Marcia K. Thompson, a veteran mediator and attorney, will share her insights into leadership at the 17th annual Leadership Colloquium for Professional Women on Thursday, November 4 at the University of Mary Washington (UMW) Stafford campus.
This year, the perennially popular colloquium will feature ten seminars about a range of topics, including creative problem-solving, communication, employee recognition, office aesthetics and the importance of passions.
The program will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the UMW Stafford campus on U.S. 17 north of Interstate 95. The early-bird registration deadline is Friday, October 1, and the final registration deadline is Friday, October 22. The event is sponsored by UMW, GEICO, NSWC Federal Credit Union, Mary Washington Healthcare, Childress Heating & A/C and Hilldrup Moving and Storage.
The topic of Thompson’s keynote speech is “Reflections on Leadership: What Does It Take to Be a Leader?” She is an alternative dispute resolution consultant and a certified mediator. Licensed to practice law in Virginia, she has focused her practice on family, juvenile, criminal and small business law, and she has worked extensively with children and families as a guardian ad litem.
Thompson has lectured and taught classes on such topics as ethics, conflict management systems, employment law and sociology. She has served on the faculty of Marymount University and University of Phoenix, and she currently teaches at Bowie State University.
Here are highlights of the seminars:
• “Building a Services Business: High-Touch Support in the Services Business” will examine the personal approach that presenter Jodi L. Johnson harnessed during 25 years in the federal services industry. Johnson is a U.S. Army veteran and organizational development consultant.
• “Congruent Communication” will explore the role that effective communication plays in developing healthy relationships and influencing others to get what you want. The presenter is Suzanne G. Houff, UMW professor of education.
• “Fanning the Flame” will cover techniques and resources for motivating and inspiring yourself and your employees, even during times of change and economic challenge. Donna R. Tyson, motivational speaker and author, is the presenter.
• “Lessons of Laughter – Life Should Be Play, Even the Serious Parts” will show participants the tools needed to bring fun and spontaneity back into everyday life. The speaker is Christine Walters, inspirational comedian.
• “Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! Creative Problem-Solving Techniques Are Just a Heel-Click Away” will examine how to approach problems with heart, mind and fortitude. Lucia Anna Trigiani, an attorney with MercerTrigiani, is the presenter.
• “Office Aesthetics Really Do Improve Profitability” will explore how to enhance profitability, function, satisfaction and marketability through office aesthetics that ensure work-area efficiency. The speaker is Andrea Hickman, interior design consultant.
• “Recognition 123” will cover how recognition benefits your employees and produces long-term gains for you as a leader. Jo Ellen Armstrong, manager of associate development for Mary Washington Healthcare, is the presenter.
• “Rewire, Rejuvenate, Rejoice” will explore ways to retool skills to identify opportunities, build on past successes and create a new future. The speaker is Linda D. Worrell, president of Worrell Management Group.
• “The Brain-Body Connection” will examine how the brain affects overall health and how healthy behaviors can improve your brain and its function. Rosemary T. Burke, director of Mary Washington Healthcare Health & Wellness, is the presenter.
• “The Importance of Passions” will help participants identify underlying values that fuel passions, explore fears that lead to wasted talents and understand how passions can bring more meaning to work and life. The presenter is Kimberley L. Kinsley, UMW assistant professor of business.
For more information, visit www.umw.edu/lcpw, write to lcpw@umw.edu or call (540) 286-8000 or toll-free (888) 692-4968. The fee is $109 if registration and payment are received by Friday, October 1, $129 after October 1. The fee covers continental breakfast, buffet luncheon, afternoon tea and all sessions and materials.
This year’s colloquium has the theme “Raising the Stakes with Creative Leadership.” The program begins with the “Get Connected” networking opportunity and ends with the “Get Reconnected” session featuring tea and door prize drawings.
The colloquium will include the annual presentation of the Patricia Lacey Metzger Distinguished Achievement Award recognizing a past Colloquium participant for attaining a major career goal while upholding exemplary personal and professional standards.