
Don’t miss a thing.
A convention schedule so you’re always in the know.Program Schedule
Schedule is subject to change.
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August 22 (Thursday)
ERG Summit
Convention Registration: 7am - 6pm
7:30am |
Buffet Breakfast / Networking (7:30am - 8:15am) (Century B & C Ballrooms) |
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8:15am |
Opening Remarks Welcome to the ERG Summit:
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8:30am |
Stepping into your Origin and Belonging StoryLisa A. Strack (Century B & C Ballrooms)
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8:45am |
Keynote ERG/BRG's Role in Supporting "Being" YouTashina Charagi (Century B & C Ballrooms) |
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9:00am |
Executive Panel Executive Perspective on ERG ROIMichael Gonzales (Moderator) (Century B & C Ballrooms) |
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10:00am | Networking Break | |
10:20am |
Diversity Managers Panel ERG Becoming JourneyTessa Xuan (Moderator) (Century B & C Ballrooms)
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11:20am |
ERG Leaders Panel ERG Belonging StorySantosh Mathew (Moderator) (Century B & C Ballrooms) |
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12:20pm |
Lunch Announcements & Recognition of National Diversity and Inclusion Consortium Lisa A. Strack (Century B & C Ballrooms) |
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1:30pm |
Breakout 1A Allyship: Case Study on Breaking Barriers, the LGBTQ Belonging StoryTrace Ballard (Shawnee) |
Breakout 1B Allyship: WorkshopAngela Pastorek, PhD. Nior Gonzales (Mission) |
2:40pm | Networking Break | |
3:00pm |
Breakout 2A Trends in Technology: Why Metrics Matter to ERGsFarzana Nayani (Moderator) (Shawnee)
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Breakout 2B Trends in Technology: Metrics and the Asian Employee JourneyKingman Ng (Mission) |
4:10pm | Transition Break | |
4:20pm |
Plenary Next Steps on your ERG Being, Becoming, Belonging journeyCandi Castleberry Singleton (Century B & C Ballrooms) |
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4:45pm |
Wrap-up & Debrief Farzana Nayani & Lisa A. Strack (Century B & C Ballrooms) |
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5:00pm | ||
6:00pm |
Opening Reception Honorable Quinton Lucas CBRE, CIA, DuraComm, SnapIT Solutions Entertainment: Shon Ruffin Trio, Benny Lee, & Simon Tam from the Slants (Benton's) |
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7:00pm | ||
8:00pm |
August 23 (Friday)
Convention Registration: 7am - 6pm
7:00am |
Health / Wellness Activity All Levels Morning Yoga with
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7:15am |
Buffet Breakfast / Networking (7:15am - 8am) (Century B & C Ballrooms) |
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8:00am |
Welcome Remarks Michael Gonzales Joe Reardon (Century B & C Ballrooms) |
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8:20am |
Keynote Connected Leadership:
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9:30am | Break | ||||
9:45am |
Breakout 1A Debunking Salary Negotiation and Personal Branding MythsGinny Cheng
(Pershing South) |
Breakout 1B Find a Buddy. Be a Buddy. Connect in Authentic Two-Way Dialogue: Part IDIVE Buddies: Part I - Introduction Rick Sakaguchi, Jenny Copeland, & Nick Wolf
(Pershing North) |
Breakout 1C D&I: What's Next?Candi Castleberry Singleton (Pershing East & West)
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10:45am | Break | ||||
11:00am |
Breakout 2A The 5 VoicesAbraham Gin
(Pershing North) |
Breakout 2B Five Tips for Networking SuccessAlana Muller
(Pershing South) |
Breakout 2C Pushing Boundaries Through ChangeSuba Nadarajah (Pershing East & West) |
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Diversity Career Fair (11am - 4pm)
(Century A Ballroom) |
12:00pm | Break | ||||
12:15pm |
General Session / Seated Lunch Mariko Carpenter (Century B & C Ballrooms) |
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12:30pm |
General Session / Seated Lunch / Keynote Slanted - How an Asian American Troublemaker
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1:30pm
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Break / Attend Diversity Career Fair
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2:15pm |
Breakout 3D Straight to the Heart!: Storytelling Workshop with Dr. Ada ChengDr. Ada Cheng (Shawnee & Mission) |
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2:45pm |
Breakout 3A Making It Personal - Inspiring Your People to Uncover, Deepen, and Reveal Their Own Conviction for D&IAngela Cooper
(Pershing North) |
Breakout 3B The Power of Numbers and the State of the Asian American Community in 2020Karen Narasaki (Pershing South) |
Breakout 3C How to Be a Social Media Rockstar!Simon Tam (Pershing East & West) |
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3:45pm | Break | ||||
4:00pm |
Breakout 4A Leading in the Digital AgeAbraham Gin (Pershing North) |
Breakout 4B The Power of Creativity:
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Breakout 4C Bold Rebel LeadershipSamantha McCloud (Moderator) (Pershing South) |
Breakout 4D The Inclusive LeaderFred Keeton (Shawnee & Mission) |
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5:00pm | Break | ||||
5:30pm | Experience KC! | ||||
6:00pm | |||||
7:00pm | |||||
8:00pm | |||||
9:00pm | |||||
10:00pm | |||||
11:00pm | |||||
12:00am |
August 24 (Saturday)
Convention Registration: 7am - 12:30pm
Gala Registration: 4pm - 7pm
7:00am |
Health/Wellness Activity A Run Around the World War I Museum and Memorial with Ann Chen(7am - 8am) (Meet at the Lobby Entrance) |
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7:15am |
Buffet Breakfast/Networking (7:15am - 8am) (Century B & C Ballrooms) |
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8:00am |
General Session Sponsor Recognition (Century B & C Ballrooms) |
Breakfast with a VP: Nilyum Jhala Nilyum Jhala (Presidents Room)
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8:30am |
General Session / Keynote Uncommon LeadershipVictor Hwang (Century B & C Ballrooms) |
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9:30am | Break | |||
9:45am |
Breakout 5A Finding Clarity in the ChaosLindsey Roy
(Pershing East & West)
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Breakout 5B How I Used My Super Power to Get Our Church to Embrace Queer and Trans PeopleRev. Ken Fong
(Pershing South)
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Breakout 5C Breaking the Starving Artist StereotypeStella Guan (Pershing North)
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Breakout 5D LinkedIn Optimization: Building Your Personal BrandAbraham Gin (Shawnee & Mission)
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10:45am | Break | |||
11:00am |
General Session / Keynote Life through Disruption*Sabrina Wiewel *This session is open to ALL attendees. (Century B & C Ballrooms)
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12:00pm | Break | |||
12:15pm |
Breakout 6A CANCELLED Hitesh Ramchandani is unable to join as at Convention this year. Learn More>> (Pershing North) |
Breakout 6B *Filling the Room: How to Impact an AudienceTelly Leung *Exclusive Workshop for Convention Tickets Only (Pershing East & West) |
Breakout 6C Find a Buddy. Be a Buddy. Connect in Authentic Two-Way Dialogue: Part IIRick Sakaguchi & Natalie Gonzales (Moderators) (Pershing South) |
Breakout 6D The Arts are Everyone's BusinessJonathan Thomas (Shawnee & Mission)
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1:15pm | Free Time / Explore KC | |||
2:00pm | ||||
3:00pm | ||||
4:00pm | ||||
5:00pm |
Pre-Gala Silent Auction & Reception (Midland Theatre) |
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6:00pm |
Gala Dinner - Sponsor Recognition (Midland Theatre) |
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7:00pm |
Gala Celebration & NAAAP Awards (Midland Theatre) |
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8:00pm | ||||
9:00pm | ||||
9:30pm |
Gala After Party (Midland Theatre - Chandelier Bar & VIP Lounge) |
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10:00pm | ||||
11:00pm | ||||
11:30pm |

Sponsors
Diamond Sponsor

Platinum Sponsor


Gold Sponsors





Silver Sponsors











Bronze Sponsors






Diversity Career Fair Sponsors


















Community Partners
American Advertising Federation (AAF) - Kansas City • American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Kansas City • The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Kansas City • The Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Kansas City • International Relations Council • Kansas City Center for Inclusion • Kansas City Chinese Association •