Skip to content

Virtual Conference

Recognition Superheroes

Inspiring Greatness

September 18-19, 2024

8AM - 2PM PST

Calling all HR Superheroes

POV: You’re an HR Superhero – Empowering teams is your passion, and “Inspire” is your middle name. Your superpower? Recognition – the transformative force that elevates workplace culture and employee experience.

Join our 2-day Heroes Convention to unlock new ways to level up your HR strategy and defeat villains like turnover, low morale, and stagnation 💥

*This event is eligible for HRCI and SHRM professional development credits. Registration is free! 

Frame 2333 (2)
14-3
Headshot Template 1 (4)-1

Sarah McVanel

Canada's Recognition Expert and Founder of Greatness Magnified

Headshot Template 1 (4)

Alison Grenier

Senior Consultant and Head of Culture & Research for Great Place to Work® Canada

Headshot Template 1 (3)

Ralph Kellogg

Senior Human Resources Executive Mental Health Advocate at Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc.

Headshot Template 1

Zech Dahms

Employee Experience Expert & Culture Strategist at Achieve Engagement

Headshot Template 1 (1)

Monica Gillespey

Chief People Officer at Lumistry

Headshot Template 1 (2)-1

Chase Glenn

Principal Consultant at Chase Glenn Consulting

Headshot Template 1 (5)

Jennifer Howell, SHRM-CP

Director, People and Culture at American Marketing Association

Headshot Template 1 (2)

Jasmine Francis

HR & DEIB Sr. Professional

Headshot Template 1 (8)

Bernadette Shallow

Manager of Employee Engagement at Misfits Market

Headshot Template 1-2

Lauren Maher

Manager of Global Compensation at Amwell

Headshot Template 1 (7)

Alyssa Goold

People and Culture Manager at Customer.io

Headshot Template 1 (9)

Fiona S. Dykes, SHRM-CP

Director of People & Culture at Highlight

Headshot Template 1 (11)

Eeva-Marja Lee

Coach at Bravely

Headshot Template 1 (10)

Wissam El Khatib

Coach at Bravely

Headshot Template 1 (12)

Zachary Ames

Coach at Bravely

Headshot Template 1 (16)

Ally James

Chief People, Culture and Inclusion Officer at
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières - USA

Conference Agenda

Each day will be packed with presentations, panels, workshops, and networking hours.
We still have a few exciting pieces to finalize, so check back for the most updated agenda!

 

Day 1: Leadership and Culture - Inspiring Results from the Top

Discover how visionary leadership and a robust Culture of Recognition drive exceptional outcomes. Gain insights from experts on how to empower your managers, cultivate a recognition-centric ethos, and integrate DEI into recognition initiatives. Equip yourself with strategies to foster a transformative organizational culture that delivers remarkable results.

8:00AM PST
Keynote Presentation:
Unleashing the Power of Appreciation: The Role of HR
 

Discover how recognition can be pivotal in empowering leaders to foster desired behaviors within their teams. Learn how top-level support and strategic recognition can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your initiatives and drive organizational success.

 

Presented by:

Alison Grenier

Head of Culture and Research

Great Place to Work Canada

 

 9:00AM PST
Rewards & Recognition Workshop:
How to Measure the Impact of Recognition
 

Delve into practical methods for benchmarking and measuring the impact of employee recognition. This session will provide you with the tools to effectively prove the ROI of your recognition initiatives and demonstrate their value to stakeholders.

 

Presented by:

Ivy Wang

Enablement and Expansion

Bucketlist Rewards

 

 10:00AM PST
Fireside Panel:
Transforming Frontline Workplace Cultures Through Recognition
 

Explore case studies from healthcare and frontline organizations that have successfully used recognition to transform their culture. Gain insights into effective strategies and practices that can inspire and guide your own recognition efforts.

 

A conversation with:

Bernadette Shallow

Manager of Employee Engagement at Misfits Market

Lauren Maher

Manager of Global Compensation at Amwell

 

 11:00AM PST
Leadership Workshop:
The Truth about Recognition and Leadership: Why Your "Thanks" Aren't Cutting It
 
Learn how you can train leaders to deliver meaningful and impactful recognition. This session will focus on creating a recognition-first mindset that drives team engagement and fosters a positive workplace culture.

 

Led by Bravely Coaches:

Eeva-Marja Lee

Wissam El Khatib

Zachary Ames

 

 12:00PM PST
 Fireside Chat:
Building Diversity and Inclusion Through Recognition
 
Explore how strategic recognition practices can drive diversity and inclusion within your organization. This session will provide actionable insights on creating recognition programs that celebrate diverse contributions, foster an inclusive culture, and ensure every employee feels valued and acknowledged. Learn how to design and implement recognition initiatives that support DEI goals and positively impact employee engagement and organizational success.

 

A conversation with:

Chase Glenn

Principal Consultant at Chase Glenn Consulting

Ally James

Chief People, Culture and Inclusion Officer at Doctors Without Borders

 

 1:00PM PST
 Networking Hour:
Water Cooler Edition 
 
Meet new friends at this speed-breakout-rooms social hour with fun discussion questions and polls!
 
Hosted by "The Sociables" from Bucketlist

Day 2: Boosting the Employee Experience with Recognition

When leveraged strategically, recognition becomes a powerful tool in addressing critical HR challenges such as turnover and engagement. Dive into proven case studies and effective approaches to innovative recognition programs, feedback-driven improvements, and creating a supportive workplace culture through peer recognition. Gain expert insights into sustaining long-term engagement and customizing recognition strategies for remote or hybrid teams to maintain relevance and maximize impact.

8:00AM PST
Special Presentation:
Why Recognition Wins Every Time 
 
Recognition is foundational, yet so many programs miss the mark. Where do we go wrong? In this session, we’ll break down the difference between recognition and rewards, explore how to set people up for success, and discover how recognition can become a timeless anchor—not just for successful workplace cultures but for thriving families, relationships, and communities.

 

Presented by:

Sarah McVanel

Canada's Recognition Expert and Founder 

Greatness Magnified

 9:00AM PST
Rewards & Recognition Workshop:
Creative Year-End Rewards for Every Team
 
Discover innovative and thoughtful reward ideas to cap off 2024 with impact. This session will explore a range of creative year-end rewards tailored to different team preferences and needs, from personalized swag to unique experiences. Learn how to design rewards that celebrate achievements and inspire and motivate your team as you head into the new year.

 

Presented by:

Rodrigo Ortega

Jessica Hessels 

Customer Success

Bucketlist Rewards

 

 10:00AM PST
Tech R&R Spotlight:
How to Engage Distributed Teams
 
Explore cutting-edge technologies and creative approaches to employee recognition. This session will focus on innovative programs designed to boost engagement, including strategies for tailoring recognition to remote or hybrid workforces.

 

A conversation with:

Jennifer Howell, SHRM-CP

Director, People and Culture at American Marketing Association

Alyssa Goold

People and Culture Manager at Customer.io

Fiona S. Dykes, SHRM-CP

Director of People & Culture at Highlight

 11:00AM PST
Employee Engagement Trends:
Recognition Revolution: Exploring Innovative Models to Boost Employee Appreciation
 
In a rapidly evolving workplace landscape, recognition has emerged as a cornerstone for employee motivation, retention, and overall engagement. Join this dynamic panel of HR and Employee Experience experts as we explore innovative recognition models that go beyond the traditional approaches. Discover how peer-to-peer recognition, feedback-driven programs, and strategic DEIB initiatives can transform your organizational culture and boost employee morale. Gain actionable insights from real-world case studies and learn how to customize recognition strategies to meet the unique needs of your remote and hybrid teams.

 

A conversation with:

Zech Dahms

Employee Experience Expert & Culture Strategist at Achieve Engagement

Ralph Kellogg

Senior Human Resources Executive Mental Health Advocate at Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc.

Monica Gillespey

Chief People Officer at Lumistry

Jasmine Francis

HR & DEIB Sr. Professional

 12:00PM PST
 
Closing Presentation:
The Future of Recognition
 
Step into the future of employee recognition with a forward-looking exploration of emerging trends and technologies. This session will delve into how advancements in personalization, AI, and data-driven insights are reshaping recognition strategies. Gain valuable insights into what lies ahead, and learn how to leverage these innovations to enhance your recognition programs and drive greater employee engagement and satisfaction.

Presented by:

Jason Lindstrom

CEO & Co-Founder

Bucketlist Rewards

 1:00PM PST
 
Networking Hour:
Water Cooler Edition 
 
Meet new friends at this speed-breakout-rooms social hour with fun discussion questions and polls!
 
Hosted by "The Sociables" from Bucketlist

Exciting Conference Benefits

Learn and network with industry leaders. Earn up to 10 HRCI & 10 SHRM professional development credits!

Win exciting prizes! All registrants will be entered into a daily draw for a chance to win a $100 gift card to put toward their bucket list dreams.

 

Recognition Week is free to attend, thanks to our partners and guest speakers.

Learn how to leverage your unique recognition style to motivate and inspire your team. Discover your recognition persona before attending the event.

Recognition isn’t just about saying "thank you."

It’s a strategic tool that leaders use to boost performance and build cultures that employees are proud of.

1-Feb-26-2024-05-14-36-6947-PM

92% of employees are likely to repeat a specific action if given recognition for it. Learn how to incentivize top performance with recognition.

2-Feb-26-2024-05-14-36-2873-PM

78% of employees work harder and with more drive when their efforts are being rewarded.

3-4

When recognition hits the mark, employees are 5x as likely to be connected to company culture and 4x as likely to be engaged.

About Our Partners

Bravely is the on-demand coaching and training platform that helps you achieve your employee engagement and performance goals.

 

 

 

https://workbravely.com/

Achieve Engagement is a community made up of progressive human resources executives and like-minded business leaders seeking to share knowledge and best-practice around workplace transformations that anticipate trends and enable organizations to achieve their fullest potential from talent.

https://www.achieveengagement.org/

Learn how to build a culture of Rewards and Recognition with Bucketlist