Connection Crew: A Joyful Masterclass for Connection Professionals
Special May Masterclass is co-created with the Connection Crew by Covve and CultureCon. Join for the connection and stay for the chance to win a pass to CultureCon 2024! ($1,999 value)
“Loneliness and isolation represent profound threats to our health and well-being.” Dr. Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General Report 2023
Connect and learn with connection leaders at the next workshop hosted by the Covve community, Connection Crew. Have fun and elevate your connection coaching expertise with fellow peers who are passionate about connection. This is where your kind of people hang out.
Why attend?
Expand Your Toolkit: Learn how to facilitate three new connection activities that you can take back to your own communities and gatherings.
Valuable Networking: Connect with Connection Pros. Learn from those who not only talk about social health but actively shape it. Meet people who are as dedicated and passionate about social health as you are. Make connections that go beyond the workshop.
Fun and Engaging: Expect a session full of laughter, learning, and light-hearted yet deep connections. It's not just a workshop; it's a social exercise for your professional soul.
Learn with Your Peers: Enjoy the rare opportunity to be a participant rather than a leader, in a room where everyone speaks your language of community and connection.
Elevate Your Expertise: This workshop isn't just about discussion; it's about elevating your skills with practical, hands-on experiences.
What to expect?
A 75 minute joyful connection experience. You will be paired with one connection leader for the duration of the event. To ensure you both have a wonderful experience, It's important you agree to the following:
Have video and audio on during 3 breakout room sessions
Participate fully during the breakouts
Be present for at least the full hour (15 minute after party is optional)
Bring curious and open energy, ready to learn from and share with your peers
Who is this for? People who already prioritize social health in their personal and professional lives and want to continue elevating their connection skills. If you’re typically the one hosting the gatherings and workshops, this is your chance to have fun learning and sharing with other folks in your shoes.
Connection & Belonging Advocates
Workplace Culture Champions
Community Leaders
Coaches and Facilitators
Networking Gurus
Social Health Champions
The May Masterclass is Co-Created with CultureCon:
As a Certified B Corporation®, CultureCon is on a mission to inspire positive change around organizational culture. Join Covve at CultureCon 2024, the flagship employee experience conference, and be in community with Culture Geeks from Fanatics, Activision, Gallup, Atlassian and many other innovative, human-centered organizations.
May Panelists:
Dr. Niraj "Raj" Nijhawan (He/Him), CEO & Founder at Life Ecology Organization and CultureCon Contributor
Dr. Niraj "Raj" Nijhawan is a dedicated physician and the visionary founder/CEO of the Life Ecology Organization (LEO). Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, Dr. Nijhawan pursued his medical education at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, graduating in 1992. He furthered his expertise by completing a residency in Anesthesiology/Critical Care at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Additionally, under a National Institutes of Health Scientist Training Grant, he earned a Master's degree in clinical research.
For close to three decades, Dr. Nijhawan's fervor has revolved around assimilating, practicing, and disseminating the latest insights from medical, social, and neuroscience fields. In 2014, driven by this passion, he established LEO. The organization's primary mission is to foster vibrant, empowering work environments and communities, offering a beacon of hope and transformation in challenging times. Since its inception, LEO's initiatives have positively impacted a diverse audience, ranging from at-risk teens to high-ranking corporate leaders.
Connect: LinkedIn | Life Ecology Organization
Tim Jones (He/Him), Executive Director, Longer Tables
A storyteller and connector of people, Tim helps companies, cities and organizations cultivate communities of belonging and connection from his twenty years of for-profit and non-profit experience.
He’s the Executive Director of Longer Tables, a non-profit based in Denver, Colorado, who is creating places of connection through large-scale community table events and consulting.
Addressing employee engagement and retention within large companies, Tim heads up Longer Tables at Work, a full-service consulting agency helping companies thrive through cultures of belonging.
A graduate of the prestigious USC Film School, Tim combines his storytelling giftedness with expertise in identity, belonging, spirituality and human relationship.
When he’s not setting tables, Tim is directing a movie, hanging out with his nine nieces and nephews, playing his Great-Grandparents piano or drinking wine in Santa Barbara.
About Longer Tables: We bring people from all walks of life together to share a meal at one, long table. We believe in the power of the table – and shared meal – as a place to be seen, heard and known and a potentially explosive way to reconnect humans, battle isolation and fight division.
Connect: LinkedIn | Longer Tables | Instagram
✨Charley Lapomardo (They/Them)✨, Experience Facilitator and Founder at Sparkleworks
Charley “Sparkle” Lapomardo (they/them) is a dynamic Facilitator and User Experience Researcher on a mission to help humans be and work their best by co-creating transformative workshops, events, and environments. With a rich background encompassing 5 years as a Community Culture Manager and User Researcher at Wayfair, Charley expertly designs employee experiences. Holding a BBA in Marketing, Theater, and Media Literacy from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, they bring a unique blend of creativity and strategic insight to their work. Currently based in sunny San Diego, CA, Charley embodies a passion for fostering inclusive and engaging spaces of empowerment where everyone is safe to sparkle.
About Sparkleworks: Sparkleworks is a workshop company based in San Diego, CA helping humans connect and re-energize through generative authentic self-expression.
Our Applied Sparkle Workshop helps teams solve problems they don't yet understand with solutions they can't yet imagine.
Connect: LinkedIn | Sparkleworks
What is the Connection Crew by Covve?
The Olympic training team for connection professionals. A community of people passionate about connection and inspired to take action to flatten the loneliness epidemic curve. Leveraging our diverse skill sets, we come together to learn from and amplify each other’s impact in the world. We grow together and are stronger by sharing wisdom and having a team to go through this journey.
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” - Hellen Keller
Who is in the Connection Crew? Here is a sample of the inspiring humans you may connect with:
Yiannis Gavrielides, Co-Founder & CEO at Covve
Tim Jones, Founder & Executive Director at Longer Tables
Taylor Harrington, Head of Community at Groove
Steve Haase, Co-Founder at Superabound
Sara Schairer, Founder & Executive Director at Compassion It
Melina Kontou, Head of Marketing at Covve
Linda Brandt, Founder & Co-Organizer of Lean In Together MSP
Laura Zug, Community Strategist & Founder at The Hive
Lara Storm, Co-Founder at Make Believe Works
Kindra Maples, Founder at Culture Crush Business
Kevin Monroe, World's Gratitude Coach
Kayla Izard, Co-Founder at The Raft Project
Katya Davydova, Founder & Coach at Effervescent You
Jessie Jacobs, Sr. Community Engagement Manager at Culture Amp
Jenny Sauer-Klein, Founder + CEO at the Scaling Intimacy School of Experience Design
Jason Meucci, VP Facilitation & Coaching at Take Flight Learning
Hansen Hunt, Head of Community at Covve
Gary Ware, Founder & Facilitator at Breakthrough Play
Garry Ridge, Culture Coach & Founder, The Learning Moment & Chairman Emeritus WD-40 Company
Dr. Vaneeta Sandhu, Head of Learning & Clinical Product Operations at Coa
Dr. Raj Nijhawan, CEO & Founder at Life Ecology Organization
Charley Lapomardo, Experience Facilitator
Charles Vogl, Author | Speaker | Adviser at The Vogl Group
Brian Mohr, Co-Founder at Anthym
Brian Helfman, Founder & Chief Experience Officer at Third Nature
Beth Ridley, CEO at Ridley Consultants
Ben Swire, Co-Founder at Make Believe Works
Ashley Jones, Founder at Love Not Lost
You?
What to Expect?
Join us for an interactive and engaging session filled with connection exercises that are both fun and insightful. Our expert-led activities are designed to not only teach but also provide a platform for meaningful interactions. You’ll engage in practical scenarios that mirror real-world challenges.
So, if you're ready to be energized by connection, to laugh and learn with the best in the field, and to be part of a high-quality gathering of like-minded professionals, this workshop is for you.
A few reactions about a previous experience:
"This is a can't miss event on my calendar every month."
“Thank you SO much for today. Wow.”
"Surprised by the community focus. Felt at home with like-minded individuals. Rare and cool experience."
"Great session, met amazing people. High-quality gathering. Thanks for the invite, Hansen."
Join us for a unique experience where connection isn't just talked about – it's actively practiced and celebrated.
Spots are limited – reserve your place in this gathering of connection experts today!