CFRE Continuing Education Points

Values in Action: How to Foster Psychological Safety Through Inclusive Leadership 

Learn how to lead with your values and promote a culture of wellbeing in your organization. During this breakout session, you will explore how to define and build psychological safety, the challenges of creating an inclusive environment, and strategies to overcome those challenges. You will also discover how to support your and your employees’ wellbeing and align your actions with your organization’s vision and mission. You will come away from this session with practical ways to create a healthy, equitable and inclusive workplace. 

Dawn Hunter is a public health lawyer and experienced state health department policymaker who specializes in the use of law and policy to improve health outcomes and advance racial health equity.

As the founder of The Dawn Lab, she provides research and analysis, training, and leadership development in support of more equitable, inclusive communities. Dawn is a certified public health professional, licensed member of the Florida Bar, and holds certificates in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace as well as Inclusive and Ethical Leadership from the University of South Florida Muma College of Business. She is also trained in Facilitation for Racial Justice by the Interaction Institute for Social Change.  

Promising Trends and Workplace Design Methods for Hiring and Retaining Top Talent 

The competition for skilled employees is fierce for all organizations, but even more so in the nonprofit sector. Nonprofits are looking for creative ways to attract and retain top talent that meet the demands of the workforce without compromising the ability to deliver to their communities. Learn how to design a workplace built for the future, along with top trends and tips that give your organization an advantage. 

Keri Higgins-Bigelow is the founder & CEO of livingHR. She is a human who cares a lot about humans and the purpose that work serves in our lives and society. Keri and livingHR specialize in reimagining work to build inclusive cultures, talent optimized and capable of delivering on the business strategy, and humanized experiences for everyone at work. In 2018, Keri co-founded Fe League, a women’s leadership group to advance women in corporate and firm roles. She hosts a virtual monthly series, Work Now + In the Future, as well as runs DisruptHR, a talk-based event for the world of work. Keri is a member of the Forbes Human Resources Council. She is a frequent speaker at national and regional events with the Business Journal, ACG, IT Nation, ATD, DisruptHR, and PoweredUp. Keri has been featured as a leading voice for workplace culture in Forbes, Business Journal, Food + Wine, and Fast Company. Keri and livingHR have been recognized by Inc. Best Places to Work, 13 Female Leaders Southeast, HR Person of The Year, Business Journal Businesswoman of The Year, Business Journal Best Places to Work, and Florida Trend’s 2019 Best Companies to Work for in Florida. 

Harness the Transformative Power of Artificial Intelligence 

During this breakout session, you’ll learn about the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence for your nonprofit. Discover what AI truly is, debunk common fears, and explore its incredible potential in the nonprofit sector. You’ll learn how AI is revolutionizing operations, enhancing outreach, and driving impactful change for organizations like yours. 

Joe Lugo is the chief of staff for AMPLIFY Clearwater and the founder of J^{^}3 Creations, a company that helps organizations realize the value in diversity, inclusion and the leadership mindset. As a community leader, proud Puerto Rican, and advocate for others, Joe is passionate about helping nonprofits understand and prepare for the AI revolution that is upon us, so they are positioned for success.

Joe is a published author and has co-founded and helped launch the first Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Pinellas County. He serves in leadership roles with The Hispanic Leadership Council and HOPE Villages DEI Committee. Joe is also a board member for the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg.  

Ignite Your Impact: Mastering Cross-Sector Collaboration for Nonprofits 

In this dynamic breakout with Nestor Ortiz from 16 Point Compass Consulting, you’ll unlock the secrets to transformative partnerships that amplify your organization’s reach and impact. Discover how to forge powerful alliances across sectors, uniting diverse stakeholders around your shared mission. Nestor will guide you through a step-by-step framework for building successful collaborations, from identifying ideal partners whose values align with yours to establishing clear goals and communication channels that foster trust and accountability.  

Nestor Ortiz is a seasoned leader in the nonprofit and community development sectors with more than 30 years of experience assisting nonprofits, government agencies and educational institutions with developing and implementing effective community-based initiatives, programs and practices. He has dedicated his career to empowering historically marginalized communities through consulting, advocacy and social activism. 

As the founder of 16 Point Compass Consulting, LLC, Nestor provides a series of individual, agency and community-strengthening services to organizations and communities working to improve conditions for marginalized groups. He is a passionate advocate for systemic change and actively participates in local, statewide and national campaigns that promote equity and justice. 

Conquering Board Culture for Mission Impact

 The renowned Peter Drucker may have said it best: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”  Yet, culture is often overlooked when it comes to effective board governance. In our post-COVID world, many boards are struggling to create a new norm. Virtual board meetings, in many instances, lowered board member engagement expectations, notwithstanding increased community needs. 

This session will provide key questions and strategies every board should consider to ensure board members are empowered to participate fully and advance mission impact. 

Vernetta Walker, J.D., is CEO and Chief Governance Gladiator of Vernetta Walker & Associates Consulting. Prior to starting Walker Consulting, Vernetta served as Chief Governance Officer for BoardSource, a global resource for nonprofit governance. She also taught Governance, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Ethics at Columbia University; was associate general counsel and director of consulting for the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations —home of the “Standards for Excellence;” and director of Administration of Justice Grants for the Florida Bar Foundation.  

With more than two decades of experience as a nonprofit leader and consultant, Vernetta is passionate about helping organizations maximize their impact through exceptional leadership, intellectual engagement, and advancing DEI for mission impact. In addition to consulting, she is a frequent speaker on nonprofit leading practices, and sector trends.