Juliane Crocker - Management Analyst, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Juliane Crocker (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, expert panelist) For the last decade, Juliane has been instrumental in supporting meaningful organizational development at the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. As first a field operations facilitator, and now a management analyst, Juliane has helped coordinate and generate collaboration among the extremely diverse employees and inspectors at the TDLR. Through her masterful relationship building and strategic planning skills, she has guided inspectors and staff in knowing the laws and rules, agency procedures and technological resources that align with the mission and purpose of the TDLR. She has helped guide the agency through multiple changes through maintaining multiple perspectives in ways that welcome in all stakeholders. This has led to creating better solutions and enormous value for other agencies, organizations and Texans across our great state. She has developed lasting relationships with customers, suppliers and other business associates during her tenure. Juliane has an MBA from Baylor University (Hankamer School of Business) and is a certified Prosci Change Management Practitioner. Juliane will provide the agency perspective and share key collaborative negotiation tactics that have been critical in helping stakeholders within agency life come together to solve the trickiest problems while also strengthening relationships that pave the way towards a successful agency career.

Meg Hare - Managing Director, Accenture
Meg Hare (Accenture, expert panelist) Meg Hare is a Managing Director with Accenture's Texas Public Sector practice. Meg has spent her career helping government organizations realize the value of their technology investments and deliver on their most strategic initiatives. She is a champion for supporting women and diversity in the workplace, because teams are stronger when all voices are heard and appreciated. As a 15+ years expert in strategic planning, business development and sales, Meg has created collaboration across diverse spectrums of stakeholders. She is masterful in creating authentic and mutually beneficial relationships in her professional and personal life. She is the former President of Austin Women in Technology and Board Vice Chair of the Texas Association of State Systems for Computing and Communications, mentors female students through the Texas A&M Women's Resource Center AMPLIFY Program and volunteers with Dress for Success Austin. Meg also serves on the City of Austin Mayors Health and Fitness Council. Meg will share key collaborative negotiation tactics that have been instrumental in creating pivotal win-win victories in her career in working with Texas agencies.

Tanya Tarr - President, Cultivated Insights
Tanya Tarr (Cultivated Insights, workshop facilitator) Tanya Tarr is a behavioral scientist, executive health coach and founder of Cultivated Insights, a learning and development company. Tanya has been a senior contributor to Forbes since 2016, where she writes about negotiation, workplace wellbeing and burnout prevention. Previously, Tanya worked for 17 years with public sector employees, helping Texas public school educators stabilize from burnout. She also worked with military families of deployed soldiers during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Tanya has a Master of Science in performance measurement from Carnegie Mellon University. She is a certified master trainer (Union Leadership Institute), a health coach (Institute of Integrative Nutrition & SUNY-Purchase), and a DEI practitioner (Cornell University Industrial Labor Relations School). Tanya will lead and facilitate the negotiation simulation and debrief discussion.

Patti DeNucci is an experienced and acclaimed corporate and conference speaker, workshop facilitator, and consultant. She has written two award-winning books on the topics of conversation and connection and has worked with numerous organizations and event planners around the country, including Microsoft, cabi, MGM Resorts, Hewlett Packard, The University of Texas, The Texas Conference for Women , and many others. For more details on Patti's background and accomplishments, please visit https://intentionalnetworker.com/

With a rich background in educational technology and a passion for fostering accessible, innovative learning environments, Letitia Davis has over two decades of experience leading the integration of technology in education. Currently serving as the LMS Technical Manager at the University of Texas at Dallas, Letitia has been instrumental in crafting comprehensive learning technology strategies that enhance the educational experience and streamline learning processes. Letitia holds a Master of Science in Instructional Design in Online Learning from Capella University and a Master of Education in Training and Development from National-Louis University. Her educational background and practical experience make her a formidable force in the field of educational technology and a visionary leader dedicated to the future of digital learning.

Meghan E. Peel is the Data Management Officer for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation where she oversees the agency’s data governance program. Previously, she was Data Officer at the Sunset Advisory Commission where she provided analytics support to review teams and assisted in reviewing agencies' use of data and analytics and served at the Legislative Budget Board and Department of State Health Services previously. Prior to joining state service, Dr. Peel was a professor holding positions at Texas State University, Tarleton State University, Michigan State University, and the University of Massachusetts at Boston. She has served as a consultant to police agencies around the world. Her mission is to equip government and public entities to become more data driven and data aware and to develop a modern data strategy. This passion begins with a focus on helping government entities develop clean and usable administrative data sources and flows into providing quality analytics tools and resources for translating data into insights that can drive policy change. Her ultimate goal is to help agencies use data to be better stewards of public dollars. She is also an AI evangelist and has developed multiple AI-driven applications for government use.

Chan McDermott has had a long career in state government, primarily in Health and Human Services (HHS). Her career focus has been on leadership and workforce development, public health, health education and community mobilization. Chan currently serves as the Family Health Services workforce development coordinator. Chan has a master’s degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin and several undergraduate degrees from Southern Methodist University. She has been a childbirth educator and doula since 1992.

Jennifer Bloom Greenberg - Consultant, Emerging Perspectives, LLC
Jennifer Bloom Greenberg, ScM Jennifer Bloom Greenberg is a co-founder of Emerging Perspectives, LLC. She has over twenty years of experience working with State and local health departments and non-profit organizations to design, implement, and evaluate programs and strategic plans. She is a skilled facilitator who crafts conversations and processes to inspire innovative thinking and approaches to planning within organizations and communities. Jennifer loves to weave the intellectual and creative worlds together to inform one another. Her work integrates her contemplative and poetry practices as well as her continued studies through The Neuroleadership Institute, The Mindsight Institute, and Prosocial World. She considers her role to be that of meaning maker and sacred space holder, whether she is designing a program evaluation, facilitating a retreat, or engaged in a writing project. www.emergingperspectives.org

Robin Dochen Atwood, EdD, PMP - Consultant, Emerging Perspectives, LLC
Robin Dochen Atwood, EdD, PMP is a co-founder of Emerging Perspectives, LLC. She sees change as opportunity. She works with teams and organizations to enhance decision-making and planning with a focus on purpose, process and relationships. She is passionate about wellness, both physical and emotional, and merges her background in public health, health promotion, worksite wellness and her expertise in project management to help teams align their purpose and goals. After spending over twenty years at the University of Texas at Austin as a Research Assistant Professor and Program Director working with State and local governments and non-profits, Robin brings extensive experience in program management, strategic planning, and staff development. Robin also has a strong evaluation background, which she uses to build evaluative capacity to help prompt new insights and guide innovative directions of practice. Robin uses practical skills and techniques to help generate new conversations, cultural shifts and new ways of working and living. She gathers inspiration and creates space for ‘aha’ moments while out running in beautiful Austin, Texas.

Molly Davis - Staff Attorney, Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health
Molly Davis is a Staff Attorney for the Judicial Commission on Mental Health, where she directs technical assistance projects, provides support to mental health courts, and leads projects to improve children's mental health in Texas. Prior to joining the JCMH in 2020, Ms. Davis served as a prosecutor in Tarrant County for 12 years. Ms. Davis is Board Certified in Juvenile Law and is frequent speaker on juvenile law and mental health topics. She holds a Bachelor of Social Wrok from Michigan State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Dayton School of Law.

Rose McBride - Communications Manager, Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health
Rose McBride joined the Judicial Commission on Mental Health in 2021 as the Communications Manager. Rose promotes the mission of the JCMH by creating content for social media channels, hosting a monthly podcast about innovative mental health ideas across the state, writing and designing the Biennial Report to the Courts, and producing educational and promotional videos. Before coming to the JCMH, Rose worked as an anchor, reporter, and producer at TV stations in both Wisconsin and Kentucky. Rose earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Psychology from Northwestern University.

Chenica Grant brings over two decades of seasoned expertise to her role as a professional trainer. With a solid background encompassing coordination, training, planning, and operational support across various industries, she boasts over 10 years of managerial and program management experience. For nearly two decades, Chenica has been honing her training skills, starting as a Sr. HR Business Coordinator at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Subsequently, she transitioned to lead training coordination at United Space Alliance, focusing on travel operations. Prior to co-owning 2SIC INC, Chenica served as the Program Coordinator at The Star of Hope Women and Children Development Center. Here, she spearheaded the development and implementation of a groundbreaking Personal Development curriculum, which not only exceeded expectations but also influenced curriculum changes in other programs. Chenica's engaging and dynamic delivery style fosters genuine connections with her audiences, ensuring that the content she delivers is not only informative but also actionable. As a sought-after trainer and speaker, her high-energy presentations inspire and empower individuals to take control of their futures, identify barriers, and commit to lasting change.

Meredith Garcia serves as the Director of Professional Development for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and leads the team responsible for developing and maximizing the skills and talents of more than 2500 employees. After 16 years in the public, private and non-profit sectors, Meredith founded Up a Notch Consulting, where she provided personal and professional development coaching and training services to individuals, teams and organizations. In 2014 she partnered with The Container Store and founded her own professional organizing business, Declutter It All, to help her clients declutter, design systems and spaces that supported their continuous improvement efforts. Meredith is a Certified Professional Development Trainer and a proud graduate of the Walt Disney World College Program and The University of Texas at Austin. She lives in Austin with her husband and two sons. Having recently become an “empty nester,” Meredith enjoys spending time at home with her husband, studying Feng Shui and hopes to roller skate more.

What do you get when you combine one of the most highly regarded statewide executives with a nationally acclaimed slam poet? The answer is Brian Francis. He is a vision-driven leader who knows the importance of authenticity. His respect-centered strategic leadership style and accomplishments have garnered the praise of legislative leaders from both sides of the aisle, a diverse array of professional and industry stakeholders and most importantly his most valued allies - his employees. Francis has the unique distinction of being one of handful of individuals to lead three state agencies – the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission and the Texas Real Estate Commission. He is the only State Executive to lead agencies while winning slam poetry competitions across the nation and being a finalist at the National Poetry Slam. Francis combines the wisdom of his real-world experience with the knowledge gained from his MBA in Public Finance from St. Edwards University. Brian also gained an international perspective through his participation in the Transformative Leadership Program offered by the University of Adelaide, South Australia and the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. Francis is the author of the Amazon available book, Inconceivable and Other Movie Quotes That Do Not Mean What You Think They Mean. He is a husband, father and grandfather (aka Lollipop). He resides in Austin but travels the world in search of great poetry and track and field meets.

Julie Burch has been speaking professionally for 26 years and spoken in all 50 states, 3 countries, and 3 U.S. Territories. She’s designed programs for industry leaders in a wide range of industries including government agencies at the city, state, and federal level. She has spoken at countless conferences including EWTG, and she was inducted in the SHRM Speaker Hall of Fame in 2017. Julie has a natural ability to connect with her audience—she combines her southern charm and sense of humor with her real world approach and engages her audience right from the start! Nothing kills a conference faster than a boring and dry keynote speaker and Julie is definitely NOT that! She will deliver an experience, not just a speech, that will have your audience talking about her and the conference for years to come! Julie is the comedienne with content! She delivers stand up level comedy that keeps her audience laughing all while sharing real world, tangible skills and techniques the audience can implement immediately. She has discovered the more her audience laughs the more they learn. “Solid Business Strategies. Brilliant Comedic Humor.” It’s not just her tag line, it is her promise in every presentation!

I’ve ALWAYS loved to learn and share it with others. It’s amazing and a blessing that I’m working in the field of Educational Technology. The work we do makes learning available to a broad audience and changes lives! At the University of Texas at Dallas, I work with some of the smartest, brightest Ed Techs you could ever imagine. We’re on Blackboard Learn going on ten years. Our university is young but growing. Currently we have around 29,000 students, 1,100 faculty and 4,000 administrators and support staff (including me!). My team, LMS Tech, is responsible for maintaining Blackboard Learn along with the slew of supporting tools. I earned an MS from Capella University in Online Learning for Instructional Design as well as MEd from National-Louis University in Adult Education. I bring my experiences as an online learner, online instructor (12 years at Capella University, El Centro College) and course developer (multiple corporations).