Connection Crew: A Joyful Masterclass for Connection Professionals
“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 90 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
IMPORTANT UPDATE: [Virtual] doors will close after we have reviewed the group agreements. Approximately 5-10 minutes after the hour. Please be on time to ensure you make it in and get the full experience.
There will be prompts that invite you to share something that may feel vulnerable to you (please find a safe place to join the call from)
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 September Masterclass is being Co-Created with:
Special Guest: Allison Gilbert
Allison Gilbert is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and a leading advocate for helping people navigate life’s toughest challenges. With a deep passion for storytelling, Allison uses her extensive experience in journalism and her personal journey to guide others through grief, caregiving, and loneliness.
She is the co-author of The Joy of Connections, written with Dr. Ruth Westheimer, a book that provides actionable strategies to combat loneliness and foster meaningful relationships. As a speaker, Allison brings her insights to organizations and events, helping communities strengthen their bonds and support systems.
A master connector and storyteller, Allison blends her journalistic expertise with a profound understanding of human resilience. When she’s not writing or speaking, you might find her exploring new ideas, enjoying time with family, or staying actively involved in her community.
About The Joy of Connections: This book introduces Dr. Ruth’s Menu for Connection, offering a transformative approach to tackling the loneliness epidemic by encouraging deeper, more meaningful human connections.
Pre-Order The Joy of Connections (Coming Sep 3rd)
Connect with Allison: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X
September Panelists:
Steven Michael Crane (he/him), Researcher, Stanford University. Founder, Synaptic Insights Consulting
Steven Crane is a researcher with the Stanford Behavior Design Lab and the Stanford Prevention Research Center, and is also the founder of Synaptic Insights Consulting. His life’s work is to study, share, and practice the principles of living that lead to greater wisdom, peace, and prosocial engagement in the world. His current research and innovation work is focused on how to change behavior to cultivate meaningful social relationships.
Sondra Norris (she/her), Culture Consultant, Coach, Researcher
My areas of specialty are culture commitment; executive coaching; scaling; organizational behavior; organizational analysis; leader and manager development.
I specialize in building leaders’ knowledge, skills, and experiences to maximize their employees’ sustained commitment and trust, the fuels of continuous high performance.
The purpose and goals may seem simple and straightforward, but the path to achieving them rarely is. The weight and urgency of work and revenue goals often take over every interaction, pulling the relationship down to where it is purely transactional. This may be fine for vendors and suppliers, but it is corrosive to relationships that need strong foundations to survive uncertainty, change, and pressure.
I work with leaders and managers to create the time and space to work ON the business, with information from IN the business for relevance, context, applicability, and stickiness.
Electronic Arts, Grafana Labs, Estée Lauder, MTN Nigeria, Microsoft, St. Luke’s Health Systems, Guardant, and Golden West Communications are included in my list of clients and employers I’ve been lucky enough to serve.
Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram
Devin Keane (He/Him), COO of Gratitude Plus App
I'm passionate about helping people feel less lonely by enabling them to build meaningful connections. I'm doing that through my Gratitude Plus App, which lets you build a gratitude habit by sharing happy moments with your favorite people in less than 2 minutes each day (think of it as a happy BeReal). I also write the free buildbetter newsletter on how to build meaningful relationships in all aspects of your life. In my free time, I like to help people connect meaningfully through soccer events for anyone in tech called Pitch on the Pitch.
Connect: Gratitude Plus | Build Better Newsletter | LinkedIn | X
Hansen Hunt (He/Him), Community Lead at Covve, Connection Facilitator
Hansen is a community strategist and marketing leader from San Diego on a mission to co-create a deeply loving and connected world by bringing people together. After hitting rock bottom, he made the courageous decision to transform his life into a thriving marathoner, community builder, and mental health advocate. He loves family, his B-Side Racing Team, his dog Obi-Wan, tacos, meaningful connections, and supporting men to do their inner work as a member and facilitator of The Jungle (A ManKind Project circle).
Hansen is currently leading the the Connection Crew by Covve, a group of connection professionals on a mission to flatten the loneliness epidemic curve.
Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram | Digital Business Card
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:
Zach Blumenfeld, Co-Founder at CultureCon
Yiannis Gavrielides, Co-Founder & CEO at Covve
Dr. Vaneeta Sandhu, Head of Learning & Clinical Product Operations at Coa
Tim Jones, Founder & Executive Director at Longer Tables
Tes Cohen, Founder + CEO at Transformative Gatherings
Taylor Harrington, Head of Community at Groove
Steven Michael Crane, Researcher, Behavior Designer: Stanford School of Medicine
Steve Haase, Co-Founder at Superabound
Sondra Norris, Culture Consultant, Coach, Researcher
Sara Schairer, Founder & Executive Director at Compassion It
Robin Landsong, Creative Producer, Landsong Studios
Richard Lee-Thai, Founder at ExcusesToConnect
Paul Jones, Founder at Bridgio
Dr. Niraj (Raj) Nijhawan, Founder at Life Ecology Organization
Nikki Haritatos, Creativity Coach at Find Your Delight
Nicole Martin, Program Manager - Culture at WHEDA
Nick Lombardino, Co-Founder at Culture Con
Melina Kontou, Head of Marketing at Covve
Megan Wheeler, Founder & CEO, Spoken
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
Johnny Levy, CEO at DataJoe
Jessie Jacob, 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
Erin Crumley, Talent Development Consultant at SCAN Health Plan
Devinne Jackson, Director of People and Culture
Devin Keane, Chief Operating Officer at Gratitude Plus
Dan Moyle, HubSpot Advisor at Impulse Creative
Charley Lapomardo, Experience Facilitator and Founder of Sparkleworks
Brian Mohr, Co-Founder at Anthym
Brian Helfman, Founder & Chief Experience Officer at Third Nature
Brandy Cerne, Brand Strategist at BrandByBrandy
Beth Ridley, CEO at Ridley Consultants
Ben Swire, Co-Founder at Make Believe Works
Ashley Jones, Founder at Momento Foundation
Acey Holmes, Founder at BoredLess
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!