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Wednesday, June 10
 

9:00am EDT

Opening Keynote: Super HUMAN: Radical Humanity for an Artificially Intelligent World
Wednesday June 10, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
It's not that technology is advancing too quickly. It's that human skills are advancing too slowly. There's no big mystery as to why trust, the #1 key to business, is experiencing a crisis during the artificial age. People want something REAL - and if you don't give it to them, then your competitors will.
Where there is human connection, there is magic. Productivity improves in a way that science can't explain. Innovation strikes like lightning from a clear sky. Ordinary people transform into extraordinary teams. You don't have to wait or hope, this can be built.
Join mentalist, author, and top-rated speaker Tim David for an interactive, amazing, science-based, (and also HILARIOUS) program that helps participants experience how quickly authenticity, empathy, and trust can be built in teams using practical frameworks and action-items that can be applied immediately.
In this keynote, Tim introduces the REAL Framework. To be REAL, we must be…
  • R — Radically Human: Present, authentic, vulnerable, and human-first
  • E — Empathically Concerned: Replace assumptions with curiosity to reduce friction
  • A — Artistically Minded: Cultivate originality and creativity in a world of replication
  • L — Long-Term Focused: “People over profits” compounds trust over time
Program Objectives:After engaging with this session, participants will be able to… 
  • Identify where “artificial connection” is eroding trust (meetings, email/Slack, hybrid dynamics) and choose one “Radically Human” behavior that immediately raises presence and credibility.
  • Apply a simple empathy reset that replaces assumptions with curiosity—so collaboration speeds up and conflict de-escalates faster.
  • Differentiate between “copy/paste work” and “artistry work,” then implement a repeatable practice that increases originality and innovation (even in AI-saturated roles).
  • Build a long-term “trust deposit” system—small, consistent actions that compound reliability, follow-through, and culture over time.
  • Adapt the REAL Framework to their specific context (leadership, sales, cross-functional teams, member-based organizations) so the model becomes a shared language, not a poster slogan.

Speakers
avatar for Tim David

Tim David

Tim David Speaks
Like you, former magician, author, and human connection expert, Tim David is frustrated by what is
happening to the quality of communication in our modern world. Can more connection really increase
the bottom line and improve the quality of our lives at the same time? Will better... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT
710/712

10:15am EDT

OPWDD Commissioner Willow Baer
Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:15am - 10:45am EDT

Speakers
avatar for Commissioner Willow Baer

Commissioner Willow Baer

Commissioner, NYS Office of People with Developmental Disabilities
Willow Baer serves as Commissioner at OPWDD where she leads the second largest state agency with more than 19,000 state employees and oversees services delivered by over 400 not-for-profit service agency partners.Willow has held several executive-level human service posts in New York... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 10:15am - 10:45am EDT
710/712

11:15am EDT

Workforce Stability as Executive Practice: A New Leadership Playbook
Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:15am - 12:30pm EDT
Executive commitment to the DSP workforce is widespread. Executive action on it is harder. This panel demonstrates what workforce sustainability looks like when executives treat it as their own practice rather than a problem set by funding. 
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Jennifer Cohen

Dr. Jennifer Cohen

Jennifer Cohen is an economist whose research focuses on the structural conditions shaping frontline work in healthcare and disability services, including turnover, economic insecurity, and organizational support among Direct Support Professionals. She is the founder and principal... Read More →
avatar for Molly Little

Molly Little

CEO, The Arc of Delaware County
Molly Little is the CEO of The Arc of Delaware County (Delarc), where she has spent more than 30 years growing from Direct Support Professional (DSP) to organizational leader. Her work is rooted in a deep belief that people with disabilities deserve lives centered on dignity, individuality... Read More →
avatar for Tibisay Guzmán

Tibisay Guzmán

CEO, The Arc Westchester
Tibisay A. Guzmán (Tibi) is the CEO of The Arc Westchester, the largest organization in Westchester County, New York, dedicated to supporting people with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families. In her role, Ms. Guzman fosters a culture of dignity and respect for both... Read More →
RS

Robert S. Budd

Sr. Chief Executive Officer/President, Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc.
Robert S. Budd, a mission-driven, results oriented, dedicated leader, is the Sr. Chief Executive Officer/President of Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE), a not-for-profit agency that supports individuals of all abilities with community living opportunities, employment... Read More →
avatar for Marco Damiani

Marco Damiani

Chief Executive Officer, AHRC NYC
Marco Damiani has served as the Chief Executive Officer of AHRC New York City since 2017, working with its 4,000 mission-driven staff members to build upon the extraordinary almost 75-year legacy of AHRC NYC’s commitment to social justice for children and adults with disabilities... Read More →
JG

Jajaida Gonzalez

Vice President of Day Habilitation Services, Services for the Underserved
Jajaida is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience in creating safe, supportive, and enriching environments for individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. Grounded in a strong commitment to the Person-Centered approach, she has held a range of roles throughout... Read More →
avatar for Winifred Schiff

Winifred Schiff

Chief Executive Officer, Inter Agency Council
Wini is the Chief Executive Officer of the Inter Agency Council of Developmental Disabilities Agencies, Inc. (IAC), with nearly 200 members, and she has been an innovator in the intellectual and developmental disabilities services field since 1986. With more than 40 years of experience... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 11:15am - 12:30pm EDT
710/712

1:15pm EDT

The Magic Words for Recruitment and Retention
Wednesday June 10, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
In today’s workforce climate, attracting and keeping great people takes more than competitive pay and perks. In this engaging breakout session, Tim David explores the powerful role communication, recognition, and human connection play in recruitment and retention. Attendees will discover practical strategies and “magic words” that help people feel valued, motivated, and committed — creating stronger teams and healthier workplace cultures, even during challenging times.  
Speakers
avatar for Tim David

Tim David

Tim David Speaks
Like you, former magician, author, and human connection expert, Tim David is frustrated by what is
happening to the quality of communication in our modern world. Can more connection really increase
the bottom line and improve the quality of our lives at the same time? Will better... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 1:15pm - 2:30pm EDT
710/712

3:00pm EDT

Technology 101: Integrating Technology Into Human Services
Wednesday June 10, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
As the world of human services changes, it's more important than ever to deliver care that respects privacy, safety, and independence while keeping people connected to their communities. This presentation dives into the shift toward cutting-edge, technology-driven care models that follow CMS's Final Settings Rule. We'll explore why traditional group care falls short and how next-generation solutions can better serve semi-independent and vulnerable individuals. 

Key topics include how remote and in-home support technologies are making it possible to deliver faster, more flexible care, even in hard-to-reach places. Attendees will learn 5 key characteristics of a strong technology partner in order to prepare for moving to next gen services. We’ll also share insight on GoodLife’s award-winning Neighborhood Network and Shared Living models, which show how technology is not just improving care but changing lives for the better. Lastly, we'll tackle the tricky balance between protecting privacy and meeting care needs, and highlight how dedicated Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) play a crucial role in making this all work. With real-life examples and hands-on strategies, we'll show how these new models don't just boost quality of life-they're also the future of a stronger, more stable direct support workforce. This session is for anyone ready to push the limits and drive person-centered care with practical, game-changing solutions. 


Speakers
avatar for Mike Strouse, PhD

Mike Strouse, PhD

President and CEO, GoodLife Innovations
For more than 30 years Mike has led GoodLife Innovations, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Mike’s extensive work encompasses research, development, refinement, and dissemination of evidence-based, nationally-regarded, community service models that consistently produce person-centered... Read More →
Wednesday June 10, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
710/712
 
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