Event Type : In-Person Program

Sponsored by:

People speak English differently. The differences can be obvious or subtle, but does it matter?

In Delaware County, about 3.5% of the population speaks a language other than English at home and about 2% are foreign-born. Yet many more individuals do not recognize their own verbal differences but do in others even though there are 160 English accents in the world (or put a little differently, there are as many English accents as there are English speakers).

Very few people speak English as it is taught i.e. “received pronunciation,” however, many employees believe they speak English properly and use Standard American English. Yet, sometimes they harbor an implicit or explicit bias that impacts how people work together and organizations function. What does this mean for team members, managers, and organizations wanting to work better together? What is the business case for embracing linguistic diversity?

The first steps are to understand one’s own English speaking relative to others, appreciate the benefits of such linguistic differences, and then understand internal and organizational biases to identify the linguistic challenges to find solutions for overcoming them.

While some technical terms will be used, the program aim is to recognize and overcome any linguistic bias.

Learning Objectives

1. Reflect on personal linguistic differences
2. Appreciate the benefit of linguistic differences
3. Understand internal and organizational linguistic biases

This program is ideal for: employees and hiring managers.

Note: This program will use interactive tools – Participants should bring their smartphones.

About Our Facilitator

Tania Said, an independent nonprofit professional, worked in museums for over 30 years and continues to consult with museums across the country. Tania’s educational philosophy relies on authentic materials, deep listening, and social learning based on decades of working to improve access to museums and education. She previously worked for the Smithsonian Institution, Ball State University, Bead Museum, Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and the American Alliance of Museums. Tania serves her community through board service and volunteering with the Ross Community Center, Minnetrista, and Muncie Arts and Culture Council.

She is also the principal and owner of Tania Said Consulting, a firm that offers organizational and program development services to nonprofits and museums. She is an immigrant and new American who was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and educated in Bloomington and Muncie, Indiana; Washington, DC; Bournemouth, England; and Msida, Malta. She is proud to be an alum of Ball State University and The George Washington University. Tania lives in Muncie with her husband and son, and their two dogs. Her interests include yoga, running, reading, museums, art, and meeting new people.

It is becoming more and more popular to hate small talk, but the truth remains that surface level conversations are crucial to forming impressions, building a network, and cultivating relationships. Drawing from her training and experience as a clinical mental health professional, nonprofit leader, and communications professional, Michele will explain the psychology of first impressions, the importance of foundational conversations, and strategies to master and enjoy the delicate art of small talk.

Learning Objectives

1. Challenge misconceptions that small talk is boring, unnecessary, or useless
2. Understand and practice the principles of making a memorable first impression
3. Understand and practice Foundational Conversation as a key component to networking

This program is ideal for: introverts & anyone who wants to learn!

About Our Facilitator

Michele Owen was trained as a clinical mental health counselor and practiced trauma therapy with women and children before pursuing a career as a nonprofit executive. She currently also holds the position of Communications Director for the City of Muncie, and works with several initiatives and taskforces around the City. Her experience includes teaching at a collegiate level, developing and delivering a TedX talk, social psychology research, leadership training, and professional writing.

In-Person 3 Hour Session

Learning Objectives

1. Learn the key parts of Organizational Change and its benefits and risks.
2. Explore how Change affects personnel morale and retention.
3. Develop a practical plan of action that can be immediately implemented.

This program is ideal for:  anyone in a leadership role who is undergoing or planning a significant transition in the workplace.

About Our Facilitator

Mark Demchak has more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience working for 3 YMCAs in Illinois and Indiana. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Miami County YMCA in Peru, Indiana, where under his leadership the Y has successfully built a new YMCA facility and medical clinic (open February 2022). Mark’s experience includes strategic planning, capital project development, fundraising, board development, and staff development, and he is a sought after trainer in leadership coaching. He holds a B.A. from Purdue University and an MFA from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks–both degrees are in Creative Writing.

Sponsored by:

More than ever, we are being called not just to adapt, but to be flexible in our leadership. So what is flexibility? This workshop will explore three types of flexibility– cognitive, emotional, and dispositional, and will outline key action steps that leaders can implement with their teams, and themselves.

Learning Objectives

1. The difference between adaptability and flexibility
2. Three different types of flexibility
3. What flexibility looks like in action
4. How to apply the concepts to your team

This program is ideal for:  all in management/supervisory positions; particular those who are newer, or who are grappling with how to best support their teams

About Our Facilitator

Erika Petrelli Bayh has been in people-development for more than 25 years, currently as The Leadership Program’s Senior Vice President of Leadership Development (& self-declared Minister of Mischief). She worked at the helm of Leadership’s central programming for more than a decade, overseeing its largest expansion, and now trains key leadership skills to professionals across the country—as a keynote speaker and featured presenter at conferences, a trainer and coach within organizations, and a leadership-whisperer to individuals. She also blogs regularly and wrote an interactive journal, On Wings & Whimsy: Finding the Extraordinary Within the Ordinary, available on Amazon. Whether from a conference stage, behind a pen, or in one-on-one conversation, the legacy Erika strives to create daily is to be the runway upon which others take flight.

We all have needs: food, shelter, clothing; meaningful work; love and friendship; self-esteem. The term “legacy” in today’s society often refers to how one will be remembered. There’s a Greek proverb that reminds us as “wise” people to “plant trees we will never sit under” — but how can we do that?

This workshop will be part-discussion, part-activity, and a lot of reflection. What makes your heart beat faster? What legacy are you building? Is that even a good goal? Life is too short to let it pass by.

Learning Objectives

1. Take stock of their strengths and how they use them
2. Consider the needs of the spaces they occupy and how their strengths might be best utilized
3. Understand the value of community and giving back through gifts of time, talent and treasure as a business tactic to grow your network, improve the lives of those around you and be a better leader.

This program is ideal for:  young professionals, mid-managers, about-to-be retirees, supervisors

About Our Facilitator

James Mitchell serves as the Director of HR and Employee Experience at Minnetrista, a 40 acre museum and gardens that celebrates the legacy of the Ball families and their company which transformed food preservation with canning jars at the beginning of the 20th century.

He is both the HR generalist and chief people officer for his organization. The museum employs around 65-70 people at any point of the year. He has had several experiences in HR that he hopes to never have again (as him about them sometime!) but most every day he appreciates the opportunity to help new employees catch the “why” of their roles at Minnetrista.

Prior to his work at Minnetrista, James worked in college career services, residence life, and was an AmeriCorps member.

James has been and is very proud of his service as a nonprofit board chair three times and as the President of the local HR professional association. He also established a fund through the Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County in honor of his parents.

In his free time he is a foodie and loves to play video games.

All Aboard: Board Leadership in Motion is a three-hour workshop ideal for individuals who have a desire to serve on a not-for-profit board but want to learn more about what serving as a board member entails, and how to find the potential board opportunity that suits their interests and skill sets.

This session is a partnership with the Heart of Indiana United Way and is sponsored in-part by: Stallings Wealth Management.

Participant Takeaways

• An understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a not-for-profit board member
• How to determine board opportunities that match interests, skills, & desired level of commitment
• Guidance on how to be an effective board member
• Insight on how to find potential board member opportunities
• Descriptions of board member opportunities currently available in the area

Who Should Attend?

All Aboard is ideal for individuals who have a desire to serve on a not-for-profit board but want to learn more about what serving as a board member entails and how to find the potential board opportunity that suits their interests and skill sets.

Tuition:

Thanks to our generous sponsors, All Aboard is available for free.

About Our Facilitator:

Our presenter is Dave Sternberg, Senior Partner of the Indianapolis and Ft. Lauderdale based firm of Loring, Sternberg & Associates, provides fundraising and governance consulting services to nonprofits.

Dave Sternberg has been a nonprofit professional since obtaining a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University. Today, he is a member of the faculty at the Lilly School of Philanthropy’s Fund Raising School, a BoardSource senior governance consultant, and an independent consultant with Loring, Sternberg and Associates.

For The Fund Raising School, Dave teaches “Developing Annual Sustainability, Principles and Technique of Fundraising” and “Developing Major Gifts,” as well as numerous customized training programs nationally and internationally. As a BoardSource consultant, Dave provides counsel on such topics as strategic planning and fundraising. His clients describe him as a gifted strategist, adept at assessing and identifying solutions for organizational and board challenges, and brutally honest.

He is the only person in America to hold a position with both Board Source and the Fund Raising School.