2024 The Connection

Description

We are excited to close out our 150th anniversary year with The Connection. In lieu of our annual business awards, we would like to take this opportunity to recognize and celebrate the MANY businesses and individuals who help us succeed, including our investors, volunteers, impact partners, and other members who are celebrating milestones in 2024! 

The program starts with lunch and includes TWO dynamic speakers who will engage and motivate attendees. Be a part of this high-energy celebration and get connected! 

Paula Houlihan 

Paula Houlihan, is a seasoned former corporate high achiever and in-demand keynote speaker and executive coach, transitioned from negotiating multi-million-dollar insurance cases to becoming a stress-busting authority. With expertise in reducing stress and burnout, Paula’s keynotes and coaching redefine success, offering practical strategies and her Choice Management™ Model to achieve sustainable success and a happier company culture. 

Paula holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point. She is a Certified Intrinsic Life Coach and lifetime member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society of Psychology. 

Harmony In The Hustle: Unlocking Sustainable High Performance and Balance

The key to success is not about how well you manage your time. It's about how well you manage your choices. Most high performers are constantly in pursuit of strategies to maximize productivity and achieve more within limited time frames. Traditional time management techniques while popular, often lead to a paradoxical increase in stress and a decrease in overall job satisfaction and productivity. This session offers a revolutionary perspective, challenging the conventional time-management doctrine that has long dictated our approach to work. This highly interactive presentation will focus on: 

Understanding Limitations: Discover why traditional time management strategies often lead to increased stress and decreased productivity, undermining both satisfaction and performance.

Shifting Perspectives: Reframe your approach to daily tasks and goals, focusing on energy management and prioritization rather than merely clock-watching.

Sustainable Success: Gain insights into practical methods designed to enhance efficiency without sacrificing your mental health or life balance.

Kristin Bock

Kristin Bock works with professionals to leverage nonverbal cues so they can stand out in person, in presentations, and in the digital world. Kristin—aka Woman Determined to Skyrocket Your Success Using the Science of Body Language—is the founder of Body Language Blueprints, an online platform for enhancing communication skills. 

Kristin partners with leaders to improve their self-awareness and interactions with others. She has given numerous talks about connecting with people virtually, has coached TEDx speakers, and has been featured on The List. 

Tune Into Your Cues: How to Avoid Cue-lessness and Make Your Interactions Heroic

Are you ready to turn your interactions into a superpower? Join Kristin Bock for this presentation and discover how to decode body language and nonverbal cues, transforming everyday encounters into powerful connections.

What if we viewed the world like a comic book, with speech bubbles hovering above everyone’s heads, revealing their thoughts? Imagine being able to tap into those bubbles—not with superpowers, but by understanding the subtle signals people are constantly broadcasting. Kristin will show you how to tune into these cues, giving you the ability to engage more deeply, build stronger relationships, and communicate with confidence.

With her relatable and funny style, Kristin shares real-life stories, like an awkward ‘90s job interview where the interviewer smoked the entire time, leaving Kristin clueless about how she was doing. Blending humor with science, she demonstrates how mastering nonverbal communication can transform both your professional and personal life. Whether it’s reading subtle facial expressions, picking up on someone’s “vibe,” or recognizing the messages your own body language sends, you’ll walk away equipped with practical tools to boost your charisma and connect more authentically.

Kristin dives into the biology of human connection, revealing how our brains are hard-wired to seek out nonverbal cues like eye contact and facial expressions. She’ll show you how small tweaks in your communication can have a massive impact on how you're perceived, whether you're leading a team, closing a deal, or simply networking.

By the end of the keynote, you’ll have a clear blueprint for controlling the vibe you project and ensuring that your cues align with your intentions. Don’t miss the chance to unlock your superpower and make your interactions truly heroic!