Communication in the Workplace:

Bringing Generational and Cultural Differences Together

Date:   Thursday, March 8, 2018

Time:  Registration at 8:00 a.m.
Program 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Location:  Danville Area Community College
Bremer Conference Center

This one day conference offers new ways to build trust and motivate staff with communication techniques that effectively span age and culture. A diverse agenda of expert presenters in education, business and healthcare offers the most current information on how we communicate at work including generational considerations, the impact of race of ethnicity and the influence of life experiences. Participants will gain an understanding of the emerging workforce, learn key interaction skills and take away tools to effectively communicate, creating a positive workplace.

Faculty:

Patti Dunning is a senior vice president of Spherion Staffing Services, with more than 20 years of experience focused on operational excellence and business development, Patti supports Spherion franchise business owners in more than 50 U.S. offices. Her guidance enhances their ability to partner with clients to build a high-performance workforce. A seasoned executive with broad-based experience in the staffing industry and a keen understanding of the U.S. workforce and the issues that drive performance, Dunning is a compelling and articulate speaker. She has shared the findings and implications of the Spherion Emerging Workforce® Study with numerous business groups. The Emerging Workforce Study leverages 20 years of groundbreaking research to reveal key insights into today’s workforce, and how companies employ and deploy their talent engine. 

Marian Honel is the Chief Administrator of the Institute for Training and Development at the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR). In this role, Marian is responsible for marketing the Institute to state and local governments, businesses and organizations as the premier trainer for the State of Illinois on human rights and related issues. She is also responsible for managing credentialing of the Institute’s courses and staff; ensuring the quality and effectiveness of the Institute’s services; updating, creating and implementing courses for internal and external needs as requested and in response to workplace trends; implementing technology updates for effective and efficient service delivery; and assisting with budgeting, purchasing and billing for training services. Previously, Marian was Manager of IDHR’s Fair Housing Division, where she was responsible for compliance with the agency’s HUD contract and ensuring that housing investigations met contractual and statutory obligations. She also conducted presentations and training sessions on fair housing and other topics across the state. Marian has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from DePaul University, is a certified diversity trainer through the National Coalition Building Institute and is Treasurer of the Board of the CommUNITY Diversity Group of La Grange.

Judy Ryan is an author, columnist in two publications, a consultant, trainer, coach, and keynote presenter, with guest appearances on TV, podcasts and radio. She has been the founder of LifeWork Systems, an award-winning training and consulting company specializing in leadership development and culture change since 2002. Executive leaders work with LifeWork Systems to take advantage the techniques they have developed to promote a healthy workplace culture. They know that conscientious employees improve business and better serve customers. Judy’s mission is to help create a world in which all people love their lives, including at work.

Elaine Shpungin is the founder of Conflict 180, a private consultation firm in Champaign, after 12 years as the Director of the University of Illinois Psychological Services Center.  She formed Conflict 180 to support schools, families, and communities in finding constructive ways to address conflict and restore community following acts of harm. Elaine has spent more than two decades helping people communicate across differences and listen restoratively. Her writing has appeared in academic journals, scholarly books, web magazines, popular books on psychology, and several blogs.

Conflict of Interest Policy Statement:   Faculty participating in this program are expected to disclose to the program audience any real or apparent conflict(s) or unlabeled use related to the content of their presentations.