Event Details

The Business Success Symposium held its second annual, one-day event in 2024 to connect local, regional, and state resources with businesses of all sizes. The event covered a variety of essential topics aimed at improving workforce and facility operations, including Employment Law, Upskilling Your Workforce, Leadership, Continuous Improvement, Facility Safety, AI in the Workplace, Talent Pipelines, and Changes to Virginia’s Workforce System. An added benefit was the availability of SHRM Professional Development Credits for attendees.

EVENT AGENDA

• 9:00   -  Doors Open

Breakfast, Registration, Networking 

• 10:00 -  Welcome
• 10:15 - 11am -  Breakout Session A

2025 Legal Update
An overview of recent legislation and court decisions that may have an effect on Virginia businesses.
Presenter: Chad Wallace, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC

Effective Time Management
This workshop is designed for those who have very little control over their daily schedule and/or want to improve how they manage their time! In particular, the workshop is geared toward Front line supervisors and early career professionals who often have many outside and unexpected (in the moment) demands of their time. But, can’t we all use a refresher?
Presenter: Cheryl Carrico, E4S, LLC

Labor Market Information: Let the Data Work for You
A look at state and regional level Labor Market Information, what it means and how it can be useful to your business.
Presenter: Virginia Works

• 11:15 - 12pm -  Breakout Session B

Becoming the Leader Others Want to Follow
In this interactive session, the trainers will share tips and best practices and help everyone get started with their own action plan for becoming a dynamic leader that others want to follow.
Presenters: Lois James & Dianne Ward, OpX Solutions, LLC

Financial Wellness for Employees
Learn about resources available to assist your employees with their financial well-being.

Stronger Together: Sector Partnerships that Work
 A workshop showcasing the regional strategies to build and sustain industry-driven collaborations in Construction/Skilled Trades, Healthcare & Human Services and Manufacturing, Logistics & Warehousing industry sectors. Learn how these aligned partnerships can strengthen your workforce and help drive economic growth in the region.
Presenter: Marty Holliday, New River/Mt Rogers Workforce Development Board

• 12:00 -  Lunch

Lunch Program: 
Cyber Security Awareness: What Everyone Should Know
Presenter: Steve Wingate, CyberGuard Advisors

• 1:30 - 2:15pm  -  Breakout Session C

​Best Practices: Improving the Onboarding Experience
Presenter: Philip Altizer, Mohawk

Registered Apprenticeships
Presenter: Diana Lyons, Virginia Works

Stress First Aid
Stress First Aid (SFA) is a framework to improve recovery from stress reactions, both in oneself and in coworkers. The model aims to support core actions that help to identify and address early signs of stress reactions in an ongoing way, as well as the prevention of substance misuse and suicide.
Presenter: Marlena Thompson, Mt Rogers Community Services

• 2:30 - 3:15pm   -  Breakout Session D
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Pathways to Healthy Conflict Resolution
Addressing conflict in a healthy manner is a key component of effective leadership.  Learn your predominant conflict management style and how to expand your interpersonal communication skills to address situational conflict in your workplace.
Presenter: Mary Jane Umberger, HR Alliance

Succession Planning: Preparing for Your Organization’s Future
This workshop is meant to  help participants understand the importance of succession planning throughout the organization and let them leave with a few tools and ideas to help them get started.
Presenter: Cheryl Carrico, E4S, LLC

3:30   -  Wrap-up

​If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact John Matthews at 276-223-3370 or john.matthews@wytheida.org​​​​​​

Click the following link to Register: 

https://www.madewythepride.org/business-success-symposium