Florida Creativity Conference 2025: Full Schedule

10:00am EDT

Living Your Core Values

Thursday March 13, 2025 10:00am - 11:30am EDT

Values are qualities or characteristics that describe who we are and who we want to be - as facilitators, educators, leaders, and people. When we understand our values and act on them, we are more likely to make a positive impact on ourselves, others, and the world around us. In this session, you’ll engage in hands-on exercises, reflection, and discussion to identify your core values and discover creative ways to take action on them, giving you a new tool to show up as your authentic self in your work and your life in general.

Participants will:
• Identify your core values
• Discover ways to act on your values
• Plan which values you’ll prioritize and how

Speakers

Abby Keenan

Mental Performance Coach, Intrepid Performance Consulting, LLC

Abby Keenan is an entrepreneur and mental performance coach with a passion for supporting student-athletes through their performance struggles and stressors. She blends her experiences as a facilitator, former competitive swimmer, mentor, and sport psychology professional to teach... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Room 214

Breakout Workshops, Beginner

By Track Communication, Self-Reflection, Creativity

10:00am EDT

Play Your Way To Success

Thursday March 13, 2025 10:00am - 11:30am EDT

Room 218

Feedback Survey

Participants will use LEGO bricks to build 3D models. They are asked to 'build' based on a question they are asked (Build a model where you feel your creativity shines) 2) They share their model (This provides them with story telling confidence and allows others to get to know them - find commonalities/differences) 3) Reflect - participants reflect on the experience, their learnings etc. Depending on the number of participants we will be able to get through 2-3 questions. A final question in each workshop is to build "one action they will take away and apply to their work/life."

Key Takeaways:

Confidence (in their ability to share)
Story Telling (ability to use alternative methods for sharing their thoughts)
Awareness (through a tactile exercise they can learn something about themselves and others for which a question may not uncover or unlock)

Speakers

Gail R Kulas

CFO - Chief Fun Officer, Leading to Unlock, LLC

Gail is a self-described “itchy sweater” - she helps people become more comfortable being uncomfortable. She is a dynamic force in the world of business strategy, education, and personal development. As the founder of Leading to Unlock, she has dedicated her career to unlocking... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 10:00am - 11:30am EDT
Room 218

Breakout Workshops, Inetermediate

By Track Communication, Play, Self-Reflection, Creativity, Facilitation

1:00pm EDT

Creative Ways of Dealing With Difficult People...and Looking Forward To It! The Positive Messages These People Bring to Our Lives

Thursday March 13, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT

Room 214

Feedback Survey

If you are a member of a committee, head of a business or organization or simply a person who has difficult people in your life, like a colleague, friend, family member, who are e.g. angry, controlling, demanding, this course is for you. You'll experience creative ways of dealing with difficult people so you make peace not war. Bring your difficult people scenarios and we’ll generate, thru role playing, many powerful and practical approaches to solving these frustrating situations and you'll leave with a time-tested handout of tools and techniques, in a session that will be filled with humor and poignant moments.

Key Takeaways:

Identify the underlying reasons why people become frustrated, upset, angry, entitled or controlling.
Learn specific techniques and phrases to defuse an angry person and calm their behavior.
Make life easier and more enjoyable by not allowing difficult people to steal your joy — no matter what!

Speakers

Steve Shama

Retired, JoyWorks

Steve is a retired physician and a proud 25 year member of the CPSI and the creativity community, giving many sessions at CPSI and Mindcamp. He's a full time professional speaker, engaging audiences on topics dear to his heart…endearing communications, empathic connections between... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT
Room 214

Breakout Workshops, Beginner

By Track Communication, Self-Reflection, Creativity

4:30pm EDT

Exploring Creativity: Navigating Teaching and Learning in 2025

Thursday March 13, 2025 4:30pm - 6:00pm EDT

Room 218

Feedback Survey

This workshop will assist participants to unearth their hidden creativity to discover their originality in ideas and thoughts that appeal to the Affective domain of teaching and learning. An exploration of perceptions, activities, and reflections will mobilize unforeseen talents and boost confidence in the use of creative tools and techniques grounded in theories and research.

Key Takeaways:

A range of hands-on activities
Creative thinking strategies and application to teaching and learning
Ideation tools that supersede traditional brainstorming
You can implement the new tools that you take home in your classroom immediately

Speakers

Dr. Eleanor Pierre

Professor, McMaster University

Dr. Eleanor Pierre has a doctorate in Curriculum Studies from OISE-UT. She performs training and workshops for colleges and universities in a variety of areas, including teacher education, change management, program review, and evaluation of teaching and learning. She has several... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 4:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
Room 218

Breakout Workshops, Beginner

By Track Creativity, Self-Reflection, Education

4:30pm EDT

How to Turn your Creative Blocks into Opportunities for (Self) Connection

Thursday March 13, 2025 4:30pm - 6:00pm EDT

Room 208

Feedback Survey

We all experience creative blocks! Whether working on a blog post, a piece of art, or a client presentation, we sometimes freeze in front of a blank canvas (or an empty Google Slide). This sense of paralysis can lead to internal conflict, judgment, or shame—but it can also create a pathway to greater intimacy with ourselves. In this workshop, you will learn a unique step-by-step approach to turning creative blocks into opportunities for self-connection and growth.

Key Takeaways:

Learn a step-by-step process to turn creative blocks into opportunities for self-knowledge and deeper self-expression.
Practice identifying the assumptions and expectations that may be limiting your creativity.
Explore the difference between emotions and perceptions, and practice recognizing the emotions that arise when feeling disconnected from your creativity—so you can transform them.

Speakers

Verónica Márquez

Somatic Practitioner, Executive Coach, Researcher, Self Employed

I’m a Certified Compassionate Inquiry Practitioner, Executive Coach and Founder of Between Us - a global initiative that aims to alleviate disconnection and loneliness by fostering community discussions on complex topics like belonging, anger, and power. Over the past six years... Read More →

Thursday March 13, 2025 4:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
Room 208

Breakout Workshops, Beginner

By Track Self-Reflection, Creativity

4:30pm EDT

Using the Enneagram to Facilitate Creative Growth

Thursday March 13, 2025 4:30pm - 6:00pm EDT

Room 215

Feedback Survey

This will be an engaging workshop that invites participants to explore the both the strengths and challenges of their personality style and learn ways to maximize the creative flow in themselves and others by thinking critically, engaging empathy, and acting mindfully. Attendees will learn about Enneagram personality styles, wings, subtypes, and patterns of thinking, feeling, and doing when in stress and when at our best that either hinder or support creativity and growth. They will collaboratively create action plans based on personality styles to help them move through their creative blocks.

Key Takeaways:

A deep dive into multiple ways to utilize the Enneagram to support their creative growth.
Ideas for how to facilitate creativity of others based on different personality styles.
Links for free resources to support their continued creative growth using the Enneagram.

Speakers

Dr. Helene Robinson

Director of Critical & Creative Design Thinking Program, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus

Thursday March 13, 2025 4:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
Room 215

Breakout Workshops, Inetermediate

By Track Creativity, Self-Reflection, Facilitation

9:00am EDT

How to Have An Unforgettably Creative Life

Friday March 14, 2025 9:00am - 10:30am EDT

Room 208

Feedback Survey

Have you ever wished for a creative life, filled with joy and gratefulness? To live a creative life is to fully live, to be able to find the child in you and to get permission for it to express itself whenever. Imagine being able to easily find and tap into that part of you, light your way each day, to support you in your journey so that you can commit to making the rest of your life one unforgettably incredible creative adventure! In this session, we will explore it through group interaction and using wonderful handouts, quotations and stories, what an unforgettably creative life looks like, what gets in your way, how do we make it better and how do we know it's working? The sessions is guaranteed to put a smile on your creative face, to warm your creative heart, and to be unforgettable.

Key Takeaways:

Define what an unforgettably creative life would look like
Describe what gets in your way of having an incredibly creative life
Explore ways of making it better
Leave with techniques to keeping this new life fresh...forever

Speakers

Steve Shama

Retired, JoyWorks

Friday March 14, 2025 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Room 208

Breakout Workshops, Beginner

By Track Creativity, Self-Reflection

1:00pm EDT

Pause and Ponder: Enhancing Focus through Guided Contemplation

Friday March 14, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT

Room 218

Feedback Survey

In this session, participants will engage in a series of hands-on contemplation activities designed to focus attention, deepen engagement, and enhance understanding. Using different modalities—writing, drawing, looking—you will explore how contemplative practices help build sustained attention skills and inspire inquiry and insight, revealing new ways of knowing. In addition to helping viewers develop deeper reflective practices around art viewing, participants will also consider how these activities could be used as part of their general facilitation toolbox.

Key Takeaways:

Learn the basics of contemplative pedagogy.
Engage in several deep encounters with works of art.
Gain a few new tools for your facilitation practice.

Speakers

Kim Macuare, Ph.D

Director of Education and Co-Director of Innovation Labs, The Dali Museum

In her role as the lead program designer and facilitator for the Innovation Labs, Kim has helped many organizations—from non-profits to government entities to Fortune 100 companies—build their innovation capacities by developing creativity-focused mindsets and problem-solving... Read More →

Friday March 14, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT
Room 218

Breakout Workshops, Intermediate

By Track Creativity, Self-Reflection, Facilitation

4:30pm EDT

AI & CPS: Powering Up Creative Problem-Solving

Friday March 14, 2025 4:30pm - 6:00pm EDT

Room 218

Feedback Survey

Welcome to a fresh look at how Artificial Intelligence could become a powerful partner in Creative Problem-Solving! This session will give you an engaging overview of AI’s potential to streamline effort, speed up results, and even enhance the CPS experience. Together, we'll brainstorm, explore, tinker and discuss how AI can both open doors and raise questions, all while keeping our focus on the ways it can improve our ability to support ourselves and our clients.

Key Takeaways:

A fun, friendly look at where we are now with AI integrations as of March 2025.
How AI might impact the CPS process in practical and surprising ways.
Strategies to embrace AI’s potential in CPS while being mindful of any potential pitfalls.

Speakers

Bradford Partridge

Chief Goaling Officer, Goaling Places LLC

A certified life coach and creator of The Goaling Method, Brad Partridge specializing in CPS, Career and Goal Coaching.Brad has worked in corporate partnership management, sales, marketing, and consulting within the theme park (3), media (TV, radio, print and online), pro sports... Read More →

Kristen Petersen

Adjunct Professor, Creativity & Change Leadership, SUNY Buffalo State University

Kristen Peterson is a master facilitator, trainer and organizational development consultant who specializes in the people skills organizations need to create growth through innovation. She brings a big dose of passion, energy, and infectious can-do mentality to her work as an Innovation... Read More →

Friday March 14, 2025 4:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
Room 218

Breakout Workshops, Advanced

By Track CPS Tools, Creativity, Facilitation, AI

4:30pm EDT

The new sciences of creativity, newness, and Genius: in search of Vincents, Pablos, and Salvadors

Friday March 14, 2025 4:30pm - 6:00pm EDT

Room 208

Feedback Survey

This is a unique practical session that shapes NEW geniuses in the field of visual arts. It uses the Genius Education Methodology to wake up genius and lead the participants to the genius path. At least three geniuses will walk out of the door — this is the planned outcome.

Key Takeaways:

Scientific approach accelerates development immensely
Genius explained scientifically is easier to develop.
Be a new Genius!

Speakers

Andrei Aleinikov

Retired, International Academy of Genius, President

Dr. Andrei Aleinikov is “the MegaCreativity Man” as Dr. Torrance called him for the discovery of megacreativity, for founding 10 new sciences, including the sciences of newness, creativity, and genius, for the discovery of 11 new laws of conservation, for publishing over 160 books... Read More →

Friday March 14, 2025 4:30pm - 6:00pm EDT
Room 208

Breakout Workshops, Beginner

By Track Creativity, Self-Reflection

9:00am EDT

Hello Fellow FLCCers (Flickers)! Is Your Mind Abuzz with Ideas? Let's do something about them!

Saturday March 15, 2025 9:00am - 10:30am EDT

Room 215

Feedback Survey

After an enlightening and stimulating conference, participants have the chance to give themselves the gift of time for pausing and reflecting, so they can be more effective at implementing change when they get home? This workshop serves as an opportunity for participants to consider what they've learned and how they will implement their new ideas. The session will incorporate collaboration, mindfulness, reflection, and planning.

Key Takeaways:

Participants will experience self-reflection regarding their implementation successes of the past and use that information to support their future endeavors
Participants will engage in a guided visualization
Participants will leave with a plan in place for implementing the new ideas they've gleaned from the conference

Speakers

Jen Verbakel

Owner, The Art of Amateurity

Jen is a doodler, a creative dabbler, and a sewing gal! She is also a certified Kaizen Muse Creativity Coach. She believes that creativity helps people take up their own unique space, and she is working towards embodying that presence as well. She loves to chat about creative... Read More →

Saturday March 15, 2025 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Room 215

Breakout Workshops, Beginner

By Track Self-Reflection, Communication, Creativity, CPS Tools

9:00am EDT

Story Alchemy®: Becoming the Hero of Your Own Life

Saturday March 15, 2025 9:00am - 10:30am EDT

Room 214

Feedback Survey

The formula is simple: Find an old story, change it, get a new one.
That’s the universal quest—and the process of Story Alchemy®.
But how do we that? How do we find our deepest core issues, transform them, and become the hero of our own life?
Story Alchemy® is the only stand-alone therapeutic system, rooted in four foundational pillars: insightful journaling, meditation, mindful movement, and a connection to nature. Separate, each of these healing modalities is a potent elixir. Together, they are magic.

Key Takeaways:

Shift your point of view and perspective through a unique process called “Transformational Narration.”
Cultivate healthy self-love
Access the knowledge, creativity, and confidence you need to write a new life story

Speakers

Rachel Schaeffer

therapist/writer/coach/teacher, self-employed

I've spent the past 30+ years teaching and facilitating large groups, mainly at retreat centers, colleges, and hospitals.

Saturday March 15, 2025 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Room 214

Breakout Workshops, Intermediate

By Track Creativity, Self-Reflection, Communication

9:00am EDT

Uncover Your Brand's Super Powers

Saturday March 15, 2025 9:00am - 10:30am EDT

Room 208

Feedback Survey

You have everything inside of you to succeed… but how to sort it out and USE it purposefully?
Isn’t it time to Awaken to your potential, that will help you love life AND impact others?
If you relate to the above let’s use our creativity and personal ‘assets’ to design the way forward, to launch your year powerfully and purposefully.

Key Takeaways:
* Your Brand’s Values
* Learn how to use your strengths to live a life you love
* Generate the affirmations & plan that will propel you forward

Speakers

Judy Winslow

CEO - Chief Excitement Officer, UnforgettableBrands

Judy Winslow, founder of UnforgettableBrands, is a well-known brandologist focused on transforming businesses. With decades of experience, she diagnoses structural vulnerabilities, offering bespoke brand solutions that amplify uniqueness. Her philosophy sees businesses as an entrepreneur's... Read More →

Saturday March 15, 2025 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Room 208

Breakout Workshops, Beginner

By Track Creativity, Self-Reflection, Communication, Business

3:00pm EDT

Advanced Prompting for the Creative Problem Solving Process

Saturday March 15, 2025 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT

Room 208

Feedback Survey

This session will demonstrate how to use the "CRAFT-TS" framework to create personas and leverage AI throughout the Creative Problem Solving (CPS) model. Attendees will learn techniques for crafting detailed AI prompts to ideate, analyze, and prototype solutions for complex creative challenges. The session will cover best practices for prompt engineering, managing AI outputs, and integrating AI into each stage of the CPS process.

Key Takeaways:

Learn the CRAFT-IT framework for persona creation and usage in CPS
Discover methods for crafting effective AI prompts at each stage of the CPS model
Develop strategies for seamlessly integrating AI tools and techniques into the creative problem-solving workflow

Speakers

Sgt. Luke Buschman

Student

Sgt. Luke Buschman served as a distinguished leader in healthcare leadership and logistics within the U.S. Army. He is transitioning to a career in creative leadership, AI enhanced creativity, and cybersecurity. Currently enrolled in creativity and innovation decision-making for leadership... Read More →

Dr. Gregory A. Buschman, MSMKT, MSIS, Ph.D.

President, Strategic Leadership Development

A leadership author, keynote speaker, professor, and expert in leadership development and workforce optimization. Dr. Buschman specializes in creative leadership for innovation and change, generational diversity, and strength-based employee coaching. He has facilitated creative leadership... Read More →

Saturday March 15, 2025 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Room 208

Breakout Workshops, Advanced

By Track CPS Tools, Creativity, AI

3:00pm EDT

An Adventure in Creative Problem Solving – Join the Quest!

Saturday March 15, 2025 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT

Room 214

Feedback Survey

This engaging session brings the Creative Problem Solving (CPS) process to life through the educational strategy of gamification. Teachers and Trainers will embark on a creative adventure, guided by four problem-solving experts: The Detective (Clarifying the Problem), The Idea Engineer (Ideation), The Quality Control Solution Inspector (Develop), and The Trailblazer (Implement). As participants navigate each challenge presented, they will sharpen their communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and the creative problem-solving skills.

Key Takeaways:

By experiencing the educational strategy of gamification firsthand, educators/trainers will learn how to apply it to design more engaging, effective, and fun lessons/ training sessions.
Participants will deepen their understanding of the CPS process and the Creative Thinking Skills involved as they progress through each step of the gamification /simulation as they collaborate to solve the “Climate Quicksand Challenge.”
Educators will learn strategies to integrate the Creative Problem Solving process into their classroom curriculum and training sessions.

Speakers

Kathy Frazier

Gifted Education and Creativity Specialist, Touching the Future Today LLC

Kathy Frazier, M.A., EDS, is a gifted education specialist at Orange City Schools, Ohio, and co-founder of Touching the Future Today LLC, which provides professional development for K-12 teachers. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, an Educational... Read More →

Saturday March 15, 2025 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Room 214

Breakout Workshops, Intermediate

By Track CPS Tools, Creativity, Self-Reflection, Facilitation

3:00pm EDT

Picture this: Graphic facilitation for the Artistically Apprehensive

Saturday March 15, 2025 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT

Room 218

Feedback Survey

In this workshop, we will gain a better understanding of why we doodle, demonstrate the potential of drawing as a communicative medium, and learn how to draw ten (or more!) new symbols you can begin to use right away. Whether you are taking a brave first step into the world of doodling or simply looking to add a new creative tool to your facilitation toolbox, this workshop offers practical techniques for all skill levels. No experience necessary!

Key Takeaways:

Demystify the art of graphic facilitation (it’s easy, anyone can do it!)
Demonstrate the benefits of graphic facilitation (or adding doodles to your note-taking)
Teach/Equip participants with a toolbox of basic doodles they can use all the time

Speakers

Rachel Taylor

Director of Innovative Programming, Lindsey Meyer Teen Institute, a program of Partners in Prevention

Rachel is a proud product of the Lindsey Meyer Teen Institute (Alumni ’09)! They have been a full-time staff member with LMTI & PIP since 2016 and are currently supervising the LMTI department. She is a Board-Certified Music Therapist and holds a Bachelor’s in Music Therapy as... Read More →

Mark Bylancik

Chief Administrative Officer, Partners In Prevention

Mark holds a B.A. in Contemporary Arts: Professional Communication from Ramapo College and an M.A. in Public and Organizational Relations from Montclair State University. In his spare time he teaches public speaking at MSU, enjoys movies and games, and spends time at home with his... Read More →

Saturday March 15, 2025 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT
Room 218

Breakout Workshops, Beginner

By Track Facilitation, CPS Tools, Creativity