. Jacqueline Bichsel is Associate Vice President of Research at CUPA-HR. Jackie received her PhD in cognitive psychology at the University of Alabama and has been doing research in higher education for two decades as both a faculty member and nonprofit researcher. Jackie leads an outstanding research team who continue to take CUPA-HR research in new and exciting directions. They maintain one of the largest workforce databases in existence–collecting, analyzing, and reporting on salaries, benefits, retention, pay equity, and the composition of the higher ed workforce.
Kevin Carrington, Segal
Program: Preparing to Leverage the Power of AI in HR
Synopsis: The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the Human Resources (HR) landscape. Leveraging AI in HR can streamline processes, enhance decision-making, and improve employee experiences. This presentation will guide you through the essentials of preparing your organization to harness the power of AI in HR effectively. Our discussion aims to provide a comprehensive overview of how to prepare for and implement AI in HR, ensuring your organization can leverage this powerful technology to ethically drive efficiency and improve overall employee experience.
About Kevin: Kevin is the higher education practice leader at Segal. He has been with the firm for 25 years and partnered with many institutions throughout the country to improve their HR function, employee benefits, and compensation practices.
Mary Axelsen, WeMaxx Consulting and Amy Wood, Psy.D
Program: Optimize You: Upgrade your Leadership Mindset for Greater Success
Synopsis: Research shows that the higher people go with their aspirations, the more likely they are to struggle with self-doubt. What sets the most successful professionals a part is their capacity to transform negative self-talk into a powerfully positive and motivating perspective. Grounded in the proven science of cognitive-behavioral psychology, this workshop teaches the art of thinking in ways that reduce stress, gain influence, and increase productivity, morale, and retention.
You’ll discover the enormous impact your beliefs have on everything you do, and begin to shape those beliefs to get better results at work and in life.
Those who participate in this illuminating professional development experience will:
-Recognize three common beliefs that may be preventing you from reaching your goals.
-Learn three central beliefs that the most successful professionals practice and use to increase retention and productivity.
-Become better able to solve problems and make smart decisions by thinking more flexibly.
-Shift your overall outlook to be more self-assured and effective in the face of tough challenges.
About Mary: Mary Axelsen, founder & CEO of WeMaax Consulting, is a former HR executive with global Fortune 250 experience. She has worked for private, public, for-profit, non-profit, and VC-backed companies across various industries and businesses. She has a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and certifications in DEI, Change, Hogan, and 360 assessments. She is a trusted strategic advisor who consults with and coaches high-performing leaders on elevating their effectiveness and progressing innovative solutions that achieve disruptive, transformative change. – Area of expertise: Business, Talent, DEI Strategy, Stress/burnout mitigation, Disruption Management, Leadership Development + Coaching.
About Amy: Dr. Amy Wood is a Portland, Maine-based psychologist who empowers ambitious women through executive coaching, training, and speaking to achieve their unique definitions of success. As the author of the acclaimed book “Life Your Way” and a sought-after expert, Dr. Wood’s insights are featured in various media outlets, including Maine Public Radio and Parade Magazine. She holds a doctorate from Adler University and is certified by the College of Executive Coaching. – Area of expertise: “I help Women in Business achieve more and stress less through coaching, workshops, and speaking engagements.”
Jack Dorkey, The University of Vermont
Program: How we get the most out of our Human and Machine Resources
About Jack: Jack Dorkey is a seasoned Talent Development professional with a rich background in Human Resources and organizational development. Currently at the University of Vermont, Jack leads initiatives that drive growth, leadership, and strategic alignment across the institution. His expertise includes developing training programs, implementing restorative practices, and fostering leadership development.