SETTING THE STANDARD: CELEBRATING 30 YEARS
20th Annual National Business Leaders & Recognition Conference
Day 2 | Tuesday, August 18, 2026
PRESENTING SPONSOR
GE Vernova
Day 2 features leadership insights, innovation, recognition, and concurrent learning sessions designed to help leaders navigate the evolving workplace and responsibly apply artificial intelligence.
Opening Program
| Time | Session | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 AM – 8:35 AM | Welcome & Overview of the Day | Andres Gonzalez Board Chair Vice President, Belonging & Community Engagement Froedtert ThedaCare Health |
| 8:35 AM – 8:40 AM | Thought Leadership Connector | Mitchell Levy, PhD Author, Executive Abundance |
| 8:45 AM – 8:50 AM | Opening & Presenting Sponsor Remarks | Reggie Miller Chief Culture and Inclusion Officer GE Vernova |
| 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Invitation Only: Inclusion Leadership Think Tank | Pam McElvane CEO, Promena |
Morning General Sessions
| Time | Session | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM – 9:35 AM | The Invisible Workplace: The Hidden Forces Shaping Who Succeeds, Who Leaves, and Who Never Speaks Up | Andrea Davis, PhD Chief Insights Officer, Promena |
| 9:45 AM – 10:40 AM | From Insight to Action: The CTR Factor Leadership Operating System Leveraging Behavioral Science and Situational Protocols to Build Confident, Consistent Leaders | Suri Surinder, DBA CEO, CTR Factor Partner, Promena Learning |
| 10:45 AM – 11:00 AM | Stretch & Snack Break | |
| 11:00 AM – 11:55 AM | Young Inventors & Entrepreneurs Panel: Next-Generation Ideas, Real-World Impact | Moderator: Sasha Parrish
Associate Managing Editor; Digital Editor & Content Manager, Promena Panelists: Cameron Boulanger, Founder Nico O’Neill, PhD, Physics Student and Researcher |
Awards Luncheon
| Time | Session | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Transition to Lunch | |
| 12:05 PM – 2:00 PM | 5th Annual Top 25 Awards Luncheon | Emcee:
D’Ericka Stevenson, Promena Sponsor Remarks: Peggy Harris, Advocate Health Keynote Speaker: Pegine Echevarria, Hall of Fame Motivational Speaker and Author |
AI Learning Block Certificate Program
Concurrent live courses focused on responsible AI application, leadership, workforce transformation, and innovation.
Track 1
Concurrent sessions | 2:10 PM – 2:55 PM
| Time | Session | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 2:10 PM – 2:55 PM | AI Governance: Building Trust, Risk Readiness, and Responsible Use | Audra Jenkins Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer Randstad Global Staffing |
| 2:10 PM – 2:55 PM | Negotiation Skills in the Age of AI: What Every Leader Must Know When Humans and Algorithms Share the Table | Emilia Lindakakis, MBA Managing Partner, Language Advisors Professor, Elmhurst College |
| 2:10 PM – 2:55 PM | AI Workforce Integration: Redesigning Work, Roles, and Human-AI Collaboration | Lucy Gao GE Vernova |
Track 2
Concurrent sessions | 3:10 PM – 3:55 PM
| Time | Session | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 3:00 PM – 3:05 PM | Transition to the Next Session | |
| 3:10 PM – 3:55 PM | The Art of Leadership | Nadine Vogel CEO, Springboard Consulting, LLC |
| 3:10 PM – 3:55 PM | AI Reskilling the Workforce: Preparing Employees for the Future of Work | Sharmila Fowler, MBA Executive Director, Asian American Advertising Federation (3AF) |
| 3:10 PM – 3:55 PM | AI for Innovation: Applying AI to Solve Business Challenges | Allante Taylor, CEO, A Taylor Media |
Closing Program
| Time | Session | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 4:00 PM – 4:10 PM | Transition to General Session | |
| 4:15 PM – 4:35 PM | General Session Thought Leader Connector Wrap-Up | Mitchell Levy, PhD Author, Executive Abundance |
Evening Event
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Top 25 Private Reception Hosted by Reggie Miller, GE Vernova |
20th Annual National Business Leaders & Recognition Conference Day 2 | Tuesday, August 18, 2026