Thank you for your interest in the 2026 CSU HR Conference hosted at the Lory Student Center at Colorado State University on Wednesday, February 11!

The registration form is currently inactive. This means that the website has closed from accepting online registrations.

In person registration will be during the event at the CSU Lory Student Center, third floor Grand Ballroom lobby.

If you have any questions regarding registration, you may contact CSU Conference & Event Services at 970-491-6222 or conferences@colostate.edu.

Keynote Speaker:

Monique Russell is a globally recognized speaker, executive coach, and CEO of Clear Communication Solutions, a leadership development firm dedicated to helping leaders communicate with clarity, confidence, and emotional intelligence. With over 20 years of experience in leadership development, training, and strategic communication, Monique partners with organizations across government, higher education, and corporate sectors.

Her work specializes in emotional intelligence, executive presence, cross-cultural communication, conflict navigation, and storytelling for impact. She has delivered direct leadership training and coaching for global organizations including Google, Amazon, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Her work has supported leaders across four continents, supporting executives and teams navigating high-stakes communication and leadership challenges.

Known for her culturally grounded, practical approach, Monique helps leaders move from insight to execution while building trust, clarity, and alignment. She is the host of the Bridge to U podcast, the author of The Ultimate Speaker's Guide and Intentional Motherhood, which examines leadership through the lens of family, identity, and purpose.

Her mission is simple and powerful: to help leaders communicate in ways that build trust, foster alignment, and create lasting impact.

Schedule:

CSU HR Conference

February 11, 2026

Learn – Grow – Connect: Adaptability & Agility

Download a PDF version of the schedule here. 

Tracks

• Teamwork, Leadership, & Collaboration (Leading at all Levels)
• Pillars of HR
• Employee Engagement & Culture

Time	Event
8:30am	Opening Remarks
8:45am	Keynote Presentation: Monique Russell (60–90 mins) (75)
10:00am	10 min Break / Transition
10:10am Breakout #1 (60 min)	The Art of Delegating Amanda Crose	Human-Centered AI Integration: HR as Change Leaders Sam Holtshouser	Keepin' It Real: Leading with Emotional Intelligence in the Real World of HR Emily Ambrose & Kyle Oldham	The Future of Work is Human (NOT Artificial) Rebecca Hawkins
11:10am	15 min Break / Transition
11:25am Breakout #2 (60 min)	Beyond "Change Resistance": Leading and Adapting through Organizational Grief Mira Brancu	Building Team Resilience: Moving with Grace Through Times of Challenge Dr. Therese Lask	Unpacking the AI "Black Box": What does it mean to be AI literate? Rachelle Ramer	Interpersonal Relationships to Build Your Culture Yvonne Myers	Best Practices of Leading Supervisors Through Documenting Performance Issues Jacob Rubinstein
12:25pm	10 min Break / Transition
12:35pm	Lunch & Connection (60 min)
1:35pm	10 min Break / Transition
1:45pm Breakout #3 (60 min)	Strengthening Talent Pipelines Through Partnership: Community College Career Centers + University HR Crystal Smith	Employee Relations with Restorative Tools Debi O'Connor & Ty Nagamatsu	Dignity Intelligence: Strengthening Conflict Resilience in the Workplace Matt Ricke	From the Heart: Leading with Courage and Authenticity Julie Weber
2:45pm	15 min Break / Transition
3:00pm Breakout #4 (60 min)	Unlocking Agility: Overcoming Hidden Barriers to Growth Evan Welch	The Changing World of Work Adam Crowe & Andrew Minor	Student Employment as a Shared Responsibility: Strengthening Our University Through Collaborative Support Sam Boren	Mission-Ready Talent: Building Agility through Military-Affiliated Hiring and Retention Theda Johnson
4:00–6:00pm	Reception / Networking

Contact Information:

For program questions, please contact Amy Guy at HR_Training@colostate.edu.

For registration questions, please contact CSU Conference & Event Services at 970-491-6222 or conferences@colostate.edu.