These no-cost one-hour monthly learning sessions are a significant benefit of CDI partnership. Peer-to-peer learning fosters connecting and sharing about efforts, insights, challenges and successes on this disability inclusion journey.
Partner companies are encouraged to share dates/topics across your enterprise and invite colleagues who will benefit from these learning opportunities. No limit on attendees per company.
Prospective partners welcome to attend 2x as a guest to check us out as you consider CDI partnership. Not a partner? Learn more HERE
2025 Schedule 3rd Tuesday, 9:00-10:00 am Central; Virtual via Teams
January 21 - February 18 - March 18 - April 15 May 20 - June 17 - July 15 - August 19 - October 21 - November 18
[image description: event flier with white background, descriptive copy and CDI logo in upper right corner. Disability Inclusion Network meeting. January 21, 2025 from 9:00-10:00 AM Central. Maximizing Your CDI Partnership. sibility. Join us as we kick-off 2025! We’ll do a short look back at 2024 and our accomplishments and hear briefly from our Board leaders and the CDI team. Then we’ll share with you our plans for 2025 and the various ways your company can plug in and maximze your partnership with us. Ideal session to invite someone new to CDI who wants to learn more about our intentional disability inclusion efforts with businesses. Register at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/q4ykqf7
November 19, 2004 - "Proactive vs Reactive Accessibility". Interactive discussion with Meaghan Walls, CDI CEO, Katie Kodad, Children's Nebraska and Nathan Posten, Jack Henry. October 15, 2024 - "Celebrating Veterans Impact in the Workplace". Interactive discussion with Isleen Gimenez, CDI; Bob Clemens, LMV Automotive and Ben Coleman, Commerce Bank. August 20, 2024 - "Open Forum on Talent". Interactive discussion with Andy Traub, CDI; Wendell Cole, Blue KC; and Anna Schmid, Labcorp. July 17, 2024 - Central Missouri Disability Network Meeting "Be An Influencer". In-person meeting. Presentation from Andy Traub, CDI. Hosted by Impact Support Services, Columbia MO July 16, 2024 - "Unpacking Accessibility". Presentations from Jennifer Seidel, Eitas; Katie Kodad, Children's Nebraska; Joseph Jefferson and Kristi Payne, Ability KC. June 18, 2024 - "Employee/Business Resource Groups: Foundations for Success". Presentations from Karen Temple and David Jarman, Black & Veatch; Courtney Taylor and Ginamarie Austin-Bray, Jack Henry. May 21, 2024 - "Inclusion Through Collaboration". Presentations from Krista Gartelos, Dairy Farmers of America; Pauline Schwanitz, Magna Electric Vehicle Structures; Kathy Cooper, Enterprise Bank & Trust. April 16, 2024 - "Compliance + Culture = Innovation". Presentations from CDI Board members: Judy Julius, EEO Consulting; Felecia Hogan, Commerce Bank; Michael Murray, consultant. March 19, 2024 - "Purposeful Planning for NDEAM". Presentation from ODEP/US Dept of Labor, Renee Tajudeen, Director, Policy Communications and Outreach and Michelle Barfield, Business Development Specialist. Plus presentation by Mutual of Omaha A3 ERG with Monika Mandrakas, Jamie Watson and Liz Thorson. February 20, 2024 - "Accessible Benefits: Shedding Light on Hidden Barriers" . Presentation from Sara Hart Weir, Executive Director of Kansas Council on Development Disability and co-founder of Able Today. Plus presentation by Wendell Cole and Michelle Carmichael with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City January 25, 2024 - Omaha In-Person Network Meeting "Workforce Programs to Elevate Your Workforce Disability Inclusion". Hosted by and held at Angel Guardians, Inc. January 16, 2024 - "Personal Perspectives and Our Why for This Work" with the 2024 CDI Board President, new CEO & Leadership Team. November 21, 2023 - "Business Partner Spotlight and CDI 2024 Vision". Presentation from CDI Partner, Kansas City National Security Campus (Honeywell) plus conversation with CDI Leaders, Darla Wilkerson, CEO, Kathy Cooper, Board President 2022-2023 and Derrick Nelson President 2024-2025 November 9, 2023 - Omaha In-Person Network Meeting, "A Veteran's Perspective - PTSD in the Workplace" with Sharon Robino-West, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Community Employment Coordinator | Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System October 17, 2023 - Diversity, Disability & Inclusion. Facilitated interactive discussion with Darla Wilkerson, CDI and guest Myles Wallace, Peak Performers. August 23, 2023 - Omaha In-Person Network Meeting - "Navigating Resources to Advance Your Inclusion Efforts" - hosted by Children's Hospital & Medical Center and held at the Greater Omaha Chamber office. Facilitated interactive discussion with Meaghan Walls, CDI. August 18, 2023 - "Compensation & Benefits from an Inclusion Perspective". Facilitated conversation with CDI team and guests - Sue Brenner, Enterprise Bank & Trust and Danielle Spieckerman, InBloom Autism Services July 18, 2023 - "Accessibility & Accommodations". Facilitated conversation with CDI team and guests - Meaghan Walls, Center for Disability Inclusion; Gina Mostek, Farm Credit Services of America and Amber Cheek, University of Missouri June 28, 2023 - "Columbia Business Network Meeting" - hosted by Commerce Bank June 20, 2023 - "Career Development & Retention Strategies". Facilitated conversation with CDI team and guests - Brenda Perkins, Center for Disability Inclusion; Jay Bohanon, GEHA; Kyle Wright and Krista Gartelos, Dairy Farmers of America May 16, 2023 - "Inclusive Recruitment and Hiring". Facilitated conversation with CDI team and guests - Andy Traub, Center for Disability Inclusion; Tracy Dickens, Black & Veatch and Lisa Kaiser, Garmin. April 18, 2023 - "Partner Spotlights" - St. Luke's Health System, Boise Idaho (Derrick Nelson) and Children's Hospital & Medical Center (Shavonne Washington-Krauth) April 13, 2023 - Omaha In-Person Network Meeting - hosted by Angel Guardians, Inc. Panel discussion "Disability Inclusive Interviewing & Hiring Best Practices" April 12, 2023 - "Columbia Business Network Meeting" - hosted by Commerce Bank March 21, 2023 - "Working with Employees Who Acquire a Disability: A Conversation About Return to Work" - Heather Bernard, Nebraska Epilepsy Foundation February 22, 2023 - Omaha In-Person Network Meeting - hosted by Mutual of Omaha at Omaha Chamber of Commerce office. Panel discussion "Developing a Disability-Focused ERG" February 21, 2023 - "Partner Spotlights" - Missouri Division of Developmental Disabilities, Summit Future Foundation, Angel Guardians January 17, 2023 - "Partner Spotlights" - Alphapointe (Gina Gowin) and Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (Helen Bishop) November 15, 2022 - "Partner Spotlights" - Blue Cross Blue Shield Kansas City (Wendell Cole) and Peak Performers (Brian Crawley) October 19, 2022 - "Omaha In-Person Network Meeting" - Hosted by CDI Partner, The Peregrine Hotel October 18, 2022 - "Partner Spotlights" - CrossFirst Bank (Susan Jobe) and UMB Bank (Riana Maus) September 21, 2022 - "Omaha In-Person Networking Event" - Hosted by CDI Partner, The Peregrine Hotel August 16, 2022 - "Partner Spotlights" - The Whole Person (Lea Klepees) and Workforce Partnership RetainWorks Grant (Shellie West and Janet Torlina) July 19, 2022 - "Partner Spotlights" - Mutual of Omaha (Jana Egan) and Commerce Bank (Felecia Hogan) June 21, 2022 - "Partner Spotlights" - Enterprise Bank & Trust (Kathy Cooper) and Black & Veatch (Selina Griswold, Courtney Warren, Ricky Engel) May 17, 2022 - "Partner Spotlights" - GEHA (Jay Bohanon) and Kansas City VA Medical Center (Charity Deutch) April 19, 2022 - "Partner Spotlights" - Hallmark Cards (Kristen Harris/Kayla Lagud) and Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (Kristan Davis) March 15, 2022 - "Partner Spotlights" - Burns & McDonnell (Julie Hoch) and Missouri Dept of Mental Health Division of Developmental Disabilities (Duane Shumate) February 15, 2022 - "Partner Spotlights" - LMV Automotive/Magna International (Adam Jelenic) & Great Southern Bank (Sheree Patrick) January 18, 2022 - "Partner Spotlights" - Garmin International (Kelly O'Connor) and Kansas Workforce Partnership (Roberta Rowland) December 21, 2021 - "Serving Up Success" - Business Spotlights: The Golden Scoop (Amber Schreiber and Lindsey Krumbholz) and Children's Mercy Kansas City (Angie Bright and Nicole Carr) November 16, 2021 - "Elevate Your Veteran Hiring" - Anna Thomas, Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) and Charity Deutch, VA Medical Center Kansas City September 21, 2021 - "Influencing Change" - Lessons learned at our 7th Annual Disability Inclusion Summit (Sept 14-16) - "Disability IS Diversity" August 17, 2021 - "Partner Spotlights on Disability Recruiting Practices" - Truman Medical Centers, Cosentinos and Unity World Headquarters July 20, 2021 - "Planning for National Disability Employment Awareness Month" - Kathy Smith, Children's Mercy and Jessica Criss, Performance Contracting Group June 15, 2021 - "Partner Spotlight on Allied Global Services" - Vicki Slaughter, Director of Business Development and Inclusive Recruiting May 18, 2021 - "Mental Health Resilience and Its Affect on the Workplace - Nancy Spangler, PhD, OTR/L, Spangler Associates April 20, 2021 - "Speed Networking" with Business and Community Agency Partners March 16, 2021 - "Disability Inclusion While Working Remotely" - Vanessa Sims, SVP, Executive Director, Diversity & Inclusion, UMB Bank February 16, 2021 - Rescheduled due to rolling brown outs from frigid temps. January 19, 2021 - "Demo of newly upgraded Jobs Ability online job board" - John Robinson, CEO, OurAbility December 15, 2020 - "Celebrating Our Accomplishments" - 2020 Highlights and Our Annual Scorecard, plus Partner Networking November 17, 2020 - "Service Animals in the Workplace: Employer and Employee Rights & Responsibilities" - Julie Brinkhoff, Director, Great Plains ADA Center