More information coming soon

• Artificial Intelligence with Brian Perron
• Consultation Cost of Care Analysis with Anya Eliasson
• Employment Law with Lindsay Raymond
• Federal Nonprofit Landscape with Kelley Kuhn
• Fundraising with Christie Perdue and Anthony Rupard
• Leadership and Direct Care Workers with Kimika Garrett
• National Trends in Best Practices with Michael Christy 
• Outcome Measures with Brian Abery
• Politics with Malcolm Kletke

Christie Perdue

Christie has more than 20 years of development and nonprofit experience and has worked with a variety of nonprofits to strengthen their fundraising, marketing, and strategic planning initiatives. Since starting as an independent consultant in 2017, Christie and team have worked with hundreds of regional nonprofit organizations to build and strengthen their development activities. As well, Christie is a facilitator for the Rotary Charities Leadership Learning Lab, training non-profit leaders on how to maximize fundraising efforts throughout northern Michigan.

Prior to starting as a consultant, Christie led fundraising campaigns for Otsego Memorial Hospital and spent 10 years developing thriving and sustainable fundraising and marketing programs at the hospital in her role as Foundation and Marketing Director. Prior to working with Otsego Memorial Hospital, Christie was the Director of Community Relations at the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation.

Christie holds a master’s degree from Central Michigan University and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan. She has a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management from Lawrence Technological University and a Certificate in Fundraising Management from the Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Christie has been a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) since 2008.

ChatGPT is Like Kleenex: Navigating the Generative AI Ecosystem for Social Workers - Brian Perron

Just as "Kleenex" became synonymous with tissues regardless of brand, "ChatGPT" has quickly evolved into a generic term for all generative AI technologies. However, the AI landscape is far more diverse and nuanced. Since ChatGPT's release, hundreds of alternative models and thousands of specialized applications have emerged, creating a rich ecosystem with tremendous potential for social work practice. The generative AI ecosystem now includes specialized models designed for text generation and summarization, document analysis, multilingual communication, visual content creation, and voice interaction. Each category contains multiple tools with varying strengths, limitations, and appropriate use cases for social work contexts. This presentation showcases diverse AI tools can be thoughtfully applied to streamline administrative documentation while maintaining confidentiality, enhance resource identification for clients with complex needs, support evidence-based practice through improved literature analysis, facilitate more accessible communication with diverse client populations, and assist with ethical decision-making through structured reasoning. We'll provide practical demonstrations of selected tools that show particular promise for social work applications, with guidance on effective prompting strategies, determining when to rely on AI versus human judgment, identifying potential biases and limitations, and maintaining client confidentiality and ethical standards. By developing a nuanced understanding of the broader generative AI ecosystem beyond just "ChatGPT," social workers can strategically leverage these powerful tools while maintaining their professional judgment and ethical responsibilities.

Learning Objectives:

1. Differentiate between various generative AI models beyond ChatGPT and understand their unique capabilities and limitations

2. Identify at least three specific generative AI applications that can enhance social work practice in areas such as documentation, resource navigation, and client support

3. Demonstrate critical evaluation skills when selecting appropriate AI tools for specific social work contexts and ethical considerations

Unlocking Workforce Success: Strategic Leadership Planning for Recruitment, Engagement, and Retention Excellence - Kimika Garrett

Organizations are at a pivotal crossroads. Employee expectations are evolving, competition for talent is intensifying, and retention challenges are putting pressure on operational stability and growth. Addressing these complex issues requires more than quick fixes — it demands clear, actionable strategies driven by intentional leadership.

This interactive and insight-driven session introduces a strategic planning framework to help leadership teams assess current workforce realities, identify priority focus areas, and design targeted approaches to improve recruitment, engagement, and retention. Through guided exercises and thought-provoking discussions, participants will gain greater clarity and leave equipped with actionable ideas to align workforce strategies with organizational goals.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this workshop, attendees will be able to:

Identify and assess workforce challenges

1. Analyze current approaches to recruitment, engagement, and retention to uncover gaps and opportunities.

Prioritize strategic focus areas

1. Determine which aspects of the employee experience will deliver the greatest impact based on organizational needs.

Begin developing a workforce action plan

1. Draft a high-level roadmap to guide next steps in creating more effective and sustainable talent strategies.

Align workforce strategies with organizational objectives

1. Connect talent management priorities to broader business outcomes to ensure alignment and accountability.