Name: Navigating What’s Next in Human Services | A CPNRI Conference
Start: 2026-12-02T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-12-03T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Crowne Plaza

Tickets

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CPNRI Members Only (Both Days)

Prices go up November 19 at 5PM.

$185.00 $155.00

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General Admission (Both Days)

$250.00 $190.00

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Single-Day Ticket (Day 1 - Wednesday)

$150.00 $125.00

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Single-Day Ticket (Day 2 - Thursday)

$150.00 $125.00

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CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

8AM - 9AM

Day 1 Doors Open & Coffee

Check in & meet other attendees

9AM - 10AM

Keynote Address

Organizational Culture: The Key to Quality

10:15AM - 11:45AM

Breakout Session A

You will attend one session, selected during registration. See options below.

11:45AM - 12:45PM

Lunch

Take a break and eat food provided by the conference.

12:45PM - 2:15PM

Breakout Session B

You will attend one session, selected during registration. See options below.

2:30PM - 4PM

Breakout Session C

You will attend one session, selected during registration. See options below.

4PM

END OF DAY 1

Scroll to see day 2 schedule.

8AM - 9AM

Day 2 Doors Open & Coffee

Check in & meet other attendees

9AM - 10AM

Keynote Address

Resilience is a Reflex

10:15AM - 11:45AM

Breakout Session A

You will attend one session, selected during registration. See options below.

11:45AM - 12:15PM

Buffet Lunch

Grab your plate and get ready for a lunch keynote.

12:15PM - 1PM

Lunch Keynote

Lunch Keynote: The Weight and The Work

1:15PM - 2:45PM

Breakout Session B

You will attend one session, selected during registration. See options below.

3PM - 4:30PM

Breakout Session C

You will attend one session, selected during registration. See options below.

4:30PM

End of Conference

See you in 2027!

CONFERENCE SPONSORS & HIGHLIGHTS

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Click below to see your breakout options. Please pay attention to what breakout session it is in as you will register for one session per timeslot.

Leveraging Your Data (Breakout Session B - 12:45PM)

SPEAKER(s): University of Minnesota (DSW Solutions Team, Institute on Community Integration)

DESCRIPTION: This session explores how executive leaders, HR leaders, and supervisors can move beyond gut instinct and turn the information already available to them into clearer thinking and better decisions. Attendees will explore what it looks like to build a more data-informed mindset, at the strategic level and in daily people management, and leave with a renewed perspective on data as a tool for leadership rather than just a reporting requirement.

Rethinking AI: A Leadership Practice in the Age of Acceleration (Breakout Session C - 2:30PM)

SPEAKER(s): Tim Hebert, Dirigo

DESCRIPTION: Artificial intelligence is accelerating how work gets done—faster decisions, faster outputs, faster change. But while organizations are gaining speed, many leaders are discovering something unexpected:

Acceleration is not the same as clarity.

In this interactive workshop, Rethinking AI: A Leadership Practice for the Age of Acceleration, Tim Hebert moves beyond tools, trends, and tactics to focus on what AI is really changing—the way leaders think, decide, and create direction.

Because while AI can generate ideas, analyze data, and expand capacity, it cannot determine what matters, what should be done, or what it means for people. As a result, the constraint in leadership is shifting—from access to information to the ability to apply judgment, set priorities, and communicate with clarity in increasingly compressed environments.

Let me know if you’d rather have that line folded back into the paragraph instead — happy to flatten it fully if you want strict “one paragraph, no breaks” consistency with the other two.

AI Best Practices for Health and Human Service Organizations (Breakout Session A - 10:15AM)

SPEAKER(s): Vertikal 6

DESCRIPTION: Artificial intelligence is reshaping how organizations operate, and the health and human services sector is no exception. This session takes a practical look at how AI can move beyond everyday tasks to support the bigger work: improving efficiency and strengthening the services we provide to the people we support.

Attendees will leave with a broader understanding of AI’s potential in the field, and a realistic sense of how to begin, or deepen, its use within their own organizations.

Why Communications Can Make or Break an Organization (Breakout Session A - 10:15AM)

SPEAKER(s): Julie Masson, CCO for Nonprofits

DESCRIPTION: Communications shouldn’t be a support function. At it’s best, it’s a strategic one. This session breaks down what separates reactive, deliverables-only comms from comms that earns a seat at the table. It will help executive directors and communicators decide what leaders can do to make that shift.

How to Build a Communications Strategy (Breakout Session B - 1:15PM)

SPEAKER(s): Julie Masson, CCO for Nonprofits

DESCRIPTION: Most nonprofit comms shops run on instinct. It looks like reacting to requests, filling calendars, putting out fires. This session is about flipping that: building a strategy that connects every email, post and campaign back to real organizational goals.

We’ll cover how to set priorities when you’re a small (or one-person) team, how to align comms work with leadership’s bigger picture and how to know what to say no to. You’ll leave with a practical framework for turning day-to-day output into a strategy that actually moves the needle.

Ask a Comms Team Panel: Leadership, Strategy & Execution (Breakout Session C - 3PM)

SPEAKER(s): Julie Masson (CCO for Nonprofits), Nick Friend (CPNRI Comms Director) and Gianna Cambria (The Autism Project Marketing and Communications Officer)

DESCRIPTION: Comms work looks different depending on where you sit — setting strategy, running the day-to-day, or somewhere in between. This panel brings together three perspectives to explore how strategy and execution actually meet in practice: a senior communications leader focused on big-picture direction, a hands-on community communicator in the trenches daily, and a voice bridging both worlds.

Bring your questions. We’ll talk about what strategy looks like at different org sizes, how leadership priorities trickle down to daily execution and the tension (and teamwork) between the two.

Thriving Across the Spectrum: Building a Durable Ecosystem by Leveraging Strengths (Breakout Session A - 10:15AM)

SPEAKER(s): Anthony Rodriguez & Ralph Tavares, Upstream DEI

DESCRIPTION: How do we promote thriving at work? How can the community see us all for our strengths and leverage each of our many talents to support the disability community? This workshop will discuss a strength-based matrix for collaboration, mentoring, conflict resolution, and building bridges in a fractured landscape so that all of us can thrive at work. Our team will share themes of Autonomy, Mastery, and Purpose (AMP) and Deep Work, encouraging us all to seek understanding and growth across the professional spectrum in creating durable change.

From Burnout to Balance for a Healthier Workforce (Breakout Session B - 12:45PM)

SPEAKER(s): PJ Harder & Amy Page, Perspectives Corporation

DESCRIPTION: Burnout in the I/DD workforce continues to rise despite increased attention to well-being initiatives. Why? Because burnout is not just an individual issue—it is deeply influenced by workplace conditions, leadership practices, and whether staff feel supported, valued, and safe to speak up. This engaging session introduces a new framework: Balance, Belonging & Well-Being for addressing workplace conditions that drive stress and disengagement.

HR at Capacity: Reclaiming Energy, Impact & Influence (Breakout Session B - 12:45PM)

SPEAKER(s): Pam Thornton, Employers Association of the NorthEast

DESCRIPTION: This high-energy session spotlights the often-overlooked burnout facing HR professionals. Beyond managing policies and compliance, HR leaders carry the emotional weight of workforce shortages, retention struggles, regulatory pressure, and executive expectations, frequently while operating at full capacity themselves. The session examines how cumulative burnout quietly influences culture, decision-making, and employee experience across organizations. Moving beyond surface-level wellness advice, participants will explore practical, system-level strategies to strengthen engagement and organizational effectiveness without automatically increasing payroll. Through structured peer dialogue and guided reflection, attendees will leave with actionable approaches they can implement immediately.

Building Psychological Safety through Person-Centered Leadership (Breakout Session C - 2:30PM) 1.5 CEUs Available

SPEAKER(s): Jamie Markey & Mary Beth Lepkowsky/Helen Sanderson Associates

DESCRIPTION: Person-centered leadership is not about a role or title, it’s about how we show up with and for others. At the same time, psychological safety is the foundation of strong, resilient teams, yet it is often misunderstood or reduced to a buzzword rather than practiced in meaningful ways. In today’s workforce landscape, this matters more than ever—organizations that foster psychological safety are better positioned to recruit, retain, and engage their workforce, while those that don’t often struggle with turnover, burnout, and disengagement.

This interactive breakout session brings these two ideas together in a practical, human-centered way. Designed for leaders, human resources, and organizational development professionals, the session begins with a clear and accessible overview of five foundations of psychological safety: Mattering, Clarity, Voice, Connection, and Learning. Participants will explore what each foundation looks like in real, everyday interactions—and why they are essential to both team effectiveness and the human experience at work.

From there, the session will take an experiential dive into Mattering—the first foundation that answers the question: Do I feel seen, valued, and like I make a difference here? Through guided reflection, real-world scenarios, and small-group practice, participants will examine how mattering is communicated (or unintentionally undermined) in day-to-day moments. They will practice simple, powerful ways to strengthen a sense of value, recognition, and belonging across roles and relationships.

Participants will leave with practical tools they can immediately use to create environments where people feel safe to contribute, speak up, learn, and build meaningful connections—even within complex and demanding systems.

The Inclusion Shift (Breakout Session A - 10:15AM)

SPEAKER(s): half full

DESCRIPTION: What if creating a more inclusive workplace wasn’t about having all the right answers—but about being curious enough to ask better questions?

In this engaging, highly interactive workshop, you will discover how shifting the way you see others can transform the way you work together. Together, we will challenge assumptions, uncover the strengths that different experiences bring to the table, and explore how everyday interactions shape workplace culture. Along the way, the half full, llc team will share powerful stories from their own lived experiences, creating authentic moments that spark conversation, deepen understanding, and inspire new ways of thinking.

You will leave with practical strategies to build trust, foster belonging, strengthen collaboration, and create a workplace where every person feels valued, heard, and empowered to make a difference.

Creating a Positive Workplace Culture (Breakout Session B - 1:15PM)

SPEAKER(s): Tricia Driscoll, Center for Medication and Collaboration of Rhode Island

DESCRIPTION: Our work is hard- when we have a positive workplace culture it is easier. This session will help to identify those important considerations that go into creating a culture where people feel supported, appreciated and can get work done!

Mental Health First Aid (Breakout Session B - 1:15PM)

SPEAKER(s): University of Rhode Island (Office of Strategic Initiatives)

DESCRIPTION: Build a workplace culture that truly values mental health by reducing stigma and increasing awareness of available support resources. Equip employees with practical tools to recognize and respond to mental health challenges, strengthening their confidence in offering early, supportive interventions to colleagues in need. These efforts foster greater empathy, understanding, and resilience across teams, ultimately creating a more connected and supportive work environment.

Conflict-Free Case Management: The Journey, the Role and What's Next (Breakout Session B - 1:15PM)

SPEAKER(s): Kelly Petersen & Christine Allenson, BHDDH

DESCRIPTION: This session will explore the evolution of Conflict-Free Case Management (CFCM) from the policy and practice drivers that shaped its implementation to current practices and future directions. BHDDH will share the journey of CFCM, highlighting key transitions, lessons learned, and the role CFCM plays in strengthening person-centered planning and service coordination. Attendees will leave with practical insight into the differences among service coordination roles, a clearer understanding of why these changes were enacted, and greater clarity about how CFCM supports participants and the broader service system.

Trauma Informed Conflict Resolution (Breakout Session C - 3PM)

SPEAKER(s): Tricia Driscoll, Center for Medication and Collaboration of Rhode Island

DESCRIPTION:Conflict resolution is hard for everyone- and it is harder when there are layers of trauma. In this session, participants will be introduced to conflict resolution strategies that are based on trauma-informed practices.

Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (Breakout Session C - 3PM)

SPEAKER(s): Margaret McDuff & Beth Bixby, Family Services & Tides

DESCRIPTION: TBA

The New NADSP 2026 Code of Ethics (Breakout Session A - 10:15AM)

SPEAKER(s): John Raffaele, NADSP

DESCRIPTION: This breakout workshop introduces the revised 2026 NADSP Code of Ethics, marking the first comprehensive update since the Code was originally established in 2001. Participants will explore why the revision was necessary, what has changed, and how the updated Code better reflects today’s direct support landscape, including evolving expectations around person-centered practices, professionalism, equity, and accountability. The session will highlight key updates, provide practical examples, and create space for reflection and discussion. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how the 2026 NADSP Code of Ethics strengthens ethical decision-making and supports DSPs in delivering high-quality, values-driven support in modern direct support environments.

Person-Centered Practices in Action: Daily Implementation for DSPs (Breakout Session A - 10:15AM) 1.5 CEUs Available

SPEAKER(s): Jamie Markey & Mary Beth Lepkowsky, Helen Sanderson & Associates

DESCRIPTION: Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are the backbone of human services, often serving as advocates, mentors, and trusted partners to people with disabilities. They play a critical role in supporting people to live lives of their choosing. Yet, with increasing demands, workforce shortages, and limited access to ongoing development, many DSPs receive training that prioritizes compliance and medical needs over person-centered support.

This interactive 90-minute session is designed to shift that experience. Participants will be introduced to a range of person-centered practices and, most importantly, how to apply them in real, everyday situations. Moving beyond just a theory or “nice to have”, this session focuses on practical, easy-to-use skills that DSPs can implement immediately to strengthen relationships, support the decision-making process and connect to their communities.

Through hands-on activities and real-world application, participants will practice shifting from a “caretaker” mindset to a more intentional role as a supporter, partner, and community connector.

Same issue as before, plus one extra wrinkle: the source had words hyphenated at line breaks (like “easy-to-use” split across two lines), so I made sure those rejoined into single words rather than staying broken.

What's Energy Got to Do With It? Supporting Regulation in Authentic and Validating Ways (Breakout Session B - 12:45PM)

SPEAKER(s): Amy Laurent, Autism Level Up

DESCRIPTION:This workshop will introduce regulation supports developed by Autism Level UP! Participants will have opportunities to apply the tools and strategies presented with opportunities to consider the tools for autistic people they teach or with whom they work, live and/or play. Modifications for the supports will be discussed for individuals at a variety of developmental levels (e.g., students who are not yet communicating using words, those who are emerging language learners, and those who are conversational). A neurodiversity affirming approach to goal writing will be introduced

The Science of Independence & Autonomy (Breakout Session B - 12:45PM) 1.5 CEUs Available

SPEAKER(s): Cody Morris, Salve Regina

DESCRIPTION: Providers who serve folks who have been impaired by developmental disabilities often struggle in balancing habilitation and autonomy. One of the reasons that balancing habilitation and autonomy can be complicated is that providers fear that providing too much independence and autonomy could lead to negative outcomes for the folks they serve. However, providers overly focused on protecting their clients from the potential harm of independence and autonomy run the risk of inadvertently creating equally concerning negative outcomes. This talk will focus on the benefits of supporting independence and autonomy while maintaining a balance of safety and habilitation. Recent research on choice and autonomy will be reviewed to highlight the importance and impact of supporting independence and autonomy in practice.

Spellers as Speakers (Breakout Session C - 2:30PM)

SPEAKER(s): Amy Laurent, Emily Spasato, Julia Sposato and Susan Baylis Jewel Autism Level Up

DESCRIPTION: One third of autistic individuals will not develop the abilities to use spoken language to communicate. These individuals still have much to say. It is imperative that people who care about and for non-speakers explore a wide range of methods of communication support for them, as access to reliable and authentic means of communication is critically linked to higher quality of life. One means of communication support that remains largely misunderstood are motor-based communication methods associated with spelling. These methods most often involve the support of a trusted and responsive communication regulation partner (CRP).

For years, questions have existed as to whether the nonspeaking individual or the CRP is the author of the messages conveyed during use of motor based spelling communication. Recent research exploring motor differences/apraxia and visual gaze timing support that the non-speaking individuals are authoring their messages. This session will explore controversy of motor-based spelling to communicate methods, introduce the research supporting the validity of these techniques, as well as discuss the importance of exploring a range of communication supports for non-speakers. This session will incorporate the perspectives of individuals who use motor-based spelling to communicate as adults, after years of having their access to supportive communication restricted.

ASL Best Practices (Breakout Session C - 2:30PM)

SPEAKER(s): Ariela Stein & Rosa Noberg, Perspectives

DESCRIPTION: This session will be structured as an interactive dialogue, beginning with a brief overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and key considerations for ensuring effective communication and accessibility when working with members of the Deaf community.

The session is designed to engage participants in identifying their current knowledge, areas for growth, and practical applications of best practices
when requesting and working with American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters. Emphasis will be placed on fostering informed decision-making and enhancing service delivery within human services settings.

Key topics will include determining the most appropriate interpreter for a given interaction, identifying when multiple interpreters are necessary, and understanding the rationale behind these decisions. The session will also address the range of interpreter referral resources available within and beyond Rhode Island, including both on-site and virtual services.

Additionally, participants will gain clarity on the distinctions between Video Relay Service (VRS) and Video Remote Interpreting (VRI), including
appropriate use cases for each within human services environments. Practical guidance and real-world considerations will be shared.

Rethinking Community: Creating Connection at Home and Beyond (Breakout Session A - 10:15AM) 1.5 CEUs Available

SPEAKER(s): Kelly Petersen & Christine Allenson, BHDDH

DESCRIPTION: Building on themes introduced in last year’s Community Connections session, this presentation takes a deeper look at promoting meaningful relationships and expanding opportunities for belonging. This session challenges participants to broaden the definition of community and explore how connection can be cultivated not only in community settings, but also within a person’s home—particularly for individuals who face barriers to accessing community spaces.

Designed for both returning and new attendees, this session will provide practical tools for evaluating social networks, identifying opportunities to strengthen connections, and shift focus from “activities” to people, relationships, and belonging. Participants will leave with actionable ideas to strengthen community-building in everyday practice.

Autism in Early Childhood: A Deep Dive (Breakout Session B - 12:45PM) 1.5 CEUs Available

SPEAKER(s): Ariana DeAngelis, The Autism Project

DESCRIPTION: Autism in Early Childhood: A Deep Dive is designed to provide participants with up-to-date information on the neurodevelopmental characteristics of autism. This workshop is appropriate for those who are new to autism, as well as for those with decades of experience. Topics are broken down into the following categories: diagnostic criteria, coexisting medical conditions, social communication, sensory processing, and cognition. Participants will leave this workshop with a deeper understanding of the unique influence of neurodevelopment on each autistic individual. “Autism in Early Childhood: A Deep Dive” celebrates autistic people while discussing the unique characteristics that require a supportive and empathetic environment.

Cultural Competency in Autism Services (Breakout Session C - 2:30PM) 1.5 CEUs Available

SPEAKER(s): Ariana DeAngelis, The Autism Project

DESCRIPTION: Autism services often bring together professionals and families from diverse cultural, linguistic, and social backgrounds. Cultural beliefs, values, and lived experiences shape how families understand autism, seek support, and engage with providers. This training explores how culture influences perspectives on disability, communication styles, and family decision-making.

Participants will gain insight into the experiences of immigrant and culturally diverse families navigating complex systems such as healthcare, education, and community services. The session also examines how organizational culture can impact accessibility, trust, and engagement for families from different backgrounds.

Through real-world examples, reflection, and practical strategies, participants will learn how to provide culturally responsive and respectful support that strengthens partnerships with families and improves service outcomes.

More Than Words: How Core Values Solve Workplace Challenges (Breakout Session A - 10:15AM)

SPEAKER(s): half full

DESCRIPTION: Today’s workplace is evolving faster than ever. From constant change and uncertainty to the acceleration of technology, from hybrid workplaces to five generations working side-by-side, core values provide a powerful guide for navigating everyday challenges.

In this interactive workshop, half full, llc brings core values to life through a dynamic, real-time simulation where you will apply values to realistic workplace scenarios. Discover how values strengthen decision-making, build trust, improve performance, and create workplaces where people feel connected, valued, and inspired to do their best work—driving better organization outcomes.

The bottom line? Workplace challenges aren’t going away—but when people are guided by shared values, they become opportunities to build trust, strengthen teams, and achieve better results.

The Maximizer Mindset: Climb Higher by Lifting Other (Breakout Session A - 10:15AM)

SPEAKER(s): Tim Hebert, Dirigo

DESCRIPTION Leaders are often celebrated for their drive, resilience, and ability to get things done. But behind that praise is a quieter reality: many leaders are doing too much, carrying too much, and ultimately limiting the very growth they’re trying to create.

In this interactive workshop, The Maximizer Mindset: Climb Higher by Lifting Others, Tim Hebert invites participants to rethink what leadership actually requires. Because the next level of leadership is not about doing more—it’s about empowering more.

Through powerful storytelling, real-world application, and guided reflection, Tim introduces a practical leadership shift grounded in one core idea: you don’t rise by climbing alone—you rise by lifting others.

Participants will explore the hidden costs of “doing it all,” including burnout, bottlenecks, and untapped potential, and will learn how to replace control with trust, and effort with intentional investment in others.

Drawing from unforgettable moments—from a near-breaking point on Mount Kilimanjaro to a lesson in trust with a horse at a leadership retreat—this session brings the Maximizer Mindset to life in a way that is both deeply human and immediately actionable.

Through interactive exercises, small group discussion, and real-time application, participants will learn how to:

Shift from being the primary doer to a developer of others
Identify and unlock untapped potential on their team
Let go of control without losing accountability
Build trust as a leadership practice, not a personality trait
Create momentum by investing in others’ growth and success

This is not a workshop about delegation techniques alone.

It is a leadership practice—designed to help you expand your impact by expanding others.

Because in the end, the leaders who go the furthest are not the ones who do the most—they are the ones who bring the most people with them.

Frontline Supervisors for Direct Support Professionals: From Management to Leadership (Breakout Session B - 12:45PM)

SPEAKER(s): John Raffaele, NADSP

DESCRIPTION: The Frontline Supervisor (FLS) may face the most complex work in the human services world, involving many points of interaction with many stakeholders. Whether it’s families, direct support professionals, supervisors, state regulators, peers, or most importantly, people supported – Frontline Supervisors confront a multitude of diverse perspectives and conflicting motivations, on top of seemingly unsurmountable workplace challenges. To deepen these difficulties, there is often inadequate training, insufficient resources, or fragmented support to empower Frontline Supervisors. This session will offer participants an opportunity to learn how supervisors can develop into leaders. Management is doing things right. Leadership is doing the right things. Come explore the importance of leadership.

Creating a Culture of Competence & Why a Standard Occupational Classification is Vital for Direct Support (Breakout Session C - 2:30PM)

SPEAKER(s): John Raffaele, NADSP

DESCRIPTION: In this engaging and interactive training session, join the NADSP staff to learn the latest best practices in direct support that go well beyond the regulations and state-level requirements for this profession. Most training and development for direct support professionals (DSPs) focuses on regulatory and mandated topics. By embracing the NADSP Code of Ethics and focusing on nationally-validated NADSP Competency Areas, direct support professionals and organizations can ensure that they are supporting personal autonomy, access to integrated settings, informed choices and person centered practices. NADSP has been advocating for a Standardized Occupational Classification for years and we are very close to the final steps to this. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has specific requirements and categories for occupations and professions in the Unites States. Direct support is NOT considered in this registry. Once we are deemed and have a labor department code, we can begin the process of data collection, rate reviews and ultimately be situated to call the profession of direct support truly a competitive occupation and profession once and for all.

Courageous Conversations (Breakout Session C - 2:30PM)

SPEAKER(s): Gary Dawson, Employers Assocation of the NorthEast

DESCRIPTION: Most managers have been there — there is an employee conversation that keeps getting postponed. Maybe it is about declining performance, a behavior disrupting the team, or an honest discussion about career readiness. The longer it waits, the costlier it becomes.

Courageous Conversations is a high-energy, immediately actionable 60-minute workshop designed to break that cycle. Participants leave with the language, frameworks, and confidence to have the honest conversations that drive real results — not someday, but on Monday morning.

Un-Empowered by Design: The 4 C's of Empowerment (Breakout Session A - 10:15AM)

SPEAKER(s): Garry Foisy, Dirigo

DESCRIPTION: Many organizations believe they are empowering their people—yet hesitation, dependency, and disengagement persist. The reality? These outcomes are rarely accidental. They are the result of how the workplace has been intentionally—or unintentionally—designed.

This thought-provoking and practical session challenges leaders to shift their perspective from blaming people to examining design. Participants will explore how everyday leadership behaviors, systems, and cultural norms either enable or restrict empowerment. Through engaging storytelling, real-world examples, and guided reflection, this workshop introduces the 4 Cs of Empowerment—Clarity, Choice, Confidence, and Connection—as four critical levers leaders can use to intentionally redesign their environments.

Attendees will walk away with a deeper understanding of how empowerment truly works in practice—and how to create conditions where people feel safe, capable, and motivated to take ownership and act with confidence.

Friday Night at the ER (Breakout Session A - 10:15AM)

SPEAKER(s): Office of Strategic Initiatives, University of Rhode Island

DESCRIPTION: Friday Night at the ER® is an immersive simulation where teams manage a busy hospital through a 24-hour period, experiencing firsthand how silos, competing priorities, and resource constraints undermine organizational performance. In just one intense hour, participants viscerally understand systems thinking and cross-functional collaboration through the consequences of their own decisions. The hospital metaphor applies universally to any industry where interdependence and complexity matter.

Overcoming Blind Spots (Breakout Session B - 1:15PM)

SPEAKER(s): Tim Nolan, Human Services Leadership Institute

DESCRIPTION: Everyone has blind spots, both personally and professionally. Highly effective people leaders know this and actively work to minimize their blind spots. This interactive session will challenge participants to identify their blind spots and implement an approach to minimize them.

Exceptional Onboarding Experience (Breakout Session C - 2:30PM)

SPEAKER(s): Tim Nolan, Human Services Leadership Institute

DESCRIPTION:This session will review what a highly collaborative onboarding experience looks like and how everyone on the team should be intentionally and actively involved to ensure their new teammate(s) thrives.

The Multigenerational Workforce (Breakout Session C - 2:30PM)

SPEAKER(s): University of Rhode Island (Office of Strategic Initiatives)

DESCRIPTION: The Multigenerational Workforce program equips managers, HR professionals, and organizational leaders with the frameworks and strategies to bridge generational gaps, challenge stereotypes, and create cultures where employees of all ages thrive. With particular expertise in Gen Z (we know them—they’re our students!), URI OSI helps organizations harness the digital fluency, fresh perspectives, and collaborative spirit of the newest workforce generation while honoring the wisdom and institutional knowledge of experienced professionals.

Building Solid Systems in Rhode Island (Breakout Session A - 10:15AM)

SPEAKER(s): Courtney Kelly Chapman & Mary Kay Rizzolo, The Council on Quality & Leadership

DESCRIPTION: If a provider organization is looking to be responsive, strategic, and effective in its supports and services, it needs a solid foundation built around systems and practices. Practices are observable – the actions an agency is actually taking in their supports and services … but what about systems?

In this breakout, Building Solid Systems In Rhode Island, we’re offering guidance that agencies can use to establish robust systems that lay the groundwork for organizational transformation. Attendees will first find out what we mean by a ‘system.’ Then, we’ll share specific examples of systems and describe their connection to an organization’s operations, programs, and services. From promoting respect, to facilitating natural supports, addressing instances of abuse, implementing staff development programs, and more, we’re detailing how solid systems will improve the quality of your organization, and ultimately, the quality of people’s lives.

What is the Cost of Poor Documentation? Everything. (Breakout Session A - 10:15AM)

SPEAKER(s): Heather Janci, Kibu

DESCRIPTION:Every missing timestamp. Every incomplete note. Every field left blank at the end of a long shift. These crumbs feed auditors, preventing you from doing the work you love. Poor documentation creates more than just compliance risk. It erases your team’s work, undermines the care your clients received, and hands auditors exactly what they need to take money from the mission you’ve spent years building. This session is for Rhode Island providers who are done losing ground they’ve already earned. We’ll explore the federal research, identify the gaps, determine the actual cost to you, and outline the steps needed to stop it permanently.

Defensive Driving: Distracted Driving-Employees Using Personal Vehicles During Business (Breakout Session B - 12:45PM)

SPEAKER(s): Stephen Farrelly, USI

DESCRIPTION: TBA

Liability Exposure in Non-Profits (Breakout Session C - 2:30PM)

SPEAKER(s): Stephen Farrelly, USI

DESCRIPTION: TBA

Employee Performance & Documentation (Breakout Session A - 10:15AM)

SPEAKER(s): William O’Gara/Pannone, Lopes, Devereaux & O’Gara LLC

DESCRIPTION: Bad documentation doesn’t just create legal risk — it destroys it right when you need it most. This session walks through the full employee lifecycle, from first warning to final goodbye, with a clear-eyed look at what good documentation actually looks like and where most organizations get it wrong

Sexual Harassment and Hostile Work Environment (Breakout Session B - 1:15PM)

SPEAKER(s): William O’Gara/Pannone, Lopes, Devereaux & O’Gara LLC

DESCRIPTION: This session covers how to recognize sexual harassment, general harassment, and hostile work environment behaviors before they escalate — and why acting quickly when they appear is critical for both people and the organization.

Conflict-Free Case Management: The Journey, the Role and What's Next (Breakout Session B - 1:15PM)

SPEAKER(s): Kelly Petersen & Christine Allenson, BHDDH

Interviewing Process (Breakout Session C - 3PM)

SPEAKER(s): William O’Gara/Pannone, Lopes, Devereaux & O’Gara LLC

DESCRIPTION: This session covers three practical areas for hiring managers: how to ask good, legally sound interview questions; the pros and cons of requesting and providing references; and best practices to keep your hiring process fair and compliant.

YOUR AMAZING SPEAKERS

Christine Allenson

BHDDH

Beth Bixby

Tides Family Services

Gianna Cambria

The Autism Project

Courtney Kelly Chapman

Council on Quality & Leadership

Gary Dawson

Employers Association of the Northeast

Ariana DeAngelis

The Autism Project

Vin DiPippo

Vertikal 6

Tricia Driscoll

Center for Mediation

Stephen Farrelly

USI Insurance Services

Garry Foisy

Dirigo

Nick Friend

CPNRI

PJ Harder

Perspectives

half full team

not your average facilitators

Tim Hebert

Dirigo

Heather Janci

Kibu

Susan Baylis Jewel

The Autism Project

Emily Jewel

Autism Level Up

Amy Laurent

Autism Level Up

Mary Beth Lepkowsky

Helen Sanderson Associates

Jamie Markey

Helen Sanderson Associates

Julie Masson

Nonprofit Communications Coach

Margaret McDuff

Family Services of RI

Cody Morris

Salve Regina University

Tim Nolan

Human Services Leadership Institute

Rosa Norberg

Equal Perspectives

William E. O'Gara

Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC

Amy Page

Perspectives

Kelly Petersen

BHDDH

John Raffaele

NADSP

Mary Kay Rizzolo

Council on Quality & Leadership

Anthony Rodriquez

Upstream DEI

Julia Sposato

Autism Level Up

Ariela Stein

Equal Perspectives

Ralph Tavares

Upstream DEI

Pam Thornton

Employers Association of the NorthEast

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