REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

December 4 - 6, 2024 
Johnson County Community College 

12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66210 

Join industry leaders, innovators, and changemakers for an unforgettable experience at the 2024 Kansas Association of College and Employers (KACE) annual conference. Gain exclusive insights, network with peers, and explore the latest trends that will shape the future. Whether you're looking to level up your skills or make invaluable connections, this is the event you don't want to miss! 

Hotel Accommodations 
Book your room at the Drury Inn & Suites by November 13, 2024 to receive the conference rate of $126 per night!.  

Our KACE group number is “10114073.”  You may book online at: https://www.druryhotels.com/bookandstay/newreservation/?groupno=10114073   

Or call (800) 325-0720 to reserve! 

KACE Award Nominations 

Nominate a colleague for a KACE Award HERE. 

Registration 

KACE Member Registration: $200 

Johnson County SHRM Member Registration: $200 (use code provided) 

Graduate Student Registration: $100 

Non-member Registration: $250 

2024 KACE Conference Agenda* 

*Please note that this schedule is tentative and subject to minor adjustments in the final conference program. 

Wednesday, December 4: 

1:00pm-4:30pm Pre-Conference Industry Tours  

1:00pm-2:00pm Sporting KC 

2:00pm-2:30pm Travel  

2:30pm-4:30pm Garmin

4:30pm-5:00pm Travel 

5:00pm-5:30pm  Break/Hotel Check-In 

5:30pm-6:30pm Drury Manager's Kick-back (For Hotel Guests) 

7:00pm-9:00pm Mix, Mingle and Win: Dinner, Networking and Fun with KACE members | Coach's Bar & Grill

6700 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS 66211

*Please note: Dinner will be the responsibility of the attendee. 

Thursday, December 5: 

8:00am-8:45am Registration/Check-in/Breakfast 

8:30am-8:45am Welcome from KACE President 

8:45am-9:00am  Introduction of New Members  

9:00am-10:15am Keynote #1 | Branden F. Grimmett, Ed.D | Transformational Leadership by Design

10:30am-11:20am Breakout Session #1 

1. Beyond Deficit Models: Dismantling Institutional Barriers for Students - Branden F. Grimmett, Ed.D, Vice Provost for Career and Professional Development | Emory University | Associate Dean | Emory College of Arts and Sciences
2. See the Able, Not the Label!: The Role of Disability Training in Creating Inclusive Spaces – Ana Abente, Educational Psychologist | Wichita State University, Shocker Career Accelerator
   
3. Unveiling the Transformative Power of Youth Internships - A Student Perspective – Joni Bolen, Director of Employer Engagement & Raina Tomlinson | Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas (JAG-K)

11:20am-1:00pm  Lunch + KACE Awards & Business Meeting

1:00pm-1:50pm  Roundtable Discussion | Networking

2:00pm - 2:50pm  Breakout Session #2

1. From Chaos to Clarity: Quantifying the Student Experience to Drive Success - Cicily Corder, M.Ed, Student Development & Programs Coordinator, Director of the Career Forward Certificate Program & Stephanie Schmitz, Assistant Director & Ambassador Coordinator | University of Kansas, School of Business
2. Build Your Own Unicorn  - Julie Sanders, Account Manager, Employer Relations | Wichita State University, Shocker Career Accelerator
   
3. Unlocking Your Hidden Assets: The Power of Transferable Skills - Aaron Evans, Certified Career Services Provider (CCSP), Career Coach | Wichita State University, Shocker Carer Accelerator

3:00pm-3:50pm  Breakout Session #3

1. Maintaining Motivation in Career Services - Steve Rottinghaus, Career and Outreach Coordinator | University of Kansas, School of Journalism and Mass Communications
2. How Does My Resume Look? – Joseph Jolly, Graduate Assistant | University of Kansas, Engineering Career Center
3. Building NACE Student Competencies and Employer Connections via Kansas Health Care Micro-Internships – Tim Peterson, Ph.D., Senior Project Director | Kansas Board of Regents; Kristin Schrader, VP of Partnerships, Parker Dewey; Courtney Reilly, Co-Founder | Skillsline; Jaron Caffrey, Director of Workforce and Health Care Policy | Kansas Hospital Association

5:30pm-6:30pm  Drury Manager's Kick-back (For Hotel Guests) 

6:30pm-9:30pm  Dinner & Entertainment| TopGolf  

                            10611 Nall Ave, Overland Park, KS 66207 

Friday, December 6: 

8:30am-9:15am   Breakfast 

9:00am- 9:15am   Minutes at the Mic 

9:15am- 10:45am   Keynote 2 | Jeremy Hill | Economic Outlook 

11:00am-11:50am  Breakout Session #4

1. Better Decisions Begin with Better Data – Laura Crosswhite, Deputy Director & Rosy Marquez, Research Analyst | Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL), Labor Market Information Services (LMIS)
2. Kicking It Global: Innovative Community Engagement through Kickball – Dr. Fabiola Riobe, Vice President Educational Innovation & Global Programming | Kansas City Kansas Community College
   
3. AI Productivity Power Up – Andrea Little, VP, Artificial Intelligence and Evan Whittaker, AI Training & Development Manager | Centriq Training
   

11:50am-12:00pm Conference Wrap-Up, Evaluations, and Raffles