Symposium Sessions & Presenters
Full Day Schedule
Opening Session
Welcome & Overview
10 min
What to expect from the day, and thank you to our sponsors.
State of the Workforce and Employment Landscape in NoCO
Adam Crowe, Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development
30 min
Northern Colorado's economy is growing fast, and local employers and workers alike are under pressure to keep up with new technologies and shifting workplace expectations. Adam gives a grounded overview of the region's current workforce environment and hiring climate to set the stage for the day.
How Industries Are Approaching Workforce Gaps and Needs
Regional Action Committee
20 min
Sponsor Spotlight
Aims Community College
5–8 min
Breakout Session 1
Beyond AI Literacy: How to Identify Real AI Capability
Hope Hartman, Colorado SBDC serving Larimer County
As AI shows up more and more on resumes and in job postings, it's getting harder to tell genuine capability from buzzwords. Hope shares practical tools for evaluating AI-related skills in hiring and coaching — and for recognizing the human-centered strengths that matter more than ever alongside AI adoption.
From Doing It All to Developing Leaders: How Empowerment Builds Stronger Leaders and Teams
Jessica Dizmang, Ben & Jerry's (Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins)
Drawing on her experience running multiple Ben & Jerry's locations, Jessica shares how she moved from doing everything herself to building a leadership team that solves problems independently. Attendees leave with practical tools — including a "Stop Doing List" and a coaching framework — for developing more self-sufficient teams.
Connecting Across Cultures
Samantha Borrego, Borrego Culture & Leadership LLC
How we share information, give feedback, and build trust is shaped by cultural context — and when teams don't recognize that, everyday conversations can create misaligned expectations. This interactive session explores key cross-cultural communication differences and gives attendees practical tools for building trust across a diverse workforce.
From Interest to Action: Your Roadmap to Registered Apprenticeship
Nancy Murray, Colorado Apprenticeship Hub
For employers curious about Registered Apprenticeship Programs, this session moves past the basics into action. Nancy and the Apprenticeship Hub team walk attendees through a practical checklist for deciding whether to build a new program or connect to an existing one, with on-the-spot consultations available.
Breakout Session 2
De-escalation: Dealing with Difficult Customers
Chad Olms, ARX Security Consulting
A hands-on session teaching proven de-escalation techniques for defusing tense customer interactions — including positioning, phrasing, and scenario-based practice. Attendees leave with tools that apply well beyond customer service, useful in any tough interpersonal moment at work.
Neurodiversity 101: Building More Neuroinclusive Workplaces
Leslie Espinoza, Colorado Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce
About one in five people are neurodivergent, yet many workplace systems unintentionally create barriers to hiring, engagement, and retention. This foundational session covers what neurodiversity is and shares practical strategies for building a more neuroinclusive workplace, from hiring practices to everyday culture.
Creating a Culture of Feedback that Works
Diana Hutchinson, Trebuchet Group
Giving feedback is core to leadership, but most of us either avoid it or don't do it in a way that creates real change. Diana walks through a practical framework for giving and receiving feedback that shifts teams from "nice" or "critical" toward genuinely supportive dialogue.
The Pocket: Why the Best Teams Sound Like a Great Band
Stu Crair, Digital Workshop Center
Drawing on 30 years as a professional drummer and 20 years building a workforce training organization, Stu uses live drumming and audience participation to give leaders a physical feel for what team alignment really is — and what breaks it. Attendees leave with a diagnostic framework for spotting misalignment and getting a team back "in the pocket."
Breakout Session 3
The Human Side of Change: Leading People Through Uncertainty
Elizabeth Mahoney, Complete Professional Development
Change is constant in today's workplace, but leading people through it takes more than a project plan. Elizabeth explores how employees typically respond to change and offers practical strategies for building trust and engagement during periods of uncertainty.
The Coach Approach to Leadership (aka what Ted Lasso can teach you about keeping your best people)
Nick Armstrong, WTF Coaching
In competitive hiring markets, keeping great people takes more than perks — it takes leaders who make employees feel seen, heard, and capable. Nick introduces a coaching-based leadership framework that helps leaders stay curious, ask better questions, and build the ownership that keeps top talent engaged.
Panel Discussion
Mindspark
Details to come
From Avoidance to Action: Building Your Conflict Conversation Toolkit
Stephanie Cuevas, Cultivating Joy Consulting
Workplace conflict is common and costly, yet most managers feel unprepared to handle it. This interactive workshop reframes conflict as information rather than dysfunction, giving attendees a practical framework — and a completed conversation plan — for navigating difficult conversations.
