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Please join us on October 1, 2025, at The Water Tower Inn for an exclusive HR Power Lunch, where attendees will gain valuable insights from two expert presenters born and raised in Sault Ste Marie.

From Control to Connection: The Leadership Shift That Changes Everything (Presenter: Liza Provenzano)

When there is so much to get done and your bandwidth is low, many leaders default to control, imposing tight deadlines, tighter oversight, and reactive problem-solving.

This session explores the upstream side of people leadership: the conversations, relationships, and collaborative habits that prevent downstream issues like disengagement, poor performance, and burnout. You’ll learn why collaborative leadership isn’t just more human, it’s more effective.

We’ll dig into the small, practical shifts that make a big impact so you can walk away with tools you can use immediately and insights that might just change how you work with your team, because when relationships work, the work gets better.

From Connection to Commitment: The Next Step in Leading Engaged Teams  (Presenter: Christina Atkinson)

This session builds on the shift from connection to commitment, focusing on how to create a workplace where people feel psychologically safe, valued, and motivated to stay.

We will explore how to use tools such as engagement surveys, stay interviews, and effective feedback to move beyond gut instincts and surface-level check-ins and how to translate those insights into meaningful action. When applied effectively, these practices not only build a culture of accountability and commitment but also strengthen relationships, reduce turnover risk, and ensure that even employee departures are managed with respect and care.

This isn’t about more HR red tape. It’s about using the right conversations to get ahead of the problems that cost you time (money!), trust, and top talent.

 

EVENT DETAILS:

Date:  Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Location:  The Water Tower Inn, 360 Great Northern Rd, Sault Ste. Marie (map)

Registration & Lunch: 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM

Presentations: 12:15 PM – 1:30 PM

 

Presenter Bios:

Liza Provenzano is Founder of SparkWorks, a leadership development and coaching practice, that focuses on helping clients to build relationships, get results and enjoy their work. Liza is an experienced Human Resources Leader, Consultant, Facilitator and Coach, bringing twenty-five years of practical perspectives to client engagements.

Liza works with leaders and their teams, to diagnose what is getting in the way of fulfilling work experiences and desired results. As a trusted advisor and engaging facilitator, Liza supports and enables leaders and teams in taking action towards more productive and meaningful outcomes.

Her interest in creating great work experiences started early in her career and led her to graduate work through Queen’s University Master of Industrial Relations program. Liza also has a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation from the Human Resource Professional’s Association (HRPA) and was a participant in both Gartner for HR’s (formerly CEB Corporate Leadership Council) HR Leadership Academy and the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference. Her certifications include Everything DiSC® Workplace, Conversational Intelligence© and The Leadership Circle© solutions. She also delivers The Five Behaviours® and Q4™ Leadership. Liza holds the coaching designation of CPCC (Certified Professional Co-Active Coach) and is also an ACC (Associate Certified Coach) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

 

Christina Atkinson is a seasoned Human Resources Professional with proven success in partnering with leaders to align HR initiatives with business objectives and corporate strategies. With deep expertise across corporate and non-profit sectors, Christina’s mission is to ensure everyone has a great day at work.

Christina is a Certified HR Leader (CHRL) and holds a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Brock University, an HR Management designation from Niagara College, and is a Certified Executive Coach (CEC) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Christina is also an active member of both the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), staying engaged with the latest trends, best practices, and thought leadership in the HR field. Her combined academic credentials, professional certifications, and ongoing involvement in leading HR associations underscore her commitment to excellence and continuous development in human resources and executive coaching.

 

*Please register on or before Wednesday, September 24, 2025.