Optimize Your Talent Management Strategy
Discover how your organization can tackle the challenges of increasing service demand and a shrinking workforce with field-tested, cutting-edge talent management strategies.
The 2025 OPEN MINDS Workforce Best Practices Summit will feature an increased health care worker pipeline to meet demand, rethinking compensation and benefits trends, building an agile staffing plan including fractional and contingent workforces, multigenerational workforce, and trends in recruitment, including AI.
Attendees will be equipped with creating their talent management framework to include strategies for rethinking compensation, building an agile staffing plan, and trends for recruitment and retention.
2025 Summit Agenda
Employee Engagement & Retention Starts With Leadership: The Jay Nolan Community Services Case Study
In this current chaotic business environment where providers struggle to recruit and hire top talent, employee engagement and retention are more critical than ever. The more an organization’s employees feel invested in, valued, listened to, and appreciated, the greater the buy-in, commitment, and longevity organizations see from their most valuable resource – their staff.
This is “mission critical” for leadership teams and not something that can be delegated to HR or committees as a project. When the senior leadership team of an organization takes accountability for creating an environment that people want to work in, not only will it relieve some pressure on recruiting, but the organization will also deliver higher quality services and perform better financially.
Hear from Jay Nolan Community Services, a provider for fifty years with over 700 staff and supporting over 550 individuals with autism and developmental disabilities, as they discuss their approach to making employee engagement and retention a core part of the organization’s culture and “DNA” (Develop, Nurture, Appreciate).Â
Edward R. Amey, MS
Throughout his career, Edward has worked with children, teens, individuals, and families from various walks of life; as a coach, crisis counselor, social worker, therapist, teacher, adoption services supervisor, and program director. He has been a member of several boards, as well as serving as the Executive Director of The Concordia Schools – Los Angeles, the Managing Director for The Institute for the Redesign of Learning, and now as the CEO of the Jay Nolan Family of Companies.
Edward has led multiple organizations to financial prosperity, through digital and cultural change, by focusing on the greatest assets they have, the people they support, and the people providing that support. He is committed to helping the leaders in our communities and companies to drive lasting positive change through innovation that keeps people at the center.
Having been in executive leadership roles for nonprofits for over 20 years; Edward believes one of the fundamental ways to strengthen our communities is through purposeful efforts to provide opportunities for every member to contribute. By providing safe, challenging, and diverse venues in which to grow, develop, and contribute we create communities that are whole and healthy.
Using The Latest Tech Trends In Your Workforce Strategic Plan
In today’s rapidly evolving health care landscape, staying ahead requires more than just clinical excellence — it demands a forward-thinking workforce strategy powered by the latest technological innovations. This presentation explores how emerging health care tech trends, such as AI-driven staffing analytics, telehealth integration, automation in administrative workflows, and digital health tools, can be leveraged to optimize workforce planning and performance. Executives will gain insights into aligning tech advancements with strategic goals, improving staff engagement, reducing burnout, and enhancing patient outcomes. Discover practical approaches to integrating technology into workforce development and position your organization for long-term agility and success.
During this session, hear:
- Case studies of real world examples of AI-driven scheduling tools that reduce overtime or burnout
- Highlights of technology solutions with real ROI, including apps that improve engagement, predictive analytics in staffing shortages, and telehealth tools that support rural workforces
- Obstacles in adoption—privacy, integration, leadership resistance—and how these obstacles were overcome
Building An Agile Team For Hybrid WorkforcesÂ
The shift to hybrid work models is transforming the health care workforce — but success requires more than just flexible schedules. It demands agile teams built for adaptability, collaboration, and resilience. This session will guide executives through strategies to design and support high-performing hybrid teams that can thrive across clinical, administrative, and remote environments. Learn how to foster a culture of agility, leverage digital collaboration tools, redefine team roles, and implement management practices that support both in-person and virtual staff. Gain insights into real-world examples from organizations leading the way in hybrid workforce innovation, and walk away with practical approaches to drive engagement, accountability, and operational excellence.
This session will help attendees answer:
- How do you lead when your staff is scattered?
- What does ‘agility’ mean in a clinical setting?
- How do you onboard, supervise, and build team identity across remote and onsite roles?
The CEO Succession Planning Panel: Industry Insights
In an era of accelerating change and increasing leadership turnover, health care organizations must be more intentional than ever about CEO succession planning. This expert panel brings together seasoned executives, all current or former CEOs, to share candid insights and proven strategies for navigating the complexities of CEO transition. From identifying and developing internal talent to managing unexpected departures and aligning with board expectations, this session will provide actionable guidance grounded in real-world experience. Whether your organization is preparing for a near-term transition or building a long-term leadership pipeline, join us for this conversation designed to equip CEOs and senior executives with the tools to ensure leadership continuity and organizational resilience.
James H. Stewart
James (Jamie) was appointed CEO in June 2016. He joined Grafton in August 2008 as Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Vice-President. As a successful financial and administrative leader he has over twenty years’ progressive experience in a healthcare environment.
Rochelle Head-Dunham, M.D., DFAPA, FASAM
Dr. Head-Dunham’s academic and administrative leadership has fostered noteworthy advances in the fields of addiction and mental health. She has served as a subject matter expert on various national and state platforms informing best practices for the field of behavioral health. Her clinical accolades include Clinical Faculty of the Year for the 2021 academic year at LSU School of Medicine. In 2019 she was the recipient of the Nyswander/Dole Award from the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, INC. (AATOD). Her clinical acumen coupled with her transformative leadership style has shaped an administrative career that fosters enduring changes for systems, organizations and individual levels of performance. Dr. Rochelle Head-Dunham is a New Orleans native who currently serves as the Executive Director and Medical Director for Metropolitan Human Services District (MHSD), a state local governing entity tasked with service delivery for indigent and Medicaid ensured persons living with mental illness, substance use disorders and intellectual/developmental disabilities, residing in New Orleans and neighboring parishes.
