2024 Leadership Summit

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to its sixth annual Leadership Summit, a transformative event dedicated to professional leadership and organizational management development. At the Summit we will provide a path that helps leaders and organizations push beyond their limits, and talk through the steps they can take to get there.

The 2024 Leadership Summit promises to be an enlightening experience, where you will explore the keys
to EMBODY INNOVATION in your leadership journey.

2024 SUMMIT AGENDA

8:00AM DOORS OPEN
8:30AM CHAMBER WELCOME
8:45AM KEYNOTE: IN PERFECT HARMONY: THE RYTHMS OF INNOVATION, DAVE MOSS
9:30AM PROPER GOAL SETTING, MICHAEL ALVARADO
10:00AM COFFEE BREAK
10:30AM BREAKOUT SESSIONS:

UNLEASHING AI, STEVE CARY
REXIUS PANEL: JASON GILES, TAYLOR ALIE, THOMAS HOWARD
FACILITATED BY DEBORAH CREAGER

11:30AM LUNCH BREAK
12:30PM THE STRATEGIC POWER OF PAUSING, DAN COLLINS PhD
1:30PM MR. ICE CREAM BREAK
2:00PM INTO THIN AIR, ANDREW ROBINSON
2:30PM KEYNOTE: BEYOND LIMITS, MARIA GUY
3:50PM CLOSING REMARKS
4:00PM COCKTAIL RECEPTION & NETWORKING
5:00PM EVENT ENDS

KEEP CHECKING BACK HERE FOR MORE UPDATES!

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

MARIA GUY | Senior Partner, GiANT

Beyond Limits

Everyone has the capacity to lead. A true leader is measured by how many lives they impact. Leadership is changing in the 21st century but there are some principles that remain timeless. Discover what a 100X Leader is and what it takes to become this kind of leader to your team and members. Healthy leaders create healthy cultures. You will walk away inspired, and with a framework that will help you understand your leadership tendencies and how you can become someone others want to -- not have to -- follow.

Maria Guy brings humor, engagement, interaction, and reflection in her coaching and consulting. She is passionate about helping leaders and teams reach their potential, discover their strengths, and make changes so they can have the greatest influence and impact.

When Maria speaks things really change...

Maria is a Senior Partner with GiANT, dedicated to equipping individuals and organizations with exceptional leadership skills. She helps people understand what it takes to be a leader worth following and coaches them to fight for the highest possible good in the lives of those they lead. She spent twenty years in the construction industry, including as an executive. Born in El Paso, TX, Maria has lived in New Mexico most of her adult life. She is bilingual in Spanish. She is married to her college sweetheart and has two adult children.

DAVE MOSS | Executive Director, Eugene Symphony

In Perfect Harmony: The Rhythms of Innovation

“In Perfect Harmony: The Rhythms of Innovation” explores how the creative principles that drive musicians also fuel successful businesses. This opening keynote takes you on a journey through the shared language of music and business. From the improvisation of jazz legends to the disciplined practice of classical musicians, we’ll examine how adaptability, collaboration, and continuous learning are the key to staying ahead in today’s fast-paced market. With real-world examples and powerful musical interludes, this session will reveal how to harness the rhythm of creativity to drive meaningful innovation and long-lasting success.

Acclaimed for his bold creativity and leadership in the arts, Dave Moss currently serves as the Executive Director of the Eugene Symphony. Before his appointment in Eugene, Moss was the President and CEO of the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra (HSO), where he collaborated with orchestra members, the Board of Directors, administration, and volunteers to enhance the organization’s artistic, fiscal, governance, education activities, and community engagement. Previously, Moss served as the Executive Director of Haymarket Opera Company, one of Chicago’s most dynamic arts organizations, which achieved international acclaim under his leadership, with The New York Times praising its performances as “finely played, carefully sung, [and] lovingly detailed.” A former violist, Moss has performed at prestigious venues such as Disney Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, and Coachella. His versatile career includes performances with artists as diverse as The Who, Kanye West, Itzhak Perlman, and Renée Fleming, as well as in the Broadway production of Hamilton. Moss holds degrees from the University of Chicago, The Juilliard School, and Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

DAN COLLINS, PhD | Director, Lane SBDC

The Strategic Power of Pausing

Have you experienced the law of diminishing returns, investing more energy and resources with decreasing effectiveness? Strategic efficiency does not guarantee strategic effectiveness. This workshop will explore how innovation leaders utilize strategic pauses to recalibrate the pace, inputs, and climate on their team to improve engagement and effectiveness.

Dan Collins, PhD is Director of the Lane Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Adjunct Professor of leadership at Bushnell University. His professional background includes three decades of community development, executive leadership, and small business entrepreneurship in North and South America. Dan is a graduate of the University of Oregon with a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Regent University. An Oregon native, Dan and his wife have three adult kids and have made Eugene their home since 2015. He enjoys camping, running, swimming, and likes to wear fun socks.

ANDREW ROBINSON | Partner, GiANT

Into Thin Air

No leader, no organization, no community sets out for mediocrity. Yet that's where so many find themselves, often without even knowing it. How can we recognize the hidden signs of mediocrity in our own lives, and what can we do to root it out of our lives, our organizations, and our community? "Into Thin Air" will answer these critical questions and equip you with practical steps you can take today to elevate your life and leadership.

Driven by his fascination with human engagement and relationships, Andrew Robinson received his Masters from the University of Oregon, where he was trained in systems theory and the dynamics of human communication. Andrew holds the highest level of consulting certification with GiANT, the world leader in leadership and team performance for the 21st Century.

MICHAEL ALVARADO | Co-Owner, Servicemen Painting LLP

Proper Goal Setting

This session offers a practical approach to setting and achieving goals, beginning with why goal setting is essential for personal and professional success. We’ll examine the power of clear, defined goals through the SMART framework, making them Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound; and discuss how to align goals with personal values and ambitions. Attendees will learn strategies to maintain focus, measure progress, and adapt to changing circumstances, with tips on breaking down large goals, writing them down for accountability, and regularly reviewing and adjusting as needed. We’ll also address overcoming common obstacles like procrastination and fear of failure, emphasizing the importance of support networks and celebrating milestones. This session is designed to leave participants inspired and equipped with actionable tools to set effective goals and pursue them confidently.

Michael Alvarado is an entrepreneur and co-owner of Servicemen Painting here in Lane County. With a background in communication studies from Lane Community College, Michael is dedicated to empowering others through goal setting and inspiring them to create meaningful change. His leadership experience spans both the military and his business, guiding teams toward success. Outside of work, Michael is a devoted husband to his high school sweetheart and a father of four. He enjoys recreational endurance sports, embracing challenges that come with pushing physical limits. Michael's journey reflects his belief that with clear goals and unwavering determination, anyone can realize their dreams.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

STEVE CARY | President & Founder, Many Mega

Unleashing AI: Transforming Leadership, Empowering Growth, and Navigating the Adoption Journey

In this breakout session, we'll explore AI as a transformative force that goes beyond being a passing tech trend, emphasizing why organizations must prioritize AI integration now. We’ll dive into the ways AI empowers both individuals and organizations, not by replacing roles, but by enhancing human potential and providing practical solutions to unlock new levels of productivity and creativity. Attendees will gain insights into how AI can increase both personal and organizational impact.

The session is designed to leave attendees with "WOW" moments—powerful insights and practical strategies that inspire them to embrace AI’s potential. Actionable examples will be provided, giving participants tangible steps to start realizing the benefits of AI in both their professional and personal lives.

Steve Cary is an experienced technology professional and marketing consultant specializing in AI. With a career spanning more than 20 years across various tech sectors, Steve has developed a deep understanding of how to leverage technology for business growth. Today, Steve combines his extensive tech background with his passion for AI to help business leaders and entrepreneurs implement AI strategies that drive growth. He is dedicated to making AI accessible, practical, and easy to integrate into everyday operations, empowering people and companies to do more with less time.

DEBORAH CREAGER | CFO/COO, Chambers Construction
JASON GILES | Chief Operating Officer, Rexius
TAYLOR ALIE | Business Manager, Rexius Legacy
THOMAS HOWARD | Business Manager, Rexius Central Oregon

Putting People First

Rexius has been at the forefront of sustainable practices, innovative growth, and community involvement, and this conversation promises to be both inspiring and informative. We'll explore not only the current direction of Rexius but also how these leaders envision the company's future and the industry’s evolving landscape. We’ll dive into their strategies for tackling key challenges, fostering growth, and driving change in meaningful ways.

This panel will be facilitated by Deborah Creager, CFO/COO of Chambers Construction. Panelists from Rexius will be Jason Giles, Chief Operating Officer; Taylor Alie, Business Manager, Rexius Legacy; and Thomas Howard, Business Manager, Central Oregon.

Rexius is a 90-year-old family-owned business with deep roots in the Eugene/Springfield area. Over the last 20 years, it has grown and diversified into a company that employs over 300 people, has statewide operations, and does business worldwide. The Rexius leadership team is extremely unique with third-generation first cousins, Rusty and Arlen Rexius, serving as co-presidents. The diversity within the business and the uniqueness of leadership has allowed Rexius to grow and develop a wealth of highly capable leaders.

Meet the Emcee

STORM KENNEDY

Storm Kennedy has spent 27 years of her career waking up the community over the airwaves on Magic 94.5 and KUGN radio stations.

Storm’s acting career has allowed her to perform on theatre stages throughout Lane County and beyond for the past 32 years, working with theaters in Eugene, Albany, Salem, and Portland, Oregon.

Storm continues to keep busy with nonprofits, helping to bring awareness and fundraising though emceeing, public relations, and marketing through her company, Stormy Communications.

In her downtime, you can find her on the tennis courts, hiking the local buttes with her dog, Bodhi, or doing what brings her the most happiness – spending time with her kiddos, Madison and Wyatt.