Keynote for Showcase will focus on ‘capacity for change’

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Showcase, a free annual event highlighting process and program improvements, innovations and best practices on campus. The event, hosted by the Office of Strategic Consulting, will be held April 17, from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., at Union South.

Elizabeth “Liz” Menzer, executive director of the Wisconsin Center for Performance Excellence, will be delivering the keynote address, Building Capacity for Change, at 11:15 in the Union South Marquee Theater. In her presentation, Menzer will highlight certain beliefs and behaviors embedded in high-performance organizations that enable them to survive — and even thrive — in a sea of change. She will share her insights and offer strategies on developing skills to be an effective change agent, responding to the four ways people tend to react to change, and implementing change using a simple 5-step process.

Special guest Maury Cotter to lead one of four breakout sessions

In addition to the keynote presentation, Showcase will again offer poster exhibits, breakout sessions, and the popular poster flash talks. Included among this year’s breakout session presenters will be special guest Maury Cotter, founder of Showcase and former director of the Office of Quality Improvement. She will offer a retrospective on 20 Years of Quality Improvement in Higher Education.

The other breakout sessions include:

• The People Side of Processes, presented by Kristin Polywacz, manager of the Center for Operational Excellence & Organizational Development at Madison College
• Exploring Best Practices in Student Employment, presented by Justin Mumford, assistant director of student employment in UW–Madison’s Office of Student Financial Aid
• Microsoft PowerApps: Design Custom Solutions to Address Common Problems Using Clicks, Not Code, presented by Jonathan Henkel, student information and technology manager in UW–Madison’s School of Nursing.

Breakout sessions are each 45 minutes long and will be offered concurrently at 8:15 and 10:15 a.m.

2019 Administrative Improvement Awards Included in New Preview Event

This year, for the first time, presentation of the campus Administrative Improvement Awards (AIAs) — sponsored by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration — will be incorporated into Showcase during a special preview event April 16. The preview event, open to poster exhibitors, speakers/presenters, executive sponsors, campus guests, and 2019 AIA winners and guests, will include a poster preview and reception and will conclude with presentation of the awards. All are welcome to attend the AIA ceremony. 

Special incentive for those who bring a colleague who’s new to Showcase

Prior attendees are encouraged to reach out to colleagues who’ve never been to Showcase and invite them to attend. Both new attendees and those who invite them will be eligible for a special door prize drawing. (Note: Those eligible for the drawing may want to ensure they have a business card on hand.) The drawing will take place at the end of the poster session (around 11 a.m.) and prior to the keynote presentation, however, an individual’s presence at the time of the drawing is not required to win.

For more information or to register to attend, visit the Showcase 2019 website.