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2025 Retreat for Administrative Professionals

2025 Retreat for Administrative Professionals

Thursday, February 20, 2025
8:30 AM - 2:30 PM (EST)
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Join us for a day of inspiration, connection, and practical learning at the 2025 Retreat for Administrative Professionals. This retreat offers tailored workshops, expert insights, and networking opportunities to help you thrive in your dynamic, invaluable role. Recharge your skills and take your professional growth to the next level!

MORNING KEYNOTE
Before/After: The Power of Shifting Your Mindset When Setting Your Goals

presented by Danielle N. Adams-Wiltshire, QueenSuite Coach

Before setting goals, cultivating the right mindset is essential. This keynote explores the three foundational mindsets—tactical, strategic, and relational—and their role in goal-setting, emotional intelligence, and leadership. Participants will gain actionable tools to lead effectively from the middle, align personal values with institutional goals, and foster a culture of collaboration and innovation.

You will learn:

            • How three different mindsets have unique contributions to decision-making and leadership.
            • How self-awareness, empathy, and adaptability enhance organizational impact.
            • To leverage influence without direct authority to drive outcomes and inspire teams.
            • To apply mindset-shifting strategies to goal-setting and leadership challenges in real-time.

Danielle N. Adams-Wiltshire, PCC, founder and CEO (Chief Empowerment Officer) at QueenSuite LLC, is committed to helping marginalized professionals all over the world experience confidence, happiness, success, balance, and freedom in business and life by educating, inspiring, and empowering professionals to create their ideal lives. She is an ICF-accredited, certified professional coach, trainer, facilitator, restorative practice trainer, writer, TED Fellows coach, and keynote speaker and her areas of concentration in her coaching practice are leadership potential, communication, and career development with professionals. She has been transforming the c-suite state of mind since 2014 and revolutionizing the way that coaching is accessible to leaders at all levels.

AFTERNOON KEYNOTE
How to Produce Board Level Minutes With Confidence

presented by Shelagh Donnelly, Exceptional EA

Whether you’re already recording minutes for your board, a department, or a school committee, or aspire to support your board and school at some point in the future, Shelagh will share key concepts to help you thrive. Many assistants have inherited and maintained outdated recording practices, or haven’t secured training to meet current standards. This session will save you time, edits, and frustration …and it just may do the same for your stakeholders who read your minutes! We’ll examine potential reputational and legal implications associated with minutes, and key principles to help you produce concise, relevant minutes. You will learn:

      • How to identify and reflect what your board and school need (and don’t need) from your minutes 

      • Potential legal and reputational implications

      • Neutrality, and what to record/not record

      • How to write with clarity

Authentic, expert, and inspiring, Shelagh (pronounced “Sheila”) Donnelly cares about your success. While she began her career in the corporate sector and has been a software trainer, she’s also walked your walk in education – first in K-12, and then in higher education. 


In college environments, Shelagh was a direct report to four CEOs. She honed governance expertise through ongoing education, and working alongside four board chairs. In 2013, she launched her Exceptional EA website, and assistants around the globe trust and turn to Shelagh for insights and practical perspectives, which she delivers with a healthy sense of humor.  By the time she left the office environment in 2018, Shelagh had established internal networks, and led multiple projects and her own department. She’s had the benefit of her own assistants, chaired a national board of directors, and more. 


Now, she travels internationally to speak at conferences, and to challenge, educate and inspire assistants who want to perform at a high level in careers they enjoy. She works with assistants and management in education, healthcare and utilities, and in corporations including the NBA.

Workshop Information Coming Soon!

Agenda

February 20
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM Welcome Ayanna Hill-Gill
President, ADVIS
9:15 AM - 10:45 AM Morning Keynote: Before/After: The Power of Shifting Your Mindset When Setting Your Goals  presented by Danielle N. Adams-Wiltshire, QueenSuite Coach
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM Break
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Workshops More information coming soon
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Networking Lunch
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Afternoon Keynote: How to Produce Board Level Minutes With Confidence presented by Shelagh Donnelly, Exceptional EA

Be a Better Board Liaison

presented by Liz Szot, 
Senior Executive Assistant to the Head of School and Liaison to the School Committee
Becoming a Board Liaison is typically a job that comes with the territory of being an EA, like it or lump it. Learning how to optimize your Board organization and relationships by embracing time management, technology, soft skills and leadership (skills you already have as an EA!) will lead to a more productive Board and happier stakeholders. Demystifying the role of Board Liaison makes you an asset to your school and helps drive the important missions forward - as well as making your job more enjoyable.
About the Presenter
Liz is the Senior Executive Assistant to the Head of School and Liaison to the School Committee at Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When she began her work at GFS, she quickly realized that a happy Board runs a happy school and made it her mission to find out how she could foster this relationship and streamline the processes to the benefit of all stakeholders. 

Tech Tips for EAs and Assistants

presented by Erica Zematis,
Special Assistant to the President's Office, NAIS
Generative AI is here and it’s here to stay. In this session we will delve into this revolutionary technology, including risks, benefits, high impact prompting, and how to incorporate AI into our work. In this dynamic session (bring your laptop), we’ll explore a range of tips and tricks to enhance your productivity and efficiency. We’ll review new features to assist in note-taking, image creation, writing documents, and drafting emails. We’ll even check out a few apps still in development to get a glimpse of the future of our work and to gain actionable insights to be a tech-savvy assistant to your Head of School or leader.
About the Presenter
Erica Zematis serves as Special Assistant to the President’s Office at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) supporting NAIS President, Debra Wilson. Prior to that, she worked at the Jacksonville Country Day School as Executive Assistant to the Head of School. She has over 25 years of experience serving in administrative support roles. Erica has published articles to help assistants grow their professional skills, covering topics such as taking board meeting minutes, growing leadership skills, providing support in a virtual environment, and maintaining positive relationships. She has championed new NAIS initiatives to serve school executive assistants through webinars, peer connections, and a new toolkit. She holds a master’s degree in business administration (M.B.A.) and a bachelor’s degree (B.A.) in Psychology from the University of North Florida. Her role as a military spouse has allowed her the opportunity to live, work, and make friends in many different parts of the world.
MEMBER PRICING
NON-MEMBER PRICING
Early Bird Rate through Dec. 20, 2024
Member Rate: $175  available to ADVIS members only
Standard Rate
Dec. 21, 2024-Feb. 6, 2025
Member Rate: $195		  through Feb. 6, 2025
Non-Member Rate: $250
Late Registration Rate: Feb. 7 - Feb. 16, 2025
Member Rate: $225  Non-Member Rate: $275

Not sure if your school is a Member? Check our list of ADVIS Member Schools. 

THANK YOU TO OUR
 PREFERRED SPONSOR

for subsidizing the credit card fees on
all 2024-25 professional development programs!

Act 48 Credits Available

  • You may request credit up to 7 days after the event.
  • Per the PA Department of Education, ADVIS is required to report your successful completion of Act 48 evaluation within 30 days of the event.
  • Available to ADVIS Members only.
  • Contact Candyce Wilson for more information.

ACCESSIBILITY

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. Please feel free to request an accommodation on the registration form. For inquiries about accessibility, please contact Membership and Outreach Manager Candyce Wilson. At least two weeks' advance notice will help us to provide seamless access.

EVENT CONTACT

Dena Torino, ADVIS Director of Programming

ADVIS Event Policies and Disclaimers