The 2023 Campus Rec Leadership Summit is nearly here and I cannot wait. It’s one of my favorite events, though I may be biased. But I wanted to take some time to share the top five things I’m looking forward to the most this year:
1. Our Fabulous Moderator, Jorge Juarez
Every year, we ask a different industry leader to moderate our Summit. The idea is to bring in a campus rec expert to help build the roundtable topics, questions and case studies. In addition, we ask them to facilitate the roundtables at the event. This way they can give insight and level with their peers as they lead the discussion.
This year, Jorge Juarez, the executive director at Arizona State University, is moderating the event. It was an honor to have him accept the role. And with five years attending the Summit, he’s one of our most experienced moderators yet.
Having worked with him on building our roundtable topics — EDI, staffing and retention, the changing landscape of the field, etc. — I can’t wait to see what we’ve developed put into action. Knowing Juarez is leading gives me the utmost confidence that the roundtables once again will be a smash hit.
2. The Panel on the Mental Health Crisis
As you may have noticed, Campus Rec Magazine isn’t afraid to try new things. Whether it’s our Campus Rec Mastermind Groups or the virtual roundtables we did during COVID-19, we know innovation is necessary.
After last year’s phenomenal EDI Panel Discussion, we decided to bring in another panel to focus on the mental health crisis. But, the format has changed slightly.
Instead of three different presenters, we are doing a Q&A. Attendees were asked to submit their most pressing questions on the mental health crisis. Our panel has been built of experts both within and outside of the campus recreation industry. If I’ve learned one thing, it’s that multiple viewpoints are necessary to get the full picture.
Over this past year, the panel and I have met to prepare and their breadth of knowledge is inspiring. I can’t wait to see what they bring to help the mental health crisis in the industry.
The panelists are:
- Karlie Intlekofer, the Treo Wellness co-founder and Global Wellness Researcher at Matrix Fitness.
- Steven Trotter, the director of Well-Being at East Carolina University and the principal consultant at Globetrotter Wellness Solutions.
- Merrill Brick, the COO of the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation.
- Cassi Vieten, the executive director of the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation.
3. The Hyatt Regency Coconut Resort & Spa
Have you seen this place? It looks like a little slice of heaven, and I can’t wait for our event that will take us all over the resort’s campus.
As part of our Summit, we like to wow attendees and sponsors with five-star treatment. That requires amazing resorts and yet again I think our event’s team hit it out of the park.
Whether it will be hanging out at the adult pool for our Fun in the Sun afternoon or meeting everyone during the welcome reception on the Belevedre Terrace, there will be Florida sunshine, palm trees and ocean breezes. I cannot wait to spend time rejuvenating in such a beautiful atmosphere.
4. Seeing Old Friends and Meeting New Ones
Over the years of being with Campus Rec Magazine, I’ve built relationships with some amazing leaders in this field. Whether we’ve chatted over the phone, during our Mastermind Group meetings or at photo shoots across the nation, I know some wonderful directors who are working to change the world. Shoutout to my Mastermind members who are attending the Summit this year: Grady Sheffield of Towson University, Tiffany Lomax of Colby College, Jen Gudaz of Cornell University, Marci Iverson of Viterbo University, Jay Frain of the University of Connecticut, Emily McElwain of Colorado State University Pueblo, Gary Wohlstetter of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and Monica Verity of Wellesley College.
In addition to known faces, we have a ton of new directors coming from a variety of schools this year. Some of the new timers are: Mark Oldmixon of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Kathryn Locke of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Coulson Thomas of Old Dominion University, Nashid Bracy of Colby College and Morgan Newton of Coppin State University.
Plus, we have directors returning for the first time or who I haven’t seen at our event in years: David Davenport of Austin Peay State University, Al Gentilini of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg, Cynthia Constanzo at the University of Connecticut, Mitch Nettesheim of Purdue University and Felicia Tittle of Duke University
Now, that is nowhere near everyone I’m excited to see! I’m looking forward to having great conversations with all 60-plus of our attendees.
5. Fun and Unique Networking Activities
The sky is the limit in planning the Summit. As such, we are bringing in Extreme Music Bingo and karaoke for the first time this year. Yard-games are showing up at our Fun in the Sun event and at the final evening’s dinner party.
Plus, Suzanne Ries of Florida Gulf Coast University is graciously leading a tour of their facilities, being only 20 minutes from the resort. We have some fun twists planned for the tour that I can’t wait to see our attendees surprised by!
Over chill events like the above, you wouldn’t believe the kind of connections people make. They are not only fun memories, but friendships are formed and already established relationships go deeper. Through our fun events and creative get-together, I can literally see networking happen that often goes on to impact the world in a positive way.
Less than two weeks for the 2023 Leadership Summit! Let the countdown commence.
