Description

​Traverse Connect, along with our community partner members in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee, brings to you our second annual Summit, which includes speakers, panel discussions, and networking for a day of learning and listening.  The Summit will offer an approach towards implementing a strong welcoming and affirming workplace culture in the five-county region. Through this day's discussions and presentations, we will explain what this means and why it is important to area businesses and the community's economic growth.

View our digital program here.

Agenda Overview:
 

If you, or someone you know, find the registration fee cost-prohibitive, scholarships to attend the 2022 Summit are available by applying here. If you are an organization interested in donating tickets for scholarship recipients, please reach out to Molly MacGirr

Session One - Necessary Conversations: Equitable Effective Engagement

An interactive, comprehensive training with emphasis on understanding how oppression shows up in our businesses and how it shapes implicit bias. This is especially important as we move toward a more equitable and inclusive business model. We will utilize theatrical tools, such as dialogue, reflection and action to create opportunities for learning and positive change. Cultural competence is built through reflection on one's self, community, business and the world. "Tools for Conversations" will ignite awareness and the need to shift how we communicate effectively together to build a better, more inclusive working environment.

Speaker:


Esther Triggs
Associate VP of DEI | Interlochen Center for the Arts
Owner | Journey Theatre Project

Esther Triggs co-founded Journey Theatre Project (JTP). JTP works with non-profits, corporate entities, educational, religious and community organizations to create a brave space for necessary conversations. As Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion there, Triggs challenged traditional power structures and disrupted unconscious bias, through the use of theatre, dialogue, game, and data.

Triggs, born in Western Michigan, returned after twenty years of working in New York City to settle at Interlochen Center for the Arts as Associate Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She continues to work through the four values of ICA's DEI principles of Education, Vulnerability, Transparency and Accountability to move toward Transformation.

Triggs has dedicated her career to educating communities in anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion practices. Triggs? unique experience in both theatrical and corporate settings allows her to bridge gaps in facilitating conversations which leads to empowerment of individuals and groups toward equitable solutions.

Triggs is an alumnus of Cornell?s Diversity and Inclusion certificate program and a graduate of CUNY SPS? master of arts in Applied Theatre program, which utilizes theatre for social justice work. She supports organizations in understanding the perceptual, institutional, and psychological process which impact the bottom line of an organization and how we, in community, interact with each other and create a culturally competent workplace.

Session Two: Untapped Talent & Resources

With labor shortages affecting all businesses - both large and small, for-profit and non-profit - many businesses are looking for new ways to attract and retain talent. Regardless if an employee is hired from the outside or is mentored from within, skilled, talented, and loyal employees are a hot ticket item for businesses to remain open and successful. But as businesses work to expand their pool of skilled workers, they are overlooking one key demographic: people with disabilities.

Speaker: Disability Network & UpBound At Work
 

Disability Network Speakers:  



UpBound At Work Speakers: 



Click here to learn more about more session two speakers.

Working Lunch: Demystifying Inclusion: Focus Areas for Measurable Impact

Inclusion can be tricky because it has to do with how people feel, how they experience and interact with others and their sense of belonging with your organization. Aleria's framework, the Categories for Inclusion, provides strategic opportunities for growth within your organization. In this session, attendees will have the opportunity to share their experiences in the workplace anonymously. And finally, looking at data collected at last year's DEI&B Summit, Aleria will present recommendations on how we can drive greater inclusion across the Traverse City community.

Speaker: 


Lisa Russell
Co-Founder & CEO of Aleria

Co-Founder & CEO of Aleria, passionately tackles real-world problems with innovative and impactful solutions. After several years in the financial services industry, Lisa gained extensive entrepreneurial experience holding key positions on the founding teams of funded and acquired technology startups. Over the years, she has been recognized for her commitment to community and the impact of her efforts focused on mentorship, education and creating opportunities for women and marginalized communities. Currently, she leverages her passions and expertise to help take the guesswork out of diversity & inclusion as Co-Founder and CEO of Aleria.

Session Three:  Leveraging Technology to Drive an Engaged Culture

The transition to a new way of working - in the context of a global pandemic with far-reaching societal and economic implications - presents both challenges and opportunities for promoting diversity and fostering inclusion. Before COVID-19, the social and business imperatives for D&I became increasingly clear, with a commitment to and investment in D&I on the rise across corporate America and around the world. Now, more than ever before, investments in technology will drive belonging and human connection. This session will explore trends impacting D&I and how belonging and creating psychological safety will be key in driving an engaged culture.

Speaker:

Mary Garcia
Director of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging | Hagerty

Mary Garcia serves as Hagerty?s Director of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging. In this role, Mary leads the strategy and execution to increase diversity and develop a culture of belonging across the company.

Mary is an accomplished people and culture leader with recognized expertise in talent research and sourcing, diversity and inclusion strategy and consulting, talent management solutions, operations optimization, and talent acquisition. She is experienced in developing strategies, driving change, managing through ambiguity, building trust and gaining the confidence of key internal and external business partners. Mary is dedicated to fostering equity, access and opportunities that allow employees to achieve their full potential and an organization to amplify its mission.

Prior to joining Hagerty, Mary served as the Manager of Diversity Talent Research and Recruiting for Hilton Corporation, North American Recruiting Division. Mary was responsible for the implementation and achievement of strategic recruiting pipeline and project initiatives that supported Hiltons? diversity priorities. Serving as the subject matter expert for diversity initiatives across the North American recruitment team, Mary partnered with recruiters, talent researchers, recruitment operations, campus recruitment and the Diversity COE to find creative ways to identify and engage with diverse hiring pools of talent. Some of Mary?s additional experience includes serving as a Manager of Global Talent Management at CPA Global, a Talent Solutions Diversity Consultant at General Mills and a Global Diversity & Inclusion Sr. Consultant at Lockheed Martin and Oracle.

Mary holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a Master of Arts in Sociology from Texas Woman?s University. She also received her Executive Education Certificate in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Florida Atlantic University and earned her certification in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida-Muma College of Business.

Closing Session:  Lead With Action: Steps You Can Use in Your Business Today

Making commitments to DEIB in your business can be overwhelming. Hosts Dan and Ellie will share some concrete steps for attendees upon returning to their businesses, in this closing session. In this presentation, Ellie and Dan will discuss moments, interactions, and key lessons they have learned from trusted resources and their own lived experiences. These will include the role of education, what to do about cancel culture, and a few other provocative concepts, and they will try to make you laugh too. You won?t want to miss this session as it aims to tie together the knowledge and magic gained throughout the day.

Daniel Russell, Sr.
Vice-President of National Corporate Sales | Trion Solutions

Daniel Russell, Sr. is a nationally recognized public speaker, motivator, influencer, and change-agent. He is an experienced business professional with an extensive background in employee administration and business management. Dan also has several years of experience in the banking and finance industry serving as a Vice President for Wells Fargo Bank and Wachovia Bank. In addition to his employee administration and banking experience Dan has also trained and developed business owners and entrepreneurs across all types of business sectors. As a speaker and trainer Dan is a well-respected and is known for his success in guiding business owners, entrepreneurs, and young adults with engaging and inspiring content. He is passionate about helping people achieve their dreams and visions making their ideas become reality. Mr. Russell serves on several boards throughout Michigan. He has served on the Board of Directors for Winning Futures a youth mentoring program in South Eastern Michigan and on the Board of Directors for Hope Against Trafficking a Non-Profit assisting women who have been victims of human trafficking. He is a board member with the Troy Rotary and is also a board member at Covenant House Detroit an organization providing housing and support services to youth facing homelessness.

Ellie Hudson
Co-Founder | Green Door Workshop
Independent Consultant

Ellie Hudson is a Consultant and Co-Founder of Green Door Workshop, a distributed (remote working) business services firm that puts organizational development best practices together with consumer & market research to help clients pursue strategic goals cohesively throughout their organizations. Ellie?s clients say that she most positively impacts their change initiatives, human-centered program designs, solving tough problems, and securing grants.

Through decades of experience leading projects for non-profit and for-profit companies in Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Traverse City and remotely in such varied fields as education, sales, and strategy, Ellie applies her values of inclusivity, transparency, hard work, and fun to delivery successfully for clients. Outside of work, she enjoys time with her family doing all that Traverse City has to offer from the lake life to the ice rink, where she is a member of the Traverse City Curling Club and has served on its Board. Ellie is also a current member of the Traverse Connect Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Committee and is also Chair of the Education Committee for the Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity.