May 20, 21 & 22
Harrisburg Hilton
Education Sessions & Speakers
Innovation will offer multiple educational and information sessions, including:
- 12 breakout sessions that provide a deeper look into innovative ideas
- 3 general sessions featuring spotlights on special partnerships and innovative approaches
- 1 keynote speaker that will make you think and laugh
Working conference agenda
|
Monday, May 20:
6:30 to 8:30 pm - Welcome Reception
Tuesday, May 21:
7:30 am - Breakfast, opening keynote session
9:45 am - Breakout sessions
11:30 am - Innovation Spotlight session
12:00 pm - Lunch
1:00 pm - Breakout sessions
2:45 pm - General session
5:30 - 9:30 pm - Achievement Awards and Banquet
|
Wednesday, May 22
7:30 am - Breakfast
8:30 am - UniqueSource Distinguished Service Awards
9:00 am - General session
9:45 am - UniqueSource Membership & business meeting
10:45 am - Breakout sessions
12:30 pm - Lunch
1:30 pm - UniqueSource Board of Directors meeting
|
Keynote Session
Tuesday, May 21
From Imagination to Innovation: IMPROVing Your Leadership - Collin McLetchie
As leaders, our presence in any given conversation and our ability to use conversations more creatively is a determining factor between success and failure. Colin will shepherd us through a series of exercises and explore how we can use the language of leadership more effectively to move from imagining to innovating and beyond.
Colin McLetchie deeply believes in lives worth living, leaders worth following and organizations worth being a part of, all of which cultivate communities and a world worth living in. He brings his unique blend of compassionate challenge and his deep insight and presence to all of his clients. He is known for being wickedly intuitive, insightful, direct when appropriate, and supportive always. Many clients have referred to him as a “not kidding around coach,” and leaders have often chosen him to partner with because they knew they would be challenged and supported in service of their goals and mission.
“My job as a coach and facilitator is to help leaders and people see, feel, think and believe differently, so they show up differently in service of the mission and the impact they want to have on the world. It’s an honor to get to be a partner on the journey of development.”
He has a 20+ year career in human resource leadership working with organizations such as the World Bank Group, SourceAmerica, Goodwill Industries International, Kaiser Permanente, Aetna, and more. Colin now runs Five Ways Forward a coaching, consulting, and wellness company focused on helping individuals, managers, executives, teams, and organizations move forward to achieve their success - at work and in life.
General Sessions
Tuesday, May 21
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Spotlight Innovation Session
Utilizing Technology and AI to Enhance Employment for individuals with Varying Disabilities.
Dr. Susan Lautenbacher, Ph.D., Lark Enterprises
In this special spotlight general session, learn about the Innovative approaches that Lark Enterprises has implemented to enhance the daily capacity of the individuals they support in work. Lark’s focus on use of technology and artificial intelligence has allowed them add to their business line, be more competitive, and ultimately, add more jobs for those with disabilities. Dr. Lautenbacher will also share the fascinating changes observed with their employees’ engagement in self-advocacy and their growing sense of capabilities to learn complex endeavors.
2:45 pm - 3:15 pm
Conversation with OVR
Ryan Hyde, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Our relationship with the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) is an important factor in our ongoing work to advance employment for professionals with disabilities. Learn more about OVR and the state and federal priorities that drive the program.
Wednesday, May 22
9:00 am - 9:30 am
State Policy Landscape
John Malady & PJ Lavelle, Malady Wooten
UniqueSource’s government relations partner will share insights into the state landscape and the priorities of the Pennsylvania legislature.
Breakout Sessions
Breakout education sessions will take place on May 21 and 22 and be offered in four focused education tracks:
- Operations - Sessions A
- Human Resources - Sessions B
- Photo ID - Session C
- Sales & Innovation - Sessions D
Tuesday, May 21
Breakout Session 1
9:45 am - 11:15 am
Breakout 1A: Non-Profits, Cyber Resiliency, and the Landscape of Cyber Threat
Michael McAllister, RKL
Non-profit organizations, despite their charitable nature and valuable contributions to society, are not exempt from the risks posed by cyber threats. In fact, they often manage vast amounts of sensitive data, including financial information, personal details of donors, and other proprietary information, which can make them attractive targets for cybercriminals. We will discuss practical strategies non-profits can implement to bolster their cyber resiliency and protect themselves from the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats.
Breakout 1B: Tangible Hiring Solutions Panel
Travis Pearson, The DPI Group; Kristy Richardson & James Marker, Commonwealth Technical Institute at the Hiram G. Andrew’s Commonwealth Technical Institute; Julie Jindra & Rob Hodapp, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Still struggling with staffing? Come join us for a panel presentation on creative hiring solutions. This panel is designed to get you thinking outside the box with solutions ranging from second chance hiring of persons previously incarcerated to new talent pools of specialized trained graduates to on-the-job training programs, apprenticeships, and possible workplace accommodations in an effort to keep current staff. The panel will cover multiple solutions that can be utilized in your organization to find new talent.
Breakout 1C: PID Annual Training
Annette Bezri, Susan Drummer, & Trevor Trittenbach, UniqueSource
The breakout is designed specifically for those working with the photo ID program and is part of the annual required training. It will cover topics such as wrong records, motor voter procedures, and downtime practices and will include a round table discussion. This session will be offered on two different days and times to allow participants to attend other breakout sessions. Attendance is only required at one of the sessions.
Breakout 1D: Innovative Approaches to Innovative Opportunities
UniqueSource Sales Team
As a continuation of our business development strategy outlined during last year’s event, the UniqueSource Sales Team has been very busy enhancing our approach to traditional products & services and expanding our offerings in novel categories. Learn more about the innovative approach the team is taking on:
- The new opportunity process, from notification to contract launch.
- The off contract to carve-out list transition initiative for products, the rational, approach, successes, and finishing steps.
Finally, the dynamic session will end with the unveiling of an enticing new statewide service opportunity.
Tuesday, May 21
Breakout Session 2
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Breakout 2A: AI & Big Data: Managing the Flood of information
Yoel Alveraz, Appalachia Technologies, LLC
In today's digital age, the proliferation of fake information poses a significant challenge to businesses, governments, and society at large. The sheer volume of data generated online makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish between authentic content and misinformation. Advancements in artificial intelligence plays a key role in this challenge, making it easy to generate more content while at the same time helping us manage it. Join us as we explore the intersection of AI, big data, and misinformation, and discover how these innovative solutions are reshaping the landscape of information management in the digital era.
Breakout 2B: The Pennsylvania ABLE Savings Program (PA ABLE)
Diana Fishlock, Pennsylvania Treasury
Do you have employees worried about saving for their future? Are they receiving benefits and think they cannot have money in their savings? If so, come learn how the PA ABLE program allows people with disabilities and their families to take greater control of their finances and plan for a more financially secure future while maintaining important disability benefits. You can also learn how family and friends can contribute to these accounts and how the PA ABLE Outreach Team is available to provide support to organizations interested in offering payroll contributions or workplace activities.
Breakout 2C: OVR Supports for Photo ID
Julie Jindra & Rob Hodapp, Office Vocational Rehabilitation
The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) provides vocational rehabilitation services to help persons with disabilities prepare for, obtain or maintain employment. This breakout is designed exclusively for agencies who staff Photo and Real ID sites throughout the Commonwealth and will provide an overview of OVR and how to access support for individuals employed in the Photo ID program.
Breakout 2D: Modern Mission-Focused Recruiting Strategies
Myles Wallace, Peak Performers
Recruiting is hard, especially if you don’t do it all the time. What is an applicant tracking system? How do you use artificial intelligence to expedite hiring? In this discussion, join Myles Wallace from Peak Performers, a nationwide nonprofit staffing agency, as we explore how nonprofits can successfully recruit talent with disabilities by leveraging the latest technology and modern recruitment strategies.
Wednesday, May 22
Breakout Session 3
10:45 am - 12:15 pm
Breakout 3A: The Economic Forecast
Mark Hoffman, Fulton Financial Advisors
Develop a financial business plan with this analysis of the global financial markets. This popular session from the 2023 conference, returns to once again provide financial outlooks of economic and market updates with consideration of the short-term, intermediate, and long-term trends and potential impacts.
Breakout 3B: Innovative Employee Engagement
Nance McCown, Messiah College
Developing and maintaining strategies for healthy employee engagement has never been easy. Disruptions from the recent pandemic as well as increases in remote and hybrid work environments have left employers scrambling more than ever. Learn more about how companies can use the right combination of internal communication, leadership, workplace culture and more to positively influence employee trust, loyalty, productivity, satisfaction, and engagement.
Breakout 3C: PID Annual Training
Annette Bezri, Susan Drummer, & Trevor Trittenbach, UniqueSource
The breakout is designed specifically for those working with the photo ID program and is part of the annual required training. It will cover topics such as wrong records, motor voter procedures, and downtime practices and will include a round table discussion. This session will be offered on two different days and times to allow participants to attend other breakout sessions. Attendance is only required at one of the sessions.
Breakout 3D: A 14c Transition Story...From Facility to Community-Based Employment Opportunities
Kevin Walker & Tricia Zeltwanger, Penn-Mar Consulting
Have you been considering a 14c transition, but have no idea where to begin? Do you want to make a transition, but are unsure of the financial repercussions or how it may impact your staff? If you answer “yes” to either question, this is the breakout session for you. Kevin and Tricia are here to share Penn-Mar’s story, lessons learned, and some of the high-performance strategies Penn-Mar used to make a successful transition.