2023 EVENT

We would like to thank everyone that came out for a day of listening, learning, and networking at the 2023 APOGEE event on October 26th. This event featured dynamic speakers with valuable lessons and takeaways for attendees.

Along with reconnecting with collogues and building new connections, this year's event featured national speakers, regional leaders, and the fresh voices of the leaders of tomorrow. 

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jason Richardson

Session Title: Win the Day, Everyday!

Presentation Description:
Here is the deal, every success and failure can be traced back to a belief. The problem is most people don’t even realize their brain is operating from a faulty premise! Good news… It’s TOTALLY possible to build a bigger, better, stronger belief (one that helps you win more, play better, and live happier!) Are you ready to uncover the one thing that is holding you back?

In this brilliantly edutaining 45-60 min presentation, World Champion athlete and Olympic Psychologist, Dr. Jason Richardson teaches us the neuroscience of belief and how you can use the Belief Matrix to coach yourself (team) in to better returns. You will also learn how to reprogram yourself (team) for more success. Jason will literally give you the important plays from his pro athlete playbook.

Morning Speaker: Chastity Mays

Session Title: How Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Can Benefit Your Workplace

Presentation Description:
In the presentation we will discuss how creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive (DEI) workplace has huge benefits. Striving for better DEI practices can positively impact creativity, productivity, and collaboration. DEI has the potential to increase sales, increase customer base and increase profits. DEI is the right thing to do and it also makes good business sense. Companies that fail to take steps to prioritize DEI find themselves behind their competition, unable to attract and retain workers and struggle to meet goals. This presentation will discuss these ideas and more for the benefit of the Southern Illinois region and beyond.

Afternoon Speaker: Elijah Hamilton

Session Title: How to Foster a Startup Culture Within Established Organizations.

Presentation Description:
In this presentation, we will explore the concept of fostering a startup culture within established organizations. We will discuss the benefits of adopting an entrepreneurial mindset, such as increased innovation, agility, and adaptability. We will also examine the challenges that established organizations may face when attempting to create a startup culture, such as resistance to change and bureaucratic processes.

Through real-life examples and case studies, we will provide practical strategies for building a culture of innovation, including encouraging risk-taking, promoting cross-functional collaboration, and empowering employees to take ownership of their work. Attendees will leave with actionable insights on how to create a startup culture within their own organizations.

2023 SPONSORS

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Student Sponsorship Support

IKE Family of Dealerships

Watermark Foundation

More To Be Announced.

APOGEEce - 2022

About 60 attendees gathered at the Pavilion on April 19th to sit down with Tim Miles, a motivational speaker from Nashville TN and ties to the Southern IL area. He spoke about building powerful connections within your workforce community to increase retention in today's employment environment. The APOGEEce presentation was a continuation of last fall's APOGEE event since Tim was unable to join us in November. Attendees were also able to take advantage of Continuing Education Credits sponsored by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and enjoy doughnuts and coffee from Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Special Thanks to Black Diamond Family of Businesses of for Sponsoring Tim's presentation.