A Monthly Opportunity to Learn and Network
Networking is the best thing you can do for your own professional development! Share, learn and grow from other professionals in the Fredericksburg area.
This event takes place monthly, with themed discussions led by local leaders, and all are welcome. Interested in a topic below? Please join us! Walk-ins are always welcome.
This Month
For December’s Coffee Talk we will be discussed the topic of Change Management. Rose Heyward, Manager of Talent Development, Learning & Organizational Effectiveness at Mary Washington Healthcare, lead the December’s Coffee Talk.
Next Month
Join us for the first Coffee Talk of 2025 on Tuesday, January 14th, where we will be discussing the topic of Empowering Your Year.
Devin Fedor, Senior Director, Organizational Design & Effectiveness at Great Minds, will be leading January’s Coffee Talk.
Location
8:00am-9:00am
718 Venue
718 Caroline St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Parking:
Sophia Street Deck, George St Lot, Street parking on Caroline
2024 Coffee Talks:
January 9th – Veronica Curry, Associate Vice President of Human Resources at Germanna Community College –Adopting the Habits of Resilient Optimists –Resilience and optimism can help us meet challenges and keep us focused on our goals. This session will provide some tips and tools for developing resilience and adopting the habits of the optimist throughout our personal and professional journeys.
February 13th – Ms. Kimberly Young, Communications and Community Engagement Specialist for Caroline County Public Schools – The Power of Writing – There are numerous benefits to writing things down. Writing helps you remember but it can also help you take a deeper dive into your feelings and make more informed decisions. This session will focus on the science behind the power of writing as well as some helpful tips on how to make the power of writing work for you.
March 12th – Juanita Shanks, Founder & CEO of Failsafe-ERA, a non-profit organization in Fredericksburg, Virginia – Purposeful Pivots – When life throws us a curve ball it requires us to pivot, and for some that curve ball is your pain that determines your purpose. Turning pain into purpose takes courage that will create new growth opportunities. Purposeful pivots are cultivated and a continual process that require us to be intentionally focused. We nurture healthy relationships and we use creative strategies to build our life strategic plan to create legacy.
April 9th – Retta Young, Owner & Senior Advisor, Associated Living Locators, discusses the topic of Rising Strong: Navigating Life’s Challenges with Resilience. We all face challenges and adversity in our lives, and it can feel difficult (sometimes impossible) to pick ourselves up and push through after a setback. In this session, we’ll discuss how to recover our strength and faith in ourselves in order to navigate life’s challenges with resilience!
May 14th – Deb Andrus-Lokrantz, Coordinator of Professional Learning – Restorative Practices & Conflict Resolution, Stafford County Public Schools, joined us as we discuss the topic of Stress Management & Mindfulness! In this session, we will have an informal chat about the things that stress us out, along with tips and tools to decrease stress. This session will end in a guided meditation.
June 11th – Season Plato, Certified Health & Wellness Coach, discussed the topic of Health & Wellness! In this session, we learned how living a healthy lifestyle can build resilience. Discussing important habits that can help you build a strong foundation for navigating the adversities and challenges of life.
July 9th – Susan Coleman, 2023 Metzger Award Winner, joined us in July for a Book Discussion as we revisit “Broadcasting Happiness,” written by the remarkable Michelle Gielan, who headlined our 29th Annual Women’s Leadership Colloquium last November!
August 13th – Susan Coleman, 2023 Metzger Award Winner, continued our book discussion on Broadcasting Happiness by Michelle Gielan, who headlined our 29th Annual Women’s Leadership Colloquium last November!.
September 10th – Alicia Turner, CEO & President North Compass Solutions LLC, joined us this September as we discussed the topic of Managing Difficult Conversations.
October 8th – Susan Ball, Director of the UMW SBDC led the discussion on Empowering Entrepreneurs: Fostering Independence and Inspiring the Next Generation. In a recent survey, 90% of people said they would like to own a business. Independence and autonomy are primary reasons given for this desire. We discussed ways entrepreneurship empowers business owners and how business owners can empower their employees and the next generation of business owners.
November 12th – Janel Donohue, President of the Rappahannock United Way, led the discussion on “Six Working Geniuses”.