Welcome to Denver Connecting Colorado 2024
WELCOME TO DENVER
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 30, 2024 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM GAYLORD ROCKIES RESORT & CONFERENCE CENTER
SCHEDULE OVERVIEW DENVER CONNECTING COLORADO
8:00-8:30 AM
Registration & Networking
8:30-8:50 AM
Opening Remarks
9:00-10:15 AM
Breakout Session 1
10:15-10:45 AM
Networking Break
10:45-12:00 PM
Breakout Session 2
12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch
1:15-2:30 PM
Breakout Session 3
2:30-3:00 PM
Networking Break
3:00-4:15 PM
Breakout Session 4
4:15 PM
Closing Remarks
TRAINING TRACKS
Education trainings cover a broad range of topics and are designed for young professionals and seasoned leaders alike. Breakout sessions provide valuable learnings, practical skills, and actionable takeaways for everyone, regardless of their role or experience level. There are two education trainings in each breakout session. EDUCATION TRAININGS Connection trainings focus on collaboration and community-building through interactive and engaging roundtables and panel discussions. There is one connection training in each breakout session. Actionable takeaways for everyone, regardless of their role or experience level. CONNECTION TRAININGS Executive trainings are tailored for organizational decision-makers, from executives and directors to board members. Sessions are focused on capacity building, strategic planning, and high-level organizational decisions and provide insights and tools for effective leadership. EXECUTIVE TRAININGS
DENVER CONNECTING COLORADO EVENT MAP
Businesses exhibiting at Connecting Colorado have expertise in financial management, event planning, nonprofit resources, IT, accounting and more! VISIT WITH OUR EXHIBITORS
Altruic Advisors
Forvis Mazars
ANB Bank
GFM | Center Table
Apprenticeship Colorado
Huntington Bank
Artesian CPA
Mercer Advisors
Auctions by Dani
Mutual of America Financial Group
BOK Financial
Mytech Partners
Bolder Events
ODP Business Solutions/Office Depot
Boomerang
Palace Construction
CFO Selections
Project Helping
Citywide Banks
Royal Wealth Management
Colorado Gives Foundation
SECTOR
Community Resource Center
SLICE
Complete Business Accounting
TriNet
CrossFirst Bank
University of Denver, University College, Nonprofit Leadership Program
CU Denver School of Public Affairs
Culture CARES Global
Urban Land Conservancy
Cyber Samurai
Valtas Group
Denver Human Rights & Community Partnerships
Vida HR
Wipfli
Ent Credit Union
Your Part-Time Controller
First Interstate Bank
DENVER CONNECTING COLORADO Menu BREAKFAST Continental Breakfast Buffet Assorted Individual Yogurt House Made Granola with Dried Fruit Seasonal Whole Fruit, Butter + Nutella + Preserves + Honey
Chef's Daily Selection of Breakfast Pastries
* Gluten-Free Muffins will be Available*
LUNCH
Mixed Red Oak Leaf Greens Blistered Grape Tomatoes + Watermelon Radish + Pickled Agave Balsamic Dressing Seared Chicken Breast Mascarpone Mashed Potato + Marsala Chicken Jus + Roasted Wild Mushroom + Red Pepper
Vanilla Creme Brulé with Fresh Raspberries
BREAKOUT SESSION 1 (9:00-10:15 AM)
EDUCATION TRAINING
COTTONWOOD 2
Building a Culture of Belonging in a Diverse Work Environment John Albright, Senior Vice President, Executive Director at City Year Denver Caleb Zuniga, Managing Director of People and Operations at City Year Denver Flavia Zarcula, Managing Director of Development at City Year Denver In today’s diverse workplace, it is critical to build effective team cultures for diverse staff to feel a sense of belonging and empowerment. Anchoring the team in values, inclusive decision making and shared power are just a few of the topics we will discuss. From Gen Z to Baby Boomers, we will explore how to leverage generational diversity as a strength, creating teams that thrive on varied experiences, skills, and viewpoints. Join this session to discuss successes and challenges in your organization.
EDUCATION TRAINING
COTTONWOOD 3
Sharing Power in Data Practices - Lessons from Participatory Evaluation
Paul Collier, Director at Corona Insights Matt Bruce, Principal at Corona Insights
In the world of data and evaluation, it is common to ask individuals with lived experience about an issue for their thoughts and opinions. What is much less common, however, is giving community members the power to shape an evaluation’s goals and determine the story told by the data. In this workshop, we will share real-world examples from Corona’s work about how to engage direct service staff and community members at each stage of the evaluation and learning process. We will also explore collaborative techniques for analyzing and interpreting data. Participants will leave with a prioritized list of ideas their organization can implement to share power in their own data practices.
BREAKOUT SESSION 1 (9:00-10:15 AM)
CONNECTION TRAINING
COTTONWOOD 4
Decoding Others & Communicating with Impact
Jahnavi Brenner, CEO and Founder at The Vivid Leader
We all have our preferred ways of thinking and behaving, and we often communicate in those ways. Yet, the people around us have their own preferences. Using the Emergenetics framework, learn about distinct thinking and behavioral preferences & leverage this knowledge to increase your ability to influence, lead, and collaborate with others!
EXECUTIVE TRAINING
COTTONWOOD 5
Taking It Off the Shelf: From Strategic Plan to Active Implementation James Mejía, M.B.A., M.P.P., Chief Strategy Officer at MSU Denver Meredith L. Jeffers, Ph.D., Director of University Strategy at MSU Denver In this session, the co-presenters will share lessons learned in galvanizing a large university community toward active implementation of its 2030 Strategic Plan (fondly referred to as “the brochure”). More specifically, we will begin by briefly explaining the timeline of the strategic plan and why it was stalled from 2020 to 2023. We will then unpack how we got the university back on track, utilizing a publicly-facing dashboard of board-approved metrics and an internal methodology (“OKRs: Objectives and Key Results”) for focusing, aligning, committing to, and tracking the same enterprise-wide initiatives that impact the metrics that matter most. To conclude, we will reflect on our first year of implementation, and how we reviewed and refreshed our implementation plan for the upcoming fiscal year. Following this presentation, we will save time for Q/A from attendees.
BREAKOUT SESSION 2 (10:45-12:00 PM)
EDUCATION TRAINING
COTTONWOOD 2
The Power of Proof
Lauren Moon, CEO at Direct Outcomes Amara Martin, Executive Director at Dress for Success Denver Chelsea Toler, President at Private Family Foundation Jessica Bachus, Executive Director at Kenzi’s Causes Nathan Otto, Philanthropist & Founder of Direct Outcomes
Could visual storytelling through photos of individual outcomes revolutionize donor engagement? Imagine turning your donor base into a deeply connected, thriving community with innovative systems that go beyond traditional fundraising. Join us for "The Power of Proof," where we'll explore this fresh approach, and wrap up with a panel of executive directors and local philanthropists sharing their insights on what this could mean for the future of philanthropy.
EDUCATION TRAINING
COTTONWOOD 3
The Art of Networking Building Authentic Relationships Lorii Rabinowitz, CEO at The Denver Scholarship Foundation Our world is filled with quick connections and fleeting interactions, the ability to cultivate meaningful relationships is a skill that sets individuals apart. This session delves into the art of authentic relationship building, transcending the traditional networking approaches to foster genuine connections that withstand the test of time. Participants will explore strategies for navigating the complexities of human interaction with sincerity and purpose. Through interactive discussions and experiential exercises, attendees will learn how to authentically engage with others, build trust, and cultivate mutually beneficial relationships.
BREAKOUT SESSION 2 (10:45-12:00 PM)
CONNECTION TRAINING
COTTONWOOD 4
Position Your Nonprofit to Reach Wider Audiences and Attract More Funding Linda Appel Lipsius, Executive Director at Denver Urban Gardens (DUG) Robin Chalecki, President at the Emily Griffith Foundation Margaret Bachrach, Voices for Children, CASA of Boulder County Stefanie Jones, President & Founder at Feed Media In this panel, leaders of two non-profit organizations, a foundation and a public relations professional will share insights and strategies that helped them connect with broader audiences and increase funding. Pulling from entrepreneurial and development experience, these executives have shifted mindsets internally and externally to broaden their overall reach. Whether it’s expanding program offerings to reach additional audiences, repositioning or fostering deeper corporate and community engagement, these nonprofit leaders have invaluable feedback ready to share with attendees.
EXECUTIVE TRAINING
COTTONWOOD 5
From Here to Healthy Joshua Aranda, CEO and Co-Founder at Mission Matters Group
This session navigates the critical path of bringing an organization's vision to life through the strategic enablement of technology, framed within an organizational operating system. We’ll dissect how this ecosystem facilitates not just the alignment but the amplification of vision and operational goals. We will offer practical, approachable and actionable steps coupled with real-world examples where vision and technology converge to create a sustainable, impactful future. Participants will leave with actionable insights into molding their technology strategies to be true extensions of their organizational vision.
BREAKOUT SESSION 3 (1:15-2:30 PM)
EDUCATION TRAINING
COTTONWOOD 2
Elevating Your Nonprofit Brand: Strategies for Effective Brand Building and Personal Brand Ambassadorship Kayla Garcia, President and CEO at Girls Inc. of Metro Denver In today's competitive landscape, a strong brand identity is essential for attracting donors, engaging stakeholders, and driving impact. This session will delve into practical strategies and actionable tips to help you elevate your nonprofit's brand.
EDUCATION TRAINING
COTTONWOOD 3
Nonprofit Advocacy Best Practices: How To Make an Impact Hunter Field, Manager, Policy and Advocacy at The National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) In this session Hunter Field of the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) will walkthrough a big-picture view of their advocacy efforts and general strategy as a case study, looking at advocacy best practices and ways other nonprofits can approach advocacy efforts central to their mission and vision. Audience members will leave the session with a better understanding of the strategic thinking behind advocacy efforts and campaigns, and will also participate in some hands-on examples that will put these principles into action.
BREAKOUT SESSION 3 (1:15-2:30 PM)
CONNECTION TRAINING
COTTONWOOD 4
Building Fundraising Relationships
Nick Lopez, CEO at the Latin American Educational Foundation
Join Nick Lopez, President and CEO of the Latin American Educational Foundation, for an insightful discussion on effective donor engagement strategies. In this breakout session, you'll learn practical approaches for cultivating lasting relationships with donors and funders that will help your nonprofit grow. Discover key insights on networking, stewardship, and developing partnerships that can fuel your nonprofit's success.
EXECUTIVE TRAINING
COTTONWOOD 5
Tone at the Top – How to Maximize Board Oversight and Involvement Caitlyn Grimme, Senior Audit Manager at CBIZ MHM, LLC Manda Dinkel, Managing Director and Shareholder at CBIZ MHM, LLC Participants will learn the importance of Board participation in organizational objectives and explore strategies to maximize this involvement. Strategies range from empowering the Board through involvement in the internal control process to assisting with this involvement using clear financial reporting packages. Other topics include the ideal frequency of board involvement, the importance of the role of board members on the financial reporting process, and t key elements of their focused review of financial reporting objectives.
BREAKOUT SESSION 4 (3:00-4:15 PM)
EDUCATION TRAINING
COTTONWOOD 2
Ten Ways Fundraisers are Using GenAI Today
Shawn Olds, Co-Founder and Co-CEO at Boodle.AI
Shawn will share real-world examples and case studies showcasing GenAI applications like: personalizing donor communications at scale, using AI-powered donor files, generating fundraising ideas that align with your mission and resonate with donors, and more cutting-edge GenAI use cases that demonstrate how nonprofit staff can produce better results in less time with GenAI. You'll walk away with practical tips on evaluating and implementing GenAI solutions for your organization. There will also be an interactive Q&A portion to get your specific questions answered.
EDUCATION TRAINING
COTTONWOOD 3
How to Drive Your Impact With Powerful Storytelling Catherine Alonzo, Founding Partner at Javelina Effective changemakers understand their why, their goals, and who they’re trying to reach - and tell impactful stories driven by all three. In this session, we will cover why it’s so important to align all of your storytelling with these elements and explain three steps nonprofits can take to tell stories that drive impact for the people they serve.
BREAKOUT SESSION 4 (3:00-4:15 PM)
CONNECTION TRAINING
COTTONWOOD 4
Conversation Skills For Relationships and Results
Bonnie Davis, Speaker and Executive Coach at HUWork
Most days we navigate challenging conversations in our professional and personal lives. You may be interacting with an employee performing below expectations, avoiding a tough talk with a peer, or dealing with external stakeholders. We often tolerate rather than tackle these situations, go in without getting a positive outcome, or don’t see any real change that comes out of it. This workshop will provide inspirational messages with a practical five-step model and time to apply it, so that you can raise your competence and confidence when engaging others in difficult conversations.
EXECUTIVE TRAINING
COTTONWOOD 5
Building Proactive Bridges between DEI, HR, and Executive Teams for Conflict Resolution and Future Harm Prevention Yeruwelle De Rouen, Founder at Intersectional Innovations In an era where organizational success hinges on fostering inclusive environments, this groundbreaking workshop promises a transformative experience for nonprofit leaders and sector supporters alike, aiming to equip them with the pillars of restorative leadership that will revolutionize their organizational dynamics. Join us for an immersive exploration into the proactive processes that interweave Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEI) with Human Resources (HR) and Executive Teams. This session goes beyond reactive conflict resolution, delving into strategies that not only address conflicts as they arise but also lay the groundwork for preventing future harm.
PRESENTING SPONSOR CONNECTING COLORADO SPONSORS Thank you to our Denver
ROAD TRIP SPONSORS
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS SPONSORS
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