Calendar of Events

Karen Schumacher

Morning Keynote Speaker

In the world of project management, schedules slip, scope creeps, and stakeholders change their minds. What separates the project managers who survive from those who thrive? Emotional intelligence. In this session, we’ll explore how EQ equips project leaders to navigate uncertainty, inspire teams, and deliver results; not by managing tasks alone, but by managing human energy. Through real stories, data insights, and simple practices, we’ll reveal how EQ is the invisible force behind project success.

Brad Baldwin

Afternoon Keynote Speaker

Mindfulness is an emerging skillset to strengthen leadership within organizations. The ubiquitous nature of mindfulness has ushered in misconceptions about what it means to practice and how individuals and organizations can benefit. Brad will directly address the misconceptions of mindfulness, providing a stable base of knowledge from which the audience can discover the power and benefits of infusing mindfulness into leadership style and organizational culture. Brad uses engaging stories and plenty of humor, but leaves participants with practical ideas on how to begin a leadership journey with mindfulness or strengthen work that is already underway. Offered in conjunction with the presentation is an opportunity to directly engage with the practice of mindfulness meditation. Brad offers a brief introductory guided mindfulness meditation practice, allowing participants to safely engage with a practice to discover both process and benefits of mindful practice.

Brenda Meeker

Featured Speaker

In her interactive session, Brenda will guide us through the often-overlooked but critical components of emotional intelligence: social awareness and relationship management. These skills are essential for building strong project teams, navigating challenges, and driving positive results. With a background spanning corporate, nonprofit, and Division I athletics, Brenda’s insights are grounded in real-world experience. She is also a dedicated community leader and active member of several professional associations across Iowa.

Paul DuBois

Navigating the Spectrum of Emotional Intelligence: Where's the Bear? This session will deal with the realities of identifying and managing emotional responses to the inundation of professional stressors. The journey of emotional intelligence mastery is fraught with nuance and complexity - unless you see the process as a full spectrum of steps and stages to identify, own, and overcome. This session will engage participants by mapping out emotional response triggers and intervention solutions using storytelling, interactive activities, and a bit of humor. We will navigate topics on transparency, authenticity, anxiety, exercise, generational differences, swearing, and - yes - bears.

Sheri Zevenbergen

Speaker, Coach, Consultant - The Dash Mindset

People. Pressure. Progress. 4 Steps to Lead with Emotional Intelligence in Projects and Beyond Managing projects isn’t just about timelines and deliverables. It’s about people. And people bring emotions, expectations, and pressures that don’t fit neatly into a project plan. In this practical and engaging session, Sheri Zevenbergen shares 4 essential steps to strengthen your Emotional Intelligence so you can communicate more effectively, navigate challenging situations, and lead with greater clarity and confidence. We’ll explore how to: ✔ Disrupt unhelpful default reactions (yours and others’) ✔ Acknowledge where you are and what matters most ✔ See through the noise of pressure, personalities, and politics ✔ Lead with authenticity and communicate with intention Whether you’re managing people, projects, or both, these steps will help you navigate the complex situations and conversations that arise with stakeholders — so you can make progress without losing yourself (or your sanity) in the process.