2012 Women of Color Task Force (WCTF) Conference: 30 Years of Leadership, Legacy and Change (March 2, 2012)

Thank you for making this a terrific conference! We'll post the date for next year's conference soon.

Go to Session A | Session B

2012 WCTF Conference Event Announcement
2012 WCTF Conference Flyer

WCTF Conference History - Themes and Keynote Speakers (1983 - 2012)

Conference Theme: 30 Years of Leadership, Legacy and Change

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, National Museum of African Art

Attendees may select from 35 workshop sessions and shop in the expanded marketplace, which features a diverse group of local businesses and community organizations. This event is open to all UM personnel (staff, faculty, and students) and to the general public.

Conference Registration and Payment

Online Registration for the 2012 conference will be available in January 2012. If you have registered and are paying by check, money order or cash, please make sure your payment arrives at the CEW office at this address: CEW, 330 E. Liberty Street, AA MI 48104 prior to the conference.

U-M Staff and Faculty: $100.00

U-M Students and UM Retirees: $60.00 (Please email registercew@umich.edu to get a coupon for discount. Please provide your department info and UM ID number for verification.)

Non-U-M Attendees: $100.00

Deadline for pre-registration: Friday, February 24, 2012

Onsite registration: (March 2, 2012): 
You may also register onsite the morning of the conference.

Onsite payments: Attendees may pay for onsite conference registration by either shortcode, cash, check or money order. Credit cards will not be accepted for onsite registration. Please note that onsite fee does not guarantee lunch.  $115.00 (onsite registration fee)

Visitor Parking

Limited visitor parking is available on Central Campus at the Palmer Drive structure at the corner of Washtenaw Avenue and Huron Street. Parkers should pull a parking ticket upon entering the structure and pay the cashier upon exiting. The parking rate at the Palmer structure is $0.55 per half-hour.  

AVI Parking is also available in the Fletcher Street parking structure (next to the Power Center and University Health Services) and in the Thayer Street structure. Please arrive early because these parking structures will fill up quickly.

Directions to Palmer parking structure:        
http://www.palmercommons.umich.edu/content/mapsdirectionsparking

For additional information about the annual career conference, please contact Janice Reuben at 764-6331 or via email at wctfadmin@umich.edu.

Giveaway Sponsors:

TIAA-CREF: 1000 pens

Sarah Nicoli of Dotmine Day Planners: 750 day planners 

The U-M Cardiovascular Center:  750 red stress (foot)balls 

WCTF and Twitter: Want to tweet about the WCTF Conference? 
Use hashtag: #wctf2012

2012 WCTF Conference Schedule

7:00-8:30 am  Conference Registration, Continental Breakfast,
                        Michigan League - Concourse Level

8:00-8:30 am   Orientation for New Conference Attendees, Rackham Auditorium

8:30-9:30 am   Keynote Session, Rackham Auditorium
                         Welcome - University Sponsors
                         Introduction of Speaker
                         Keynote Address - Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole
                         Announcements

10-12:00pm     Workshops Session A, MLB, League, & Alumni Center

12:00-1:30pm   Lunch & Vendor Showcase, Michigan League Ballroom

1:30-3:30pm     Workshops Session B, MLB, League, & Alumni Center

3:30-5:00pm     30th Anniversary Celebration, Michigan League Ballroom

2012 WCTF CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

Session A 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

I. PROFESSIONAL & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

A1. Thinking About Returning to School (Panel): If you are planning to return to school, this panel of admissions officers and career counselors from area universities will provide answers to your questions about financial aid, work-life balance and programs for non-traditional students. Explore the possibilities for a more dynamic future. Jacqueline Bowman; Valerie Eaglin, CEW; Lillian Jones, WCC; Monica Moses, Cleary University; Angela Wafer, EMU   League - Henderson Room (3rd Floor)

A2. Commanding Presence: This introductory workshop to the HRD half-day seminar will start you on the way to harnessing your natural skills, personality and energy so that you'll be able to speak to any size audience with confidence and presence. Don’t miss this high energy, fun and practical session that is sure to increase your personal and professional effectiveness. Renee Malone, Kick the Moon, LLC   Rackham - Earle Lewis Room (3rd Floor)

A3. Innovation You! Broaden Your Range of Life Choices: Are you faced with a challenege in your professional or personal life? Using realistic life stories and group interactions, this session will introduce the four-step process to personal/professional innovation including practical tools such as the Competing Values Framework. Mary Ceccanese, UM Ross School of Business; and Karen Dickinson, ITS (retired), UM Ross School of Business   MLB - 2011

A4. What’s in Your Sandwich? 10 Ingredients for Career Success: This workshop is designed to help professionals take control of their careers and gain the confidence to propel them in the right direction. Based on the concepts in her career strategy book, What’s In Your Sandwich? 10 Sure-Fire Ingredients for Career Success, this workshop uses engaging exercises that allow participants to look inside and discover what may be holding them back from reaching their professional goals. Jocelyn Giangrande, MA, SPHR, CCDP, SASHE, LLC   MLB - 1420 (Lecture 2) 

A5. Working from Strengths: Discover What Drives You: Attendees should have a better understanding of the role that strengths, passion and values play; not just in their careers, but their everyday life. They will leave with next steps on how they can begin integrating a strengths based approach to their career development. Ron Sober, Human Resources Development, University of Michigan   ML - 1220 (Lecture 1)

A6. Living with Power, Vision and Purpose: This session is a self-reflective workshop for participants who are interested in creating a personal vision statement utilizing effective communication. Learn why effective leaders are people who live with power, vision and purpose to achieve their objectives. Denise Henderson, Envision Excellence, Inc.   MLB - 2114

II. LEADERSHIP

A7. Diverse Pathways to U-M Leadership (Panel): Current leaders share their stories and provide tips for navigating the U-M and achieving your career goals: Amer Ahmed, MESA, Kim Elliott, School of Kinesiolgy, Lumas Helaire, OAMI , Sonya Jacobs, U-M Medical School, Jocelyn Kwolek, Center for Global and Intercultural Study, Robin Routenberg, Global Scholars Program, and Cassandra Willis-Abner, UMHS Service Excellence;T. Sha Duncan Smith, CGIS (moderator)   MLB - 1400 (Auditorium 4)

A8. Tools for Leading Effective Meetings: Learn strategies for leading productive and efficient meetings with clear roles and expectations for everyone. This workshop will teach you how to be prepared, sharpen your facilitation skills and equip you with tools for managing challenging discussions. Barbara Mulay, Work-Life Resource Center (VOICES)   MLB - B122

A9. The Art of Possibility – Listen, Learn…then Lead: An interactive session where participants will discover how leadership can transform both professional and personal life. How will you lead in a global arena? What will you contribute to society? Elders Denise L. White and Michael A. White, A More Excellent Way Ministries Worldwide, Inc.   MLB - B124

III. WORK-LIFE BALANCE/PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

A10. Let’s Fit Fitness Into Our Lives!: After this session, one will be able to: help determine one’s own S.M.A.R.T. fitness goals, set oneself up for success in a fitness program, learn how to fit fitness into one’s day, learn about UM’s and Ann Arbor’s resources to assist in this area. Learn how to sustain a fitness program and learn that fitness is fun! Colleen Greene, MHealthy   MLB - 2402

A11. You Can Do Something: The audience will learn basic self-defense street techniques and strategies. Roberta Perry, UM Ross School of Business   Alumni Center

A12. Personal Peace with the Emotional Freedom Technique: Learn to use The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), a simple, easy, cutting edge meridian tapping procedure that helps to effectively manage stress in your busy life. At work, at home, at school, don’t be overwhelmed anywhere! It’s like acupuncture for the soul. Pamela D. Walker, LMSW, Resources for Exceptional Living   MLB - 1200 (Auditorium 3)

A13. Women Overcoming Adversity: A Proactive Approach: Learn to develop a new mental attitude and discover techniques that allow you to overcome every obstacle you face at home, work, or school. Patrice Lee, Feinstein Development & Associates   MLB - B134

IV. FINANCIAL EDUCATION

A14. A Woman's Guide to Saving and Investing: Learn how you can make your future flourish. Join TIAA CREF for a revealing trip through successful investing and saving strategies developed especially for you. Your money shouldn't be sitting around doing nothing, and at this workshop - you won't be either. Margaret Kephart, TIAA CREF; Donna Zielinski, TIAA CREF  (40 people max)   League - Koessier Room (3rd Floor)

A15. Estate Planning: Good Stewardship in Action: Learn how to properly address the inevitable, and sometimes surprising, events of life through wills, trusts, powers of attorney and other planning tools. Terrence G. Quinn, Esq.   MLB - B137

A16. Credit Score Myths Debunked! Attendees will be able to identify how to improve their credit scores and creditworthiness. Since credit histories and scores are used in housing, employment, insurances and the cost of credit, the skills learned will impact quality of life for years to come. Kathryn Greiner, University of Michigan Credit Union   MLB - 2412

A17. Financial Mapping: Strategies for Financial Fitness: This is a workshop that will enable you to harness the power of mapping to create a brighter financial future for you and your loved ones. It will aid you increating the right strategies to meet your financial goals. Teresa Q. Tucker, Teresa Q. Tucker Group, LLC   MLB - B135

SESSION B 1:30 P.M. – 3:30 P.M.

I. PROFESSIONAL & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

B1. Keeping it Real Goes Wrong: Workplace Do’s and Don’ts: Become critically aware of how you are perceived daily in the workplace. This interactive session will address topics including personal brand management, workplace communication, reception etiquette and cultivating reciprocal relationships. Learn how your personal brand can propel your career forward. Ayanna McConnell, MA, U-M Alumni Association and T. Sha Duncan Smith, MSW, Center for Global and Intercultural Study   MLB - 1220 (Lecture 1) 

B2. Delivering an Effective Presentation: This workshop is designed to assist you in developing and delivering an effective, compelling presentation. Learn how to organize your talk, design effective visual aids and handouts and manage your audience and your nerves. No matter your discipline, transform yourself from a boring inexperienced speaker to a dynamic presenter who communicates with poise and confidence. Louise August, PhD, Walsh College MLB - 1420 (Lecture 2)

B3. Assert Yourself, Now: Attendees may expect to have a better understanding of assertive vs. aggressive or passive behavior and leave the workshop with a better sense of techniques to employ in an effort towards effective assertiveness. Carolyn Lewis-Stone, MA, LMSW, ACSW   MLB - 2402

B4. Drawing Treasure Maps: Your Journal and You: Learn how journaling can be a remarkable device for easing worry and obsession, for identifying hopes and goals and for allowing the creative self to expand to help increase levels of energy and confidence. Karen Simpson, Financial Operations   MLB - B117 

B5. Journey to A Clutter Free Workspace: The space on your desk and on your computer can become quickly overwhelmed with stuff without a proven process in place to reduce clutter in its many forms. Learn how to organize your workspace to increase your productivity and effectiveness. Beverly Rogers, Organizing to Be Effective   MLB - 2412

B6. 7 Skills That Give You the Extra Edge: The most successful people are more than merely good technicians and “people people.” Participants learn seven skills that give them additional professional impact, practice each skill and then identify which ones can help them the most in their own lives. Deb Orlowski, PhD, Human Resources Development   MLB - B116 

B7. Getting Stuff Done Online: Task Management in The Cloud: An interactive and participatory tour of several popular online task management tools, many of which allow managing tasks in “The Cloud” using mobile devices. Users are encouraged to bring their own wireless devices to test drive along with the presenter through a sampling of online task collaboration tools. Tonya V. Thomas, UMHS Revenue Cycle Education, Development & Quality Management   MLB - B134

II. LEADERSHIP

B8. New Leader 101: Strategies for Success: For new leaders, individuals who plan to become leaders and those who manage new leaders. Learn to better understand the challenges of transitioning to a leadership role and begin to develop an action plan for the new supervisor’s success. Veretta Nix, MA, U-M Health System   MLB - 2114

B9. Clarifying Your Purpose and Vision for Emerging Leaders: Learn to identify strategies and resources in repositioning yourself for professional leadership by gaining confidence in articulating your purpose and vision for your life and career. Leslie McGraw, Social Media Consultant   MLB - B115

B10. Touch points - Building Powerful Connections With Those You Lead: Successful leaders make themselves present to others. While some leaders may view their staff coming at them with issues, needs, and problems as interruptions in their day, successful leaders see these as opportunities to create impact--these moments are called TouchPoints. A TouchPoint is a simple, yet powerful method that allows a leader to deliberately focus on the individual and engage with them in a way that helps them reach their best performance and increase their motivation. K. Storey, Human Resources Development   MLB - B135

III. WORK-LIFE BALANCE/PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

B11. I’m Retiring! Now What? The decision to retire can lead to excitement and relief or fear and dread. Many focus on their financial plans, but those who actively plan their post-work life have an easier time transitioning into retirement. Use this session to begin your planning for the first day, or first year, of retirement. Jeanne Miller, Information Services, CEW; Doreen Murasky, CEW   MLB - B137

B12. Put On Your Armor: Violation NO More: This workshop will provide women with effective spiritual, mental and physical strategies to reduce the risk of sexual assault. Dr. Lucinda M. Deason, The University of Akron; and Ms. Kareemah M. Garba   MLB - 2011

B13. Strategies for Developing Meaningful Relationships: A strong and healthy relationship can improve all aspects of your life. But to achieve and enjoy healthy meaningful relationships at work, with family, friends and self, you must begin with YOU! Explore the ways to maintain and develop deep personal connections. Minister Charlie M. Carter, Jr. and Coleen Carter, ROGT workshops   MLB - B122

B14. Fitness Sampler: After this session, you will be able to: determine if one of the sample sessions interest you enough to pursue further, learn about the University’s (and the Ann Arbor area’s) resources in fitness, learn about the different components of fitness and why it’s important to perform them all. Colleen Greene, MHealthy  Alumni Center

IV. FINANCIAL EDUCATION

B15. A Woman's Guide to Saving and Investing: Learn how you can make your future flourish. Join TIAA CREF for a revealing trip through successful investing and saving strategies developed especially for you. Your money shouldn't be sitting around doing nothing, and at this workshop - you won't be either. Margaret Kephart, TIAA CREF  (40 people max)   League - Koessier Room (3rd Floor)

B16. The Role of Real Estate in Wealth Accumulation: Our vastly different future requires a vastly different approach to financial and asset planning. Everyone is concerned about our economic state of affairs; learn how to move beyond the fear of change and into the realm of action. Angela Barbash and Victoria Evans, Edward Surovell Realtors   MLB - B124 

B17. Considering Retirement? How to Know, How to Plan: Many people have an idea when they want to retire. If you are close to retirement, learn what you need to consider and how to prepare for this major decision without worrying about making a mistake. Barbara A. Tucker, Insight Financial Group   MLB - B120

V. LATE BREAKING WORKSHOPS!!!

B18. The Power of Your Thoughts, The Power of You: At some point, everyone has had runaway thoughts that led to some poor consequences. Why is that? In this workshop we will take an intriguing look at the way your thoughts influence your actions and expectations, and you will gain a better understanding of this essential connection. We will also briefly look at some resources for you to follow up with in choosing more effective responses. Dr. Margarita Garcia-Roberts, U-M Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives   MLB - B118

B19. Discovering the Leader Within: Keys to Advancement (Panel): Understand the skills necessary to advance your career at UM. Share experiences of those who have advanced in various career tracks. Learn leadership best practices. Olidia Thomas, UMHS Briarwood Family Medicine; Erica Sanders, Office of Undergraduate Admissions; Abayomi Israel, Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research; Moderated by Lashon Hart, UMHS   League - Henderson Room (3rd Floor)