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Best Practices Forum 2008
 

We are proud to host the
Denison Best Practices Forum 2008
Leading Change

on the campus of the University of Michigan,
Michigan League, Koessler Room
September 24-26, 2008

We invite you to join us for our fourth annual "Best Practices" forum being held on the beautiful campus of the University of Michigan. The theme this year is Best Practices in Leading Change. Participants will learn from senior executives speakers how their organizations have designed and implemented major change initiatives and transformations. The forum is designed to be a dialogue among our clients about their efforts in leading change and the lessons they have learned.

With each forum, we strive to continue the tradition of informative presentations and engaging dialogue. We hope you will be able to join us!

NEW! Download the Event Map and Presentation Blockschedule!
 
Distinguished Speakers
Keynote Address:
Dave Barger
Dave Barger, CEO, JetBlue Airways

A
s Chief Executive Officer, Dave Barger Leads JetBlue's charge to bring humanity back to air travel and to establish JetBlue as a new standard in the airline industry for service, performance and innovation. JetBlue began operations in February 2000 from its base at New York's JFK International Airport and now serves 53 destination across the US and the Caribbean.

Mr. Barger founded JetBlue in August 1998 as President and Chief Operating Officer, and was named CEO in May 2008. Under his leadership, JetBlue returned to profitability in 2007, welcomed its 100th Airbus 320 aircraft to the fleet, and introduces "BetaBlue," the value airline's first aircraft to feature onboard texting and email, the first of its kind in the US. JetBlue was also recognized with the Airbus Operational Excellent award for operating the World's Most Reliable A320 Fleet.


Distinguished Speakers:
Gary Yezbick
Gary Yezbick, Vice President Operational and Technological Services, Masco Corporation

Gary Yezbick is Vice President of Operational and Technological Services for Masco Corporation. In this capacity, he provides leadership for scientists and engineers that make up Masco's R&D and process engineering service groups, Masco Corporate, Purchasing, and Vapor Tech. Vapor Tech is a Masco company that leads the industry in science, development, production and application of Physical Vapor Deposition equipment. Mr. Yezbick is the Chairman of the Board of Vapor Tech China, a coating services provider owned jointly by Masco and its partner Jing Mei Industrial.                                    

Roger Fraser Roger Fraser, City Administrator, The City of Ann Arbor, Michigan

Roger Fraser has over thirty years of experience in public management including work in both city and county governments.  For the past six years, Mr. Fraser has held the position of City Administrator for Ann Arbor, Michigan. He received his MPA from Western Michigan University in Municipal Management and his BA from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in Political Science.

FredAnerdson Fred Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative

Fred came to New Hampshire Electric Cooperative in 1981 after serving as the Systems Accountant for the Rural Electrification Administration in Washington, D.C.  Since that time, he progressed from an Assistant Finance Administrator with the Cooperative to Assistant General Manager and now the President/CEO.  Fred holds a BSBA in Accounting from Merrimack College and an MS in Taxation from Southeastern University. 
John W. Barfield
John W. Barfield, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, The Bartech Group  

Mr. Barfield is active in many business and community organizations. Currently, he is a member of the board of directors of Spaulding for Children and Parkridge Community Center, and is a member of the Advisory Board for the Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, University of Michigan. He supports many humanitarian causes from eradicating polio in the third worlds, to saving a youth community center locally, to building wells that provide safe drinking water in developing countries such as Haiti and in Africa.
David W. Barfield
David W. Barfield, Senior Vice President of The Bartech Group, President of Bartech Workforce Management

David is responsible for growing Bartech Workforce Management (BWM) from an idea to an industry leader that manages $1 billion in Master Service Provider-related staffing expenditures. He was promoted to Senior Vice President of The Bartech Group and President of Bartech Workforce Management in 2007. David holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan Business School. He serves on the board of directors of several organizations including Cleary University, The American Society of Employers, and the Ronald McDonald House of Ann Arbor.
Sandra R. Rupp Sandra R. Rupp, President, Washtenaw United Way

Sandra R. Rupp has served as President of Washtenaw United Way since December of 2004. Sandra, previously chief professional officer of United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County (Nebraska), is a veteran leader of four United Way organizations in three states. She has 25 years of experience in serving United Ways, both as a volunteer and as a professional. In Lincoln, Sandra led the $5+-million United Way though a strategic planning process resulting in campaign growth, a structure for community planning, re-designed fund distribution process and organizational effectiveness. She is a graduate of Youngstown State University with a BS in English and holds a Master’s degree in Business Management from Doane College.

Donna Duvin Donna Duvin, Executive Director, Washtenaw County Chapter of the American Red Cross

Donna Duvin came to Ann Arbor in May 2007 when she accepted the Executive Director position with the Washtenaw County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Her nonprofit management experience spans over twenty-five years, including a Peace Corps assignment in the South Pacific Kingdom of Tonga and program management positions for other nonprofit agencies serving the health and welfare needs of those most vulnerable.  A strong advocate for continued professional development, Donna completed her Masters in Nonprofit Management in 2005. Today, Donna leads one of the most distinguished Red Cross chapters in the country. The chapter is 100% locally funded and relies on individual and corporate gifts, as well as donations of time and blood to do its work.
No Photo Ken Poff, National Trainer, American Red Cross

Ken Poff is Emeritus Professor of Horticulture and of Plant Biology from Michigan State University.  In the American Red Cross, Ken is a member of the National Disaster Team specializing in crossing cultural boundaries into under-served communities, past Chair of the National Diversity Council, a group of 12 volunteers elected nationally and charged with advising senior management on matters pertaining to diversity, Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee for the Washtenaw Chapter of the Red Cross, and a National Instructor.
Rajani Nelamangala Rajani Nelamangala, Vice President Administration, URAC

Rajani Nelamangala has responsibility for both IT and HR at URAC and has been with the organization for four years.  She was involved in the designing and implementation of the Balanced Scorecard and Incentive Compensation Plan in URAC. She further developed the Individual Development Plan and Values-in-action program. Rajani is a Human Resource Professional; with more than 15 years of expertise in consulting, change management, strategic/corporate planning, compensation and talent acquisition.  Before coming to URAC Rajani worked as an Area Director at the Washington Gas Company heading training and development.  She has held several human resource positions in the IT industry.  She co-founded RCI a software services consulting company which successfully merged with an Investor owned IT firm. 
Alan P. Speilman Alan P. Spielman, President and Chief Executive Officer, URAC

Alan P. Spielman is URAC's President and CEO, and has more than three decades of leadership experience in health care, business management and strategy in both private and public sectors. Since assuming leadership of URAC in 2005, Spielman has overseen URAC's achievement of deemed status for Medicare Advantage programs, the development of the first-ever Pharmacy Benefits and Drug Therapy Management accreditation programs, and the creation of URAC's Best Practices in Consumer Protection and Empowerment Awards Program.

Spielman came to URAC from Covington & Burling, a global law firm specializing in regulatory matters, where he was a senior advisor for health care reimbursement policy. Prior to that, he was with Medco Health Solutions, Inc., a major pharmacy benefits management company, as vice president and general manager for federal programs. Spielman also held a variety of senior executive positions at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, including leadership of the Federal Employee Program.
Tim Kuppler Tim Kuppler, Senior Operating Executive

Tim spent 17 years at TI Automotive.  TI Automotive is a world leading supplier of fluid storage, transfer and delivery systems including brake, fuel and air conditioning applications. Tim progressed from a student through a number of senior management positions including Vice President of Quality Assurance, Vice President of North America Fuel Systems, Vice President and General Manager of the Global HVAC business and, most recently, Vice President and General Manager of the North America Fluid Carrying Systems business. 

Tim is experienced building and sustaining high performance cultures both regionally and globally with involvement and teamwork at the foundation.
No photo available

Rojelio Castel, Corporate Director of Organization Change, Ingersoll Rand Corporation

Rojelio Castel is currently the Corporate Director of Organization Change for Ingersoll Rand Corporation located in Davidson, North Carolina. His responsibilities include providing organizational change management guidance and direction to business leaders and partners as well as integrating change management methodology into culture, strategic management processes and major strategic initiatives  Rojelio has over 25 years of global human resources experience including but not limited to employee/labor relations, compensation, human resource systems, talent management and emerging market start-ups with assignments in Brazil, Mexico, Japan and Europe. He attended Indiana University where he received both his Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Public Administration degrees.


 
Forum Hosts
Dan Denison Dan Denison, Founding Partner, Denison Consulting
Dan Denison is Professor of Management and Organization at IMD. His work on organizational culture and business performance is well known around the world. His area of special interest is organization culture and leadership and the impact that they have on the performance and effectiveness of organizations. Professor Denison has consulted with many leading corporations regarding organizational change, leadership development, and the cultural issues associated with mergers & aquisitions, turn arounds and globalization.
Bryan Adkins
Bryan Adkins, President, Denison Consulting
Bryan Adkins, Ed.D. is President of Denison Consulting, Inc., a global research and organizational development firm known for linking organizational culture and leadership practices to business performance. He works at the organizational, team and individual executive levels in an effort to develop high-performance organizational cultures and effective leaders and teams.

Nabil Sousou Nabil Sousou, Vice President of Global Sales
Nabil joins Denison from Arbor Blue LLC where he was Vice President of Business Development. Nabil brings more than 20 years experience in technology sales and marketing to Denison Consulting. Nabil has a proven track record of achieving sales targets, extensive knowledge and comprehensive understanding of the various cultural and business issues required for successfully launching, selling and supporting global sales.

 
Forum Agenda
Wednesday, September 24th
The Campus Inn - Regency Ballroom
6:00 Opening Remarks and Welcome Reception and Dinner

Thursday, September 25th
The Michigan League - The Koessler Room
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM - Presentations

Denison Consulting
6:00 - Reception
6:30 - Keynote Speaker: Dave Barger, CEO, JetBlue Airways
7:30 - Dinner, The Earle

Friday, September 26th
The Michigan League - The Koessler Room
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Presentations

NEW! Download the Event Map and Presentation Blockschedule!
 
Event Locations
The Campus Inn - The Regency Ballroom
615 E. Huron St.
Ann  Arbor, MI 48104
734-769-2200
get directions

The Michigan League - The Koessler Room
911 N University Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
734-764-0446
get directions

Denison Consulting

121 W. Washington, Suite 201
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-302-4002
get directions

The Earle

121 W. Washington
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-994-0211
get directions

NEW! Download the Event Map and Presentation Blockschedule!
 
Travel and Accommodations
Hotel Accomodations
Participants will need to make their own flight reservations and accommodations.

We have reserved a block of rooms for forum speakers and attendants at a discounted rate. Please contact Anne Farrand or Karen Luce and we will be happy to reserve a room for you.

The Campus Inn
615 E. Huron St.
Ann  Arbor, MI 48104
734-769-2200
get directions

Transportation from Detriot Metro Airport
To access information on taxi services and rental cars from Detroit Metro Airport (DTW), please access the airport transportation information on their website.

 
Forum Fee and Payment
Registration fees for the event are $295 per person. Payment can be made by cheque or credit card. Payment must be received prior to the event. Please contact Anne Farrand or Karen Luce to register for the Forum.
Contact Us
Nabil Sousou
Vice President of Global Sales
Denison Consulting
734-302-4002

Karen Luce
Learning & Development
Denison Consulting
734-302-4002

Registration and Accommodations:
Anne Farrand
Denison Consulting
734-302-4002
 
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