Ģ����Ƶ

Hamza Khan
Future of Work and People-First Leadership Expert | Bestselling Author

Hamza Khan believes the future of work is more human, not less. He's on a mission to help organizations achieve inclusive and sustainable growth by rehumanizing the workplace. Rather than be reactive to rapidly changing external conditions, Khan shows leaders to embrace a bold "people first" approach to better support diverse, engaged, and connected teams in a hybrid environment. In doing so, they'll unlock the tremendous upside of a loyal, thriving, and innovative workforce. Rehumanizing workplaces is the winning strategy of the future.

Khan is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, bestselling author, and world-renowned keynote speaker whose TEDx talk “Stop Managing, Start Leading” has been viewed over two million times. He has spoken on various global stages, including the World Youth Forum, and his clients have included some of the world’s most dynamic companies and organizations, such as Microsoft, PepsiCo, LinkedIn, Deloitte, Salesforce, TikTok, and hundreds of colleges and universities. These leading organizations trust Khan to inspire modern leadership, unleash purposeful productivity, transcend burnout culture, and embrace constant change.

As a trusted thought leader, Khan’s insights have been featured by notable media outlets such as Inc., Bloomberg, and Business Insider. He is also the bestselling author of The BurnoutGamble: Achieve More by Beating Burnout and Building Resilience and Leadership, Reinvented. Through his writing, speaking, teaching, and executive coaching, Khan empowers people to evolve and thrive in the future of work.

This 60-minute workshop will equip federal managers and executives with practical tools and strategies to create an inclusive and belonging workplace. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of creating such an environment and learn how to implement practices that promote a positive and supportive work environment.

• Understanding of the importance of belonging and inclusion in the workplace.
• Identification of common barriers to inclusion.
• Strategies for creating an inclusive and belonging workplace culture.
• 1-page Tools & Tips for creating inclusive environments and fostering belonging.

Angela Chiarenza
Consultant, Executive Coach & Facilitator, TactileWorx, LLC

Angela leverages over 19 years of experience in talent development, corporate and executive education, coaching, and athletics to drive impactful leadership development and organizational change through coaching and facilitation. As an ICF Certified Coach, an adjunct faculty member at Ģ����Ƶ, a seasoned consultant, the Head of Global Learning and Development for a start-up, and a former Division Irowing coach, Angela has empowered individuals and teams across diverse industries, including gaming and entertainment, start-ups, defense and aerospace, healthcare, international finance, education, and government. Her expertise spans leadership development, operations, diversity and inclusion, executive coaching, facilitation, and program design. She co-authored "Pause || A Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Journal," further demonstrating her commitment to building inclusive and high-performing teams. Angela’s diverse background and fresh, creative perspective allow her to tailor solutions and accelerate growth for individuals and organizations.

Leading people and organizations are too important to leave to chance. This session explores the important elements of leadership. It introduces a leadership framework and provides tools to work effectively within the framework. It helps leaders better understand themselves and their organizations. We will celebrate the important role we play as civil servants in the service of our country and how we can better lead our organization, take care of ourselves and each other, embrace learning, give and receive feedback, and ultimately articulate the legacy you would like to leave.

• Understand the importance of a leadership framework as a strategic tool;
• Develop strategies to work within the framework to guide strategic, operational and people leadership; and maintain alignment with all stakeholders;
• Develop an awareness of individual strengths when leading and developing a team;
• Understand the importance of personal wellness and its impact on your effectiveness at work;
• Develop a learning and growth mindset; and, the importance of giving and receiving feedback factoring into individual development and innovation within our organization;
• Bridge the gaps to align political appointee and career staff dynamics;
• Create your legacy.

Dave Lebryk
Fiscal Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of the Treasury

David A. Lebryk was appointed the Fiscal Assistant Secretary on June 30, 2014. The Fiscal Assistant Secretary is the Department’s most senior career position. As the Fiscal Assistant Secretary, Mr. Lebryk is responsible for developing policy and overseeing the operations of the financial infrastructure of the federal government.

Mr. Lebryk has served the Department of the Treasury with distinction in numerous policy and operations positions during his 30-plus years of federal service. He has served under 11 Secretaries of the Treasury and has been an advisor to two Deputy Secretaries and three Undersecretaries for Domestic Finance.

Mr. Lebryk has received numerous awards for leadership including Ģ����Ƶ’s 2014 Roger W. Jones Award for Executive Leadership; The Association of Government Accountants’(AGA) 2018 Elmer Staat’s Award for outstanding leadership, high ethical standards, and innovation; the AGA’s 2020 Frank Greathouse Distinguished Leadership Award; and three Presidential Rank Awards. He is included in Federal Computing World’s list of 100 outstanding individuals. He is an elected Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administrations.

Mr. Lebryk graduated with an A.B. in Economics from Harvard University and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

In this case study, we delve into a comprehensive analysis of behavioral research aimed at enhancing team effectiveness. This study entails a two-year collaborative research initiative that culminated in the development of a scientifically grounded methodology for optimizing team-building strategies within your organization.��

1. Understand Team Dynamics: After reviewing this case study, learners will be able to comprehend the complexities of team dynamics and recognize that the success of a team is not solely dependent on individual skills but is heavily influenced by group dynamics and interactions among team members.��
2. Identify the Pillars of Team Effectiveness: Learners will be able to identify and describe the five fundamental pillars of team effectiveness, including psychological safety, dependability, structure and clarity, meaning, and impact. They will understand how these pillars collectively support and enhance team performance, fostering innovation and job satisfaction.��
3. Understand the Role of Psychological Safety: Participants will gain a deep appreciation for the concept of psychological safety in the workplace and understand its critical role in promoting open��communication, risk-taking, and the sharing of ideas. They will also be able to explain why psychological safety is a crucial factor in determining team success.��

These objectives will help learners acquire knowledge and insights about team dynamics, psychological safety, and the foundational elements of effective teamwork as presented in the case study.��

Dr. Kyle Bradshaw
Fire Chief, Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue

Dr. Kyle Bradshaw specializes in behavioral science grounded in academic qualitative studies.

Dr. Bradshaw is the current Fire Chief of Cedar Hammock Fire Control District. He is a Certified Labor Relations Professional (FPELRA) and Certified District Manager (CDM). His more than thirty years of experience includes Executive Management as Assistant Chief – Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief, Arson Investigations Commander, and Internal Affairs Commander.��
��
Dr. Bradshaw has served as an adjunct professor for several universities and colleges and is a charter member of the International Academy of Fire & Emergency Services Scholars. ��
��
Dr. Bradshaw earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration, a Master of Science in Executive Fire Service Leadership, a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security and Public Safety. ��

Delve into the realm of authentic workplace dynamics. Uncover the transformative influence of authenticity on both productivity and organizational culture. Engage in enriching dialogues and illustrative scenarios that will compel participants to embrace a more genuine approach in their interactions, fostering improved communication and heightened collaboration. Gain profound insights into personal and collective motivations through the unique lens of the saboteur, the guardian of your power of choice. Depart empowered not only with the tools to present your "Whole Best Self" but also with a renewed sense of purpose and determination to effect positive change within your professional environment.

Erika Davis
Founder & CEO, Exhale Consulting

Erika's successful and multifaceted federal career includes engineering, program management, strategic planning, workforce, leadership, and organizational development. Her expertise includes leveraging strategic thought with inclusive leadership to drive change and innovation. With a strong focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, she oversaw programs with budgets up to $20 million in various programs from Sustainable Operations to the Chief Information Office to Information Management.

From her strategic facilitation of engagement sessions to enhance employee experiences and foster teamwork to developing her team members to deliver more, Erika knows that investing in people is the key to unlocking individual and organizational potential. Her exceptional conflict resolution abilities and eye for identifying inefficiencies and transforming them into streamlined processes enable her to be a valuable strategic partner for her client companies at both the organizational and individual leader levels.

Erika launched her business in 2020 as a strategic partner and consultant to socially responsible corporations and non-profits. Leveraging her collaboration, project planning, and stakeholder engagement skills, she crafts high-impact strategic plans. Erika supports organizational alignment and the development of actionable steps to drive projects with precision and purpose. Her trainings include Authenticity in the Workplace, Conflict in Conversations, Career Strengths, and Leading in a Hybrid Environment.

Managers and executives need practical skills to lead diverse teams effectively and foster inclusive environments. In this workshop, Dr. Kristy K. Taylor, author of Introduction to the REBT DEIA Framework and expert in leadership development, will guide participants through a servant leadership approach using the REBT DEIA Framework.

Designed for leaders looking for actionable strategies, this session provides clear, practical skills that can be applied immediately to promote inclusivity, drive engagement, and lead with empathy. Attendees will gain tools to address irrational beliefs that impede organizational culture, cultivate a culture of accountability, and create a resilient workplace, while simultaneously leading change.

• Apply the REBT DEIA Framework to integrate servant leadership principles into change management practices.
• Develop strategies to identify and challenge limiting beliefs that impede inclusivity and organizational culture.
• Learn practical techniques to foster inclusive decision-making and build a culture of accountability.
• Gain immediate, actionable tools to enhance team engagement, trust, and communication.
• Build a resilient workplace culture that supports continuous improvement and adapts to change effectively.

Dr. Kristy Taylor
Certified Career and Executive Coach & Founder, WORxK Solutions, LLC

Dr. Kristy K. Taylor, founder of WORxK Solutions, LLC, has lectured at Yale University, was named one of Harvard’s Women in Higher Educational Leadership, and is a Higher Education Leadership Fellow (HELF). A military veteran, author, and Certified Professional Career & Executive Coach.��
Dr Taylor specializes in career branding, DEIA, and organizational development services, utilizing her REBT DEIA Framework to build resilient teams. She has facilitated workshops for organizations like Walmart and Pathways to Housing DC and has been a featured guest on multiple podcasts and summits.

Federal executives face the challenge of balancing complex responsibilities while maintaining influence and driving performance. This session equips leaders with practical tools to cultivate a powerful presence that enhances their ability to lead confidently and communicate effectively under pressure. Attendees will explore how to strengthen emotional self-awareness, develop a clear thought leadership stance, and master communication skills to drive organizational success.

Through hands-on activities and real-world scenarios, participants will leave with actionable strategies that can be applied in the workplace the very next day. This session addresses the specific needs of federal managers and executives, focusing on practical executive skills that promote clear leadership, build trust, and improve team engagement.

1. Develop emotional self-awareness: Learn practical strategies to manage stress and maintain composure, even in high-pressure situations
   1. Takeaway: A quick emotional regulation technique for managing stress before any key meeting.��
2. Identify and articulate a unique point of view as a thought leader: Gain clarity on personal leadership strengths and how to express them effectively in any leadership setting.
   1. Takeaway: A framework for developing and expressing your unique leadership voice in a way that aligns with your agency’s goals.��
3. Improve communication skills for clarity and influence: Learn how to structure messages to ensure they are understood and inspire action, especially when managing up.
   1. Takeaway: A step-by-step approach to crafting messages that resonate with senior leadership and cross-functional teams��
4. Inspire and engage teams for better collaboration and performance: Use presence to build trust, align teams, and foster a culture of collaboration and resilience.
   1. Takeaway: A guide to increasing team engagement and aligning team efforts with leadership priorities in the federal environment.

Robin Camarote
Facilitator, Strategic Communications Consultant, & Executive Coach

Robin Camarote is a seasoned executive coach, facilitator, and strategic communications consultant with a knack for helping leaders unlock their full potential. With over 24 years of experience working with federal agencies, non-profits, and private sector clients, Robin has become an expert in helping executives master the art of presence—enabling them to lead with clarity, confidence, and conviction.��

Robin has facilitated high-stakes meetings for organizations like the National Park Service, EPA, and Internal Revenue Service, where her practical strategies have transformed team dynamics and improved leadership performance. Known for blending tough love with actionable insights, Robin challenges her clients to rethink their approach to leadership, empowering them to communicate more effectively and inspire their teams to greater success.��

An engaging speaker, Robin has shared her insights on leadership and executive presence at key conferences, including TEDx Youth at Berwyn and the National Facilities Management and Technology Conference. She's also a best-selling author and columnist forInc.com, where she shares practical advice on leading with impact.

Lessons from operating a 70-year-old federal laboratory.

This presentation and Q&A will highlight the work we’ve done at Plum Island Animal Disease Center to enable safe and effective operations and encourage the entire workforce to prepare and lean into change. We’ll talk about Plum Island, the changes coming and the uncertainty that led to challenges. I’ll discuss how we tried and struggled to communicate with our team. Following some concerning events, we rebooted our efforts and focused on reconnecting with the mission while guiding our team to a place of agency rather than powerlessness or complacency in the face of change. I’ll focus on efforts at the organizational and individual level to make space for complex emotions and difficult conversations. Organizational change is unique in experience, but I’ve seen reorgs, disasters, pandemics and now am leading this team to a new future – let me share what I’ve seen and how that supports anyone guiding people through change.

Tod Companion, PhD
Director, Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC), U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Dr. Tod Companion is the Director of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC). The lab and its staff of nearly 400 employees provide a host of high-impact, preparedness, and response capabilities, including vaccine research and development, diagnostics, training, and bioforensics. Prior to joining PIADC, Dr. Companion was Director of Program Management for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Mission Capability Support, leading a large team to deliver capabilities to DHS components. Tod’s 20 years of experience in civil service includes strategic thinking and planning, emergency management, science and technology policy, standards, public health, and spaceflight mission planning. In the last few years, Tod led the revitalization of S&T program and project management and led the DHS research and development response to COVID-19, receiving the Secretary’s Pandemic Heroism citation. Tod has also been recognized by DHS for his commitment to Joy in the Office, Service and Leadership. Tod joined DHS in 2005 after beginning federal service at NASA, following graduate work in immunology, biochemistry, and public health.��

All leaders navigate change. Few do it effectively. This session brings together a panel of experts in change management to share actionable ways attendees can inspire their teams even in times of intense change. Panelists will engage with the audience and share tips to navigate specific challenges such as reorganizations, layoffs, project shifts, and culture changes.

• Leaders are not inherently inspiring. They inspire through actions.
• Leaders must meet people where they are and be proactive when change happens.
• Leaders need to be more visible during change, not less.

Martina Fongyen��
Workforce Transformation Practice Lead, The Cadmus Group

As the Workforce Transformation Practice Lead at Cadmus, Martina Fongyen helps organizations evolve by aligning people, actions, and results. A collaborative leader, she elevates her team of experts to pave new paths to success in the workplace and beyond, removing roadblocks to high-growth, high-demand careers for people with disabilities and underserved communities. She uses her 20+ year career in global development, ed-tech, and consulting across multiple federal, private sector, and international partners to guide clients through complex change and come out stronger. Passionate about mentoring others to achieve their personal and professional goals, she is a trusted advisor to many. Her commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) permeates everything she does, from her career choices to coaching Girls on the Run and serving as an NAACP-Parent Equity Representative in her community.  ��

Julie Jean-Louis
Talent Management and Workforce Transformation Consultant, The Cadmus Group

Julie Jean-Louis is an experienced Talent Management and Workforce Transformation consultant with 12 years of experience in delivering strategic solutions to drive organizational growth and workforce optimization. Proven track record in both internal corporate consulting and client-facing consulting in federal environments supporting clients like Department of Commerce, Department of Labor, and U.S. General Services Administration, with expertise in talent acquisition, change management, project management, and workforce planning. Julie helps organizations navigate complexity—culture, operations, and process—focusing on the people side of change. She is driven by a commitment to building resilience and advancing social equity within organizations and communities.��

Kelly Stuck
Senior Specialist, The Cadmus Group

Kelly Stuck is a senior specialist working in Cadmus’ strategy and transformation service area, primarily supporting the communication and change management practice. She has over 20 years of experience as an organized, energetic, and client-focused professional leading successful communications, engagement, and technology adoption efforts. She works with a variety of private sector and federal agency clients, most recently leading executive level, strategic communications and employee engagement campaigns at the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Mint. Kelly is an innovative, detail oriented, and effective leader—skilled at seeing the big picture while identifying and expertly executing tasks. She has a reputation for sparking positivity and laughter, fueling creativity and fun at work. Kelly holds an MBA from George Mason University and a bachelor’s in business marketing from James Madison University.��

Lisa Wolfe
Senior Associate, The Cadmus Group

Lisa Wolfe, Cadmus Senior Associate, has over 23 years of leadership experience as a strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and change management professional and is recognized as a Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute. Lisa Wolfe has spent her career optimizing processes and motivating people to embrace transformational change. As a former media executive, she leverages her research, writing, and presentation experience to support her clients with interpersonal, program, and enterprise change management and communications strategies and tactics. Lisa is a committed, detail-oriented collaborator and brings an entrepreneurial spirit and optimistic mindset to every task.

Pithy Punchy and Powerful��
This session will help current and emerging leaders prepare and deliver great speeches and presentations.

• Crafting a catchy opening, but—importantly—being sure to bookend that with a closing that relates back to the opening;
• Resisting the temptation to start with a litany of thank-yous;
• Developing clear and memorable phrases that everyone can understand;
• Using sequencing to build crescendos and add oomph;
• Changing speech patterns to make listeners lean forward in anticipation (using several dimensions: speeding up and slowing down your cadence, modulating your voice louder and softer, mixing short sentences with occasional longer ones);
• Using simple verbal cues that will ensure the audience hears your most important points;
• Perhaps most importantly, focusing on the listeners’ needs and answering the question of “What’s in it for me?” ��

Mark Lee Greenblatt
Inspector General, U.S. Department of the Interior

The Honorable Mark Lee Greenblatt began his tenure as the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)on August 26, 2019, after being confirmed by the U.S. Senate. As the Inspector General, Mr. Greenblatt leads a nationwide workforce of investigators, auditors, evaluators, attorneys, and support staff. Their mission is to provide independent oversight to promote accountability, integrity, economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within the DOI. Mr. Greenblatt is the senior official responsible for providing oversight of the programs and operations of the DOI, which has more than 70,000 employees and a range of diverse programs, including roughly $10 billion in grants and contracts, $20 billion in natural resource revenues, Federal trust responsibilities to 574 federally recognized Indian Tribes and Alaska Native villages, stewardship of 20percentof the Nation’s lands, and management of lands, subsurface rights, and offshore areas that produce approximately 17 percent of the Nation’s energy.��
In December 2022, Mr. Greenblatt was elected by the membership of the 74 Federal inspectors general to serve as the Chair of the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE). Mr. Greenblatt’s2-year term as Chair began on January 1, 2023. In this role, he leads the Inspector General community’s mission to combat fraud, waste, and mismanagement. From January 2021 to December 2022, Mr. Greenblatt served as the CIGIE Vice Chair.��

Mr. Greenblatt has been in the Federal oversight community since 2003 as part of the legislative and executive branches. Before becoming the DOI Inspector General, he served as the executive director of CIGIE. He previously held leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Mr. Greenblatt also served as an investigative counsel at the U.S. Department of Justice OIG. Over the course of his Federal career, he has received several awards, including a CIGIE award for excellence, U.S. Department of Commerce gold medal and bronze medals, and a U.S. Department of Justice OIG distinguished service award.��
Mr. Greenblatt served as a Federal law clerk, was a litigator at two large, international law firms, and is a published author.��
Mr. Greenblatt graduated from Columbia University School of Law, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, and earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University. He also completed the Senior Managers in Government Fellowship at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

The Federal Executive Boards (FEBs) serve as strategic conveners and force multipliers across 26 locations nationwide, connecting federal agency field and regional leadership to strengthen service delivery, foster interagency collaboration, and advance priorities at the local level. Through this dynamic session, learn how OPM and OMB's innovative partnership transformed these vital institutions. Drawing from this successful reimagining, participants will explore proven strategies for building cross-agency coalitions, fostering sustainable stakeholder relationships, and driving measurable change. Learn practical techniques for navigating power dynamics, influencing without authority, and building trust across diverse stakeholder groups. This interactive session demonstrates how to align competing priorities, measure impact, and institutionalize best practices while strengthening ECQ-based leadership competencies. Ideal for those leading transformation efforts or seeking to enhance their change management capabilities through collaborative leadership approaches.

• Best practices for building trust and alignment across agencies and stakeholder groups, with practical tools for fostering collaboration and influencing without authority
• Insights on reimagining long-standing institutions through the FEB transformation case study
• Actionable strategies for leveraging data and metrics to track progress and demonstrate results
• Proven, ECQ-based strategies for leading complex change through collaboration
• Practical tips for enhancing organizational impact, reach, and sustainability
• Techniques for developing strong interpersonal and organizational relationships to drive change

Whether leading transformation efforts or seeking fresh approaches to tackle complex challenges, this session offers valuable insights and practical strategies applicable across sectors and levels.

Kristy Daphnis
Acting Deputy Assistant Director, Performance and Personnel Management, U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB)��
Kristy Daphnis is a career Senior Executive in the Office of Performance and Personnel Management at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), serving as Chief of the Federal Workforce Branch and currently Acting in the role of Deputy Associate Director for Management. The Office of Performance and Personnel Management leads governmentwide work on agency performance management and strategic planning, customer experience, using data and evidence to inform policy, and Federal workforce policy. The Federal Workforce Branch is focused on the use of Federal human capital data, shared services, civil service innovation and reform, the future of work, employee engagement, and effective management of the Federal workforce - comprised of over 2.1 million employees.��

Complementary to these priorities, she co-leads implementation of Priority 1 of the President’s Management Agenda(Strengthening and Empowering the Federal Workforce) and, helps lead implementation of Executive Order 14035:Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce. Collectively, the work of Kristy’s team involves collaboration with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and General Services Administration agency leadership teams, and engagement with senior leaders and executives from agencies across the Government. In her 20-years at OMB, Kristy has worked on a variety of government management topics nationally and internationally including human capital and strategic workforce management, information technology and information security policy, health information technology, legislative review, and regulatory review and reform. Kristy began her career as a Presidential Management Fellow in the Justice Management Division at the U.S. Department of Justice, after receiving her B.A. and B.S. from Michigan State University and her Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan School of Public Health (SPH).She also holds a certificate in Executive Leadership from Ģ����Ƶ’s School of Public Affairs, and serves on the Advisory Board for the Griffith Leadership Center within the University of Michigan SPH.
��
In her free time, Kristy is an active volunteer and advocate in the areas of transportation equity and safety, policing, youth education and engagement, and community development. She currently serves as a Commissioner (volunteer) on Montgomery County’s Advisory Commission on Policing, a Member of the Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, a Girl Scout Troop leader, and is a founding Steering Committee Member of the Montgomery County Chapter of Families for Safe Streets. Kristy resides just outside of Washington, D.C., in Wheaton, Maryland, where she enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children.

Kelly L. DeGraff
Deputy Associate Director, Federal Executive Boards (FEBs), U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

Ms. Kelly L. DeGraff serves as the Deputy Associate Director for Federal Executive Boards (FEBs) at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. She provides strategic direction and executive leadership to a network of senior leaders from various federal agencies' regional and field offices, who serve on the FEBs, linking federal operations and communities nationwide. Under DeGraff's guidance, FEBs facilitate interagency collaboration, coordinate responses to local challenges, and promote efficient government services for the 85% of federal employees working outside the nation’s capital. Her role ensures cohesive operations and driving initiatives that strengthen federal presence in communities, streamline cross-agency processes, and enhance public service delivery.��

Prior to her appointment at OPM, she held executive roles at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Here she served as the Deputy Assistant Administrator (Acting) of the National Preparedness Directorate where her responsibilities included executive oversight of seven national programs and two academic institutions, notably the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP). Her tenure at FEMA also saw her managing over $20 billion in funds as the Assistant Administrator (Acting) of Resilience's Fund Management Directorate. Additionally, as the Director of Insurance and Mitigation Readiness, Ms. DeGraff led the restructuring of a complex, geographically dispersed workforce of over 1,800 staff, through effective change management and stakeholder engagement.

Ms. DeGraff's career also includes work with AmeriCorps, where she served as the Director of Disaster Services and Senior Advisor to the White House. During her tenure, she was instrumental in launching national programs such as the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps, FEMA Corps, and Resilience AmeriCorps. Additionally, she led the design and implementation of a $27 million roadmap for Gulf Coast ecosystem restoration and the launch of new disaster services office.��
An advocate for continuous learning, Ms. DeGraff is a Yale Global Executive Fellow and a Harvard Senior Executive Fellow. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Government.��

She is a member of the Senior Executive Service and her contributions to public service are recognized through several awards, including the 2023 Robert M. Tobias Achievement Award from Ģ����Ƶ and the 2016 Presidents Award for Public Service and Civic Engagement. She was also a finalist for the 2014 Partnership for Public Service Samuel J. Heyman Award. She has two sons and lives in Maryland with her husband.

Laura Schwartz is an unforgettable, high-energy speaker who propels your audience to the next level in business and beyond. She is a fierce advocate for the meetings industry and has been a leader during its ever changing landscape during this pandemic by reaching out to others and sharing best practices. Laura has been named One of the 100 Most Influential People in the Global Events Industry by Eventex in 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019. One of the Best Keynote Speakers by Meetings and Conventions Magazine and one of seven American speakers who exceed and surpass expectations by Successful Meetings Magazine. Along with her cast of ITV London, Laura and team won the prestigious Drum Awards "Podcast of the Year" in 2021.

Whether on your stage or delivering a virtual keynote through your screen; Laura connects to your audience, to your brand, to your objective, to people. She taps into her experience to forge a meaningful connection, whether she’s facilitating an intimate conversation on stage or addressing a crowd of 30,000 people.

From her roots as the White House Director of Events, to drawing on her experience as a guest host for Larry King, the guiding principles of her best-selling book, Eat, Drink & Succeed and her globe-trotting career as an emcee and keynote, Laura Schwartz brings her exuberant spirit and professional-speaking expertise to motivate and inspire leaders across the globe and all industries delivering a powerful message to every audience — connecting them with her client’s goals to create a lasting impact for every live and virtual event.

Laura is known for reaching out everyday to fellow speakers and event planners to simply ask,��
"How are you? What can I do for you?" And then, share best practices in this new virtual/hybrid world so that not just herself but an industry can succeed.��

As a personal note, Laura grew up with a speech impediment. At 3yrs old she began 7 years of speech therapy & went from not being able to talk to speaking for a living. She loves what she does & the industry she serves. She treats & empowers all with respect, kindness & puts THEIR message first.

Laura and her wife reside in Chicago where they are involved in civic and philanthropic endeavors with the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab and the Economic Club of Chicago. Globally, Laura serves as an active board member of the Clean the World Foundation, the United Nation’s WASH Cluster and the American Heart Association.