Connected Communities: Turning Purposeful Outreach into Real Results

Speaker: Jodi Rudick, IPRA Webinar Facilitator
Executive Director, La Jolla Village Merchants Association

Strong organizations are built on consistent community outreach, mutually beneficial relationships, and a clear purpose.
We’ll explore how to set meaningful community engagement goals and strengthen the relationships that drive your agency’s success. Learn how to find valuable contacts and connections, build synergistic partnerships, reach new audiences, and follow up in ways that build long-term support. You’ll gain practical tools to set clear outreach goals, track progress, and create lasting connections that inspire collaboration and measurable results.

A.I. in Parks and Recreation: What's Nextn

Speaker: Neelay Bhatt, Founder and CEO
Next Practice Partners, LLC

AI continues to reshape how parks and recreation agencies plan, operate, and connect with their communities. This session explores real-world examples and key findings from the national Perception and Impact of AI in Parks and Recreation study, parks and recreation agencies in IL and nationwide, as well as trends in the broader AI industry. Discover what’s next — and how to balance innovation with the human touch that defines our field.

Developing SOPs: Building a Learning Organization

Speaker: Dean Heffta, Founder Clarus Results

Successful teams require an environment that accelerates competence. In this session, Dean Heffta, introduces the three practices that organizational leaders can use immediately to create organizations where learning happens faster, innovation is embraced, and communities feel served.

Doing More with Less - Collaboration Is the Key to Success

Speaker: Lydie Gutfeld, MPA;
Director, Parks and Recreation,

Budget cuts, staffing shortages, and growing community needs are realities for many park and recreation professionals. The good news? Collaboration can turn limited resources into expanded impact.

This session explores practical, creative ways to do more with less by partnering across departments, organizations, and communities. Participants will learn how to identify shared goals, pool resources, and build sustainable partnerships that amplify results without overextending staff or budgets. Through real-world examples and interactive discussion, you’ll discover how collaboration can foster innovation, efficiency, and stronger community connections — even in lean times.

Breaking Down Barriers: Understanding and Addressing Ableism in Customer Service

Speaker: Tracey Crawford, CTRS, CPRP, Senior Learning Strategist
Access to Growth Learning Solutions

More than one in four Americans lives with a disability — some visible, many not. Yet ableism, or bias against people with disabilities, often appears in ways we don’t even recognize. From the words we choose to the systems we design, these subtle barriers can undermine equity, dignity, and belonging.
In this interactive session, participants will learn to identify both overt and hidden forms of ableism, explore their impact on customers and colleagues, and practice strategies for fostering inclusion in everyday communication and decision-making. By shifting from assumptions to awareness, staff can help create workplaces and public spaces where people of all abilities feel respected, valued, and supported.

Critical Thinking: Making Decisions That Stick

Speaker: Nan Gesche, Collaboration Experts)

During this interactive session, you will explore one of the most sought-after workplace skills – critical thinking. We all know smart people who make decisions that just don’t work out. So clearly, having a high IQ isn’t enough. It takes looking at situations differently and applying new ways of thinking. The good news is that critical thinking is a learned skill. In this low-risk, high-energy session, you will see how critical thinking can get derailed and what you might do differently to keep it on track.

Building Trust & Collaboration Across Generations

Dr. Steven Jones, CEO Global LeaderSHYFT, Inc

In today’s parks and recreation teams, five generations work side by side — each bringing unique strengths, values, and communication styles. This energizing one-hour workshop gives leaders and team members practical tools to bridge generational gaps and turn differences into opportunities for collaboration.
Participants will learn how to build trust across age groups, communicate more effectively, and leverage each generation’s strengths to create inclusive, high-performing teams. You’ll leave with strategies to strengthen teamwork, boost engagement, and enhance your organization’s community impact — one generation at a time.

Staying Positive in a Negative World: Practical Strategies for Leading with Calm, Credibility, and Optimism

Speaker: Kristin Strunk Regent Leadership Group

In an era of constant change, conflict, and public scrutiny, maintaining a positive outlook can be one of a leader’s greatest challenges — and most powerful tools. This interactive webinar offers practical, evidence-based strategies for leading with steadiness and optimism, even when circumstances are difficult.
Participants will explore how negativity bias affects morale and decision-making, and learn simple ways to reframe challenges, stay composed under stress, and model solution-oriented leadership behaviors that build trust, collaboration, and engagement across teams and communities.
Discover how to cultivate calm confidence and inspire others — no matter what’s happening around you.

Keep Cool Under Pressure

Speaker: Martina Mathisen, Leadership and Staff Development Speaker

Amid uncertainty and rising public incivility, staying composed under pressure has never been more critical. This webinar will helps participants recognize their triggers, communicate calmly in tense moments, and refocus energy to remain effective when challenges arise. With practical strategies you can use the very same day, this session builds confidence and composure when it matters most.

The Bison Principle: Courage, Clarity, and Stewardship

Speaker: Jamie Sabbach, Founder, President & Principal 110%, Inc.

When storms approach, bison don’t run away—they face the wind and move through it together. The Bison Principle applies that instinct to the challenges of modern public service. This session explores how courage, clarity, and stewardship can guide tough fiscal decisions and strengthen organizational resilience. Through practical examples and reflection, participants will discover how values-driven leadership transforms financial responsibility from a routine task into a shared ethical commitment. You’ll leave with actionable strategies to foster fiscal resilience, reinforce public trust, and lead your organization forward—together

Shift Happens! Building Resilient Systems for a Changing Future

Speaker: Farrell Buller Principal & Certified Leadership Coach 110%, Inc.

The pace and scale of change today are unlike anything we've experienced before. Economic volatility, demographic diversification, technological acceleration, and environmental disruption are reshaping the landscape of public service. While these shifts bring undeniable challenges, they also offer a powerful invitation: to reexamine our systems, rethink our roles, and realign our work for long-term resilience.
This session will explore how embracing change—rather than resisting it—can lead to stronger, more adaptive systems that serve the citizens of 2050. What do you need to shift?