Communications and Public Speaking CoP

Speech Title:   Play Break: Play to Connect

Speech Abstract:

Creative play doesn’t have to take a lot of time. Join us for a Play Break where we will play a few games and exercises to get our minds working in a different way and create a connection with one another. Then you can go back to the real world feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the major tasks on your to-do list.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will participate in low stakes exercises to play, think quickly without judgement, and be creative.
• Attendees will discover the value that a creativity break, and a playful mindset can have on their work and personal lives.
• Attendees will leave the session feeling that they contributed, created something together, got to interact with each other, and most importantly, had fun while doing it.

Keynote Speaker:  Dayna Gowan

Speaker Bio:

Dayna Gowan is a speaker, workshop facilitator, improviser, Distinguished Toastmaster, and host of the Improvly Speaking Podcast, which focuses on improv, public speaking, communication performance, and creativity.  Learning public speaking and improvisation skills have changed her life and made her a more confident speaker, colleague, and friend.  Her mission is to make all meetings and workshops fun, engaging and memorable for all attendees!

She uses the tools of applied improvisation to create a unique and memorable experience. Her presentations will help attendees get to know each other, share some laughs, flex their creative muscles, and learn practical skills and lessons that can be applied to their personal and professional lives.

Dayna recently moved to Charlotte, NC from the west coast with her husband, and 1 year old daughter.

Speech Title:   If We Want to Save Our Planet, We Must Plan It

Speech Abstract:

We all have a common adversary when it comes to saving our planet-

          That adversary is waste, waste all types.

Today I will be focused on three specific types of waste where we can make the

greatest impact:

                                      Time

                                      Food

                                      Human Potential

I offer some solutions to specific problems in these areas               

                 Time- Fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds of distance run

                 Food- 35% of our waste stream is food.

                           In the US we throw away enough food every day to fill

                          The Rose Bowl, 89,702 seat stadium.

                 Human Potential-turnover is among the highest cost items in any

                           organization.  This can be corrected with hiring, training, and

                          leadership.

If we want to make the world a better place to live, each of us can contribute

by controlling waste of time, talent, and resources.

Learning Objectives:

   1. Fill the unforgiving minute
   2. We can change the world we live in by paying attention to waste of all types
   3. Training and education pay off in unexpected ways

Keynote Speaker:  Norm Wood

Speaker Bio:

Norm succeeds by helping others find success. Career highlights- from hiring and training, to managing departments, to running multi-million-dollar organizations-have resulted from helping others identify and apply their individual strengths and talents toward personal and organizational excellence.

Norm is a certified Life Coach.  He is founder and president of The New Norm, Inc. a management consulting firm. His areas of specialty include executive coaching, management training, motivational speaking, career coaching, mentoring and personal branding.

Norm’s career includes fifteen years in the food industry, where his career began as a sales representative and culminated as a director, partner and owner of a food brokerage company with annual revenues of over $75,000,000.  This was followed by twenty-seven years with environmental industry companies, serving in various capacities as Corporate Sales Manager, Vice President, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He also served as Chief Operating Officer of Alliance Careers, a specialty placement firm, transitioning military officers into corporate positions.

He served on the Board of Directors of the Interfaith Food Shuttle, the North Carolina Food Bank, Vice-Chairman of the Carolinas Recycling Association, and was actively involved in establishing the alumni program and speakers’ bureau for StepUp Ministry.

Creation Care is a long-standing commitment and passion for Norm.  He has served on the Environmental Stewardship Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina since 1995.

Speech Title:   Creating Space for Success: How Presence and Emotional Wellness Transform Leadership

Speech Abstract:

Project managers carry more than deadlines and deliverables — they also carry the weight of expectations, stress, and the wellbeing of their teams. When that weight goes unacknowledged, it can lead to burnout, anxiety, or a constant sense of pressure. In Creating Space for Success: How Presence and Emotional Wellness Transform Leadership, we’ll explore how being more present and caring for your own mental wellbeing can open the door to clearer decisions, stronger relationships, and more sustainable success. This isn’t about adding more to your plate — it’s about leading with ease, clarity, and balance.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn simple presence practices that calm stress and bring focus back to what matters most.
• Discover how to serve and lead in ways that inspire others without depleting themselves.
• Take away practical tools for managing anxiety and low mood that strengthen both personal resilience and team trust.

Keynote Speaker:  Lesley Evans

Speaker Bio:

Lesley Evans is an International Speaker and Best-Selling Author of DeFUNK YourSELF. With more than 30 years of experience as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse Therapist, she has helped countless people navigate stress, anxiety, and burnout while finding new clarity and purpose. As a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Coach, Lesley blends practical tools with proven therapeutic approaches to help leaders create space for success without sacrificing their wellbeing. She is passionate about showing others how presence and emotional wellness can transform leadership, strengthen teams, and open the door to greater possibilities.