One day. Eleven speakers. Unlimited networking opportunities! Leadership Cattaraugus and Leadership Allegany are pleased to announce the speakers for this year’s Southern Tier Leadership Summit on Thursday, Aug. 8, at St. Bonaventure University.

Each August, the leadership organizations bring together emerging leaders from across the region to share new strategies that will help them become more effective leaders.

The 2019 keynote speaker is Jessica J. Schimert, an organizational development consultant, trainer, and executive coach at Performance Management Partners of Buffalo. She works with individuals, teams and organizations to realize full leadership potential. Her presentation is titled “The Art and Practice of Servant Leadership.”

The daylong conference includes the keynote address, continental breakfast and lunch, and a selection of three leadership sessions of your choosing. This year’s breakout session topics include Creating your Leadership Brand, The Power of Storytelling in Building Teams, How to Energize a Team and Encourage Participation, Enhancing Leadership Capabilities through Emotional Intelligence, Servant-Leadership and Creativity: Innovation Through Empowerment, and A Fun & Productive Workplace.

The cost for the full day is $60; tickets to attend the keynote session only is $30.

The day begins with check-in and networking from 8 to 8:45 a.m. followed by the keynote address. The conference concludes at approximately 3:15 p.m.

Schimert has served as an adjunct faculty member for the Canisius College Center for Professional Development and Women’s Business Center and an adjunct professor at Canisius College in the Communication Studies Department. She began her career at M&T Investment Group.

She serves on the Board of Directors for the Western New York Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) and the Junior League of Buffalo.

Schimert is a graduate of the 2012 Leadership Buffalo class and the United Way Board Governance Program for Women. She was awarded the 2015 SBA Woman Business Champion of the Year.

She completed her undergraduate work at St. Bonaventure University and received an honors BA in journalism/mass communication. She completed an MBA from the University at Buffalo with a marketing concentration and an MS in communication and leadership from Canisius College. Her master’s research is in the field of executive coaching and health communication.

Register for the Summit via the Leadership Cattaraugus here: https://events.eventzilla.net/e/southern-tier-leadership-summit-2019-2138737249.