2026 Conference Keynote Speaker & Workshops
2026 EWTG Annual Professional Development Conference
Embrace Your Power!
Keynote Speaker & Workshops
Mind Over Mountains: Building Resilient Leaders Through Self-Leadership, Mental Well-Being, and Burnout Prevention
🎤 Presented By
Tia Banks
Founder & President, Mind Over Mountains Inc. | International Award-Winning Speaker | Certified Resilience Expert | Mountaineer
Mind Over Mountains
📖 About the Session
Recognize the signs of stress and burnout while learning practical resilience strategies to protect mental well-being and sustain long-term leadership effectiveness.
Apply the POLE POLE Framework to strengthen self-leadership, navigate challenges with confidence, and respond to adversity with resilience.
Build a resilient workplace culture by fostering psychological safety, empowering others, and leading in ways that promote trust, collaboration, and well-being.
🎤 Meet the Speaker
Tia Banks
Tia Banks is an international award-winning speaker, former professional athlete, CEO of Mind Over Mountains, Director of Chapters for the Next Level Speakers Academy, author, and accomplished mountaineer. With more than 15 years of leadership, training, and speaking experience, Tia empowers leaders, organizations, and teams to strengthen resilience, emotional intelligence, and sustainable leadership performance.
Known for her powerful storytelling and transformational leadership framework, Polé Polé—Swahili for “slowly, slowly”—Tia teaches leaders how to navigate pressure, adversity, burnout, and change while maintaining clarity, confidence, and purpose. Her work integrates evidence-based resilience strategies, positive psychology principles, and practical leadership tools that create lasting impact both personally and professionally.
Tia’s professional background includes leadership and training roles with Fortune 500 companies, nonprofit leadership service, and national speaking engagements focused on culture, resilience, and mental wellness. A trailblazer in the mountaineering world, she became the second Black woman to summit Pico de Orizaba, the highest volcano in North America, in addition to summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Through her signature Mind Over Mountains movement, Tia inspires audiences nationwide to rise above limitations, lead with resilience, and embrace the Polé Polé mindset: moving with intention, endurance, and the courage to keep climbing.
Power and Presence: The Leadership Advantage of EQ in a Digital World
Presented By
Tamara Fields
US Public Service Industry Lead & Austin Office Managing Director
Accenture
Chelsa Vinklarek
Deputy Director, Fiscal Management Division
State of Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
📖 About the Session
In a digital-first world, leadership is no longer defined by expertise alone—it is defined by presence. Leaders who embrace their power show up with clarity, authenticity, and emotional intelligence, creating environments where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to perform at their best.
This session explores how leaders can leverage emotional intelligence (EQ) as a true leadership advantage—especially in technology-driven environments where complexity, pace, and diverse perspectives are the norm. Drawing on real-world experiences from Texas public sector leadership, participants will discover how to move beyond transactional leadership and instead build meaningful connection, trust, and influence.
Participants will learn how to flex their leadership style to meet the needs of diverse and intergenerational teams, using EQ to navigate challenges, strengthen relationships, and drive better outcomes. The discussion also highlights the critical role of mental and emotional wellness—not as a "nice to have," but as a foundation for sustained leadership effectiveness.
Designed through the lens of women in leadership, this session reinforces that power isn't about volume or control—it's about consistency, self-awareness, and presence. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to strengthen leadership presence, apply EQ in everyday interactions, and lead with confidence in today's rapidly evolving workplace.
🎤 Meet the Speakers
Tamara Fields
Tamara Fields serves as Accenture's U.S. Public Service Industry Lead and Austin Office Managing Director. She is responsible for driving innovation, operational excellence, and talent development across public sector organizations, helping government agencies modernize operations and deliver better outcomes through technology and transformation.
With more than two decades of experience, Tamara is recognized as a leader in large-scale transformation, program management, and digital modernization. She has partnered with federal, state, and local government organizations to deliver strategic, mission-driven results.
Chelsa Vinklarek
Chelsa Vinklarek serves as Deputy Director in the Fiscal Management Division at the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. She has more than a decade of experience supporting statewide initiatives and leading enterprise technology platforms serving agencies across Texas government.
A certified ITIL Master and Agile practitioner, Chelsa is known for connecting technology and business strategy while keeping people at the center of transformation. Her leadership experience includes PeopleSoft enterprise environments and strategic modernization initiatives.
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Strengthen leadership presence by applying emotional intelligence to build trust and influence.
- Adapt leadership styles to effectively lead diverse and multigenerational teams.
- Incorporate mental and emotional wellness practices that support resilient, high-performing teams.
Embrace Your Strengths: Turning Self-Awareness into Personal Power
Presented By
Michele Mulryan
Strategic Management Analyst
Texas Department of Transportation
📖 About the Session
Understanding your strengths is one of the most powerful ways to build confidence, increase influence, and make a greater impact in your career. In this interactive session, participants will discover how identifying and intentionally applying their natural talents can improve workplace performance, communication, and collaboration.
Through guided reflection, practical exercises, and real-world scenarios, attendees will learn how to recognize their unique value, communicate their strengths with confidence, and apply them to everyday workplace challenges. The session also explores how recognizing strengths in others builds trust, strengthens teams, and creates a more positive and productive work environment.
Participants will leave with practical strategies, conversation starters, and resources they can immediately use to continue their personal and professional development, including simple ways to leverage AI tools to support strengths reflection and workplace problem-solving.
🎤 Meet the Speaker
Michele Mulryan
Michele Mulryan is a Strategic Management Analyst with the Texas Department of Transportation and a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach. She integrates strengths-based coaching, facilitation, and individual development into her work supporting strategic initiatives, innovation, and organizational effectiveness across the agency.
Michele facilitates strengths workshops, team sessions, and one-on-one coaching conversations that help employees translate self-awareness into improved performance, stronger relationships, and greater confidence. She also supports complex enterprise programs involving strategic planning, governance, executive communications, and cross-functional collaboration.
With more than a decade of experience in workforce development, career coaching, and training across nonprofit and public-sector organizations, Michele brings a practical and relatable approach to helping professionals discover their strengths and apply them to create meaningful impact in their careers.
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Identify and articulate personal strengths and recognize patterns that contribute to individual success.
- Develop strategies for recognizing, encouraging, and leveraging the strengths of colleagues to build trust and stronger collaboration.
- Explore practical ways to use AI tools to support strengths reflection, personal development, and workplace problem-solving.
Navigate Your Power: Leading Across Styles with Confidence and Impact
Presented By
Dr. Ceci Gomez
Site Coordinator
The PossAble Dream Adult High School
Ana Villarreal
Purchaser V
Texas Historical Commission
Christine Newell
Project Manager
Health & Human Services Commission
📖 About the Session
You do not need to change who you are to become a more effective leader. You need to understand how you lead and how others experience you.
In this highly interactive session, participants will explore the Leadership Compass, a practical framework that identifies four distinct leadership styles: North (Action), South (Empathy), East (Vision), and West (Analysis). Each style brings powerful strengths, but when overused or misunderstood, it can create communication breakdowns, slow progress, or team tension.
Through movement-based activities, small-group discussions, and real-world scenarios, participants will identify their natural leadership tendencies and experience how different leadership styles approach the same challenge. They will gain insight into how their style influences decision making, communication, and collaboration, and how to flex their approach to work more effectively with others.
This session helps participants recognize their natural strengths, expand beyond their default style, and lead with greater clarity, confidence, and adaptability. Participants will leave with practical tools and a shared language they can immediately apply to improve teamwork, reduce conflict, and increase their leadership impact.
🎤 Meet the Speakers
Dr. Ceci Gomez
Dr. Ceci Gomez is an accomplished educator, counselor, and community leader with more than 32 years of experience in education and student support services. She currently serves as the Site Coordinator and Dean of Academics at The PossAble Dream Adult High School in Brownsville, Texas, where she oversees campus operations and creates pathways for adult learners to earn their high school diploma, pursue industry based certifications, and access postsecondary opportunities.
Prior to her current role, Dr. Gomez served at Region One Education Service Center in the areas of College and Career Readiness and Mental Health, where she led professional development initiatives focused on student success, self care, mental health, and postsecondary access. She is certified in AS+K Suicide Prevention and Psychological First Aid and is a bilingual presenter and trainer in English and Spanish.
Dr. Gomez earned her Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and is deeply committed to empowering underserved communities through education, leadership, and civic engagement. She currently serves as President of the Rotary Club of Rancho Viejo and actively participates in multiple community organizations.
Ana Villarreal
Ana Villarreal Bachelor of Science Criminal Justice Administration with a minor in Business Management; Graduated Magna Cum Laude 11 years of service with Travis County Criminal Courts, recognized as employee of the year for the commitment to the Courts and Citizens of Texas.
8 years of service to the State of Texas working in offices of General Counsel, Administration, and Business & Financial Operations offices. 5 years of service to the community serving as the President of the St. Louis Women’s Club. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and attending Pilates classes.
Christine Newell
Christine Newell joined EWTG at the beginning of 2026 with a goal of building meaningful connections, growing professionally, and embracing every opportunity to learn.
Late in her career, Christine made the bold transition from the private sector in hospitality to the public sector in Information Technology, where she now serves as a Project Manager at the Health & Human Services Commission.
Driven by a passion for serving underserved communities, she is also an Executive Board Member supporting Austin State Hospital, its patients, and the staff who care for them. For Christine, embracing your power means recognizing the strength in continuously learning, growing, and moving forward with purpose.
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Learning objectives coming soon.
The AI-Powered Leader: How to Lead Smarter, Decide Faster, and Own Your Influence
Presented By
Patrice Malloy
CEO, CTA, CAiC
Unapologetic Affluence
📖 About the Session
Session description coming soon.
🎤 Meet the Speaker
Patrice Malloy
Patrice Malloy is a Fractional CFO, AI strategist, FinTech entrepreneur, and former C-suite executive with more than 20 years of experience across finance, taxation, technology, leadership, and enterprise transformation. Known as The Affluent CFO™ and AI Alchemist, Patrice helps leaders and organizations use financial intelligence, emerging technology, and strategic decision-making to increase clarity, capacity, and impact.
Her work sits at the intersection of leadership, innovation, and practical implementation. Patrice has advised executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals navigating rapid change, operational complexity, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence in the workplace. She specializes in making complex topics like AI, finance, and strategy accessible, actionable, and empowering.
As a speaker, Patrice brings a bold, relatable, and highly practical approach that helps audiences move from uncertainty to confident action. Her sessions are known for blending executive-level insight, real-world tools, cultural awareness, and energizing delivery. Patrice is passionate about helping women embrace their power, own their voice, and lead with clarity in a rapidly evolving world.
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Identify practical ways AI can support leadership, communication, and daily decision-making in government and public service environments.
- Use AI prompts to improve clarity, reduce overwhelm, prepare for meetings, and strengthen professional communication.
- Apply a simple leadership framework for using AI ethically while preserving human judgment, emotional intelligence, and authenticity.
From Responsibility to Influence: Embracing Your Power to Lead Where It Matters Most
Presented By
Christine Ashworth Mazerolle
Director of Contract Operations
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
📖 About the Session
In today’s public sector environment, leadership demands more than authority—it requires adaptability, resilience, and values-driven decision-making. From Responsibility to Influence challenges traditional notions of power by reframing leadership as something cultivated through everyday actions, not conferred by position.
Drawing on leadership themes from Born to Shine, this facilitated session creates a reflective and practical learning experience for women across all levels of government. Participants will explore how grit, self-belief, and collective leadership strengthen influence in high-pressure, highly visible environments. Through structured reflection and peer discussion, attendees will leave with actionable strategies they can immediately apply within their teams and organizations.
Learning Objectives Participants will be able to:
*Redefine leadership power as influence built through values, credibility, and resilience rather than formal authority
*Apply practical strategies to lead through uncertainty, public accountability, and complex organizational dynamics
*Strengthen team effectiveness by delegating intentionally and building capacity in others
*Reframe challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth and leadership development
🎤 Meet the Speaker
Christine Ashworth Mazerolle
Christine Ashworth Mazerolle is a strategic public sector leader with more than 25 years of experience advancing operational excellence across large, complex human services organizations, including the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). She has led high-impact initiatives that strengthen service delivery, improve outcomes for vulnerable populations, and drive organizational performance.
Christine holds a Master of Public Administration from Texas State University and is a Certified Leadership Consultant with Wiley's The Leadership Challenge. She is known for building high-performing teams, fostering resilient leadership cultures, and aligning strategy with mission-driven results.
She is also the author of Emotional Labor among Adult Protective Services In-Home and Facility Workers, contributing valuable insight into the workforce challenges within human services.
A sought-after keynote speaker and presenter, Christine has delivered at state and national conferences on leadership, organizational strategy, and the evolving demands of public service. She is deeply committed to empowering public sector professionals and advancing innovative, sustainable approaches that strengthen communities and improve lives.
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Learning objectives coming soon.
Power by Design: How Intentional Women Shape Their Leadership, Legacy, and Impact
Presented By
Dr. Carol Egele
Chief Operating Officer
Texas Historical Commission
📖 About the Session
In a world where women leaders are expected to deliver excellence while navigating complex systems, power cannot be left to chance. It must be designed. In this energizing and thought-provoking session, Dr. Carol Egele explores how executive women can embrace their power through intentional leadership—moving from accidental influence to purposeful impact.
Drawing from her upcoming book, Leading with Intention: Turning Effort Into Excellence, Dr. Egele reveals how clarity, ownership, and disciplined action become the foundation for a leadership presence that is both authentic and strategically visible. Participants will learn how to define what they stand for, claim their authority without apology, and build a legacy that strengthens their organizations and communities across Texas.
This session equips women with practical tools and a renewed sense of agency to lead boldly, elevate others, and shape the future with intention.
🎤 Meet the Speaker
Dr. Carol Egele
Dr. Carol Egele brings more than 18 years of distinguished service in Texas state government and currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Texas Historical Commission. In this capacity, she provides strategic oversight for human resources, information technology, procurement and contract services, marketing and public relations, the Office of Business Efficiency, and project management.
Dr. Egele holds five academic degrees, including a Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University and a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Abilene Christian University. She is a Certified Project Management Professional and a Certified Human Resources Professional.
Dedicated to leadership development, Dr. Egele has mentored and managed hundreds of professionals throughout her career. A native Texan, she is married, has one adult child, and also consults for small businesses as a business consultant.
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Learning objectives coming soon.
Embracing Your Power Through Emotional Intelligence
Presented By
Dr. Lucy Cabrera Conner
Regional Program Manager
Texas Department of State Health Services
📖 About the Session
Operating within the high-stakes arena of Texas state government demands more than technical expertise and regulatory knowledge; it requires unshakeable psychological resilience and strategic interpersonal influence. Aligned with the conference theme "Embrace Your Power," this interactive presentation redefines Emotional Intelligence (EI) from a soft skill into an essential power tool for public sector leaders.
Tailored specifically for executive women breaking systemic ceilings, professionals navigating complex bureaucracies, and students entering public service, this session tackles unique Lone Star challenges—from intense public scrutiny to shifting legislative mandates.
Utilizing a creative approach to Dr. Daniel Goleman's five-pillar framework, attendees will learn to diagnose their own "influence leaks" and implement concrete micro-habits to manage up, down, and across agency lines. Participants will leave empowered to assert authentic authority, bridge institutional gaps, and drive meaningful systemic change without compromising their well-being.
🎤 Meet the Speaker
Dr. Lucy Cabrera Conner
Dr. Lucy Conner is the Community Health Improvement Manager for the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Region 11. She leverages more than 15 years of dedicated public service experience working with underserved communities.
She holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Psychology and Biology, a Master of Public Health in Policy and Management from Texas A&M University, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Our Lady of the Lake University.
Dr. Conner began her career as an AmeriCorps volunteer with the Texas A&M Colonias Program in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. She later became a certified Community Health Worker (CHW) Instructor, training professionals throughout Region 11, and served as a Program Manager at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center overseeing major research grants.
Expertly blending state health infrastructure with organizational psychology, she uses emotional intelligence to empower teams and navigate complex bureaucratic frameworks. Outside of her professional career, Dr. Conner manages a working homestead ranch and enjoys music and movie nights with her daughters.
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Learning objectives coming soon.
Unscripted Confidence: How to Speak, Lead, and Show Up Without Overthinking
Presented By
Jill Pavlov
Comedian + Confident Communication Coach
Your Creative Concierge LLC dba Copy POP!
📖 About the Session
Confidence isn’t built in perfect conditions—it’s revealed in the moments you can’t plan for.
A question you weren’t expecting.
A meeting where you need to speak up.
An idea you know is good…but hesitate to share.
This interactive session challenges the idea that confidence comes from having the “perfect” words. Instead, it introduces a more powerful skill: the ability to think, respond, and communicate clearly in real time.
Blending improv-based techniques with practical communication strategy, attendees will learn how to quiet overthinking, trust their voice, and show up with presence—even when the stakes feel high.
Through simple, engaging exercises, participants will practice organizing their thoughts quickly, adapting to unexpected moments, and expressing themselves in a way that actually lands.
Because embracing your power isn’t about being polished—it’s about being able to show up fully, clearly, and confidently…even when it’s unscripted.
🎤 Meet the Speaker
Jill Pavlov
Jill Pavlov is a brand messaging coach, copywriter, and comedian who helps high-achieving women stop sounding like watered-down versions of themselves and start showing up as the powerful voices they are. With a B.A. in Theatre and a career that began interviewing A-list stars on Philadelphia’s top radio show, Jill knows what it takes to command a mic and captivate an audience.
Now the founder of Copy POP! and the signature program POP! Into Your Power, Jill blends improv, storytelling, and brand strategy to help women clarify their message, amplify their presence, and build personal brands that turn heads online and off. She’s funny, fierce, and deeply committed to making sure women stop playing small.
Whether she’s leading a workshop, coaching a reluctant expert into confidence, or riffing on stage, Jill’s mission is simple: help women stop hiding and start POPPING.
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Develop real-time communication skills to respond clearly and confidently in unscripted, high-pressure situations.
- Identify and interrupt patterns of overthinking and self-censorship that limit visibility, participation, and leadership presence.
- Apply practical, improv-based techniques to organize thoughts quickly, adapt messaging, and communicate ideas with clarity and impact.
Clarity Is Power: A Realistic Approach to Building Your Career Capital
Presented By
Deana Sanders
IT Program Manager
Neos Consulting
📖 About the Session
You don’t need a second job, a side hustle, or a color coded planner to build a strong career. You need clarity, sustainable habits, and a realistic understanding of what actually creates long term career capital — your skills, relationships, reputation, and opportunities.
In this session, we’ll talk about how to grow your career capital inside a normal workweek, without burning out or overcommitting. You’ll learn how to use simple tools like the Eisenhower Matrix, weekly planning rituals, and small relationship building habits to strengthen your professional foundation. We’ll also look at how AI can support your development in practical, time saving ways — not as a trend, but as a tool.
This session is designed for women in state government who want to grow with intention. You’ll leave with two actionable exercises, a clearer sense of your professional strengths, and a sustainable plan for building a career that supports you — not the other way around.
🎤 Meet the Speaker
Deana Sanders
Deana Sanders is a senior leader in Texas state government with more than two decades of experience navigating complex systems, long-term risk, and the human dynamics that shape public institutions. She sits at the intersection of all three and is known for her ability to make complexity legible, translating ambiguity into clarity, structure, and steady forward motion.
Her career has spanned roles requiring both strategic vision and practical execution, giving her a grounded understanding of how real work gets done in government. She has built high-trust teams, strengthened governance practices, and mentored women across agencies who are building their own paths in public service. Her approach centers on sustainability: helping people grow without burning out and helping organizations function without relying on invisible labor.
Deana serves on the board of Leadership Women, where she contributes to governance, strategy, and the development of women leaders across Texas. She also participates in mentoring programs and supports nonprofit leadership initiatives.
She writes about leadership and the quiet power of clarity across platforms including LinkedIn, Medium, and Substack. Her work is grounded in one core belief: when you understand your strengths and operate from clarity, you create the kind of career capital that lasts—and the kind of professional presence others can trust.
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Identify the core components of career capital — skills, relationships, and reputation — and assess where they currently have strength and where they want to grow.
- Apply practical time management and planning tools (including the Eisenhower Matrix, 25/50 minute meetings, and weekly scheduling rituals) to integrate career building activities into a standard 40 hour workweek.
- Strengthen professional relationships and visibility by using sustainable habits: reaching out to former colleagues, joining relevant professional organizations, following through reliably, and using AI tools to support communication and preparation.
Emotional Intelligence: Your Superpower to Be the Hero, Not the Villain, in Your Origin Story
Presented By
Shandon Richardson
Training Supervisor
Texas Department of Transportation
📖 About the Session
Session description coming soon.
🎤 Meet the Speaker
Shandon Richardson
Shandon Richardson is a Training Supervisor at the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) with over a decade of experience supporting workforce development and organizational growth. A Certified Professional in Training Management and Master Certified Professional Coach, she integrates instructional design, leadership coaching, and strategic program management to create learning experiences that drive meaningful, sustained behavior change.
With a strong foundation in learning and development, Shandon specializes in emotional intelligence, leadership mindset, and guiding individuals through challenging moments with awareness and intention. Known for blending storytelling with practical frameworks, her work helps leaders and teams examine how moments of reaction shape reputation, relationships, and results.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from Bellevue University and a Master of Science in Organization, Learning, and Technologies from Texas A&M University–Commerce. Grounded in the belief that leadership is less about perfection and more about intentionality, her work empowers individuals to reclaim authorship of their story and use emotional intelligence to build trust, accountability, and lasting impact.
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Explain how emotional reactions are often judged without context and how emotional intelligence helps reframe those moments to create understanding rather than blame.
- Apply the Pause & Reframe model—Notice, Name, Choice, Voice—to analyze a past workplace situation and identify a more intentional response.
- Demonstrate increased self-awareness by identifying emotional triggers and articulating how intentional choices can shape communication, relationships, and personal narrative.
Saying No in a World of Yes: How Purpose, Rhythm, and Resilience Help Women Embrace Their Power
Presented By
Wende Ragonis Anderson
Founder
Ragonis Anderson Advisory LLC
📖 About the Session
Unlike traditional productivity presentations, this session addresses the emotional and relational realities many women leaders face while providing practical tools they can immediately implement.
🎤 Meet the Speaker
Wende Ragonis Anderson
Wende Ragonis Anderson is an executive advisor, leadership strategist, and speaker with more than three decades of experience helping organizations, communities, and leaders navigate growth, change, and seasons of pressure with resilience and purpose. As the founder of Ragonis Anderson Advisory, Wende equips leaders to navigate pressure with purpose, resilience, rhythm, and alignment so they can lead sustainably and build a lasting legacy. Her work centers on building healthy cultures, stewarding influence well, and leading with integrity in demanding environments.
Throughout her career, Wende has served the Cities of Brenham and College Station, worked for Accenture, and served as CEO of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. She has led strategic initiatives that bring organizations, industries, and communities together around shared purpose and long-term impact and is known for bringing clarity, calm leadership, and strategic perspective to complex challenges.
Her leadership philosophy has been deeply shaped by balancing executive leadership, motherhood, and caregiving. Through her speaking and advisory work, Wende encourages leaders to embrace their influence with courage, protect what matters most, and build lives and organizations that persevere.
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Understand why many high-performing women leaders experience burnout despite success.
- Learn how rhythms and boundaries impact emotional resilience and leadership effectiveness.
- Develop actionable strategies for sustainable leadership and long-term impact.
From Burnout to Balance: Nourishing Your Mind, Restoring Your Soul
Presented By
Dr. Ceci Gomez
Site Coordinator
The PossAble Dream Adult High School
📖 About the Session
In today's fast-paced and emotionally demanding environments, many professionals experience chronic stress and burnout while balancing multiple personal and professional roles. This interactive session explores the importance of intentionally nourishing both the mind and soul to sustain well-being, resilience, and productivity.
Participants will gain insight into the early warning signs of burnout and engage in practical, research-informed strategies to restore balance, protect their energy, and prevent emotional exhaustion.
This session is especially impactful for professionals in helping fields who give so much of themselves and are ready to learn how to pour into their own cup again.
🎤 Meet the Speaker
Dr. Ceci Gomez
Dr. Ceci Gomez is an accomplished educator, counselor, and community leader with more than 32 years of experience in education and student support services. She currently serves as the Site Coordinator and Dean of Academics at The PossAble Dream Adult High School in Brownsville, Texas, where she oversees campus operations and creates pathways for adult learners to earn their high school diploma, pursue industry-based certifications, and access postsecondary opportunities.
Prior to her current role, Dr. Gomez served at Region One Education Service Center in the areas of College and Career Readiness and Mental Health, where she led professional development initiatives focused on student success, self-care, mental health, and postsecondary access. She is certified in AS+K Suicide Prevention and Psychological First Aid and is a bilingual presenter and trainer in English and Spanish.
Dr. Gomez earned her Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and is deeply committed to empowering underserved communities through education, leadership, and civic engagement. She currently serves as President of the Rotary Club of Rancho Viejo and actively participates in multiple community organizations.
🎯 Learning Objectives
- Identify key signs and symptoms of burnout.
- Apply practical strategies to restore mental and emotional balance.
- Implement boundary-setting techniques to protect personal well-being.
- Develop a personalized plan for sustaining energy and purpose.