Sessions & Speakers
Keynote: Jason Boron
Embrace Uncommon Sense: Boost Workplace Engagement and Wellbeing
We all wish common sense were more common, but it's time to face reality. Instead, let's embrace uncommon sense in the workplace. Recognizing that others experience the world differently is essential for fostering engagement and wellbeing in our work environment. Join Jason as he explores some of the ways you can think differently and improve wellbeing and engagement at work.
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Leadership Coach and Founder of Leading Strong
About Jason
Jason Boron is a strengths-based leadership coach whose primary focus is helping others identify and leverage individual talents to maximize their potential. He founded Leading Strong in 2017 with a mission to share what he discovered during his own development journey… When you focus on what you do best, each and every day, you create opportunities to live you best life.
Jason draws on his education in sport psychology, experience in leadership development, and ideas from today’s greatest thought leaders to help others realize their potential. Since 2007, Jason has designed and conducted leadership training and coaching. As a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, Tiny Habits Coach, and LEGO SERIOUS PLAY Certified Facilitator, he provides individuals and teams opportunities to build self-awareness and more effectively leverage their strengths.
Jason supports the local business community and efforts to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem through participation in regional organizations, including the Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce (GARCC) and the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund. He served as the Chair of the Board of Directors for GARCC in 2021. Jason graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in psychology and West Virginia University with an M.S. in sport psychology.
Owner & Founder of Mission Clarity
Practical Skills Workshop: Rob Wheeler
Picking the Right Marketing Strategy for Your Mission
Foundations of marketing strategy
Leveraging marketing channels
Tailoring strategies for small businesses
Tailoring strategies for nonprofits
Develop & Execute your marketing plan
Q&A
About Rob
For the last 12 years, Rob has served and worked in various roles throughout the Lynchburg region including: managing the now closed Lynchburg Photoworks (a print and design shop), Director of Marketing for Patrick Henry Family Services (now Five18), and currently the founder and CEO of Mission Clarity (a marketing strategy consulting organization).
Prior to moving to Lynchburg in 2012, Rob lived and worked in the Philadelphia, PA area where he married his college sweetheart in 2010. Together with Dominique, Rob has 4 children and proudly drives a minivan.
Rob's work is focused on empowering others to overcome obstacles and achieve success, particularly those who have experienced adversity in the small business/nonprofit sector. Rob’s belief is that adversity is the ultimate learning tool and if leveraged well, leads to genuine kindness and empathy for those around you.
Breakout Sessions
Community Development Coordinator
Freedom First
Alisha Childress
Breakout Topic: Career Hacks & Cash Stacks: Strategies for Young Pros
Ready to boost your career and achieve financial growth? Join the dynamic Alisha Childress for a high-energy session packed with practical tips and a dash of fun! This presentation is perfect for young professionals who want to level up their careers and financial game. Here’s what you’ll get:
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Mastering Salary Negotiation: Turn those nerve-wracking salary talks into a confident conversation. Learn the tricks to get the pay you deserve!
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Seizing New Opportunities: Discover how to explore new opportunities that can enhance your career and civic engagement.
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Side Hustle Success: Got a hidden talent or a hobby you love? Let’s turn it into a money-making side gig!
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Investing in Your Future: Get the lowdown on smart investing and making the most of those sweet employer benefits.
Expect a lively, interactive session where you’ll not only learn but also connect with other go-getters. Walk away with actionable insights and the motivation to take your career and finances to the next level. Let’s make your professional journey as exciting and rewarding as it can be! 🚀💼💰 Can’t wait to see you there and help you shine! 🌟
About Alisha
Alisha Childress is the dynamic Community Development Coordinator at Freedom First Credit Union. With a rich professional background spanning emergency management, business continuity, nonprofit management, and community development, Alisha brings a wealth of experience to her role. She holds both a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Nonprofit and Association Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus, where she also imparts her knowledge as an adjunct professor.
Alisha was recently featured in Lynchburg Business Magazine, where she authored an insightful piece on career advancement and financial growth. With a deep passion for financial wellness, she frequently champions its importance within the broader framework of comprehensive wellness.
Known for her upbeat, passionate, and fierce personality, Alisha excels at making things happen and uplifting her community. Enthusiastically referred to as “Your Favorite Local Community and Financial Cheerleader,” she is a fervent advocate for women, minorities, and young professionals, constantly reminding us all to be confident, authentic, and to know our value!
Rebekah Trittipoe
Breakout Topic: 6 Buckets to Fill in your Quest of
Becoming a True Professional
Author & Career Coach
Ever wonder why some teams and organizations are so successful year after year? Is it because they always get the best, the most technical players...or could it be something else?
Come catch a vision of the importance of character skill development for individuals and teams by studying how high-performing teams consistently produce great results. Then, learn to fill the other 5 buckets of professionalism, maintaining focus, effective communication, keeping perspective, and becoming an effective team member. This will be a lively, interactive session where you will have the opportunity to identify key strategies for becoming a true professional.
About Rebekah
Rebekah Trittipoe, author and speaker, delivers professional development to coaches, athletes, and business executives built on her diverse career across multiple disciplines: cardiovascular perfusion, expertise in quality management and risk abatement, teacher and coach. More than a talking head, Rebekah's sessions are uniquely structured to use activity to teach principles of effective communication, leadership, and character skill development.
Senior VP & Manager of Workplace Solutions, Atlantic Union Bank
Jennifer Huffman
Breakout Topic: Branding You
A personal brand is, in many ways, similar to a corporate brand by helping to demonstrate who you are, what you stand for, the values you embrace, and the way in which you express those values. Just as a company brand helps to communicate its value to customers and stand out from the competition., a personal brand does the same for individuals, helping to communicate a unique identity and clear value to potential employers and clients.
About Jennifer
Jennifer Huffman is a Virginia businesswoman and Senior Vice President of Solutions Banking at Atlantic Union Bank, the largest regional bank in Virginia. She focuses on providing financial wellness solutions to help employees build financial confidence and supports businesses in implementing workplace financial benefits.
Raised in Moneta, Virginia, Jennifer earned a degree in Business Leadership from Liberty University while working in banking, fueling her passion for helping individuals and businesses succeed financially.
Known as a "POWER BROKER," she was named one of the "Top 20 under 40" by Lynchburg Business Magazine in 2022 and received the 2023 Emerging Leader Award from the American Bankers Association. In 2024, she was honored as the “Citizen of the Year” by the Salem Roanoke Chamber of Commerce and the “Business Person of the Year” by Lynchburg Business.
Jennifer's leadership roles include serving as Program Chair for Atlantic Union Bank’s Women’s Inclusion Network, Vice Chairwoman of HumanKind's Board, and Centennial Chair for the American Heart Association’s Roanoke Heart Ball. She also serves on various boards, including the Virginia Centers of Inclusive Communities and Goodwill Industries of the Valleys.
Her dedication to community impact and financial wellness has established her as a respected leader in the banking industry.
Jared Hesse
Breakout Topic: Living a Life of Purpose and Leaving a Legacy
Author, Football Coach, Barber & Owner of Gentleman John's Barber Shop
Join Jared for an inspiring session as he shares insights on living a life filled with purpose and meaning. He'll delve into lessons learned along his journey and how they relate to effective leadership. Discover how to empower others and build a legacy that endures. This is an interactive opportunity to engage and connect, so come prepared with questions. Join the conversation and be inspired to make a meaningful impact!
About Jared
Jared was born in Oakland, Maryland, but moved to Lynchburg at one year old and has lived there ever since. He is married to Kim and is the father of Taylee and Tanner. In 2019, he founded
Gentleman John's after 25 years in the barbering industry. He is also the author of "The Fit Barber Coach," where he shares his journey of faith, family, fitness, finance, and his growing passion for elevating the value of the Barber trade.