Building a High-Performance, Inclusive Culture

Join New Hampshire business owners and leaders for an discussion of the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as a business practice. While remaining accessible and valuable for first time attendees, each session develops and builds on the last and highlights specific aspects of DEI in the workplace.

Our next session, May 25, 2023 at the Manchester Country Club, will focus on DEI as a crucial component of a recruitment and retention strategy.

Registration and more information coming soon.

September 2022 event recap:

About this event: The three-part program featured a keynote presentation from Christa Kirby covering “Emotional Intelligence: The Bedrock of Inclusion.” Then, participants dived into guided table discussions, exploring DEI challenges and successes they’ve encountered in their own workplaces and lives. The event culminated in a panel discussion featuring top DEI professionals from NH businesses as well as the DEI consulting world responding to helping illuminate the issues raised in the panel discussion. 

September 2022 Event Panelists:

• Zaineb Haider, Senior Advisor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Cigna
• Javier Barrientos, Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Point32Health
• James McKim, President, NAACP, Manchester, NH branch
• Rebecca Sanborn, J.D., President/Founder, Sanborn Diversity Training Solutions, LLC
• Keynote address: Christa Kirby, Corporate Education Group (CEG)

May 2022 event recap:

About this event: Proven research demonstrates that diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is a powerful driver for business performance and innovation. But what does and should DEI mean to business owners and operators? At this event, business leaders will develop an enhanced understanding of what DEI is from a business perspective, how it can improve organizational performance as well as practical steps they can take away to create a powerful, creative, innovative and supportive culture.

Topics covered included:

• Recruitment and retention
• Marketing through a DEI lens
• Setting and achieving DEI goals
• Leading NH companies’ DEI experiences and outcomes
• And more

This three-part program featured an opening overview from James McKim, managing partner at Organizational Ignition and author of the new book, “The Diversity Factor: Igniting Superior Organizational Performance.” Then, a panel of consultants specializing in DEI and moderated by Lisa Carter, owner of Drinkwater Marketing, dived into a broad overview of the field as seen across their many clients in New Hampshire and beyond. Finally, a panel of DEI officers from New Hampshire companies, moderated by Zaineb Haider, Senior Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisor at Cigna, shared their practical experiences in leading their companies’ DEI efforts.

May 2022 Event Panelists:

• Aura Huot, Director of People and Culture, Lavalley Brensinger Architects
• David Pease, Senior Vice President, Director of Talent and Diversity, Bangor Savings Bank
• Kevin J. Rash, Chief Business Diversity Officer, Point32 Health
• Zaineb Haider, Senior Advisor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Cigna
• Armando G. Llorente, Manager, Llorente HR Consulting LLC
• Sydney Scott, Author, “Body-Image Blueprint”
• Keynote address: James McKim, President, NAACP Manchester

September 2021 event recap:

The September 2021 workshop, led by experts in the DEI field, including business owners, helped companies just starting to work on diversity principles and those who are already strongly invested, improve their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) foundations.

After a panel discussion from our experts, attendees had the opportunity for an honest discussion and set the agenda for a follow-up meetings, giving companies executing changes to share their process and results.

Event Panelists:

• Will Arvelo, Executive Director of Cross Roads House, Portsmouth, NH
• Deo Mwano, Managing Principal Consultant of Deo Mwano Consultancy
• Allyson Ryder, Assistant Director of UNH Office of Community, Equity and Diversity
• Kevin J. Rasch, Chief Business Diversity Officer of Point32 Health

The event was moderated by Lisa Carter, Founder / Chief Engagement Officer of Drinkwater Marketing & Productions