Pre-dinner Program:  5:20 P.M.

Developing Strategic Advisory Boards

This presentation will focus on how consultants can help their clients develop Strategic Advisory Boards and how an organization such as MSPC might structure itself to become a Strategic Advisory Board to other organizations.  Topics to be covered in the session include:

An Introduction to Strategic Advisory Boards:

• Requirements of Statutory vs. Advisory Board

• Advantages of Strategic Advisory Boards

• What is stopping CEO’s?

• Critical mistakes for Strategic Advisory Boards

9 Steps to Build a Strategic Advisory Board

Presenter:  Marian Cook
Ageos Enterprises,  Chicago, IL  and Denver, Co

Marian Cook is a futurist, strategist, entrepreneur, consultant and speaker.  She is the President and CEO of Ageos Enterprises (Chicago, Denver), a business and technology consulting firm that helps clients find innovative ways to drive profitable growth.  She began her career with 8 years at IBM as a systems engineer and strategist.  She held leadership positions at 3 consulting firms before starting her own in 2000.  Her leadership has most recently been recognized by the Influential Woman in Business Award presented by The National Association of Women Business Owners / Chicago, as one of The Top 100 People of Chicago’s High Tech Community by I-Street magazine, and as a "Woman in Black" Award winner for leadership in the technology and business community. Currently, she is a Subject Matter Expert Editor for McGraw-Hill on how to run professional services organizations.  She has been quoted in Crain’s, The Chicago Sun-Times, The Business Ledger, Information Week and I-Street.  Ms. Cook was appointed to Chicago’s Mayor’s Council of Technology Advisors and to the inaugural SpringBoard Midwest Steering Committee (a venture capital forum for women).  Additionally, Ms. Cook serves on many boards, and is on the team creating the "Future Learning Environment" exhibit for the 2004 Architecture Show at The Art Institute of Chicago.

Announcements/Introductions: 6:15 P.M.

Break/Informal Conversations: 6:40 P.M.

Dinner: 7:00 P.M.

Post-Dinner Program:  8:00 P.M.

Now, Discover Your Strengths

There is a widespread belief that people can do anything well if they learn enough or try hard enough. Training and development programs that attempt to teach "steps," "habits," or "behaviors" ignore the fact that everyone's steps, habits, and behaviors are different -- and should be different if people are to use their natural talents and strengths. This remedial approach often produces disappointing results. It rarely, if ever, helps the person achieve excellence, and it wastes training and development dollars. Gallup emphasizes developing areas talent into strength, rather than correcting weaknesses.

The Gallup Organization has been studying the workgroup productivity for more than 20 years. Their findings have helped some of the most successful companies in the world increase their stock value through building more engaging relationships with their customers and employees. At the core of Gallup's Performance Management Practice is the concept that identifying and developing the unique talents of each employee is the most effective way to improve their productivity. This Strengths Based philosophy is one of the key topics presented in Gallup's four best selling books including First Break All The Rules and Now Discover Your Strengths.

Presenter:  Brad Brodigan
Gallup Organization

Brad Brodigan, Vice President for The Gallup Organization, helps clients improve their business outcomes through structured initiatives to build more productive relationships with a company’s employees and customers. Brad is responsible for maintaining the overall client relationship and utilizing the various practice experts to deliver solutions including employee selection, strengths development, employee engagement, and customer engagement. He works with a wide range of clients in the financial services, real estate management, healthcare, insurance and manufacturing industries. 

Prior to joining Gallup, Brodigan was a Vice President with Monster (formerly TMP Worldwide), where he managed a division that focused on delivering human capital solutions to Fortune 500 Companies. His work at Monster included helping companies improve their talent acquisition and retention strategies primarily in the retail, food service, and call center areas. Before his recent experience in the human capital area, he spent more than 11 years in advertising sales management.

Brodigan earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and business from the Virginia Military Institute.