APRIL 15 - 16 | MILWAUKEE, WI
MEET TDCON2025 OPENING KEYNOTE SPEAKER
ADAM MENDLER
-
Adam Mendler
Creator & Host, Thirty Minute Mentors | Leadership Keynote Speaker Entrepreneur
“Motivating and Engaging a Diverse Workforce“
Every leader aspires to reach their potential in order to be as effective as possible in the workplace; to live a happy, successful, and fulfilled life; and to make a positive impact on others. But how can you best lead, motivate, and engage others without understanding the strategies employed by the most successful leaders?
After interviewing more than 500 of America’s top leaders - from Fortune 500 CEOs to founders of household name companies to four-star generals and admirals - what was once only understood by a few has now been codified. The solution lies not in focusing on your skills, but in harnessing your superpower. But what is a leadership superpower? And how do you discover and activate it?
In this perspective-shifting presentation, attendees will learn: • Strategies and techniques for boosting employee morale and recruiting, managing, motivating, and keeping the people you need in historically challenging and uncertain market conditions • The most misunderstood but integral principles essential to leading a diverse workforce in today’s landscape • A three-step process to understand and unlock their leadership superpower After this presentation, attendees will be better equipped to lead others - and themselves - to new levels of greatness.
More about Adam Mendler:
Adam Mendler is a nationally recognized authority on leadership and is the creator and host of Thirty Minute Mentors, where he regularly elicits insights from America's top CEOs, founders, athletes, celebrities, and political and military leaders. He has interviewed more than 500 of America’s most successful leaders and has written extensively on business and leadership, having authored more than 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc., and HuffPost. Adam draws upon his unique background and lessons learned from time spent with America’s top leaders in delivering perspective-shifting insights as a keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations. Adam has built and led businesses across a variety of industries and previously worked for prominent companies in finance, entertainment, and sports. Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA, serves on the board of UCLA’s Master of Applied Statistics & Data Science program, is an emeritus member of USC’s Board of Governors, and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders. A Los Angeles native, Adam is a lifelong Angels fan and an avid backgammon player.
MEET TDCON2025 DAY 2 KEYNOTE SPEAKER
VERONICA BUCKWALTER
-
Veronica Buckwalter
Director, Jobs for the Future (JFF)
“Designing a Purpose-Driven System that Works for Everyone“
Attendees of this session will focus on uplifting examples of public workforce organizations across the country that are taking steps to become more future-focused through use of human-centered design and community-driven decision making.
More about Veronica Buckwalter:
Veronica Buckwalter is a Director at JFF with almost 20 years of experience in the public sector. With a background in workforce development and postsecondary education, she focuses on elevating strategies that enable these sectors to anticipate, adapt, and innovate as the lines between working and learning continue to blur.
TDCON2025 SESSION SPEAKERS:
-
Senior Consultant, WMEP Manufacturing Solutions
“Creating a Culture of Continuous Improvement”
What’s the secret to achieving and sustaining a thriving continuous improvement (CI) culture? It’s not just the tools or processes—it’s the people!
Discover practical strategies to inspire, empower, and align your workforce to drive meaningful, lasting change in your organization. Participants will gain actionable insights into fostering collaboration, building trust, and unlocking the full potential of their teams. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just beginning your CI journey, this session will equip you with the knowledge to transform your workplace into a hub of innovation and continuous improvement.
More about Beth Aldana:
Beth Aldana is a Senior Consultant at WMEP, specializing in operational excellence and leadership development. With over 20 years of experience in manufacturing, Beth has cultivated a deep understanding of what it takes to drive meaningful, sustainable change. Her career spans a variety of roles in engineering and engineering management, equipping her with a unique blend of technical expertise and leadership insight. Beth holds certifications as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (LSSBB) and is Lean Bronze Certified, demonstrating her commitment to process improvement and organizational growth. She is passionate about empowering teams, fostering collaboration, and helping organizations achieve operational excellence. Beth's practical, results-oriented approach makes her a trusted advisor to clients seeking to improve efficiency, build stronger leaders, and create a culture of continuous improvement. Her extensive experience and dedication to developing others have made her a catalyst for transformation in the organizations she supports.
-
Employment Program Manager - Wisconsin Department of Corrections
“Moving Justice-Involved Individuals into Employment”
A discussion on how those returning to their communities from the WI Department of Corrections are reentering the labor market with competitive skills and qualifications and how local employers can be part of successful reintegration.
-
Chief Marketing Officer, Nesnah Ventures
“Nice to Necessary“
Midwest Nice—it’s what makes our region famous for kindness, community, and that uncanny ability to avoid conflict at all costs. But when “nice” takes over at work, it can hold us back from addressing real issues, making bold decisions, and achieving our full potential. This keynote takes a lighthearted yet impactful look at how Midwest Nice influences workplace dynamics and provides actionable strategies to move from simply being nice to being clear, courageous, and effective. Packed with relatable stories, humor, and practical tips (like avoiding the dreaded “Midwestern Casserole” approach to feedback), attendees will walk away inspired to balance kindness with clarity. Perfect for professionals at all levels, this session offers a refreshing perspective on creating a workplace culture that values honesty, respect, and results. Because at the end of the day, the best teams aren’t just nice—they’re necessary.
More about Cate Hollowitsch:
Cate Hollowitsch is an energetic, results-driven Chief Marketing Officer with more than 30 years of experience. Her business success earned her a 2024 and 2025 spot as a Titan of Industry. She was selected as the 2024 Female Executive of the Year by the Stevie Awards. She is a 2024 TEDx Speaker and created the F.E.A.R. Framework™, the Brand Blueprint™, and the Culture Canvas™. Cate co-created True North OS™, a business operating system for PE firms and their portfolio of companies. She is also the author of Confidence Counts and Mastering the Game of Office Politics and is an adjunct professor in digital marketing.
-
Employment Program Manager - Wisconsin Department of Corrections
“Workforce Energy Management - New World, Old Ways Don’t Mix”
THE ENERGY SWITCH Add more, do more, and keep up with every role and expectation put in front of you. That is what it feels like in today's changing world. Awareness of that...is an untapped power.
Discover the framework which will switch your reality of chaos and exhaustion toward liveliness, passion and excitement for what the day will bring. A framework built from theory, experience and all within your control to keep yourself on the right path and build agile teams.
Learn the energy management framework to embrace reality versus fighting it. Explore energy contributors and factors of adaptability. Create a practical action plan in a ever-changing world.
More about Kelly Bubolz:
Kelly Bubolz: A double decade HR leader, works with organizations to engage energy and productivity while preventing burnout. Through a hard season, Kelly learned to trust the process and embrace what life is teaching us. What started as a physical healing mission from burnout collapse transformed into identifying activities within our control, learning how to sustain new habits, self-discovery practices, and research into root cause factors of work stress – all of which led her here to you.
-
CEO, LFS Consulting LLC
“Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Lose - It’s Time to Lead!”
Leadership isn’t just about celebrating wins—it’s about thriving through the losses and coming back stronger. In this empowering session, we’ll explore how resilience fuels great leadership. Attendees will learn practical strategies to lead confidently through uncertainty, inspire teams in challenging times, and turn setbacks into stepping stones. Packed with inspiring stories, actionable frameworks, and a touch of humor, this session is perfect for leaders at every level looking to build a resilient mindset and embrace their leadership potential. If you’ve ever doubted your ability to lead during tough times, this session will give you the confidence to rise above and lead with purpose.
More about Paula Jenkins:
Paula R. Jenkins is the dynamic CEO of LFS Consulting LLC, a firm specializing in Leadership and Financial Success. With a B.S. in Computer Information Systems and an MBA in Leadership and Change Management, Paula brings a unique blend of technical expertise and visionary leadership. An extreme extrovert, she thrives on connecting with and engaging her audiences, delivering powerful insights that challenge and inspire. Paula’s speaking style is a catalyst for change, making her a sought-after speaker in leadership development and financial strategy.
-
President, Evolution Marketing
“A Future Proof, Human-First Workforce”
We are in an era where traditional business paradigms are being reimagined. Many organizations are evolving beyond profit-centric models to create environments where people feel genuinely celebrated, trusted, and invested rather than simply utilized. This session explores how Certified B Corps™ and forward-thinking leaders are revolutionizing workforce development through human-first approaches to remain industry competitive as well as appealing to workers across generations. Drawing from real-world examples and proven strategies, Lisa Geason-Bauer and Darrie Matthew Burrage will showcase data and principles that help organizations amplify their impact by honoring the full personhood of their teams. Participants will discover practical ways to build inclusive cultures that address stakeholder needs and future-proof businesses through the power of purposeful human connection.
More about Lisa Geason-Bauer:
Lisa Geason-Bauer is the president of Evolution Marketing, a Wisconsin-based woman-owned Certified B Corporation® specializing in the area of sustainability consulting, impact storytelling, environmentally responsible creative design, and ethical marketing.
Lisa is a sustainability, ESG practitioner and has been helping companies tell their impact stories for over a decade. As a consultant she has worked on projects in supply chain sustainability, social sustainability (i.e. workforce engagement, culture and DEI), renewable energy, energy efficiency and the green building space. Lisa is a co-founder of B Local Wisconsin and the current President. She is also Member of the Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington County Workforce Development Board. In 2023, Lisa was part of the first cohort of US & Canadian B Consultants to complete the new B Lab US & Canada Trained B Consultants Program.
-
Senior Consultant, Integrated Work
“A Future Proof, Human-First Workforce”
We are in an era where traditional business paradigms are being reimagined. Many organizations are evolving beyond profit-centric models to create environments where people feel genuinely celebrated, trusted, and invested rather than simply utilized. This session explores how Certified B Corps™ and forward-thinking leaders are revolutionizing workforce development through human-first approaches to remain industry competitive as well as appealing to workers across generations. Drawing from real-world examples and proven strategies, Lisa Geason-Bauer and Darrie Matthew Burrage will showcase data and principles that help organizations amplify their impact by honoring the full personhood of their teams. Participants will discover practical ways to build inclusive cultures that address stakeholder needs and future-proof businesses through the power of purposeful human connection.
-
Chief Human Resources Officer, YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee
“Employee Coaching”
This presentation will equip leaders with essential strategies for successful employee coaching. Supervisors will become more familiar with the tools they need to motivate and guide their teams towards achieving desired performance success.
More about Brook Maynard:
Brook Mayborne is the CHRO with the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee. She executes strategies for talent management, workplace culture and leadership development. Brook also has a passion for coaching and helping others achieve professional goals.
-
VP of Strategic Growth, Newance
“Find Your Flow: Engaging Professional Drive by Realizing Intrinsic Motivation”
Discover how uncovering candidates’ intrinsic motivations and natural strengths can create better team alignment, stronger retention, and a more fulfilled workforce—driving measurable impact on your company’s bottom line.
Learn More about Aaron Krueger:
Aaron Krueger, VP of Strategic Growth at Newance, has over twenty years of experience in building and nurturing client relationships with a strong focus on talent and culture.