Bob Ash, Founder of Life Lessons^™
Most people remember the Musketeers’ famous phrase: “All for One, One for All.” This presentation will build on that timeless maxim as it applies to working together in ways that help us all succeed. The Musketeers were confident — someone always had their back. When we can work together in relationships built on this kind of trust, it allows us to be more creative and become possibility thinkers. We can work together in ways to maximize the potential of everyone involved and focus on becoming solution-oriented. Bob Ash founded his company Life Lessons in 1995 and since that time has provided training to more than 750 organizations. Prior to that he served in several different positions in education — a janitor, teacher, principal, superintendent of schools, and also played a few years of professional baseball. In his presentations Bob strives to provide practical information, challenging his audience to look at their own behaviors, while providing an enjoyable learning experience.

Ross Cunningham, Corrections Superintendent, Sullivan County; Greg Chanis, County Administrator, Sullivan County; and Marc Hathaway, Esq, County Attorney, Sullivan County
One of the great clichés of our time is “thinking outside the box.” It’s often tossed about, but more often than not, means little. This session features a Primex³ member that not only thought “outside the box,” but moved those thoughts into action. Sullivan County’s new corrections facility provides the backdrop for this program, which looks at not only being creative, but also establishing the right collaborative partners to make creativity come alive. You’ll leave this session with a fresh look at recognizing opportunity, being realistically creative, and fostering valuable relationships to make “thinking outside the box” actually happen.

Diane Annon, Director of Business Development, Best Doctors Occupational Health Institute
You may be thinking that this is another “get the injured employee back to work program” and what could possibly be new around that topic? But think again, because this program does break new ground with a look at the Best Doctors initiative. With a focus on both the caring and cost implications of getting injured employees back to work, this program looks at the strategies and steps needed to make these factors connected and not mutually exclusive. You’ll learn what Best Doctors is all about and how members have used this initiative to return employees to work in a caring and cost effective way. You’ll leave with a new perspective on an old issue.

Risk Management Staff in cooperation with representatives from IES Interactive Training Solutions of Ann Arbor, Michigan
You might be surprised by how many instances of simulation training your agency uses on a daily basis. Simulation learning challenges conventional wisdom, motivating participants to break with “known truths,” personal assumptions, and helps to identify their own strengths and weaknesses. This session will explore the realities of technology in today’s training simulators to help agencies in building basic fundamental skills for new hires to more complex, advanced uses for veteran personnel. Ride along together as we explore the use of technologically advanced simulators for staff training. (Simulators will be available all day with IES personnel on hand to help members try them out!)

Phil McCormack, Superintendent, SAU 2 and Vern Thomas, Captain, Derry Police Department
Long before the passage of New Hampshire’s Pupil Safety and Violence Prevention Act (HB 1523), bullying has been an important issue in our schools. This legislation has served to place concern squarely on the radar screen of parents, students, and educators. This workshop will provide a look at what the new legislation is intended to do and the opportunities it provides to help curb bullying. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of the foundation of the law and your role in making it work.

Bob Champlin, Superintendent, Laconia School District; Tammy Davis, Superintendent, SAU 59; Bruce Labs, Superintendent, SAU 23; and Ty Gagne, CEO, Primex³
We can talk about collaboration all we’d like but the fact is without communication there will be no collaboration. Think about it… how can you encourage others to collaborate unless they can effectively communicate the opportunities that collaboration brings and to effectively persuade others to join in? Our panel of school superintendents will address the critical importance of communication as a collaborative tool with a focus on “reaching” disparate stakeholders to not only establish the groundwork for collaboration but to keep it moving. You’ll leave this session with a new appreciation for the collaborate/communicate connection and armed with ideas on how to modify and/or leverage your communication style for collaborative success.

Stephanie Marshall, Senior Partner, MKS Performance Solutions and Terri Eastman, Wellness Coordinator, Primex³
This workshop will introduce to participants an exciting collaboration between the Primex³ Employee Assistance Program and Primex³Health. Research has shown that people make and sustain behavior changes more successfully when they have done the “mental preparation” for the change and have the tools available to make the change happen. This means they have a clear vision of their goal, have identified some of the stumbling blocks that often trip them up, and have a plan for their first steps. An EAP Wellness Coach will facilitate this mental preparation by guiding participants through a step-by-step process for formulating a clear vision. This process, coupled with the wellness tools available through Primex³Health, creates the resources and support necessary to set a clear intention, implement, and sustain the desired behavioral change. The approach will involve taking participants through a process of answering questions related to their desired change. Participants will be asked to write their own responses and use those responses to craft a clear vision. Primex³Health will demonstrate online tools that help with the specifics of your desired “healthy behavior” change.

Randy Pierce and his guide dog, Quinn
At the age of 22, due to an unknown neurological disorder, Randy Pierce began to lose his vision, and by the year 2000 he lost his sight completely. Randy’s positive approach to adversity would become key to his survival in 2003 when the neurological disorder that ended his vision affected his ability to walk. From 2004 to 2006, with guide dog Quinn at his side, Randy worked to escape confinement to a wheelchair. He did all of that and more, and in appreciation of his good fortune for having the support and tools to flourish in life, Randy’s life-long passion for hiking became the catalyst for founding 2020 Vision Quest. His goal is to earn certification from the Appalachian Mountain Club for hiking all 48 of New Hampshire’s mountains over 4,000 feet by the year 2020. Quinn, a yellow Labrador Retriever, is also called “The Mighty Quinn” in appreciation of the dog’s remarkable prowess at mountaineering. Throughout the process, Randy hopes to gather a variety of inspirations from others to share with the world. In the last year, Randy has spoken to over 2,000 students through his foundation.

John Aubin, Assistant Superintendent, SAU 70, Hanover; Greg Chanis, Sullivan County Administrator; Carl Weber, Director of Member Services, Primex³; Kirstin VanBuskirk, Assistant Manager, Benefits Program, Primex³
Making a plan change to your health benefits is often not an easy task. Entities should not only discuss changes with employees, but also with governing boards and union leadership while taking into consideration collective bargaining agreements. We all know that with the rising cost of health care, some health plan design changes need to take place. Carl Weber and Kirstin VanBuskirk will moderate as well as encourage audience participation in an interactive panel discussion that includes Primex³Health members who have executed health care strategies for long-term benefit planning. Learn how a creative solution can be implemented and understood by all parties to achieve financial and benefit goals while attaining quality health care.

Mike Ricker, Primex³ General Counsel; Tom Mahon, Senior Consultant, Primex³; and TBA
There’s a right way and a wrong way to terminate employees. Often times, employers make the wrong move and it costs them dearly. This session looks at the concept of “rightful termination” through a look at real cases that will have you thinking, “you can’t make this stuff up.” Strategies and steps to move successfully through the termination process will be offered, and the collaboration between Primex³ and its members will be featured in successfully minimizing the potential risk brought about by termination.

Eileen Bolander, Administrator, Grafton County Nursing Home; Rick Alpers, Member Services Consultant, Primex³
Can you think of any organization that couldn’t benefit from a candid look at itself by asking “what is it we want to be and what are our mutual expectations to get there?” This program looks at what it takes to not only ask those questions, but how to move forward with the answers. The Grafton County Dietary Department’s efforts around identifying both aspirations, and the expectations to achieve them, are featured in this program. You’ll be introduced to a model that not only asks and answers these questions, but also about the internal collaboration the County is using to move forward and its external collaboration with Primex³ to support its efforts. You’ll leave with a ready-to-use model that may well fit your organization and that can not only ask the questions, but position the organization to move forward.