Introducing our speakers

Lei Comerford

Owner, Lei Comerford Consulting, LLC

Lei partners with individuals, teams, and organizations amplifying and elevating their communication skills, relationships, and leadership effectiveness.

Lei is a highly effective Leadership & Executive Coach, Facilitator, Speaker, and Learning & Development Consultant with over 20 years of strategic and operational experience in healthcare as well as over 5 years in hospitality. She has held many internal leadership roles in corporate settings as well as is the founder of her own consulting firm.

Lei is a master facilitator certified in a variety of assessment tools, holds the PCC accreditation through the International Coaching Federation (ICF), Maxwell Leadership Team Certified Speaker, Coach, and Trainer, and Certified Positive Intelligence Coach (CPQC).

She is known for being a thought partner and has a passion for helping others reach beyond their goals through increased self-awareness with an objective to empower effectiveness and engagement with each client!

Lei currently volunteers with the ATD Nashville Chapter as a Board Member, serves as an Advisor for Healthcare Businesswoman’s Association Ambassador program, mentors through The Vanderbilt University Women in Business program, and gives back via coaching services through the Humanitarian Coaches Network. She resides in the Nashville, TN area.

Keynote: Cognitive Diversity - Understanding Different Thinking Styles - 8:30-9:20am

John DeMarco

Owner, John M. DeMarco, LLC

John M. DeMarco is a seasoned small business owner and executive coach based in Nashville, with 19 years of professional coaching experience. Holding a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential from the International Coaching Federation (ICF), John has spent the majority of his career as an internal coach consultant and facilitator, primarily serving managers to C-suite executives in the telecommunications and healthcare industries.

He founded John M. DeMarco, LLC, focusing on "coaching authentic human leaders facing complex, nuanced problems." John aims to enhance the effectiveness of Director+ level staff in industries such as healthcare, technology, telecommunications, non-profit, and religious organizations. He also collaborates with coaching vendors, talent development providers, and business schools.

John’s unique coaching style is characterized by empathy, presence, and strategic questioning, honed through a diverse career in journalism, ministry, financial advising, and human resources. His educational background includes a Graduate Certificate in Executive & Professional Coaching from the University of Texas at Dallas, a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Florida State University.

John is also an accomplished author, with three books exploring themes of personal and professional development, mystery, and creativity. He has been praised by clients and colleagues for his storytelling, leadership development, and business acumen.

Adam Pingel

Vice President of Global Clients / Facilitator, Ariel

Adam is both VP of Global Clients and a facilitator at Ariel. As a passionate L&D professional, Adam combines his performance experience, his education background, and his results-oriented business approach to each engagement. As VP of Global Clients, Adam is currently responsible for overseeing a significant portfolio of global and domestic clients, routinely working with executive and leadership teams to solve problems and establish learning solutions. Before Ariel, Adam was an award-winning Client Partner at FranklinCovey and the Gamification director at Bahrcode.

Breakout 1: Storytelling in a Business Context - 10:30-11:00am

Rebekah Osteen

Associate Director of Graduate Enrollment, College of Pharmacy, Lipscomb University

Breakout 2: Listening IS Learning - 10:30-11:00am

Julia Osteen

Adjunct Professor, Lipscomb University

Dr. Julia Osteen has worked in education for 38 years, most recently as the Director of Professional Development for Lipscomb University’s Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). As an Assistant Professor of Education, she has also taught both undergraduate and graduate courses. Prior to the CTL, she worked as the Technology Integration Specialist for the Ayers Institute, where she coached College of Education faculty on their use of technology for learning. She also worked with K-12 school districts across Tennessee on topics related to coaching and technology integration. Osteen enjoys coaching faculty, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses, and making a difference in the lives of students.

Breakout 2: Listening IS Learning - 10:30-11:00am

Lauren Kiproff-Downer

Owner, Perpera Consulting LLC

Lauren has leveraged her political science background (Lambuth University) to understand human behavior, then honed her focus on organizational effectiveness and occupational health through her Master's in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (Austin Peay State University).

In 2021, Lauren founded Perpara Consulting, LLC to help small and mid-size businesses build effective work cultures with an emphasis on employee empowerment and growth through strategic, employee centric organizational development. Her passion lies in helping individuals overcome challenges and embrace opportunities--she brings this forward-thinking, empowering, and empathetic approach to every situation.

Session 2: From Stale to Stellar: Enhancing Organizational Climate through Learning - 11:10-12:00pm

Kelly L. Knowles

Owner, Kelly K. Consulting

Kelly is dedicated to igniting the flames of adult learning, nurturing the seeds of potential within individuals, and empowering adult learners to transcend their limitations, thereby unleashing their true capabilities in the most authentic manner possible. With over 20 years in pivotal training and development roles, Kelly has wielded her expertise to orchestrate transformative changes that resonate across industries.

Kelly is the powerhouse behind Kelly K. Consulting, where she captivates audiences through keynote speeches, immersive professional development workshops, and personalized coaching sessions for individuals and teams. Her unwavering mission? To embolden leaders at every level to unearth, nurture, and fully embody their innate leadership and know they are on this planet on purpose for a purpose.

Kiffin Mccoy-albert

Owner/Principal Consultant, Kiffin + Company

Kiffin McCoy-Albert is an advocate for learners, a proponent of asking "Is training the answer?" and has been called the "Queen of Bucketing" for her natural inclination to categorize information in order to make digesting that information easier. With 20 years of experience in the corporate learning space spanning across multiple industries including healthcare, logistics, education, and non-profit, Kiffin specializes in designing and implementing comprehensive Learning and Talent Development (L&TD) programs tailored to meet the unique needs and objectives of each organization. She strives to align learning strategies with business goals using proven instructional techniques, ensuring that learning experiences are engaging, effective, and impactful, and she continues to champion the importance of lifelong learning.

Kiffin believes strongly in building relationships within the professional community and continuing her own learning. She has a Master's Degree with a corporate training emphasis from Middle Tennessee State University, is a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) through the Association for Talent Development (ATD), and is a Past President of the ATD Nashville Chapter. 

Session 3: From Order Takers to Game Makers: Strategies for Building a High Impact L&D Team - 2:10-3:00pm

Ken Smith

President, Belair Leadership

Ken Smith is a distinguished graduate from the United States Military Academy class of 1996, where he earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He left the Army as a Major after 12 years as an Infantry officer, including two combat tours. Ken earned the Bronze Star Medal during his service in Iraq and is a Ranger School graduate. He holds a Master's Degree in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University.

Ken lives his passion transforming good managers into inspirational leaders. He merges theoretical knowledge with real world experiences to deliver a unique leadership development experience. He is especially skilled at developing introverts and technical individuals after spending 9 years leading engineering teams in the oil and gas industry.

Belair Leadership, Inc. (An Academy Leadership Franchise), a Service-Connected Disabled Veteran owned small business, partners with organizations to improve leadership effectiveness and increase results. Solving problems that may manifest as low financial performance, low engagement, low morale or high turnover. We improve leadership skills, including: communication, conflict management, motivation, accountability, goal setting, feedback and coaching. We are especially skilled at developing introverts and technical individuals. Belair Leadership is acclaimed for turning good managers into inspirational leaders.

Breakout 3: Three Practical Exercises to Facilitate a Feedback Workshop - 3:15-3:45pm

Julie O'Bryant

Senior Learning Consultant, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Julie Walter O’Bryant is a Senior Learning Consultant at Vanderbilt University Center. She is an accomplished trainer who has operated in the corporate and academic worlds of learning for the past 30 years. Her focus is on continual learning, adaptation and growth for herself and for the learners she serves.

Breakout 4: Overcoming Technology Challenges for Adult Learners - 3:15-3:45pm

Magda Krych

Learning & Development Project Manager, Dollar General

Magda Krych is a PMP-accredited Learning and Development Project Manager with Dollar General. She has worked across learning and development, communications, content, marketing, and product. Her experience spans a broad range of industries, including healthcare, tech, construction, higher education, retail, and the manufacturing industry.

In addition to previously serving on the ATD Nashville board, Magda has also been a member of the Nashville Young Leaders Council and Toastmasters International. Magda has an undergraduate degree in English Literature from Tennessee Technological University, a Masters degree in English Literature from Tennessee State University, and a Masters degree in Leadership and Organizational Performance from Vanderbilt University.