“Leading from the front”: The Leadership Challenge Workshop (Two-Day Workshop) This leadership “capstone” invites leaders to participate in the nationally recognized “Leadership Challenge Workshop”. This two-day interactive and immersive workshop, based on the long-running book of the same name by Kouzes and Posner, provides leaders with a unique and transformational opportunity to evaluate their role as a leader. After attending this two-day program leaders will be able to: -Identify the admired characteristics of leaders around the world -Explore the five key areas of leadership -Implement successful leadership behaviors to improve their leadership ability This powerful workshop provides leaders with the opportunity to reflect on what made them aspire to be leaders within their own organization and to “recharge their leadership batteries”.

“Leading from the front”: The Leadership Challenge Workshop (Two-Day Workshop) This leadership “capstone” invites leaders to participate in the nationally recognized “Leadership Challenge Workshop”. This two-day interactive and immersive workshop, based on the long-running book of the same name by Kouzes and Posner, provides leaders with a unique and transformational opportunity to evaluate their role as a leader. After attending this two-day program leaders will be able to: -Identify the admired characteristics of leaders around the world -Explore the five key areas of leadership -Implement successful leadership behaviors to improve their leadership ability This powerful workshop provides leaders with the opportunity to reflect on what made them aspire to be leaders within their own organization and to “recharge their leadership batteries”.

“Charting out the future”: Strategic planning, missions, and visions Employees look to their organizational leadership to provide a clear direction for the future. Organizational leadership establishes this clear direction by providing successful strategic plans including goals, missions, visions, and a plan for how everyone can get there. After attending this program participants will be able to: -Create a strategic plan tailored for their organization and area of responsibility -Analyze what makes mission and vision statements successful -Create effective mission and vision statements This program will help leaders create a path to the future that will motivate their teams.

1. Understand current and emerging trends impacting healthcare and pharmacy cost management 2. Learn how leading employers are innovating their benefit offerings responsibly 3. Gain clarity around Minnesota Paid Leave requirements, timing, and future outlook

1. Understand current and emerging trends impacting healthcare and pharmacy cost management 2. Learn how leading employers are innovating their benefit offerings responsibly 3. Gain clarity around Minnesota Paid Leave requirements, timing, and future outlook

Analyze key 2026 court rulings and federal legislative changes impacting employer-employee relationships and global workforce management. Apply current HR trends and inclusive management best practices that align with diversity, inclusion, and applicable employment laws. Interpret evolving employment rights and labor standards concepts to support effective employee and labor relations.

Summary: HR professionals are asked to wear many hats, and now we're being told we need to build our personal brand, too? If the thought of adding another item to your already long to-do list makes you want to take a nap instead, you'll be glad to know that you already have a brand. The question is whether you're intentionally shaping it and using it to your advantage. In this interactive session, participants will learn how to identify and define their professional brand and leverage it to support career growth, increase influence, and strengthen professional relationships. We'll explore practical strategies for enhancing visibility, expanding professional networks, and creating a reputation that aligns with personal and professional goals. Through discussion, reflection, and simple exercises, attendees will leave with actionable steps to strengthen their HR brand and network. Objectives: Upon completion of this program, participants will be able to: • Identify the key components of an authentic and effective professional brand. • Leverage their professional brand to support career and professional goals. • Apply strategies to increase professional visibility and influence within their organizations and professional communities. • Develop networking approaches that foster meaningful professional relationships and expand professional reach.

Identify strategies to design onboarding programs that build employee confidence, skills, and retention. Analyze how generational and industry differences impact training approaches and employee engagement. Apply training platform selection methods to enhance personalized learning and competency development.

Employees are burned out, trust is fragile, and too many people are quietly dreading work before the week even begins. In this practical, energizing keynote, Mary Baird shares how HR leaders and people managers can use employee experience as a business strategy to rebuild trust, reduce friction, and reignite workforce momentum. Based on her book, Squash the Sunday Scaries, this session introduces a simple framework for identifying what is breaking the employee experience and where to focus first. Attendees will walk away with practical tools to listen better, act faster, and create a 30-day action plan to improve the way people experience work. After attending this session, participants will be able to: 1. Identify the key workplace friction points that contribute to disengagement, burnout, and “Sunday Scaries.” 2. Apply the Employee Experience Flywheel™ to prioritize the right actions for rebuilding trust and improving workforce performance. 3. Create a practical 30-day action plan to improve employee experience in a way that supports better people and business outcomes.