The Washington State Organizational Change Management Community of Practice (OCM CoP) invites you to attend the second annual 2025 Enabling State Change conference!

  • The conference is entirely virtual, using Zoom webinar.
  • We are offering sessions over three days. There will be four, hour-long sessions on Tuesday and Thursday, and two on Wednesday. Wednesday afternoon will showcase a 2.5 hour virtual workshop on assessing culture.
  • Each row in the table below includes a link to the session description and goals, the date & time of the session, a link to the presenter’s information, and a registration link.
  • Attendees can register for each session they’re interested in attending. If you are not able to attend, but want to watch the recording later, please register. We’ll send a link to all registrants when the recordings are available.
  • These sessions can be reported as continuing Ed credits to ACMP and other credentialing entities.

Summary of all Sessions. Scroll down for full descriptions and bios.

Session Title Date & Time Presenter(s) Registration & Password
 Leading Change with Love: Human-Centered Change in a Fear-Filled World  Aug 5, 2025
9:00 – 10:00 AM		  Renee Smith  Register_Keynote_08052025_9AM
Password: OCM2025!
 The Change is Here. Are People Ready?   Aug 5, 2025 
11:00 AM - Noon		  Seanna Sams (Vivid Co.)  Register for 08052025_11AM
Password: OCM2025!
 From Change Practitioner to Change Leader   Aug 5, 2025 
1:00 – 2:00 PM		  Elias Reis, MS, Prosci certified  Register: 08052025_1PM
Password: OCM2025!
 Change Matters: Tools and Tips for Effective Organizational Change Management  Aug 5, 2025 
3:00  - 4:00 PM		  Natalie Waters (DOH)
Lawrence Lambert (DOH)		 Register: 08052025 3PM
Password: OCM2025!
 Practical Microsoft Tools for Change Challenges   Aug 6, 2025 
9:00 – 10:00 AM		  Lerae Elie (DOL) Register: 08062025 9AM
Password: OCM2025!
 Managing the People's Side of Change Management   Aug 6, 2025 
11:00 AM – Noon		  Damon Thomas Drown, PhD Register: 08062025 11AM
Password: OCM2025!
Virtual Workshop:Culture Assessment Workshop   Aug 6, 2025
1:00 – 3:30 PM		  Cinthia Assis (DCYF) Register: 08062025 1pm Workshop
Password: OCM2025! 
 Connecting in a Digital Workplace  Aug 7, 2025
9:00 – 10:00 AM		 Ngenarr  Samba (ESD)
Matthew Kirsch (DCYF)
Noah Kalb (DOH)		 Register: 08072025 9AM
Password: OCM2025!
 An Introduction to Portfolio Management at ESD  Aug 7, 2025
11:00 AM – Noon 		  Mari McGill (ESD) Register: 08072025 11AM
Password: OCM2025!
 Choose Your Own Whiteboard Adventure! Aug 7, 2025
1:00 – 2:00 PM		  Kelly Ziesemer (L&I)  Register: 08072025 1PM
Password: OCM2025!
 What Type Of Change Maker Are You?  Aug 7, 2025
3:00 - 4:00 PM 		  Simon Phillips,The UK’s “Change Man” Register: Closing 08072025 3PM
Password: OCM2025!

 

Leading Change with Love: Human-Centered Change in a Fear-Filled World Aug 5, 2025
9 AM – 10AM		 Register_Keynote_08052025_9AM
Passcode: OCM2025!		 Renée Smith, MSOD (she/her)Researcher, Speaker, Writer, Loving Leader
 Session Description  Objectives  About Renée
Change is everywhere, and more is on the way. In this moment of rapid transformation, it has never been more important to lead change in a human-centered way. This plenary to kick off the conference makes the case that effective change leadership is, at its core, an act of love: it uplifts people, honors the fullness of their humanity, and helps them navigate uncertainty with confidence and care. Drawing on her experiences leading large-scale change and culture transformation in Washington State Government as well as with clients, Renée Smith will connect the tools of OCM to a deeper purpose, helping people grow, adapt, and thrive at a crucial time in history. Together, we’ll reframe OCM work as love in action and discover how your daily efforts build not just resilient people and organizations, but a better world.
  1. Reconnect with a deeper purpose as values-driven change leaders
  2. Explore how fear-based change undermines success and how more compassionate approaches build trust, agility, and engagement.
  3. Recognize how core OCM practices are expressions of love and respect for people.
  4. Gain confidence that human skills used in managing change also support people in navigating social and personal change
  5. Leave inspired, proud of this work to build more human workplaces, and ready to lead with love through what comes next. 
 		 Renée Smith is an award-winning speaker, researcher, writer, and advisor who helps rising leaders replace traditional fear-based practices with new Love-Centered Leadership habits. As CEO of A Human Workplace, she and her team of 25 U.S. and U.K. affiliates and partners help clients operationalize love at work. She co-founded the Center for a Loving Workplace, a global nonprofit educating change makers on putting love at the center of work. 

Previously, Renée served as Director of Workplace Transformation in the Washington State Governor’s Office and as Director of Organization Development and Change for the Department of Enterprise Services, leading a team responsible for numerous change initiatives. She has spoken to thousands of people in hundreds of audiences in eleven countries in the public and private sectors. Her work has helped organizations embrace cultural transformation, rebuild trust, improve engagement, and build positive relationships between labor and management. Renée holds a Master of Science in Organization Development from Pepperdine and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. She co-hosts the Love Lead Change podcast with Simon Phillips. 

 

 

Are the People ready for the Change? Aug 5, 2025
11 AM – Noon		 Register: 08052025_11AM
Passcode: OCM2025!		 Seanna Sams, BA Organizational Leadership and Prosci® certified
 Session Description   Objectives  About Seanna
   Project deadlines and tech rollouts are easy to measure, but what about people? Change success depends on more than just systems and tools. It depends on people being aware, prepared, confident, and engaged. Join this dynamic session where you'll learn how to recognize when teams are truly ready, how to measure readiness, and how to tell a compelling story that will earn leadership interest and buy-in.
  1. How to determine the level of readiness.
  2. How to create plans that will allow tracking and measuring.
  3. How to tell the story to decision makers.
 Seanna Sams, Prosci certified change practitioner and OCM Consultant with Vivid Co, has over eleven years’ experience leading successful change management efforts on multiple complex IT projects involving numerous diverse internal and external interested parties. She has over thirty-five years working with WA state agencies. Seanna is passionate about including people in the change journey, doing change with them, not to them.
     
From Change Practitioner to Change Leader Aug 5, 2025
1PM – 2PM		 Register: 08052025_1PM
Passcode: OCM2025!		 Elias Reis, M.S., PROSCI Certified
 Session Description   Objectives  About Elias
 Change management can be more than checking off items on a checklist. Join us as we discuss how to approach change efforts from the perspective of leadership, to better understand the environment where your change occurs, and more effectively partner with your sponsors and stakeholders.
  1. Understanding that change management is a form of leadership.
  2. Applying John Van Maanan's "Three Lenses" approach other change. Strategic design, political interests, and cultural traditions of the organization.
  3. Mapping stakeholders for better relationship management in meeting your goals.
 Eli Reis (they/them) is an Organizational Change Management professional with more than 25 years of experience supporting business operations, including organizational change management, one-on-one coaching, strategic planning, classroom training, and communications management. They are a life-long learner, and as such, hold a number of degrees and certifications that look good on a resume.

 

Change Matters: Tools and Tips for Effective Organizational Change Management Aug 5, 2025
3PM – 4PM		 Register: 08052025 3PM
Passcode: OCM2025!		 Natalie Waters, MA, PMP, Prosci Certified Lawrence Lambert, MBA, Prosci Certified
 Session Description   Objectives  About Natalie and Lawrence
While there are many factors that contribute to a project or change success, there are specific tools and tips that you can use to ensure you drive effective change management in your organization. Join us as we walk through how to utilize ADKAR Blueprint Examples for your project or change initiative! 
  1. Identify ADKAR Blueprint Examples.
  2. Use the identified ADKAR Blueprint Examples to fit your needs for effective organizational change management.
  3. Showcase how the WA State Department of Health incorporated ADKAR Blueprint Examples for project success.
 Natalie Waters is a Process Improvement Project Manager for the Office of Financial Services at the WA State Department of Health. Natalie is a military veteran spouse with a background in project and change management, strategic communication, process improvement, non-profit program management, as well as financial and organizational planning.  Lawrence Lambert is a Change Implementation Manager with the Department of Health for the Office of Financial Services. Lawrence has a background in adult learning and training development, team building, financial reporting, and change management. 

 

Practical Microsoft Tools for Change Challenges Aug 6, 2025
9AM – 10AM		 Register: 08062025 9AM
Passcode: OCM2025!		 Lerae Elie, Prosci Certified
 Session Description   Objectives  About Lerae
Discover practical tools to tackle some of your toughest change management challenges! This session shows you how to use Microsoft 365 to streamline communication, automate tedious tasks, and create custom solutions tailored to your team's needs. Managing organizational change can be overwhelming. A missed communication, disengagement, and resistance can derail even the best plans. In this session, you'll learn actionable strategies with Microsoft 365 tools to help overcome some of these obstacles and drive success. You'll explore how to build a one-stop shop SharePoint Communication Site, automate repetitive tasks with Power Automate, and design intuitive, user-friendly solutions with Power Apps. Walk away with hands-on insights, ready-to-use tools, and practical solutions you can start implementing right away. No need to master every feature - just learn simple, effective strategies to make your daily work smoother and more impactful! 
  1. Centralized Communication: Learn how to create a SharePoint Communication Site that serves as a hub for updates, resources, and announcements - keeping your teams and stakeholders aligned during change initiatives.
  2. Automating Workflows: Discover how Power Automate can streamline repetitive tasks, such as sending reminders or updating stakeholders - saving time and reducing errors.
  3. Custom Solutions with Power Apps: Explore how to design intuitive and user-friendly apps tailored to your team's needs - improving access to resources and simplifying workflows.
  4. Practical Application: Gain hands-on experience with Microsoft 365 tools, including actionable insights and ready-to-use outlines to implement immediately.
  Hi there! I’m Lerae Elie, your friendly Microsoft 365 enthusiast. As a self-taught, co-worker-proclaimed SharePoint guru, I’ve spent countless hours exploring Microsoft tools to tackle work challenges and drive successful changes! While I don’t know it all, I enjoy discovering new tricks and sharing how these tools can simplify work in creative ways and be tailored to individual needs.  I’m excited to share some of my favorite tricks and maybe even learn a thing or two from you!

 

Managing the People's Side of Change Management Aug 6, 2025
11AM – Noon		 Register: 08062025 11AM
Passcode: OCM2025!		 Damon T. Drown, PhDEmpathy Inc.
 Session Description   Objectives  About Damon
If you were going through a major change management initiative, how do you ensure that sponsors and leaders are tailoring their management strategies to the specific needs of their employees through-out the entire change management lifecycle? For example, leaders need to display different management behaviors when motivating the team to hit the monthly numbers than conduct a retrospective examination of what went wrong if the numbers are not hit. In one, setting and checking goals, the leader is tasked with telling and tactical problem solving while in exploring what went wrong, the leader needs to be willing to humbly listen and be willing to change based on that input. By knowing where the team stands in the psychological measurement of the Transformational cycle during change, your team will be able to help leaders adjust their behaviors to fit the needs of the employees who are going through the change. Additionally, the methods used to base these recommendations were developed from a broad multi-ethnic, multi-national basis making these conclusions something of a human universal and thus usage can help reduce issues of bias or discrimination through-out the change.   By the end of this presentation, you will be able to do the following: 
  1. Identify the psychological state of employees going through the change.
  2. Be able to recommend leader behaviors that would help address the needs of those employees.
  3. Know what type of goals and communications can best aid the impacted employees.
 		 With over a decade of experience in organizational development and change management, I am dedicated to driving transformative change and enhancing employee engagement across diverse sectors. My career has been focused on optimizing organizational performance through data driven insights, innovative strategies, and a deep understanding of workplace dynamics. I have successfully led initiatives that resulted in improvements in operational efficiency, employee satisfaction, and business performance at Fortune 100 companies and government agencies.

 

Culture Assessment Workshop Aug 6, 2025
1PM – 3:30PM		 Register: 08062025 1pm WorkshopPasscode: OCM2025! Cinthia Assis
 Session Description   Objectives  About Cinthia
Leading change begins with a deep understanding of the culture that shapes our organization. Assessing that is the first starting point for designing the ideal culture. What are our priorities, rituals, and norms? What are our desired and hidden behaviors? How do we decide, collaborate, and provide feedback? These elements shape the culture we operate in, and within a single division or even team, distinct micro-cultures can exist.  This interactive session is for leaders and change-makers inside state agencies who want to get real about what’s holding their organization back. We’ll explore how to see your culture more clearly using a practical framework inspired by the open-source Culture Design Canvas from Fearless Culture.  Cinthia Assis holds a master’s in public policy from the Hertie School in Germany and is trained in Culture Design by Fearless Culture. Before joining the state, she worked at a consultancy specializing in change management and learning & development services and have facilitated several workshops. Currently, Cinthia supports internal and external engagement in the Early Learning Division within the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Driven by a mission to address inefficiencies in public organizations, she is inspired by the commitment to creating systems that better serve communities.

 

Connecting in a Digital Workplace Aug 7, 2025
9AM – 10AM		 Register: 08072025 9AM
Passcode: OCM2025!		 Ngenarr Samba (ESD)Matthew Kirsch (DCYF)Noah Kalb (DOH)
 Session Description   Objectives  About
 Like it or not, remote work is here to stay. Do you want to learn some tools to level up your ability to connect with the people you are working with in more creative ways? If so, this multi-agency panel will highlight some tools and techniques to help.  Our speakers are from three very different agencies, and our facilitator, Ben Guss, brings his experience from a fourth agency. Have you ever wondered how other organizations are connecting? This is your chance to gain a wider connection.
  1. Explore some of the remote work challenges different agencies are encountering.
  2. Learn how other agencies are addressing these issues.
  3. Take home some tips and tricks to help your organization connect and align remote teams.
 Hi, I’m Ngenarr Samba, an organizational change leader at ESD. I’m passionate about guiding people through transition with clarity, empathy, and purpose. I focus on inclusive strategies that empower individuals and teams, not just to navigate change, but to thrive in it. I believe that when people feel supported and equipped, change becomes an opportunity, not just a challenge. Matthew Kirsch, Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) Organizational Change Manager, has 13 years of experience in child welfare and provider supports.  Previously, he served as a Product Owner/Product Manager for the implementation of an online application and maintenance portal supporting kinship and licensed caregivers.  Matthew has over 35 years of experience working at the federal, state, and local government levels.  Matthew strongly believes in supporting users at all levels through significant change, and personally connecting with staff impacted by change initiatives.  Noah Kalb is a training specialist for Washington Department of Health and an education and engagement consultant. He has a decade of experience in the field of education and has spent another decade in as an international broadcaster, videographer, and livestream producer.  He has a passion for bringing the best engagement practices from teaching and entertainment to presentations, trainings, and meetings. 

 

An Introduction to Portfolio Management at ESD Aug 7, 2025
11AM – Noon		 Register: 08072025 11AM
Passcode: OCM2025!		 Mari McGill, Portfolio Project Management Office Administrator
 Session Description   Objectives  About
Discover the fundamentals of portfolio management at the Employment Security Department (ESD). This session will cover how our strategic plan drives portfolio management, how we prioritize initiatives, and the changes that led to our investment in this approach. Additionally, I will discuss how our performance system integrates strategic planning, project management, and progress assessment to ensure progress and visibility. Understanding how ESD aligns its projects with strategic goals and manages its portfolio is essential for achieving better outcomes. This session will show how effective portfolio management can drive change, improve performance, and achieve organizational goals. Key points covered:Strategic alignment: How ESD's strategic plan guides our investment in portfolio management.Prioritizing initiatives: Techniques for prioritizing strategic initiatives.Drivers of change: Key reasons behind ESD's investment in portfolio management.Integrated performance system: How strategic planning, project management, and progress assessment work together.Portfolio structure: Overview of ESD's portfolio management structure.Portfolio management process: The methodology used by ESD "S'mores".Lessons learned: Insights into challenges and improvements through our portfolio management journey.  Ever wonder how ESD gets things done? You'll learn how we organize and prioritize our projects to increase success and value. It's about making sure every effort supports the bigger picture and delivers results. Expect practical insights that can help you, whether you're juggling small improvements or managing a multi-year technical effort Mari McGill is a seasoned PNW leader with over 15 years of experience in project and program management. As the head of ESD's Portfolio and Project Management Office, she drives strategic decision-making and portfolio oversight. A military spouse and mother of two, Mari brings a unique perspective to leadership. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and certifications in Agile, Scrum, Lean, Project Management, Change Management, and Women in Leadership from Central Washington University. Known for implementing hybrid methodologies, she fosters collaboration, innovation, and efficiency across diverse teams. Mari is passionate about equipping leaders with the tools to drive meaningful change.

 

Choose Your Own Whiteboard Adventure! Aug 7, 2025
1PM – 2PM		 Register: 08072025 1PM
Passcode: OCM2025!		 Kelly Ziesemer, L&I
 Session Description   Objectives  About Kelly
This interactive presentation highlights how to incorporate Microsoft Teams Whiteboards into change management work. We will go over some of the functions and capabilities in the style of a choose your own adventure book where YOU as the audience get to choose what we do when learning all about this super powers of our state computers! We may not all have access to some of the fancier tools which may have an extra cost, but many state government agencies have access to the whiteboard in MS Teams with no added costs. Learning how to use the tool in the virtual and hybrid environment can increase engagement, especially when you sprinkle in the fun!  MS Teams Whiteboard 101 overview. Participants will learn:
  1. How to find, access, draft, save, and share a whiteboard.
  2. How to use templates to create the board they need.
  3. There will be live practice in the session as well as handouts they can refer back to later on.
 Kelly Ziesemer’s change management chops are matched with an ability to build fun into everything. Kelly’s work is inspirational and engaging, making this a “don’t miss” session!

 

What Type Of Change Maker Are You? Aug 7, 2025
3PM – 4PM		 Register: Closing 08072025 3PM
Passcode: OCM2025!


 Simon Phillips, FRSA, Purpose Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist, National Training Award Winner
 Session Description   Objectives  About Simon
How we lead change is absolutely critical if we want to ensure genuine engagement, sustainable buy-in, and lasting improvement. This interactive session reveals the five distinct types of change makers that exist in every organisation and helps participants identify their natural change-making proclivity.Through proven assessment tools and collaborative exercises, participants will discover their unique change leadership style and learn how understanding these differences transforms team dynamics and results. The session connects authentic change leadership with the LACE Way framework and explores the powerful link between change mastery and Loving Leadership.This isn't about adding another framework to your toolkit—it's about understanding the psychology behind successful transformation and why people respond to leaders who create genuine connection and trust. 
  1. Identify your unique change-making proclivity from five distinct types and understand how your natural style impacts leadership effectiveness
  2. Discover how understanding different change-maker types transforms team dynamics and creates stronger engagement in change initiatives
  3. Learn the connection between the LACE Way framework and human-centric transformation that drives sustainable results
  4. Explore the link between authentic change leadership and Loving Leadership principles
  5. Develop practical strategies to enhance your change leadership impact and build genuine buy-in for transformation.
 Simon Phillips is an award-winning change expert, founder of The Change Maker Group, and creator of the LACE Way framework. Featured on BBC, TalkTV, and the Independent, he's trusted by organisations including University of Greenwich, British Cycling, and the Eden Project. Simon is a Board member of the Center for a Loving Workplace and co-host of the Love Lead Change podcast with Renée Smith.simon@thechangemakergroup.com