REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST   7:30 – 8:30 a.m.

WELCOME AND KEYNOTE #1   8:30 – 9:00 a.m. 

BUILDING MEANINGFUL CAREERS AND LIVES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

Rural communities create unique environments where relationships, collaboration, and purpose drive success. This session explores how embracing rural strengths enhances both career development and personal fulfillment.
Keynote Speaker: Megan Langley, Founder and Executive Director of Strengthen ND

BREAKOUT SESSIONS #1   9:00 – 10:15 a.m.

 TRACK 1 – LIVE

Connecting Locally: Building Professional Networks in Smaller Cities

In rural or small-urban communities, networking is personal, relational, and often long-term. This session explores how engaging locally, showing up consistently, and building trust can open doors professionally and strengthen community ties.
Speaker: Erica Dunsen, Administrative Director at Jersey Mikes Subs; Jenny Johnson, Story Maker Success Manager, Tellwell Story Co.; Setareh Campion, Director of Programs, Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce

TRACK 2 – GROW

Intentional Growth: Mindset, Self-Leadership, and the Power of Daily Choices

What you think, practice, and repeat shapes who you become. This panel focuses on how  intentional mindset, self-leadership, and small daily  actions compound into meaningful personal and  professional growth..
Speakers: Annie Wood, Chief of Staff, Tellwell Story Co.; Mathias Ingman, Leadership Speaker & Growth Strategist at Ignite Growth & Development

TRACK 3 – LEAD

Say It Better: Growing Confidence in Providing Feedback and Resolving Conflict

How we communicate during moments of tension defines our effectiveness as leaders. This session examines feedback, conflict resolution, and mindset tools that help professionals communicate clearly, respond intentionally, and build stronger teams.
Speakers: Nicholas Flom, UAS Account and Portfolio Director, Thales USA; Brooke Tofte, Account Executive at Anchor Marketing, Jeff Beck, Senior Director of Online at The University of Mary

NETWORKING BREAK   10:15 – 10:45 a.m.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS #2   10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

 TRACK 1 – LIVE

Serving Beyond Your Title: Leadership in Advocacy and Community Organizations

Advocacy and community leadership require collaboration, trust, and commitment. This panel highlights how individuals can contribute meaningfully through boards and community organizations while strengthening the places they live and work.
Speakers: Amber Flynn, Owner/Realtor at Grand Real Estate and Member of the Grand Forks Public School Board; Barry Wilfahrt, President & CEO at The Chamber Grand Forks East Grand Forks

 TRACK 2 – GROW

Time Management Matters: Strategies for Focusing, Setting Priorities, and Creating Smarter Systems

How you structure your day shapes how effective you are at work. This panel highlights practical strategies for managing time, maintaining focus, and creating routines that support productivity and longer-term growth.
Speakers: Melissa Thury, Business Coach at Balance & Businesses with Melissa; John Friend, Human Resources Manager, PS Industries

 TRACK 3 – LEAD

Entrepreneurship In Action: Lessons From the Real World

This panel explores practical, experience-driven lessons from entrepreneurs who have built and sustained businesses through action, adaptability, and persistence.
Speakers: Rachel Rakoczy, Founder and Owner at Rachel’s Property Solutions; Sandi Luck, Founder and Owner, Bully Brew Coffee, Board Room Coffee & Taphouse, ND Coffee Roastery

LUNCH AND PRESENTATION 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS #3   1:00 – 2:15 p.m.

 TRACK 1 – LIVE

Building Work That Works: Creating Environments People Want to Stay In

Belonging is a powerful driver of engagement and retention. This panel examines how organizations and community leaders build cultures of trust, inclusion, and shared purpose that strengthen both teams and the communities they serve. 
Speakers: Shilo Virginia Previti, Director of Advocacy at Live Well Grand Cities; Dalton Erickson, Executive Director, North Dakota Human Rights Coalition; Anna Rosburg, CVE, Regional Vice President, Alerus Center – Oak View Group

 TRACK 2 – GROW

Speak Up! Using Your Voice to Vouch for Your Team, Your Project, and Yourself

This panel focuses on using clear, confident communication to advocate for your team,  your work, and yourself. Learn practical ways to lead conversations, present ideas, and speak up with credibility in meetings and professional settings.the communities they serve. 
Speakers: Mandy Iverson, RN, BSN, Community Mental Health Coordinator – Mental Health Matters, State Opioid Response Grand Manager at Grand Forks Public Health; Lea Greene, Owner at Top Ten Communication; Karel Sovak, Dean, Gary Theraldson School of Business at University of Mary 

TRACK 3 – LEAD

From Peer to Leader: Practical Skills for First-Time Managers

First-time managers are often asked to lead without a playbook. This session breaks down how to transition from individual contributor to people leader, communicate clearly, manage competing priorities, and develop an engaged team. Panelists will share practical frameworks, lessons learned, and simple habits that help new leaders stay steady, effective, and human. 
Speakers: Marla DeFoe, Senior Marketing & Advertising Manager at BBI International; Dee Baker, District Manager at Casey’s; Kevin Miiller, President at ITCB Consulting 

NETWORKING BREAK   2:15 – 2:30 p.m. 

BREAKOUT SESSIONS #4   2:30 – 3:45 p.m.

TRACK 1 – LIVE

Keep Great People: Retention, Growth Paths, and Strong Starts

Strong retention is built through clear growth paths, supportive culture, and access to skill development. This session connects workforce programs, onboarding practices, and leadership strategies that keep talent engaged long-term. 
Speakers: Brittany Love, Director of Prevention and Education & Kristina Stepps, Director of Human Resources at Community Violence Intervention Center (CVIC); Evan Moser, Grant Administrator, Workforce Division, North Dakota Department of Commerce; Doug Peters, Leadership Speaker, Trainer, Coach, Leadership FM

TRACK 2 – GROW

Building Financial Confidence: Tools for Smarter Money Decisions

Building financial stability starts with understanding the basics. This session focuses on essential financial skills and accessible resources that support smarter decisions around spending, saving, borrowing, and planning for the future. 
Speaker: Lance Hill, Leader of Education Outreach & Financial Literacy at Bank of North Dakota, Anna Larson, Senior Financial Advisor, Alerus

TRACK 3 – LEAD

Building Equitable and High-Performing Teams

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential drivers of organizational performance, workplace culture, and effective leadership. This session explores practical DEI strategies for building psychologically safe, inclusive teams and demonstrates how equity-centered leadership strengthens retention, engagement, innovation, and long-term success. 
Speaker: Everett C Jones, Sr,. Executive Director at Love in Action, Dr. Jeff Maliskey, Director, Pride Center, University of North Dakota

KEYNOTE #2   3:45 – 4:15 p.m. 

Work Smarter, Not Harder: Leveraging AI at Work

Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work—but success isn’t about using every AI tool. It’s about knowing when and how to use the right one. Drawing from real-world experience leading AI adoption and workplace innovation, this keynote explores practical ways professionals can leverage AI to save time, improve productivity, and enhance their everyday work. Through relatable workplace examples, attendees will learn how to identify opportunities for AI, choose the right tools, write more effective prompts, and make use of built-in AI features already available in many of the applications they use every day. We’ll also discuss AI governance, ethics, and responsible workplace use so you can confidently embrace AI while staying ahead in your career.
Keynote Speaker: Autumn Ricke, Marketing Operations Manager, Pinnacle Marketing Group

NIGHT SOCIAL IN TOWN SQUARE   5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Enjoy live music, yard games, local food trucks, and plenty of opportunities to connect with the community. After the Night Social ends at 7:00 PM, we invite anyone who is 21+ to join us for The Very Professional Bar Crawl in downtown Grand Forks!

BREAKFAST AND NETWORKING   7:30 – 8:30 a.m.

KEYNOTE #3.1   8:30 – 9:30 a.m. 

Setting Unbreakable Boundaries: Protecting Your Energy Without Losing Momentum

This interactive workshop focuses on recognizing early signs of burnout and learning how to set clear, values-aligned boundaries that protect time, energy, and focus. Drawing from You Flourish Company’s boundary-setting framework, participants will explore how overcommitment, unclear expectations, and lack of boundaries quietly erode performance and wellbeing and how to interrupt that cycle before burnout takes hold. Attendees leave with practical language, tools, and reflection prompts they can apply immediately to sustain their work and personal lives.
Keynote Speaker: Kelsey Buell, Founder at You Flourish Company

NETWORKING BREAK   9:30 – 9:45 a.m.

KEYNOTE #3.2   9:45 – 10:45 a.m.

From Goals to Growth: Why You Can’t Do It Alone

Building on the boundary-setting foundation from the first workshop, this session shifts from self-protection to sustainable growth. Participants examine why trying to “do it all alone” is a major contributor to burnout and stalled progress. Through guided exercises and small-group discussion, attendees identify support networks, clarify goals, and practice collaborative problem-solving using the “Growth Seat” method. The workshop reinforces that long-term success–and resilience–comes from shared accountability, intentional support, and realistic growth strategies.
Keynote Speaker: Kelsey Buell, Founder at You Flourish Company

NETWORKING BREAK   10:45 – 11:00 a.m.

WORKSHOPS   11:00-12:15 p.m.

 TRACK 1 – LIVE

Mentors, Mentees, and Momentum: How to Guide Others Through Growth

Mentorship is one of the fastest ways to grow and one of the best ways to give back. This panel shares practical ways to find the right mentors, build trust quickly, and turn guidance into real momentum at work and in the community. Attendees will also learn how to mentor others through growth with simple habits, strong questions, and a “lead where you are” mindset.
Speakers: Steve Gander, Minnesota State Representative at MN House of Representatives; BG Tucker, Executive Director at College Possible
Minnesota

 TRACK 2 – GROW

LinkedIn That Works: Build Your Brand and Measure Your Success

Whether you’re just getting started on LinkedIn or looking to elevate your professional presence, this workshop will help you maximize your impact. Learn how to optimize your LinkedIn profile using proven best practices, tips, and practical strategies that strengthen your professional brand and increase your visibility. The workshop will also explore how to build a strategy and measure success. Once a strategy and meaningful goals have been identified, you can begin tracking engagement, monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs), and using analytics to refine your content strategy over time. You’ll leave with actionable tools to build a stronger presence, create more effective content, and confidently demonstrate the impact of your LinkedIn efforts.

Speaker: Marla DeFoe, Senior Marketing & Advertising Manager at BBI International; Mark Maliskey, Marketing & Communications Manager at Grand Forks Region EDC.

TRACK 3 – LEAD

From Ideas to Execution: Leading Creativity From Concept to Completion

Real impact comes from generating ideas into action. This session explores practical tools for producing stronger ideas and moving them through decision-making, development, and execution. Attendees will learn how structure, creativity, and personal work styles intersect to help individuals and teams move from brainstorming to meaningful results.
Speakers: Tamara Bertram, Grant Manager, Legal Services of North Dakota; Amanda Voigt, Director of Student Academic Success at University of North Dakota

THANK YOU AND FAREWELL   12:15 – 12:30 p.m. 

SUMMIT AFTER PARTY – OPEN SOCIAL @ The Spud 1:00 pm