THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

AGENDA

7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.

Check-In, Networking, Breakfast

Breakfast & Coffee Bar is sponsored by
Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, Intermountain Electronics,
Liberty Village of Carbondale, Southern Illinois Healthcare, and SI NOW,

8:20 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Welcome

“Welcome Address”
Dr. Kirk Overstreet, President, John A. Logan College

Master of Ceremonies
Dr. Steve O’Keefe, Vice President of Marketing, John A. Logan College

8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

Keynote Speaker

“Your Experience Shapes Your Perspective”
presented by
Daniel Booth, Ed.D.
Superintendent, Carbondale Community High School

9:15 a.m. to 9:30 a.m

Break

9:30 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.

Panel Discussion

“Mental Health & Employer Partner as Success Story”

presented by

Aaron Foster, Executive Director of Operations, Marketplace Chaplains
Stephanie Shouse, Chaplain & Coach, Marketplace Chaplains
Terry Gwaltney, Owner, Integrity Roofing;
Author of “Culture-neer: Building a Team That Beats the Odds”

>> Download the “Mental Health in the Workplace” PowerPoint (PDF file, 181 KB)

10:50 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.

3 Breakout Sessions

“Pivot to Artificial Intelligence”

presented by

Tobias Merriman, Assistant Director of Center for Virtual Expression,
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

>> Download the “Pivot to Artificial Intelligence” PowerPoint (PDF file, 3 MB)

 

“LEADING WITH EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE:
Building Stronger Teams and Workplace Relationships”

presented by

Amy Murphy, Technical Specialist,
Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC)

>> Download the “Leading with Emotional Intelligence” PowerPoint (PDF file, 958 KB)

“State of Illinois Employer Resources”

presented by

Freddie Buckingham, Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) 

>> Download the “State of Illinois Employer Resources” PowerPoint (PDF file, 912 KB)

Darrell Hampsten, Southern Senior Regional Manager,
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) >

>> Download the “DCEO Workforce Initiatives” PowerPoint (PDF file, 628 KB)

12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.

Lunch & Networking 

Lunch sponsored by AISIN Illinois, Deaconess Illinois, Pepsi MidAmerica & Prysmian 

1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Final Session

Sponsored by Banterra Bank, Intertape Polymer Group, Moss Enterprises, and Shawnee Health

“Employment Law & ICE “

Presented by

Scott Cruz, Partner, UB Greensfelder, LLP

>> Download the Employment Law & ICE PowerPoint (PDF file, 852 KB)

 

 

Vendor Tables

Belladonna Media & Marketing Group • Centerstone • Deaconess • HireLevel • Illinois Department of Corrections • Illinois Department of Employment Security • IDHS: Division of Rehabilitation Services • Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center • John A. Logan College • Liberty Village of Carbondale • Man-Tra-Con Corporation • Marketplace Chaplains • Moss Education & Industrial Training • Quality Health Partners of Southern Illinois • Rend Lake Collage • SI NOW • Southern Illinois Healthcare • Solutions for Energy Efficient Logistics

 

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