LeadingAge Nebraska 2025 Annual Conference & Expo

Pre-Conference: Monday, March 31, 2025

Conference: April 1-2, 2025

Younes Conference Center South
416 W Talmadge Rd, Kearney, NE 68845

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Get ready to ride the "Ripples of Impact" as LeadingAge Nebraska celebrates its golden anniversary in style!

The LeadingAge Nebraska Annual Conference, taking place at the Younes Conference Center South in Kearney, promises to be a transformative experience for aging services providers across the state. This year's theme, "Ripples of Impact," perfectly encapsulates the profound influence your work has on the community and the waves of change you can create together.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of LeadingAge Nebraska, we're rolling back the years and inviting you to party like it's 1975! Revel in the nostalgia and embrace the future as we honor half a century of advancements and achievements in eldercare.

The event kicks off Monday afternoon, March 31, with an enlightening Pre-Conference Program presented by Cameo Rogers, Corporate Life Enrichment Manager at Immanuel. Her presentation on Strengths-Based Approaches for Culture Change in Dementia Care will sets the stage for innovative learning and connection. After the Pre-Conference program, raise your glasses high during the Cocktail Hour, toasting to new friendships and the wisdom yet to be shared. The TaleGate 4 Joy team will be there to entertain! All Pre-Conference AND Main Conference attendees are invited to the Cocktail Hour. Thank you to Midwest LTC Pharmacy/Guardian Pharmacy of Omaha for sponsoring the Cocktail Hour!

The main conference begins Tuesday, April 1, with a thought-provoking keynote by Brett Hoogeveen of BetterCulture. You are then invited to engage in breakout sessions designed to spark dialogue and discovery, and honor the exceptional work of your peers during our Annual Awards Ceremony, sponsored by HCIS-MBS. Tuesday evening slip on your bell bottoms and boogie shoes—it's Disco Night! Join the anniversary celebration by dancing to the groovy beats of the past, all while forging unforgettable memories with your colleagues. There will be prizes for the best individual AND community costumes!

The momentum continues on Wednesday, April 2, with the Expo that brings you face-to-face with cutting-edge solutions and products, Jack York image ensuring you're equipped with the tools to make a difference. Dive deeper into specialized knowledge with additional breakout sessions, and as the conference draws to a close, let the closing keynote with Jack York of TaleGate resonate within you, leaving you inspired to create your own ripples of impact long after the event concludes.

Thank you to Elder Dynamics for sponsoring our prizes for the entire conference! Elder Dynamics logo

This conference isn't just an occasion; it's a milestone, a catalyst for growth, and a vibrant celebration of the passion and dedication you bring to aging services in Nebraska. Join a community of like-minded professionals who are eager to learn, network, and elevate the standard of eldercare.

Register now for a symphony of learning and laughter, connection and celebration, and prepare to make waves that will transform the landscape of eldercare. The 2025 LeadingAge Nebraska Annual Conference & Expo is more than a conference—it's a beacon of inspiration, an ode to the past, and a launchpad for the future. Join us, and let's ripple forth into a new era of aging services together.

VIEW THE SCHEDULE, PRICING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION INFORMATION BY CLICKING THE LINKS AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE.

50th anniversary image

The Expo on April 2 is now FULL - if you are a vendor or Business Member interested in exhibiting, contact Natalie McCormick to be put on the waiting list!

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PRE-CONFERENCE DETAILS: We will be offering a Pre-Conference program featuring Cameo Rogers, Life Enrichment Coordinator at Immanuel. You won't want to miss Cameo presentation on Strengths-Based Approaches for Culture Change in Dementia Care. The Pre-Conference session is from 2:00 – 5:00 pm on Monday, March 31, 2025 at the Younes Conference Center South. Pre-Conference registration is not included in main conference registration. Register for the Pre-Conference program on the main conference registration page!

Monday evening will feature the Cocktail Hour from 5-6:30 pm. All Pre-Conference attendees, main Conference attendees, speakers, and exhibitors are invited to the Cocktail Hour, but RSVP is required.

KEYNOTES

Wednesday Opening Keynote: Mastering the Mathematics of Company Culture Are you tired of vague notions like "soft-skills" and "team synergy" when discussing workplace culture? BetterCulture co-founder Brett Hoogeveen, former engineer, start-up investor and self-proclaimed "numbers-guy" will teach us how to look at employee engagement and workplace culture through an entirely "non-squishy" lens: the lens of numbers and mathematics.The opening Keynote is sponsored by Fusion Workforce Solutions!

Fusion logo

Thursday Closing Keynote: The Wisdom on Wheels Journey: A Nationwide 5 Year Quest to Capture the Hearts and Minds of the Greatest Generation Jack York of TaleGate 4 Joy In a senior living world dealing with never ending stresses and constant change, there is immense value in connecting with the residents who have lived long, meaningful lives. "The Wisdom on Wheels Journey" is an engaging and heartwarming story of an unforgettable adventure that tells the story of criss-crossing the country in 2 separate journeys spanning 5 years Through hundreds of personal interviews, the session reminds the audience why they got into the senior living profession in the first place, and the importance in allowing residents to be heard. This generation will never be recreated, their legacies must be captured. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will reflect on the treasures living within the walls of your communities.

DISCO NIGHT & COSTUME CONTEST, April 1, 2025: We are thrilled to celebrate our 50^th Anniversary with a Disco and Costume Contest! From 6:00 – 9:00 pm will be dinner, drinks, dancing, and prizes. The TaleGate 4 Joy Team will also be there for Name That Tune! All conference attendees are invited, but we ask that you RSVP. There will be prizes for the individual AND community with the best 70s gear! Art Against Ageism image

ART AGAINST AGEISM: We are privileged to bring in the phenomenal Art Against Ageism team for the conference this year! Meg and Jordan will be at the Disco and also at the Expo, using creativity and artistry to confront damaging stereotypes about age and aging, in additionto advancing correct (and positive) beliefs about aging. Participants are encouraged to "Own Your Age"! Thank you to Prime Time Healthcare for sponsoring the Art Against Ageism team! Prime Time Logo

CONFERENCE APP: We will be using the Yapp conference app again this year. In the app you will be able to check the agenda, locations, read speaker bios, read session descriptions, link directly to sponsor and exhibitor websites, fill out evaluations, and more. The app will be free to download from both the Google Play and Apple app stores. Assistance with app download and navigation will be available at the conference.

AWARD NOMINATIONS: We will be giving awards in the following categories: Lifetime Achievement, Excellence in Care and Service, Leadership in Aging Services, Friends of Aging Services, and NEW THIS YEAR the Ron Jensen Memorial Award for Advocacy and Public Policy. Award recipients will be chosen by our selection committee and honored over lunch on April 1, 2025 (day 1 of the Annual Conference & Expo) in Kearney, NE.

CONFERENCE SOCIAL - DISCO NIGHT! We are excited to celebrate our 50th Anniversary with everyone on Tuesday evening with a Disco! Bring your 70s gear and be prepared to disco like it's 1975! From 6:00 – 9:00 pm will be dinner, drinks, entertainment and prizes, dancing, and more! All conference attendees, speakers and exhibitors are invited, but we ask that you RSVP.
List of exhibitors

EXPO: The Expo, on Wednesday, April 2, will give you opportunities for networking, business development and knowledge exchange. And as always, there will be familiar faces and also some new faces!

COMFORT INN ROOM BLOCK: LeadingAge Nebraska has reserved a room block at the Comfort Inn, which is attached to the Younes Conference Center South. The block rate is guaranteed through February 28, 2025. NOTE: You need to CALL the local Comfort Inn at 308-236-3400 to request the room block rate (it is not accessible online or with the national Comfort Inn phone number).

3/1/2025 UPDATE: Both the Comfort Inn and Fairfield Inn (both attached to the conference center) are full on April 1. Check the Holiday Inn or other close hotels for availability.

HANDOUTS: All handouts will be made available a few days prior to the conference by email and in the conference app. Participants are encouraged to download and/or print handouts prior to arrival at the conference.

CONSENT: Photographs will be taken during the LeadingAge Nebraska 2025 Annual Conference & Expo. By registering for this event, you agree to allow LeadingAge Nebraska to use your photo in our related publications, promotions, or website.

CONFERENCE ATTIRE: Our conference is relaxed but professional. We ask that you wear comfortable, business-casual attire. We also suggest wearing layers as temperatures can vary from room to room.

CODE OF CONDUCT: LeadingAge Nebraska asks that all attendees keep the following in mind when attending all our events. LeadingAge Nebraska reserves the right to remove any persons not abiding by these standards.