2025 CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
Shawn Dawley, President of OT2 Consulting, is an accomplished leader, leadership educator, and keynote speaker dedicated to helping leaders and professionals unlock their power, passion, and purpose.
A former Director and VicePresident at a Fortune 100 company and nationwide firm, respectively, Shawn first spent 25 years in the United States Air Force, serving as a combat pilot, commander, and inspector general, with enriching experiences in over 80 countries across six continents.
A former Fellow at Harvard University, Shawn has a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics, a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Arts in Political Science, and a Master of Arts in Military Studies... after struggling and barely sliding by in high school.
Shawn draws on decades of combat and corporate leadership experience to bring the principles of neuropsychology to life, helping leaders become the people that others want to follow.
With a strong foundation in social work and a passion for mental health advocacy, Tina Zeller serves as the Director of Community Relations at Bridge Counseling and Wellness, a holistic mental health agency dedicated to providing comprehensive, client-centered care. Tina brings 20 years of experience in community engagement, program development, and strategic partnerships, with a deep commitment to fostering inclusive, compassionate mental health services.
Having earned a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Louisville, Tina combines a professional understanding of social systems with a personal commitment to holistic well-being. She has worked across various sectors, including clinical practice, community outreach, violence prevention, and nonprofit services, with a focus on promoting mental health awareness, reducing stigma, and improving access to care for underserved populations.
Tina’s goal is to empower individuals and communities to seek the care they need, while also advocating for systemic changes that improve access to holistic mental health services.
Tina is also a mama of two young children and enjoys flower farming on her farm, being outside, fostering puppies, hula hooping, yoga, and adventuring with family
and friends.
Paula Henson is the owner of Above the Dirt Garden Shop and The Honey Depot, where she’s built businesses that connect people with nature and community. An award-winning business owner, Paula knows that success isn’t just about what you sell—it’s about how you communicate.
With a background in retail, education, and leadership, Paula brings a fresh, no-fluff approach to workplace communication. She helps business professionals learn how to connect, listen, and lead with clarity—turning everyday interactions into opportunities for growth.
KEYNOTE
Cultivating Culture: The Shift From Survive To Thrive
This keynote brought the energy, the insight, and the inspiration with a powerful presentation. A journey from struggling high schooler to combat pilot, Fortune 100 executive, and Harvard Fellow, Shawn’s story alone is worth the seat. But it’s his game-changing wisdom on leadership, purpose, and culture that will left us ready to transform your workplace from the inside out.
In his dynamic keynote, Shawn broke down the three pillars every thriving workplace needs—purpose, empathy, and trust—and equipped us with actionable tools to bring them to life. Backed by decades of global leadership and the science of neuropsychology, his session challenged, energized, and empowered attendees to help shape a workplace culture where people feel valued, connected, and motivated to do their best work.
Let’s Talk Tools: Shift Into Mindfulness With Real Tools
Moving beyond just ‘positive thinking’ and how to shift into a mindfulness workplace culture with real tools for organizational and personal wellness.
Learning Objectives:
Understand the limitations of positive thinking.
Explore practical mindfulness tools.
Develop strategies for creating a mindfulness culture.
Rooted in Growth: Cultivating Communication That Connects
Great communication isn’t just about talking—it’s about knowing when to listen, lead, and adapt. Ever feel like you’re message isn’t landing? Just like plants thrive with the right care, communication flourishes when you use the right approach for the right moment. In this session, we will cover how to identify when to use conversation, facilitation, or presentation to create clarity, connection, and impact.
Paula shared practical listening techniques to help us and our teams feel heard, understood, and empowered—so communication doesn’t just grow, it thrives.