2016 Women’s Leadership Conference Will Feature Custom-Designed Programming

LAS VEGAS, June 6, 2016 /3BL Media/ – Attendees of the 2016 Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC) will be eligible to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs), thanks to a partnership between the MGM Resorts Foundation and the College of Southern Nevada.

The conference, which will be held Aug. 8 and 9 at MGM Grand Las Vegas, is one the MGM Resorts Foundation’s signature annual events. In its 10th year, WLC is part of an overall Foundation initiative designed to help women develop their careers.

Offering CEUs for the conference’s educational sessions provide additional value to attendees who are seeking multiple ways to grow and advance their careers, said the conference’s organizer, Dawn Christensen, Director of National Diversity Relations for MGM Resorts International.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer a dynamic, entertaining conference that inspires attendees and lays out a path for growing their careers while helping them fulfill existing professional development requirements,” Christensen said. “The addition of CEUs from College of Southern Nevada to an exceptional line-up of prestigious speakers and timely content ensures the Women’s Leadership Conference continues to be the region’s must-attend professional development event of the year.”

“CSN’s Division of Workforce & Economic Development is happy to offer CEUs to attendees of the Women’s Leadership Conference,” said Melissa Schroeder, Business Services Coordinator for the College of Southern Nevada. “We look forward to partnering with the MGM Resorts Foundation for such an impactful event that encourages leadership development and professional growth.”

The two-day event will feature acclaimed keynote speakers; interview and panel discussions with diverse and nationally recognized leaders; entertainment; meals, and networking opportunities.

Building on the momentum of last year’s sold-out program, the 10th annual Conference will feature a series of new workshops divided into learning tracks custom-designed to fit the career interests and needs of attendees. 

The learning tracks, which will follow the general sessions, have been developed with the Emerging Leader, Emerging Executive, and Executive in mind. Boasting a dynamic lineup, the conference’s workshop speakers will include:

Anita Polite-Wilson is an organizational development professional with over 20 years of experience working with corporate, government, and non-profit organizations. Known as “Dr. Anita,” she strives to help people connect and find common challenges. She holds collaborative workshops aimed at providing participants with transformative experiences.

Lalia Rach, EdD is an award-winning, 30-year veteran of the hospitality industry. She is a nationally-recognized motivational speaker widely known for her expertise in identifying innovative leadership strategies and interpreting consumer trends. For decades, she has served as a mentor to senior business executives, teaching them about achievable success. Each year she speaks to thousands of people in private and public organizations in the U.S. and around the world. She is known for her unique style of engaging audiences, giving humorous, insightful and inspiring speeches.

Eric Boles is a former pro football player turned motivational speaker who specializes in leadership, team dynamics and peak performance. He teaches audiences to “Lead with Purpose” by becoming intentional in the way you influence others. 

Hannah Ubl is a generational expert, knowledgeable about generations as they relate to healthcare, aging and finance. In her workshops, she teaches participants about leadership characteristics of different generations; how to relate to people in other generations; the role gender plays in generations, and how to bridge existing generational differences. 

Jeanette Schneider is a Senior Vice President, Institutional Client Advisor, and Private Client Advisor with U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management. Jeanette provides tailored financial strategies and guidance to a select group of clients nationwide, applying the acumen and insight she has gained from more than two decades in institutional consulting, wealth management, and banking.

Judi Holler, a personal branding expert, has an extensive background in building personal brands. She is a professionally-trained improviser and an alumna of Chicago’s Second City, one of the world’s largest and most widely-respected improve and sketch comedy school. She hosts “The Brandprov Show,” a personal branding video blog for event professionals, on her YouTube channel.

Shavon Lindley is an award-winning career development and mentorship expert specializing in the advancement of women in typically male dominated fields. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Women Evolution which creates innovative and scalable women’s leadership development solutions for companies such as Intel, CBRE, and Planned Parenthood, and is best known for their Online Mentoring Program. Shavon also hosted “The CEO Show” on ESPN for three years, interviewing dozens of executives.

Christine Itano-Cosner is an organizational development consultant, instructional system designer for Fortune 500 organizations and non-profit agencies. Her expertise includes leadership and management development, organizational development, strategic planning, performance management, teambuilding, diversity training, coaching, instructional design and organizational research.

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Conference Background
The Women’s Leadership Conference is open to women of all professions, job levels and social backgrounds, locally and nationally, and men who support women.  Conference registration is available at $450 per person.

The non-profit MGM Resorts Foundation is the conference’s presenting sponsor.  Proceeds of the conference after costs will be donated to one or more local nonprofit agencies devoted to the welfare and development of women and girls.

Participating sponsorships are available to organizations or companies who share the vision and goals of this conference. Current sponsors include: CBS – Radio, The Coca-Cola Company, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Millennium Staffing Solutions, R&R Partners Foundation, Cirque Du Soleil, Cashman Photo Enterprises, DAVID Magazine, Large Vision Business Network Mixer, Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce, and Agilysis, Inc. Conference supporters include Caesars Entertainment Corporation, Capital One, City of Las Vegas, Clark County Department of Aviation, Deloitte & Touche LLP, Global Gaming Women, Nevada State Bank, Phyllis A. James, Scientific Games Corporation, and Whiting Turner Contracting Company.

For information or to register for the conference, please visit www.mgmresortsfoundation.org/womensleadershipconference/.

About The MGM Resorts Foundation
The purpose of The MGM Resorts Foundation is to collect and distribute monies and assets donated by employees of MGM Resorts (NYSE: MGM) for the aid and support of qualified community nonprofit programs, agencies or organizations designated exclusively by MGM Resorts employees. In addition, the Foundation collects and distributes donations to the Foundation by third-party non-employees to support charitable, scientific, literary, and educational activities approved by the Foundation's Board of Directors and organized by MGM Resorts employees to benefit qualified non-profit charitable organizations designated by the Foundation's Board.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

MGM Resorts International
Sonya Padgett
702-692-6807
spadgett@mgmresorts.com

Callie Driehorst
702-692-6814
cdriehorst@mgmresorts.com