Be sure to arrive early and check in before 8:15am, where we'll begin with welcoming remarks and introductions from the Kirkwood Corporate Training team.

Explore how thoughtful design and simple adjustments to your workspace, posture, and daily habits can reduce discomfort, boost productivity, and support long-term well-being. Learn practical tips to create a healthier, more balanced environment—at work and beyond.

Speaker Bio

Caley Ploessl is a Doctorate of Physical Therapy and Certified Professional Ergonomist at Balanced Fitness & Health. Caley partners with manufacturers and other companies to provide industry-leading injury prevention and ergonomics expertise. Her goal is to take safety and injury prevention programs to the next level by providing ergonomic assessments, presentations and creating individualized early intervention programs. She has helped companies bring total workers’ health to the forefront of every employee’s mind while improving safety, health and wellness and increasing morale. Her work has been proven to reduce injuries, resulting in decreased recordables and time away from work, which leads to savings for the company.

Caley excels in these areas thanks to her Biomedical Engineering background. Her unique problem-solving skills along with advanced knowledge of the physics of the body, result in clear directives for ergonomically safe interactions in various work environments.

Prevent burnout by knowing when to say yes and when to say no to opportunities without the fear of missing out or overcommitting.

Speaker Bio

Kara Hinzie is a forward-thinking leader with 20 years of expertise in developing people, building relationships, and managing through change. She has a track record of high performance by cultivating a positive work environment and a proactive approach to obstacles that focuses on continuous improvement. Kara is also a certified Health & Wellness Coach, specializing in helping professionals balance their workload and prevent burnout. She is an advocate for mental health, lifelong learning and supporting one's community.

This session brings the Conscious Leadership Group’s concept of “the line” to life as a practical tool for structuring your day and working more intentionally. Participants will learn how to recognize their mindset and align tasks, collaboration, and creativity accordingly. Whether planning solo work or leading a team meeting, this approach boosts productivity, self-awareness, and team effectiveness.

Speaker Bio

Known for her interactive and thought-provoking style, Emily Zimmon helps groups strengthen connection, improve engagement, and create healthier, more inclusive environments. Her sessions blend insight, compassion, and practical tools to address real-world challenges—leaving audiences inspired, reflective, and ready to take action.

Emily is a professional public speaker and trainer who discovered her passion for connecting with audiences while teaching in classrooms along the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Today, she brings that same energy and thoughtfulness to events, workshops, and team experiences across the country.

This dynamic, interactive session explores how emotional intelligence (EQ) fuels performance, retention, leadership, and team culture. Centered on the Five Pillars of EQ, this session uses real-world scenarios and guided discussion to help participants recognize how their emotions and reactions impact others—and what to do differently in the moment. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how EQ shows up in everyday workplace situations, practical tools to navigate low-EQ moments, and a compelling case for why investing in emotional intelligence is one of the smartest business decisions an organization can make.

Speaker Bio

Christina Graham is a seasoned Learning & Development professional with over 20 years of experience helping organizations turn learning into meaningful action. Known for her engaging, high-energy facilitation style, she creates dynamic learning experiences that connect on both a practical and human level. Grounded in emotional intelligence, Christina brings real-world insights, interactive learning experiences, and practical strategies to every session, empowering individuals to build confidence, strengthen communication, and drive lasting behavior change.

She has led large-scale training initiatives, developed impactful programs, and coached leaders and facilitators to maximize effectiveness. As part of The Peerman Group, Christina is dedicated to delivering experiences that inspire growth, elevate performance, and leave a lasting impression.

Inspired by a juggling kit from his grandmother, Tom Hicks delivers a fun, hands-on, 90-minute workshop that transforms the fear of failure into fuel for growth. Embracing Failure & Growth Through Juggling blends laughter, resilience, and connection, giving participants a safe space to try, fail, and try again—while building trust, adaptability, and a true continuous improvement mindset. Perfect for teams, schools, and organizations ready to strengthen culture, spark collaboration, and leave with lessons that last long after the balls stop flying. Are you ready to juggle?

Speaker Bio

Tom Hicks is the founder and CJO (Chief Juggling Officer) of Throw & Catch Consulting (throwcatchlead.com) based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He provides practical and fun leadership development experiences that blend storytelling, reflection, and active learning to create deeper connections while playing with a purpose for individuals, teams, and organizations. Tom has worked at all levels in higher education for the past 20+ years and has adapted several of his most popular campus-based workshops for organizations of all types. When he’s not on campus or conducting juggling workshops, Tom enjoys cycling and traveling with his wife Megan and cheering on their daughter Emily in all her activities.

AI adoption is accelerating, but many organizations struggle to move from curiosity to coordinated execution. Without a structured approach, companies risk fragmented tool adoption, data exposure, and unclear return on investment. This session introduces a practical framework for evaluating AI readiness and identifying high impact use cases across internal operations and customer functions. Attendees will explore how to align AI initiatives with business objectives, implement responsible governance, and build workforce capability for long term success. This session equips organizations with the clarity and structure needed to turn AI from a buzzword into a competitive advantage.

Speaker Bio

Ahmed Ismail is the founder of XYZ Consulting, a technology consulting firm specializing in custom software development. He has a diverse set of experiences that include working as a software engineer at Capital One, serving on an advisory board for a think tank called Heartland Forward, lobbying for international education initiatives in Washington D.C., and working on the board of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). While working on NSBE's board, he helped develop the 2020-2025 strategic lan, which was used to deploy millions in capital to increase the number of black engineers graduating on an annual basis. He also served as the International Vice Chair for NSBE, where he helped with the organization's international expansion efforts.

We'll wrap up the showcase and provide time for additional networking.