Monday, 7/19

8:00-9:00am ET • C-Suite Coffee Hour on Making Better Decisions through the use of Technology and Data

For C-Suite ticket holders only, your C-Suite ticket grants you access to all five roundtables.
Hosted by Incompass Michigan - Brent Mikulski, Incompass Michigan Board President and CEO/President of Services to Enhance Potential
C-Suite leaders from across the Great Lakes region will meet collectively each morning for a roundtable discussion focused on fresh perspectives and best practice sharing with their peers from other states.

10:00-11:00am ET • Re-Building a Direct Support Workforce in a Post-Pandemic Environment

Joseph M. Macbeth, President & CEO, National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals

For more than four decades, direct support professionals have been supporting people with disabilities across every community in the country; helping people build and maintain relationships, supporting employment opportunities, supporting skills to live independently, supporting the unique and dignified contributions that build inclusive communities and promoting self-directed lives. Then, almost suddenly in early 2020, everything changed and community (where the work is done) was, for the most part closed. Over the course of the past year (or more), direct support professionals re-defined their jobs without a road map, supporting social distancing, educating about the needs of personal protective equipment, dealing with issues pertaining to daily schedule changes, using new technology to build relationships, and of course, keeping people who are three times more likely to die from the COVID-19 virus, healthy and safe. As with all crises, direct support professionals rose to the occasion and exceeded expectations. As we emerge from these dark days, how will the I/DD system, funders and policy makers recognize these “heroes”? What opportunities are there to finally address this decades-long workforce “crisis”? This session will provide reflection from the pandemic and solution-driven ideas to finally create the hallmarks of a meaningful career for our workforce.

3:00-4:00pm ET • Social Enterprise: Using the Power of the Marketplace to Fuel Social Impact

Belinda Li, Founder / CEO & Chief Consultant CiTTA Partnership

A social enterprise is an organization whose purpose is to change the world for the common good and it does so by incorporating a market-based earned income business model. While this business concept is not new, it has been increasingly embraced by both not-for-profit organizations and for-profit companies, as well as by younger generations of consumers and employees. Social enterprise provides an opportunity for companies and organizations alike to both do good and do well. In this presentation, leader in the field of social enterprise, Belinda Li, will introduce the concept of social enterprise and different business model ideas complete with case examples, and explore some key considerations for organizations interested in starting a social enterprise.

At the end of this session, you will:

• Gain a better understanding of the definition of a “social enterprise”
• Learn about the many different business models that a social enterprise can undertake
• Explore some case examples to bring the concept to life
• Learn the potential benefits and impact through social enterprise
• Be able to start sketching out some business model ideas
• Learn what to consider as you explore starting a social enterprise

4:00-5:00pm ET • Happy Hour Networking

Connect with your peers from across the Great Lakes Region!

Tuesday, 7/20

8:00-9:00am ET • C-Suite Coffee Hour on Leadership

For C-Suite ticket holders only, your C-Suite ticket grants you access to all five roundtables.
Hosted by Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities - Nanette Hagedorn, VP of Member Services at INARF and John Barth, INARF President & CEO
C-Suite leaders from across the Great Lakes region will meet collectively each morning for a roundtable discussion focused on fresh perspectives and best practice sharing with their peers from other states.

10:00-11:00am ET • Enhancing Remote Service Delivery: The avail® Pilot

Panelists:

• Sarah George, Director of Mission Initiatives at Peckham, Inc
• Terrie Hylton, Competitive Integrated Employment Manager at Services to Enhance Potential
• Kimberly Pietrylka-Miller, Vice President at New Horizons Rehabilitation Services
• Mychal Fearncombe, Executive Director at Community Enterprises of St. Clair County
• Hung Jen Kuo Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education at Michigan State University
• Lisa Marie Clinton, Director of avail® Support, CentralReach

avail® is a robust, evidence-informed, interactive online platform combining Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) tools, evidence-based interventions and technology to provide customized, remote job coaching for individuals who have intellectual disabilities, Autism, Brain Injury and other cognitive disabilities.

Peckham, Services To Enhance Potential, New Horizons, and Community Enterprises of St. Clair County have formed a partnership, with support from Incompass Michigan, to pilot avail® in 2021.

Dr. Hung Jen Kuo is a research partner on the project, evaluating avail® on its usability and efficacy in helping people become more independent in their work tasks.

This pilot provides an innovative way to address the digital divide facing people with significant disabilities and to support remote service delivery at a time when we are all looking to expand our remote service capabilities.

3:00-4:00pm ET • Inclusive Leadership and Organizational Belonging

Freda Sampson, MFA, CDP

Inclusive leaders are leaders who are aware of their own biases and preferences and actively consider other perspectives to inform decisions and to assure a culture of belonging and psychological safety.  This session will look aat the six "C's" of inclusive leadership and the impact on individual and organizational belonging.

Wednesday, 7/21

8:00-9:00am ET • C-Suite Coffee Hour on Workforce and Innovative Approaches to the Staffing Crisis

For C-Suite ticket holders only, your C-Suite ticket grants you access to all five roundtables.
Hosted by Ohio Provider Resource Association (OPRA) - Scott Marks, Director of Operations at OPRA
C-Suite leaders from across the Great Lakes region will meet collectively each morning for a roundtable discussion focused on fresh perspectives and best practice sharing with their peers from other states.

Thursday, 7/22

8:00-9:00am ET • C-Suite Coffee Hour on Advocacy

For C-Suite ticket holders only, your C-Suite ticket grants you access to all five roundtables.
Hosted by Disability Service Provider Network (Wisconsin) - Lisa Davidson, CEO of DSPN
C-Suite leaders from across the Great Lakes region will meet collectively each morning for a roundtable discussion focused on fresh perspectives and best practice sharing with their peers from other states.

Friday, 7/23

8:00-9:00am ET • C-Suite Coffee Hour on Organizational Recovery

For C-Suite ticket holders only, your C-Suite ticket grants you access to all five roundtables.
Hosted by Joshua Evans, President & CEO of Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities (IARF)
C-Suite leaders from across the Great Lakes region will meet collectively each morning for a roundtable discussion focused on fresh perspectives and best practice sharing with their peers from other states.

Pre-Recorded Sessions, Available On Demand Starting July 19

The Nonprofit Olympics: What It Takes for Nonprofits to Win a Gold Medal

Tim Delaney, President & CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits

When athletes deplane in Japan to compete at the Summer Olympics, most will try to visit and assess the landscape where they’ll be competing – is the track hard or spongy, the marathon route flat or hilly, the beach volleyball sand retaining heat or water? The same is true with nonprofits, which compete in our own form of Olympics every day: we need to understand the landscape where we operate. But that’s not all; athletes and nonprofits alike also need mental models and solid plans if they hope to medal at their events. This conference session will not provide you with time to practice your Nonprofit Olympic skills, whether in archery – to shoot straight with funders to win gold for your mission; canoe slaloming – to navigate through the turbulent white-water rapids of policy proposals threatening to flip you over; or running the marathon – to meet more human needs by doing so much more for so many more with so much less for so much longer. But it will provide you with an overview of the current landscape on which nonprofits operate, insights on emerging national trends influencing nonprofits and philanthropy, and factors to consider when doing mental gymnastics to twist, flip, and rotate your business model so you can plan how you’ll stick the landing to win gold.

Emerging Trends in Disability Employment

The Honorable Jon Porter and Alicia Epstein, Manager Policy, Government Affairs at SourceAmerica

Hear from SourceAmerica policy subject matter experts speak about emerging trends impacting disability employment. The session will cover most recent key policy issues impacting employment for people with disabilities nationally. The presenters will also provide an update about the AbilityOne Program.

Changes in CARF Standards Since 2020

Pete Hathaway, Managing Director, Employment and Community Services and Vision Rehabilitation Services

This presentation will discuss changes in CARF standards that have occurred since 2020, including changes in both the 2020 and 2021 CARF Employment and Community Services Standards Manuals. The Digitally Enabled Site Surveys (DESS) will also be addressed.

How Coaching can Develop and Retain Top Talent Through the Chaos

Emily Phipps, Human Resources Consultant at People Matters

*Recording will be available after 7/22

In the current tight labor market, organizations are struggling with keeping good employees. To overcome these challenges, HR professionals must look to all facets of their HR program. This session will explain how strong supervisor coaching skills support not only employee development but also employee retention. Participants will learn a simple, effective coaching process as well as the competencies needed for effective coaching. Discover how employee development and employee retention improves through developing your supervisors’ coaching skills. Understand the skills and competencies needed for effective coaching. Discover an easy coaching method to use right away.

"A Leader Always Sets the Trail for Others to Follow"

Jennifer Grace, Executive Director of Arnold Center

• Know the way (mission)
• Show the way (mentoring)
• Go the way (take action)

The looming questions are how do we lead our organizations during times that we do not have historical data, no experience to draw from, no map, no trail? How do successful leaders find the right direction on the compass to follow in times of uncertainty and the unknown?

The answers to these challenging questions are best answered by engaging in conversations with leaders who have had to navigate the uncharted waters and circumstance and yet found the “undiscovered countries.”

Jennifer will share with you what she has garnered from in-depth discussions and conversations with other industry leaders on how they lead mission-driven organizations during challenging times to get on the path of prosperity. Jennifer will reveal the importance of “mentoring” and why “sitting still” is never an option.

She will also talk about the power of “opportunity” during this past year of COVID that the Arnold Center used to push their mission forward.

Tim Delaney, President & CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits

Tim Delaney is President & CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, the leading advocate and trusted resource for America’s charitable nonprofits. The Council connects the nation’s largest network of nonprofits – including the Michigan Nonprofit Association and its members – to champion the work of charitable nonprofits. Tim is a seasoned attorney and policy advocate who has successfully argued in the U.S. Supreme Court, testified before Congress, and negotiated in the White House. He now applies his diverse leadership experiences to help charitable nonprofits across the country identify emerging trends, engage in critical policy issues, exchange proven practices, and advance their missions through advocacy.

Alicia Epstein, Manager Policy, Government Affairs at SourceAmerica

Alicia has more than fifteen years experience in disability employment policy and advocacy within the nonprofit sector and Federal government. She is the policy manager for SourceAmerica Government Affairs where she advocates key public policies impacting the AbilityOne Program and people with disabilities.

Prior to her current role, she served as senior manager in disability policy at SourceAmerica. In this role, she tracks key public policy issues impacting employment opportunities for people with significant disabilities. She also pursues efforts to influence and initiate disability policy legislation and regulations that enhances employment opportunities for people with disabilities through key stakeholders in Congress, Administration, and the Disability community.

She also serves as a co-chair of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) Employment and Training Task Force. CCD is a largest coalition of national organizations working together to advocate for federal public policy that ensures the self-determination, independence, empowerment, integration and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities in all aspects of society.

Before coming to SourceAmerica, Alicia worked as a research analyst at the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) where she managed a case study on how people with disabilities are served through the Workforce Development System and a communication initiative project which promotes the use of effective communication tools in the Workforce Development System.

Alicia graduated with Masters in Public Administration from American University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Professional Technical Communication from Rochester Institute of Technology.

Mychal Fearncombe, Executive Director at Community Enterprises of St. Clair County

Mychal began working for Community Enterprises of St. Clair County in 1988 as a direct care worker and has held a variety of positions until assuming her current position in 2016. Mychal earned her Master’s in Business Administration from Walden University and her BBL from Baker College.

Sarah George, Director of Mission Initiatives at Peckham, Inc.

Sarah has worked at Peckham since 1999. In her current role, She provides strategic thinking and clinical expertise in the research, design, implementation and evaluation of programs and services that support Peckham’s mission to maximize human potential for people striving for independence and self-sufficiency. Sarah earned her Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling from Michigan State University and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. She also holds a BSW from Western Michigan University.

Jennifer Grace, Executive Director of Arnold Center

Jennifer is a graduate of the Incompass Michigan Leadership Academy and currently serves as an Emerging Leader on the Board of Directors. Jennifer has worked in the field of Vocational Rehabilitation for over twenty-five years and has served in several different compacities; Job Coach, Job Developer, Benefits Specialist, Workforce Development, and Program Director.

Jennifer values the connectiveness of the Community Rehabilitation Organizations that Incompass Michigan represents. She believes that it is this interconnectedness that allows us to uplift and advance the lives of the individuals with disabilities. She also firmly believes in the power of the “team approach” that truly mirrors the words of Hellen Keller…”Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”.

Pete Hathaway, Managing Director, Employment and Community Services and Vision Rehabilitation Services

Pete has more than 25 years of experience in the rehabilitation field. Before joining CARF as a full-time staff member in 2006, Pete served as a CARF surveyor for 11 years. He has managed community-based services for adults and children with disabilities and their families and has also been a contract manager for a state governmental agency.

Terrie Hylton, Competitive Integrated Employment Manager at Services to Enhance Potential

Terrie has over 38 years of experience in the field of Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling. She earned a master’s degree in Higher Education Counseling from Wayne State University and a PhD in Rehabilitation Counseling from Michigan State University.

She has been a rehabilitation counselor, manager, academic counselor, adjunct college professor, program developer, grant writer, public speaker, author, and researcher. She has won numerous awards at the local, state, and national level for her programs, research articles, and professional service.

Hung Jen Kuo, Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education at Michigan State University

Kuo has conducted research focused on interventions for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on social skills, employment readiness and everyday life skills. He has coordinated/facilitated numerous evidence-based interventions such as: Spartan Transitioning Together (STT), Autism Soft Skills Employment Training (ASSET) and Employment Preparation and Applied Skills Support (EPASS) as a faculty member at MSU. Kuo also has extensive experience as a rehabilitation counselor and assistive technology specialist, as well as direct experience working with virtual reality technology for teaching social skills. Additionally, he is a senior member of the Lifting Individuals and Families through Empowerment (LIFE) research lab.

Belinda Li, Founder / CEO & Chief Consultant CiTTA Partnership

Belinda Li is Founder, CEO & Chief Consultant of CiTTA Partnership, a boutique business consulting firm where social impact meets business strategy. CiTTA helps nonprofits, businesses and social enterprises create greater social impact in a financially sustainable way – doing good and doing well. CiTTA achieves that mission by improving clients’ business models and practices, and by educating and engaging clients’ stakeholders to cultivate champions and supporters. Main services provided by CiTTA include: growth strategy, business modeling, go-to-market strategy & implementation, web-based solutions, and impact evaluation. Prior to founding CiTTA, Belinda had worked at Civic Consulting Alliance, McKinsey & Company, General Electric Healthcare, and the academia.

Belinda currently serves as Vice Chair on the Social Enterprise Alliance (National) Board. She is also a Board member at-large at the Illinois Environmental Council Education Fund. In addition, Belinda is an active member of the Chicago Sustainability Leaders Network, Association of Consultants to Nonprofits, and Forefront. Belinda holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and a Ph.D. in Medical Physics from the University of London, UK.

Joseph M. Macbeth, President & CEO, National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals

Joseph M. Macbeth is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) and the first employee hired by the organization in 2011. He has worked in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities for 38 years - beginning as a Direct Support Professional.  In addition to authoring and co-authoring several publications regarding workforce issues and sitting on non-profit boards, Macbeth was appointed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo as a Member of the Advisory Council for the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs in 2016. Last year, he was appointed to the Editorial Board for Exceptional Parent Magazine and most recently  he was added as an honoree for the 20th Anniversary Historic Recognition Project sponsored by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) recognizing distinguished leaders in the field.

Kimberly Pietrylka-Miller, Vice President at New Horizons Rehabilitation Services

Kimberly has worked at New Horizons since 2011. In her current role, she oversees the general management of all program and services offered to participants, including program development, delivery, and evaluation, as well as fundraising, budget setting, business and knowledge management, external relationship engagement and community networking. She coordinates and supervises all branch/site operations, development and implementation of projects and new services as they align with the agency’s mission of providing employment opportunities for individuals facing barriers to employment. Kimberly also acts as liaison with agency funding sources and constituents. Kimberly earned her Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling from Wayne State University and holds a BS in Psychology from Michigan State University.

Emily Phipps, Human Resources Consultant at People Matters

Emily Phipps has over 19 years of experience in human resources. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Southeastern Louisiana University and is a certified PHR and SHRM-CP.

Emily has served as a strategic HR business partner to leadership teams and led core HR functions such as talent acquisition, talent management, and performance management. She has a wealth of experience in all HR disciplines including recruiting and selection, policy development, compensation, HR compliance, employee relations, employee engagement and development, succession planning, and change management. She has supported both labor and non-labor organizations.

Emily enjoys designing and delivering HR solutions that help businesses meet their objectives and create environments where employees can succeed.

Honorable Jon Porter

Congressman Jon Porter (ret.) is the founding member and CEO of PORTER GROUP, a bipartisan government relations, lobbying, public affairs, and business consulting firm with offices on Capitol Hill. Jon possesses a unique set of skills built upon 30-plus years of experience in business, public policy, and politics. In addition to PORTER GROUP, Jon has built and run a large and highly successful financial services company and has achieved multiple terms in elected office as a city councilman, mayor, state senator and, most recently, a three-term United States Congressman from Southern Nevada.

As a United States Congressman, Jon served on the powerful Ways and Means Committee (the chief tax writing committee in Congress), the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and its Subcommittees on Aviation and Rails, as well as the Committee on Education and the Workforce. He was the Chairman of the Federal Workforce Subcommittee and Co-chairman of the U.S. Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus where he was instrumental in the introduction and passage of the Travel Promotion Act of 2009 (later known as “Brand USA”) which created the Corporation for Travel Promotion, a public-private partnership that still exists today and promotes tourism in the United States. While in office, Congressman Porter also was instrumental in bringing about funding for numerous transportation, construction, and infrastructure projects.

Having experienced the pressures of running a business and holding political office, Jon has an exceptional depth of understanding and empathy that enables him to find pathways for solutions to complex issues that are not always apparent. This quality is amplified by the sizable network of bipartisan and trusted relationships he has built over the years with decision makers at the highest level of business, government, and political leadership. The combination of these attributes have enabled him to connect people to new opportunities, find unique pathways to government and legislative solutions, and provide deep insights for those who are pursuing ventures or expanding into new business models.

Through strong leadership, Jon has built a team of smart and experienced professionals at PORTER GROUP who handle an extensive portfolio of policy, legislative and regulatory matters. With wide versatility, PORTER GROUP handles all manner of consulting for domestic and international businesses, local and regional governments and government agencies, and business/trade associations and other non-profits, in areas such as technology, transportation, infrastructure, travel and tourism, aviation, insurance, healthcare, energy, defense, public lands, education, media, and communications. Jon and his team also have an expertise and a special passion for serving organizations that help persons with disabilities to advance within the workforce.

Congressman Porter’s Board and Council affiliations have included Chairman and Trustee, Las Vegas Events; Charter Board Member, Southern Nevada Water Authority; Board of Directors, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Board of Directors, Nevada League of Cities; Civilian Military Council, Nellis Air Force Base; Board of Governors, The Valley Health System; Board of Directors, Farmers New World Life Insurance; and Music Maker Relief Foundation.

Jon is a keyboard player and has been playing in bands since junior high – including a group of bipartisan congressmen that that toured military bases in Europe and the Middle East when he was in Congress. His outside interests include all things family, music, and boating.

Janonne Reynolds, Operations Manager at New Horizons Rehabilitation Services

She has worked at New Horizons since 2014. In her current role, she directly assists Administration and Management to improve overall organizational efficiency by implementing operational processes/procedures as it relates to Employment First initiatives. Janonne acts as the agency’s liaison for New Horizons Board of Trustees and coordinates all official board and committee meetings.  She also assists with large project initiation/implementation to meet the needs of the individuals served as well as accomplishing the agency’s mission. Janonne earned her Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences from Oakland University in 2013.

Freda Sampson, MFA, CDP

Freda is a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategist with significant experience in corporate, non‐profit, governmental, academic and faith based entities. She is committed to bridging racial and cultural divisions through community engagement, advocacy, and organizational development. Her skill set is diversity & inclusion, cultural competency training, project development, and implementation. She has operated in leadership positions in corporate settings implementing DEI organization wide. 

Freda is also an entrepreneur and previously owned and operated several coffeehouses in Detroit.  Currently, she is the owner of Vision Publishing, and Pause Detroit – a virtual café for the soul. She is the president of the Frederick G. Sampson Foundation a 501c3 named after her father.  The Foundation’s mission focuses on theological education and social justice.

Finally, Freda has a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan, a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Tennessee State University, and an Associate of Arts Degree from Brooks School of Design in Long Beach, CA. In 2016, she received her certification as a qualified administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory. Her professional development has ranged from leadership courses with New Detroit’s Multicultural Leadership Program, Harvard University School of Divinity Leadership Program, Leadership Detroit, Class XXXIII, and University of Michigan’s Worldview Seminar on World religions. 

CARF provides accreditation services worldwide at the request of health and human service providers. Whether you are seeking rehabilitation for a disability, treatment for addiction and substance abuse, home and community services, retirement living, or other health and human services, you can have confidence in your choice. Providers that meet our standards have demonstrated their commitment to being among the best available. Visit their website at carf.org to learn more.

Therap is the industry leader in providing electronic records and documentation in long-term care services for people with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities. Therap is a web-based application suite that was designed to provide a comprehensive solution for the planning, documentation, reporting, communication and billing needs of organizations supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in home and community-based services (HCBS) and other settings. Click here to watch a webinar from Therap or visit their website at TherapServices.net to learn more.