2019 Workshop For Board Professionals

April 12-14, 2019  –  Orlando, Florida

Build on your expertise, enhance your understanding of governance, and strengthen your role as a board professional. Held in conjunction with AGB’s National Conference on Trusteeship, the Workshop for Board Professionals is open to those professionals in higher education who staff boards of trustees in roles such as assistant to the president, general counsel, secretary of the college, assistant secretary of the board, vice president, and chief of staff.

A planning committee of board professionals—led by committee co-chairs Denise Nelson Nash of Scripps College, Tina Holloway of the University of Texas System, and Rian Curley of California Lutheran College—developed the program. This year, for the second time, the committee solicited proposals for sessions. The program is comprised of concurrent and plenary sessions, roundtables, reception, and various social networking activities to ensure that the program delivers support, information, and professional growth to those in the profession.

Topics include:

  • Diversity and inclusion on the board
  • Effective collaboration between the BP, cabinet, and trustees
  • Great apps to help you in your board work
  • Becoming an effective leader as a board professional
  • Board basics—from orientation to committee meetings
  • Speed mentoring

To learn about sponsorship opportunities at the National Conference, please contact our Resource Development Team:

Steve Abbott, Director of Corporate Relations, (202) 776-0842

Amy Lynch, Resources Coordinator, (202) 776-0828

Build on your expertise, enhance your understanding of governance, and strengthen your role as a board professional. Held in conjunction with AGB’s National Conference on Trusteeship, the Workshop for Board Professionals is open to those professionals in higher education who staff boards of trustees in roles such as assistant to the president, general counsel, secretary of the college, assistant secretary of the board, vice president, and chief of staff.

A planning committee of board professionals—led by committee co-chairs Denise Nelson Nash of Scripps College, Tina Holloway of the University of Texas System and Rian Curley of California Lutheran College—developed the program. This year, for the second time, the committee solicited proposals for sessions. The program is comprised of concurrent and plenary sessions, roundtables, reception, and various social networking activities to ensure that the program delivers support, information, and professional growth to those in the profession.

Trustees and presidents are ineligible to register for the Workshop for Board Professionals (unless they are on the program as a speaker).

Topics:

Board Diversity & Inclusion

Collaboration Tools for Boards

Board Leadership Development

The 10-Year Business Model

Friday, April 12

2:45 - 4:00 PM
New Attendee Welcome and Speed Networking
4:15 - 4:30 PM
Welcome and Greetings
4:30 - 5:30 PM
Opening Plenary: Are You Ready? Part One: Equity and Belonging
5:30 - 6:30 PM
Welcome Reception Workshop
7:00 PM
Dinner Groups

Saturday, April 13

7:30 - 8:15 AM
Breakfast
8:15 - 9:45 AM
Morning Plenary: Are You Ready? Part Two: Shared Governance
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Affinity Sessions for Like Institutions
11:15 - 12:15 PM
Concurrent Sessions I
12:30 - 1:45 PM
Awards Lunch and Idea Exchange/Resource Fair
2:00 - 3:00 PM
Concurrent Sessions II
3:15 - 4:15 PM
Concurrent Sessions III
4:30 - 5:30 PM
Idea Exchange/Resource Fair Continued
7:30 - 9:30 PM
Social Networking Activity: TBD

Sunday, April 14

6:00 - 7:00 AM
Walking Groups
6:30 - 7:00 AM
30m Relaxation and Restorative Yoga Class
8:00 - 8:45 AM
Breakfast
8:45 - 9:30 AM
Roundtable Discussions
9:45 - 10:45 AM
Concurrent Sessions IV
11:00 - 12:00 PM
Closing Plenary: Cracking the Happiness Code

Friday, April 12  

2:45 – 4:00 pm             New Attendee Welcome and Speed Networking 

Location: Lake Concord, Lobby Level

These quick, small-group discussions afford new and seasoned workshop attendees an opportunity to forge peer connections, share ideas and resources, and discuss best practices. This activity is open to all and is especially recommended for first-time attendees. Bring your best tips and greatest challenges. Topics will include “Diplomacy, Discretion, and Duty,” “Planning Your Best New Trustee Orientation,” “Wearing Many Hats: Navigating Dual Reporting,” “Dealing with Student Hot Topics,” “Planning Your Best Board Retreat,” and more.

Speakers:  

Elizabeth Alvarado, director of AGB Consulting, AGB

Rick Am-Rhein, vice president for community and government relations and chief of staff, Valparaiso University

PUB: The Role of the Board Professional

4:15 – 4:30 pm             Welcome and Greetings 

Speakers: 

Elizabeth Alvarado, director of AGB Consulting, AGB

Rick Am-Rhein, vice president for community and government relations and chief of staff, Valparaiso University

PUB: The Role of the Board Professional

4:30 – 5:30 pm             Opening Plenary: Are You Ready? Part One: Equity and Belonging

Location: Florida 4

Diversity is imperative for boards to consider. However, John Silvanus Wilson, president emeritus at Morehouse College and senior advisor to the president at Harvard University, notes that diversity is merely quantitative, while inclusion and belonging are qualitative. They are about how well the different people in any given environment interact with and learn from one another. How do we help our boards and administrations realize that failure on inclusion obstructs our institutions from reaching their potential in terms of organizational strength and sustainability? In this session, we’ll hear about how institutions and governing boards can effectively address these issues.

Speaker:

Dr. John Silvanus Wilson, president emeritus, Morehouse College; senior advisor, Harvard University

                   

5:30 – 6:30 pm             Welcome Reception 

Location: Sun Garden/Grande Lawn

Workshop participants are encouraged to attend this social event, sign up for informal dinner groups, and mingle with friends, both old and new.

7:00 pm                                  Dinner Groups 

Dinner groups offer a great opportunity for attendees to connect with colleagues from other institutions. First-time attendees are encouraged to participate. Interested parties who have not signed up in advance can choose a dinner group during the welcome reception. Participants are responsible for the costs of their own dinners.

Saturday, April 13

6:00 – 7:00 am                Walking Groups

Location: Lobby

Early risers can meet as a group for a morning walk. 

7:30 – 8:15 am             Breakfast    

Location: Florida 4

8:15 – 9:45 am                Morning Plenary:  Are You Ready? Part Two: Shared Governance

Location: Florida 4

The challenges looming for higher education, from financing and public support to mergers and acquistions, will be insurmountable in the absence of productive shared governance. If trustees and senior administration don’t understand what strategic alignment looks like, how can we expect faculty, staff, and students to get on board? After gaining insight from three distinct perspectives, we’ll join colleagues from institutions similar to our own in assessing the state of our shared governance e.

                                               Speakers:  

Grant H. Cornwell, president, Rollins College

Sharon Fries-Britt, professor, University of Maryland, College Park 

David Maxwell, president emeritus, Drake University; trustee, Grinnell College

PUB: Shared Governance in Times of Change: A Practical Guide for Universities and Colleges

10:00 – 11:00 am             Affinity Sessions for Like Institutions 

These facilitated discussions will dive deeply into the content discussed in the plenary session and give attendees an opportunity to share concerns, approaches, and strategies. Sessions are segmented by institution type to enhance board professionals’ understanding of the nuanced business-model needs for their specific sectors.

Specialized Institutions

Location: Florida 5

Speaker: Michelle M. Mulhern, interim chief of staff and associate board secretary, Northeast Ohio Medical University

Public Master’s/Doctoral Institutions

Location: Florida 6

Speaker: Heather Fehn, chief of staff and secretary to the board of trustees, The College of New Jersey

Independent Master’s/Doctoral Institutions

Location: Florida 7

Speaker: Leslie Dellinger Aceituno, secretary to the board of trustees, University of Miami

Baccalaureate Institutions

Location: Key West A

Speaker: Kai Swanson, special assistant to the president, Augustana College

Systems

Location: Key West B/C

Speaker: Tina Montemayor, assistant secretary to the board of regents, The University of Texas System

Foundations

Location: Key West D

Speaker: Meg Evans, board liaison and chief of staff to the president, Portland State University Foundation

Community Colleges

Location: Key Largo B/C

Speaker: Hannah Hodges, assistant secretary to the board of regents, Kentucky Community and Technical College System

                                                   

11:15 am – 12:15 pm Concurrent Sessions I 

Board Meetings A to Z 

BP Fundamentals

Location: Florida 5    

Preparing for, executing, and wrapping up board meetings are critical areas of focus for all board professionals. In this interactive session, we will address some of these core areas. Participants will also help select the areas for exploration, ensuring they leave the session with practical, implementable ideas for keeping their board members appropriately engaged while enhancing their value to the board and institution. Whether you support a board from a public institution, a private institution, or a foundation, this session will challenge you to enhance the value you bring to your work every day.    

         

Speaker:

Heather Fehn, chief of staff and secretary to the board of trustees, The College of New Jersey

 

Strategic Planning: Time to Plan!

Strategic Issues

Location: Florida 6

Many institutions embark upon a strategic planning process, either formally or informally. This session will focus on strategies for successful execution of a strategic plan.

Speaker: 

Lisa Jones, associate provost for strategy and special assistant to the president for strategic initiatives and administration, University of Central Florida

PUB: Strategic Thinking and Planning in Higher Education: A Focus on the Future

Managing from the Control Tower: How to Build Collaborative Relationships with Your Pilots, Passengers, and Crew

Influencers

Location: Florida 7

A board professional is like an air traffic controller—working behind the scenes to ensure the smooth, orderly, and expeditious flow of information in support of institutional objectives. However, it can be challenging and stressful to direct safe takeoffs and landings while simultaneously managing hundreds of planes in the air. Collaboration between the board professional and trustees and senior institutional leaders is essential for guiding the governance process. Join us for an interactive session where we will discuss ways to harness your role as the “air traffic controller” to create relationships that are both productive and enjoyable and will get your trustees and administrators to their destinations on time and without turbulence.

Speaker: 

Michelle Rogers, chief of staff and liaison to the board, University of Redlands

Stewarding Our Board Members

Foundations 

Location: Key West A

Are you looking for ways to keep board members engaged with the university, foundation, or alumni associations? This interactive presentation will help you gain ideas while sharing your own successes.

Speaker: 

Jessica Burns, senior executive administrator and assistant board secretary, West Virginia University Foundation

Virtual Board Members: Not Present, But Still Here 

Tech

Location: Key West B/C

At an ideal board meeting, all board members are present and engaged on the issues. In reality, few board meetings are that perfect. At times, even the most committed members are not able to attend every meeting. There is an option: telecommuting. Staff who telecommute are accustomed to meeting virtually, so why can’t board members do the same? “Virtual attendance” can accommodate board members’ individual needs, save time and money, and, under some circumstances, be an effective alternative to physical attendance. In this session, we look at the benefits and challenges of virtual meeting attendance and give practical tips that could make it a viable option.

Speaker: 

Tina Holloway, director of board technology services, University of Texas System

Changes to the Higher Education Business Model 

Preparing for Change

Location: Key Largo A

For most institutions, now is the time to change their business model for a prosperous future. This session focuses on top trends that are disrupting the higher education business model and ways your institution needs to respond.

Speaker: 

Jim Hundrieser, managing director, AGB Consulting

12:30 – 1:45 pm              Awards Lunch and Resource Fair 

Location: Florida 4

During the luncheon we will recognize this year’s recipients of the Oustanding Board Professionals Award.

Running concurrently with lunch, the Resource Fair presents an opportunity for board professionals to see and hear about innovative practices being produced by other campuses and innovative technologies to use in the board room. During the fair, we will also showcase Ning, AGB’s board professional networking site. Stop by each booth to get a raffle ticket for a special drawing that will take place at the closing plenary on Sunday.

2:00 – 3:00 pm Concurrent Sessions II

All Work and No Play: Incorporating Thoughtful Campus Programs into Your Board’s Meetings

BP Fundamentals

Location: Florida 5

The influential board professional should foster collegial governance and leadership by utilizing campus and social opportunities to engage the board’s membership, facilitate trustee camaraderie, and enliven board meetings. Through thoughtful campus programs and social opportunities, the board professional plays an integral role in advancing university objectives, engaging and developing trustees (often also benefactors), and facilitating an open, generative, and forward-thinking boardroom culture. Focusing on campus programs and social opportunities incrementally introduced into board meetings at Loyola University Maryland, the session will review the process, logistics, and results (both positive and negative) of re-aligning a decades-old board meeting structure.

Speakers: 

Carla Berkenkemper, operations manager, Loyola University Maryland

John McKiernan, assistant vice president, Loyola University Maryland

Building a High-Performing Board Through Strategic Recruitment, Onboarding, and ROI-Oriented Practices 

Strategic Issues

Location: Florida 6

Staff and volunteer leadership turnover can leave your board stagnant and unengaged with the institution’s mission. This session will address short-term, mid-term, and long-term strategies to transform your board to a high-performing, diverse group of volunteers who are committed to the institution and understand their role as board members.

Speaker: 

Julie Stroh, senior vice president for alumni engagement and annual giving, University of Central Florida

Enhancing Institutional Governance Through Student and Recent Graduate Participation 

Influencers

Location: Florida 7

This session will offer case studies from Dickinson College (Carlisle, Pa.), Smith College (Northampton, Mass.), and Wellesley College (Wellesley, Mass.). The boards of these institutions have formalized board/committee engagement with a representation of the student body and have created designated positions for recent graduates on their boards of trustees—with full voice and vote. Session leaders will share an overview of the recent graduate trustee positions on their boards of trustees, including application and orientation processes and program models. They will also discuss opportunities for student involvement in board meetings and ways to engage the student body in the work of an institution’s board of trustees.

Speakers: 

Marianne Brons Cooley, secretary of the board of trustees and assistant vice president, Wellesley College

Elena Palladino, secretary of the board of trustees, Smith College

Ashley Perzyna, chief of staff, University of Bridgeport

Institutionally Related Foundations 101  

Foundations

Location: Key West A

This session will explore the role of foundations as support organizations to colleges and universities. Bring your questions and come prepared to discuss structures, fundraising, investments, policies, and much more.  

Speaker: 

Meg Evans, board liaison, Portland State University Foundation

PUB: Institutionally Related Foundation Boards: An Introductory Guide for Board Members

Talking to Your Board About Cybersecurity 

Tech

Location: Key West B/C

This session will explore how to most effectively engage your board in cybersecurity planning and governance. Topics will include framing the issue, developing policy best practices, keeping the conversation alive, and guiding board members in developing their own questions and methods of engagement.

 

Speaker: 

Sharon Blanton, chief information officer and vice president for information technology, The College of New Jersey

PUB: What Board Members Need to Know About Cybersecurity

Restructuring Board Committees: Lessons Learned

BP Fundamentals

Preparing for Change

Location: Key Largo A

This interactive session will focus on two different approaches to optimizing committee structures. Together, we will explore the case for change, how committees reflect the culture of the board and institution, getting buy-in from board members, putting the puzzle pieces together, and the bumps along the road.

Speakers: 

Kerri Green, senior assistant to the president, Hartwick College

Laura Hockett, board member, Scripps College

Denise Nelson Nash, vice president and secretary to the board of trustees, Scripps College

PUB: Restructuring Committees

3:15 – 4:15 pm Concurrent Sessions III

Board Assessment 

BP Fundamentals

Location: Florida 5

How does your board demonstrate to accrediting bodies and others the scrutiny and effectiveness with which it exercises its fiduciary authority? Learn how, through the development of a thoughtful board assessment plan, you can ensure your board is empowered to establish meaningful goals and demonstrate its effectiveness.

Speaker: 

Brittany Goldstein, chief of staff and liaison to the board of trustees, Ramapo College

PUB: Assessing Board Performance: A Practical Guide for College, University, System, and Foundation Boards

Strategic Planning: Planning Meets Action!

Strategic Issues

Location: Key West A

The strategic plan has been completed and it’s time for implementation. This engaging interactive session will present two case studies of institutions actively engaged in strategic plans. How far can a strategic framework take your institution? What is the role of the board professional? These questions and more will be explored.

Speakers: 

Laure Christensen, chief of staff, Park University

Second Speaker, TBD 

PUB: Strategic Thinking and Planning in Higher Education: A Focus on the Future

The Board Professionals’ Role in Advancing Top National Issues 

Strategic Issues

Influencers

Location: Florida 6     

The board often wants to know how national issues affect campus life. Board professionals play a critical role in facilitating board members’ engagement at the appropriate level. This session will explore how and where board professionals can have these conversations with trustees and who should deliver the message, and the necessary resources for trustees. 

Speaker: 

Aristide Collins, vice president, chief of staff, and secretary, The George Washington University

Stewarding Our Board Members 

Influencers

Location: Florida 7

Trustees are concerned with an institution’s mission, purpose, and strategy; they have responsibility for fiduciary oversight. Unfortunately, many trustees find themselves in conversations with constituents that often focus on operating and managerial issues, sometimes leaving even the best-informed trustees feeling inadequate or thinking they have overstepped their roles in responding. In this session, we will discuss how to prepare trustees with specific strategies and language that emphasizes their roles when confronted with the details of any issue. We will use a series of scenarios as prompts for discussion and exploration. Participants will leave with a tool set to assist their trustees in the public performance of their duties.

Speaker:

David Moore, professor of instructional technology and secretary of the board of trustees, Ohio University

Elevating Your Orientation Through a Flipped Orientation Model 

Tech

Location: Key West B/C

You’ve heard of a flipped classroom, but have you ever heard of a flipped board orientation? During this session, you’ll learn how to take the best principles and practices from flipped teaching and apply them to your board’s orientation and meetings. Why do this? Orientations and meetings aren’t effective when we lecture to board members for hours on end. Like all learners, board members need time to process and contextualize information. Learn how to involve campus leaders in the production of videos about key topics. Learn how to leverage the excellent resources from AGB and the higher education press to supplement your own campus materials. We’ll also take some time to brainstorm what your own modules might look like (examples: Title IX, risk management, higher education finance, First Amendment rights of students, high-impact learning practices, fiduciary responsibility of board members, and so much more).

Speaker: 

Katie Herschede, vice president for strategic initiatives and chief of staff, Widener University

PUB: New Trustee Orientation (Public Version, Private Version)

Candid Conversation: Presidential Search and Transition 

Preparing for Change

Location: Key Largo A

Peek behind the curtain of a presidential search and new leadership transition. This interactive session, led by a recently hired, second-time president and a seasoned board professional intimately involved in a recent presidential search, will go beyond the step-by-step process of searching for, selecting, and orienting a new leader to cover a range of often hidden perspectives. Topics may include candidate and committee perceptions throughout the process, managing the search committee, candidate and institution interactions with the search consultant, managing hidden bias, and pitfalls to avoid along the way. Participants are encouraged to bring their stories and questions. Nothing is off limits!

Speakers:  

Heather Fehn, chief of staff and secretary to the board of trustees, The College of New Jersey

Kathryn Foster, president, The College of New Jersey

PUB: A Complete Guide to Presidential Search for Universities and Colleges (2nd Edition)

4:30 – 5:30 pm              Idea Exchange

This year for the first time we are introducing an Idea Exchange with peers and colleagues. Swing by to hear the perspective and creative approaches of fellow board professionals, while also sharing a few of your own, all in a casual, relaxed environment. 

6:00 – 9:00 pm              Sleuth Mystery Dinner Show

Join us for a comedy mystery dinner show where you become the detective and solve the crime. We kindly ask attendees to start gathering in the lobby at 5:45 p.m. The bus will depart promptly at 6:00 p.m. 

Sunday, April 14   

6:00 – 7:00 am                Walking Groups

Location: Lobby

Early risers can meet as a group for a morning walk. 

8:00 – 8:45 am           Breakfast

Location: Florida 4

8:45 – 9:30 am             Roundtables

Location: Florida 4

Bringing together smaller groups for discussion, roundtables are an opportunity for attendees to do a deep dive on a topic or issue with fellow board professionals. Topics will include “Board of Trustee Engagement and Relationships,” “Onboarding and Orientation of New Board Chairs,” “Changing Board Culture with a New Chair,” “Basic Governing Resources,” and more.

Speaker: 

Rebecca Thomas, chief of staff, King University

PUB: The Role of the Board Professional

9:45 – 10:45 am Concurrent Sessions IV

What’s in Your Policy Library 

BP Fundamentals

Location: Florida 5

Policies must be developed, vetted, and kept current through a system that will ensure that the board, president or chancellor, and administration are informed and up to date on changes that affect the institution, students, and faculty. This session will examine the various types of policies, sources of policy requirements, and how to create and implement a policy library.

Speaker: 

Paula Gentius, senior executive, Virginia Commonwealth University

It’s All About Communication

Strategic Issues

Location: Florida 6  

We need our board members to be appropriately educated and informed on national and regional issues in higher education as well as institution-specific matters. This session will review several tactics for delivering timely communications, incorporating higher education FYIs, and keeping trustees informed of the great work happening at our institutions in a way that is direct, engaging, and efficient. Come prepared with a few of your own tools to share with the group so we can learn from each other.

Speaker: 

Rian Curley, special assistant to the president and secretary to the board of regents, California Lutheran University

Managing Up and Speaking Truth to Power

Influencers

Location: Florida 7

What does it take to have a great relationship between a board professional and board chair? How do you build a trusting and supportive relationship? This session will focus on these elements and more from the perspective of the CEO of a system.

Speaker: 

Marshall M. Criser III, chancellor, State University System of Florida

Engaging the Board in the Fundraising Process  

Foundations

Location: Key West A

This session will provide a comprehensive approach to managing expectations and holding board members accountable in the fundraising process. In addition, it will offer tips for partnering with development colleagues across campus to support advancement activities and facilitate the necessary ambassadorial role of board members who serve as the lead volunteers in fundraising campaigns.

Speaker: 

Aristide Collins, vice president, chief of staff, and secretary, The George Washington University

Karen Monteleone, director of foundation board relations, University of Central Florida Foundation

PUB: The Board’s Role in Fundraising

Board Portals: Key Decisions to Consider 

Tech

Location: Key West B/C

Over the last 10 years, technology has likely been the most significant game changer in higher education. It is now reaching into higher education boardrooms. There is a new generation of board governance solutions, including an amazing apparatus that holds everything about every board meeting: the mobile device. Imagine everything you’ve ever signed, every document you’ve considered, and everything that is vital to effective deliberations and decisions all housed in one place.. Technology is indeed a game changer, and with it comes new challenges and new opportunities. Join us as this session helps answer key questions when deciding on a solution such as an online board portal.

Speaker: 

Ken Knueven, senior consultant, AGB Consulting

Board Leadership and Admin Succession Planning 

Preparing for Change

Location: Key Largo A

Board professionals have a variety of responsibilities in maintaining effective relationships between administrators and board members. In the meantime, board officers and members change, and senior administrators come and go. This session will focus on strategies for anticipating changes in board experience and provide expertise and recommendations in planning for transitions in the senior administration. 

Speaker: 

Rick Am-Rhein, vice president for community and government relations and chief of staff, Valparaiso University

11:00 am – 12:00 pm             Closing Plenary: Cracking the Happiness Code

Location: Florida 4

Let’s face it, we face a lot of stress in our professional lives. Using a positive approach in addressing it can actually help us sculpt our positions in such a way that we spend less time firefighting and more time focusing on what we find sustaining and rewarding. Dr. Stephen Birchak is the author of several books, including It’s Not a Crisis; It’s an Inconvenience! and The Jerk Whisperer: How to Deal with Tyrants, Tormentors, and Bullies…and Still Keep Your Sanity! In this uplifting and energizing plenary session, he will teach us some attitudinal jiu-jitsu that can help us thrive in challenging times.

Speaker: 

Stephen Birchak, professor, The College of Saint Rose

The 2019 National Conference on Trusteeship will be held at the Hilton Orlando in Orlando, Florida.

Hilton Orlando
6001 Destination Parkway
Orlando, FL 32819
407-313-4300

 

Hotel Booking Info:

AGB has reserved a block of rooms at the Hilton Orlando to accommodate National Conference and Workshop participants.

Room + Resort charge – $255.00
 
6.00 % per room per night
6.50 % per room per night
$2.25 USD per room per night
The normal $27 resort fee will be waived.

Instructions for making reservations will be available when you complete the registration process. To receive the AGB discounted rate, you must use the link found at the end of the registration process—not the hotel website. Telephone reservations will not receive the AGB discounted rate.

 

Local Attractions:

Nestled just 15 minutes from the Orlando International Airport, Hilton Orlando boasts a prime location for visiting all the top attractions Orlando has to offer, from Walt Disney World Resort and Kennedy Space Center to Discovery Cove and Pointe Orlando. Explore exciting local attractions nearby.

2018 Participant Profile

The 2018 Workshop for Board Professionals, held in San Francisco, CA was attended by a little over 300 board professionals from across the United States and abroad.  Those in attendance represented the diversity of roles known to the profession.  See a snapshot of attendees below: