Afternoon Sessions

When the ego dies, the company begins to thrive.

Every organization has a culture because every organization is made up of people. As a leader, you may already have an idea of what your company culture is. Maybe you value inspiring customers, providing innovative solutions, simplifying processes, or making a difference in the communities you serve. Maybe you want your workforce to thrive by growing their income or moving up the organizational ladder. But unless you are backing up these values with real, authentic action, they are no more than talk or words on the wall and your employees know it.

To be a leader who creates a work environment that is inspiring, productive, and valuable, you need more than attractive words and artificial promises. This book will show you how to dig deep and look inside your company and yourself to improve, step-by-step, your approach to building and maintaining a culture that results in the unprecedented inspiration that drives a profitable company, bolstered by a highly skilled and dedicated workforce. Company culture is an inside job and it starts with you.

Scott McGohan has been married to his best friend, Lori, for 37 years and is a proud father of two, both married to amazing partners, and a grandparent to three grandchildren. With 35 years at McGohan Brabender, he recently retired as Co-Chairman. He is the author of Culture Is an Inside Job: Embracing Self-Awareness to Inspire an Authentic Organization and co-founder of the Culture is an Inside Job podcast. Scott also founded One Morning, a mental health engagement catalyst designed to drive cultural change and provide resources for those struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. Passionate about fostering love, acceptance, and vulnerability, he is dedicated to bringing hope and positive change to individuals and organizations.

This session will focus on making authentic connections through the power of authenticity and purposeful engagement.

Allison Ditmer has a BSBA in marketing and an MBA from Bowling Green State University. She spent 15 years at a Fortune 100 CPG nutrition company before deciding to utilize her digital marketing background and pursue building her content and SEO business. When she's not helping nutrition and wellness organizations build their brands online with strategic website content, she's with her family, traveling to national parks and spending time with her two kids.

In a world that continues to be ideologically divided, it may seem inevitable that these differences are present in the workplace.  This session will explore how Civility in the Workplace impacts culture, employee experience, and productivity. Leveraging the SHRM Civility Index, launched in early 2024 to discover the impact of organizations committing to a Civil Workplace.

Becky is a Senior HR Business Strategist at Clark Schaefer Strategic HR, dedicated to aligning human resource strategies with organizational goals while creating personalized employee experiences. With over 20 years of HR leadership, she excels in talent management, workforce planning, performance management, and employee engagement across various industries. Having served as both an internal HR Business Partner and external consultant, she effectively balances strategic leadership, operational management, and tactical execution. Becky holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and is a SHRM-SCP. Originally an IT consultant, she transitioned to HR to pursue her passion for helping businesses and employees thrive. Outside of work, she is an avid tennis fan who never misses the Cincinnati Open and enjoys exploring with her husband and three daughters.

As employers consider strategies on how to recruit and retain employees, one area that they are re-evaluating are their employee benefits.  Many employees are looking for control and flexibility in their employee benefits and, in response, employers are analyzing how to best provide choices for their employees.    In this session, we will discuss employee benefit plan designs that go beyond the "typical"  designs and will cover areas including, among others, (1) cafeteria plan design, (2) PTO design strategies, (3) educational and student loan programs, and (4) lifestyle accounts.

Jason Rothman is a Partner at Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP and member of the firm's Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Group.  Jason advises publicly traded companies, closely held businesses and nonprofit organizations on all aspects of health and welfare plans, qualified and nonqualified retirement plans, executive compensation, employment agreements and other related legal and compliance issues.  He also assists employers on employee benefits issues that arise in mergers and acquisitions.  Jason received his J.D. from Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and his B.S.B.A. from The Ohio State University.

Employee engagement is no longer just a buzzword, it's the cornerstone of organizational success. In this session, we'll explore how leaders can strategically cultivate a workplace environment that prioritizes connection, accountability, and purpose. Through actionable insights, real-world case studies, and interactive discussions, participants will learn how to transform disengaged teams into highly motivated, high-performing units. Whether you're leading a small team or managing an enterprise, this session will equip you with the tools to become a catalyst for cultural change and sustained growth.

Tyneeha Rivers, PHR, SHRM-CP, is a seasoned HR leader with over 25 years of experience across financial services, healthcare, property management, and sports. As Principal of Nova Dawn HR Consulting Partners, she specializes in transforming workplace cultures, enhancing employee engagement, and developing leadership capabilities aligned with business goals. With a track record of helping organizations earn “Best Places to Work” recognition, she brings expertise in recruiting, talent management, and leadership development. Tyneeha integrates business strategy with innovative HR solutions, making her a trusted partner for organizations seeking growth. A dynamic speaker, she shares actionable insights on employee experience, training, and leadership to drive transformative change.