Speakers
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Christie BowdenR&D Manager and Senior Scientist, Arkema, Inc.Christie Bowden is an R&D Manager and Senior Research Scientist at Arkema Inc. There, she manages analytical groups within Arkema’s Analytical and Systems Research department to deliver high-quality analytical solutions to R&D and production. Prior to management, Christie spent 15 years in the laboratory utilizing gas chromatography, liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry for small molecule and polymer additives method development and analysis. Christie has a BS Degree in Chemistry from DeSales University and an MS Degree in Chemistry from Drexel University. She currently is the Association of Laboratory Managers (ALMA) Immediate Past President, was the 2017 ALMA Program Chair, and has been actively involved with ALMA for over 5 years. Christie is also a member of the American Chemical Society and the American Society for Mass Spectrometry.
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Sherri PetroDirector of Organizational Development and Human Resources at BSK Associates, Consultant VPI StrategiesSherri Petro has been the Director of Organizational Development and Human Resources for BSK Associates since December of 2014. She led BSK’s efforts to earn Great Place to Work designations in 2019, 2020 and 2021 by gathering, listening and acting upon employee feedback.
Sherri has also owned a consulting firm for 20+ years, VPI Strategies, where clients include Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, the state of California, and other public agencies. She is an expert facilitator credited with over 400 presentations on communication, teamwork & leadership topics.
Career highlights include her current position, becoming a Vice President of Operations at 26, and managing a utility’s $133 million revenue-generating department. She also has educated working adults in the US, Vietnam and Kenya as a university professor.
Sherri earned her MBA from Pepperdine University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Youngstown State University, magna cum laude.
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Scott HantonEditorial Director, Lab ManagerScott Hanton is the Editorial Director of Lab Manager. He spent 30 years as a research chemist, lab manager, and business leader at Air Products and Intertek. He earned a BS in chemistry from Michigan State University and a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Scott is an active member of ACS, ASMS, and ALMA. Scott married his high school sweetheart, and they have one son. Scott is motivated by excellence, happiness, and kindness. He most enjoys helping people and solving problems. Away from work, Scott enjoys working outside in the yard, playing strategy games, and coaching youth sports.
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S. Mark KennedyLeader and Coach,Sustainable Transitions LLC - Professor, Widener University - Research Manager, Dupont (retired)Educated at Duke, Purdue, MIT Sloan and EB Theological Seminary, S. Mark Kennedy, Ph.D., CPC held various technical leadership positions at DuPont for over 32 years where he created high-functioning global teams, drove effective culture change, and led organizations through M&A. Mark became well known for his team building and people engagement skills, his organization holding the highest possible employee engagement rating versus corporate benchmark. He is a Certified Professional Coach, and his company, Sustainable Transformations LLC, provides professional and leadership coaching, consulting and workshops with a focus on sustained organizational development and people engagement. Mark is an adjunct professor of chemistry at Widener University where he was recently awarded the Dean of Arts & Sciences Teaching Award for his innovations and commitment to incorporating DEI principles in teaching. He serves as a peer counselor at the William Way Community Center and recently published a book chapter on this important work.
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Sean GraceCommunications Specialist, Grace Media WorksSean Grace is a communications specialist with over 25 years of experience helping brands, organizations and teams become better communicators. His own creative brand of communications training is forged from his long career as an executive in the advertising, publishing, and entertainment industries.
Sean’s leadership development philosophy is based on the art and science of empathic communications – listening to understand, objective self-awareness, and clear, concise communication built around mutual trust.
Specializing in high-performance learning and leadership development from early-in-career to senior management, Sean’s workshops develop skills in presentation, public speaking, storytelling, persuasion & influence, critical thinking, and innovation.
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Tamara PerryMarketing and Sales Manager, LabtopiaTamara’s diverse background spans creativity and analytical talents combined with business acumen. She has built her career in a variety of top leadership roles both within the companies she has worked for, as well as within her community and the organizations she volunteers with. Her vast marketing, financial & technical skillset, combined with relationship building and community engagement, has allowed her to successfully engage decision-makers and devise winning strategies and solutions. One of Tamara’s passions is building success-driven teams. She understands the necessity of connecting at all levels within an organization and she encourages her team leaders to make it a priority to lead by coaching, demonstrating, developing the skills of each team member, and giving credit to others for success.
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Karl RitterAnalytical Lab Manager, Mars, Inc. (retired)Karl Ritter spent more than 30 years at Mars Inc. in the analytical, color, and flavor laboratories; the last eight years as the analytical lab manager for the Mars Wrigley Global R&D team. During his time at Mars, Karl focused on solving challenging problems and integrating the analytical lab into the business. Currently working as an independent consultant, Karl continues to bridge the gap between the science and the solution by utilizing his skills in trouble-shooting and analytical science. Karl has a true passion for communicating science in ways that are understandable to all and focusing on providing answers to the needs of clients and not just supplying numbers.
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Greg BowenDirector of the Integrated Genomics Cores, UNC-Chapel HillGreg is currently the Director of the Integrated Genomics Cores at UNC-Chapel Hill where he manages the Universities Next Generation Sequencing labs, staff, and projects. A career lab management professional, Greg has experience leading complex chemistry, biology, engineering, and life sciences research teams, lab facilities, and programs. Prior to that Greg worked for Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus OH in a variety of leadership and lab management roles. This included: Director of Battelle’s Biomedical Research Center; Director of numerous forensic analytical chemistry laboratory facilities in multiple locations across the US and internationally; and positions as research scientist, project manager, and line manager at many levels. A native of Buffalo NY, Greg was previously a US Army Chemical Corps Officer and has a BS in Chemistry from Syracuse University and an MS in Environmental Science from The Ohio State University.
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Rebecca L. RosasVice President for Strategic Planning, Texmark Chemicals, Inc.Dr. Rebecca Rosas is VP for Strategic Planning for Texmark Chemicals in Galena Park, Texas. She was VP of R&D/Technology Center Manager prior to promotion in late 2018. Rebecca has a B. S Chem (McKendree College) and an M.S. in Physical Chemistry (Eastern Illinois University). Rosas obtained a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry (Texas A&M). Rebecca was a Fullbright scholar, doing research at the University of Antwerp. Rebecca has been with Texmark Chemicals for 22 years. As a Six Sigma Green Belt, Rebecca has worked on committees for ASQ Six Sigma Green Belt exams. She is on the board for ALMA and is chairman of the Houston area chapter. Rebecca is married to a wonderful man, James Rosas and have one daughter, Jacqueline, who is KTNU Administrator at Katoen Natie and a chihuahua adopted during the Pandemic called (very originally) Puppy.
ALMA2022
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED FOR THIS EVENT
Hourly Schedule
Monday, OCT 10, 2022 PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS (WORKSHOP TICKETS REQUIRED)
- 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- The Keys to Performance Management (#M1)
- The workshop will cover why performance management is so important, how to execute each step with confidence, and provide examples to work through and discuss. Time will be available to address questions and talk through specific situations as a class.
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Speakers
Scott Hanton
- 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Delivering Effective Lab Leadership (#M2)
- This workshop will focus on how lab leaders can impact the operation of the lab through more effective leadership. Topics covered will include: Effective Decision Making, Change Management, Benefits of Employee Engagement, Building a Culture of Safety and Creating a Positive Workplace.
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Speakers
Scott Hanton
Tuesday, OCT 11, 2022 PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS (WORKSHOP TICKETS REQUIRED)
- 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Creating, Developing and Leading High Functioning Teams (#T1)
- Expected benefits of this full day workshop include improving the structure and functioning of your teams, learning to turn conflict into creativity, learning to surface and resolve obstructive issues in the team early, and learning new and useful tools and interactive methods for your team that will increase their enjoyment, creativity and productivity. Tools will be provided to help participants transition learnings to their organizations.
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Speakers
S. Mark Kennedy
- 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Styles of Communication (T#2)
- Everybody has a specific style in which they communicate. Understanding both your own style and that of others improves your ability to effectively communicate, manager, persuade and influence. In this illuminating and revelatory workshop, participants decode the four primary styles of communicating and then explore how these modes affect how we tend to perceive others and make decisions. When you become more aware of the various styles of communicating, you improve your emotional intelligence, become better at conflict resolution, negotiating, working with and managing others as well as building more healthy and balanced teams.
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Speakers
Sean Grace
- 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Personal Brand– Shaping Your Leadership Identity (T#3)
- Career development is more than just learning the skills of your profession; success today is more often determined by your ability to craft a personal brand - a distinct presence that celebrates your unique value, expertise, passion, and authority in your field of influence. This personal discovery workshop gives you the tools to uncover your singular voice, leverage your unique life experience, and design a master plan that stays true to your values and purpose while reaching for your highest potential. Participants will learn how to: magnify their strengths; rewrite their “master scripts”; increase their self-confidence; enhance their leadership skills resulting in improved team performance; communicate their value; elevate their visibility; expand their networks, and develop their thought leadership.
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Speakers
Sean Grace
Wednesday, OCT 12, 2022 ALMA2022 43rd ANNUAL CONFERENCE (Conference Ticket Required)
- 7:30AM - 10:00AM
- Continental Breakfast, Welcoming Remarks, Vendo Presentations, Learn through Feedback: Learning and Activating with Feedback
- The most basic communication models tell us we don’t know if our message has been received without feedback. According to Merriam-Webster, feedback is the transmission of evaluative or corrective information about an action, event, or process to the original or controlling source. The definition sounds tame, and even a bit lame, for something that creates so many problems when missing! Without feedback, technically we aren’t even communicating. We end up frustrated. We fill in details ourselves which may or may not be accurate. We have no voice for improvement. In this session, we will address how to get feedback by using the best vehicle for the type of feedback we are seeking. We will share tips and techniques for leaders to create an environment: • Where employees at all levels want to provide feedback and customers are heard • Feedback is actionable • Management holds itself accountable to solutions
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Speakers
Sherri Petro
- 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM
- Learn through Feedback: Confidently Engaging in Difficult Conversations
- Lab managers have a wide variety of conversations and discussions with staff and stakeholders. Most of them are interesting and informative, require little preparation, and cause little anxiety. However, some are difficult conversations which are stressful, worrisome, and hard to navigate. While many different kinds of conversations can become difficult, most fall into three broad categories, initiating conflict, providing negative feedback, and delivering bad news. Unfortunately, most lab managers have to bear the burden of all of these difficult conversations. Part of the responsibility of leadership is addressing these kinds of concerns. Most of these difficult conversations can’t be delegated. This presentation will explore different aspects of difficult conversations to give you some tools and tips to navigate them more confidently: • Understand why the conversation has to occur • Know what you need • Importance of doing your homework • Deliver bad news directly • Avoid blame • Navigate your emotions • Focus on the problems while supporting the people • Explore alternatives Improving your communication skills in difficult situations will help you improve as a leader and a manager. These challenges won’t go away and avoiding them usually just makes the situation worse. Being able to address difficult conversations with some confidence will help you resolve conflicts, improve lab performance and build trust with stakeholders.
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Speakers
Scott Hanton
- 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
- Learn through Feedback: Art of the Question
- The answers you get depend upon the questions you ask. Questions are at the root of problem-solving. Asking the right kinds of questions illuminates the problem-solving path for both the questioner and the questioned. In this presentation, we explore how mastering the art of the question improves our investigative, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving skills. You’ll learn about the different stages of the questioning funnel including discover, probe, elicit, and clarify, as well as the various question frames that shape and direct the thought process. You’ll see how this powerful skillset is the key to better communication, decision-making, and innovation.
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Speakers
Sean Grace
- 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
- Engage your Staff: In the Shelter of Each Other – Engaging Humans at Work
- The benefits of high employee engagement are well researched and documented. Organizations with highly engaged employees are more agile, more creative, and more productive. They provide better service and quality. They experience lower absenteeism, fewer safety incidents, and higher employee retention. Employees report feeling more satisfied with their work. Companies report higher profitability. Consequently, managers are expected to “drive employee engagement”; however, if it could be “driven”, every company would already have a highly engaged workforce. What managers can learn to do is create an environment that promotes employee engagement. Employees have five fundamental needs in the workplace. In this talk, we will focus on some aspects of one of those needs, “relationship”, which brings our humanity into the workplace. How can managers create a work environment that brings people together not only as employees, but also as humans?
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Speakers
S. Mark Kennedy
- 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM
- Engage your Staff:Communication Across the Ages – How to Achieve Great Chemistry in the Workplace
- For the first time in history, 5 generations are working alongside each other trying to get the job done. Did you know that how you were raised and what you experienced growing up has a direct impact on how you respond to and interpret communication at work? Additionally, as the way we communicate at work has been dramatically redefined over the last two years, it is important now more than ever to understand the chemistry of communication and how we can effectively communicate with a cross generational workforce. You will walk away from this interactive session with a formula for effective communication that facilitates active listening and increases cohesion and productivity.
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Speakers
Tamara Perry
- 10:00 AM - 10:30
- Exhibits & Morning Break
- 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
- Exhibits & Afternoon Break
- 3:15 PM - 5:15 PM
- Round Table Discussions
- Experienced laboratory managers will moderate a rotation of round table discussions. Topics include How to Manage/Supervise Your Friends, Negotiating Conflict, and How to Challenge the Data Without Hurting Feelings
- 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
- Networking & Dinner Reception
Thursday, OCT 13, 2022 ALMA2022 43rd ANNUAL CONFERENCE (Conference Ticket Required)
- 8:00 AM - 8:45 AM
- Inform Your Audience: Communicating with Data – turning your raw data into a presentation
- One of the more frustrating things about being a lab manager is when you and your team work hard to produce accurate, precise data, only to see it misinterpreted, ignored or the wrong conclusions drawn. To prevent this from occurring, the key is to present your data in a way that will resonant with your audience and highlight the most important findings. This presentation will show ways to communicate with data by telling an interesting and informative story that educates your audience. Using effective slides, story-telling, and by targeting the presentation to your audience, you can convert data into solutions and demonstrate the true worth of your lab. Data is only valuable if it can be shared with others in ways so that informed decisions can be made. The greatest data in the world is meaningless if you can’t present it in a useful way.
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Speakers
Karl Ritter
- 8:45 AM - 9:30 AM
- Inform Your Audience: Capital Equipment Planning and the Art of Negotiation
- Developing a capital equipment plan is more than just making a list of what equipment would be nice to have. Effective communications and negotiations with equipment users; customers/clients; adjacent teams; and senior management are essential to securing the resource commitment needed, especially for large $$ purchases or new facility construction. There also may be hidden requirements that require unexpected negotiations such as utility capacity and regulatory compliance.
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Speakers
Greg Bowen
- 10:00 AM - 10:45 AM
- Become a Better Communicator: Networking: Thoughts of a Serial Networker
- Networking has taken a bad reputation at times. It can be viewed as horribly one sided as the person trying to network wants something. But it can be a win-win situation for both parties and it’s important to create benefits. It is a process that requires discipline, research and a genuine love of talking to people. This talk will cover networking as it has evolved in my career as a chemist and how it has changed over the years. It’s a skill that can be used for many portions of one’s life. It’s not just about getting a job.
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Speakers
Rebecca L. Rosas
- 10:45 AM - 11:30 AM
- Become a Better Communicator: Is Emotional Intelligence the Secret to Effective Laboratory Leadership?
- They say leaders are promoted for their IQ and are demoted for their EQ (also known as emotional intelligence or EI). This is because many R&D leaders value technical knowledge over people knowledge and learn too late that effective leadership is more often about understanding others. EI is the power skill that forms the basis for motivating, inspiring, and directing the people you lead. In this presentation, we will explore the elements of EI, apply them to lab-based situations, and demonstrate how developing EI can result in more effective, successful laboratory leadership.
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Speakers
Christie Bowden