Strategic Partnerships & Influencing Upper Leadership
ft. Melissa Van Gheem

In this program Melissa will help:

• Clarify the importance of developing strategic partnerships across your organization
• Discuss strategies on how to build and maintain strategic relationships
• Identify the power of influence we have with our leaders and how these skills can assist us in leading upward
• Clarify how to use your relationship and influence skills to provide feedback in order to get serious results that truly impact the organization
• Develop personalized action plans to assist in identifying areas you would like to work on in order to gain greater influence with senior leaders in your organization

In this presentation we will explore what it means to influence, or said another way, “lead up” with those that we work for and with on a regular basis.  There are times in the workplace where our leaders are in need of this critical feedback and they may be unware that they have a blind spot that needs to be brought to their attention.  This critical feedback may help the final outcome of a project, save them from a people related concern on their team, or aide them in being the best leader that they can be.  As associates, no matter your role in the organization, we are in a position of influence and we must use that influence to help lead those all around us, even those that lead us.  We will review a four-step coaching model to help clarify how to effectively deliver feedback in a way that is meaningful and designed for maximum impact.  We will conclude our session together by taking the opportunity to access our own areas of strengths and opportunities in order to develop personal plans to improve our ability to influence others in the workplace.

Melissa Van Gheem has a total of 15 years of progressive HR experience. Melissa started her career at Greatland Corporation as an HR Assistant while she pursued her Bachelor’s Degree from Lakeland University. After 3 years at Greatland Corporation, Melissa joined the HR team at Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance in De Pere, WI. She worked in a variety of HR roles from HR Project Coordinator to HR Business Partner and lastly as a Sr. Manager of HR Business Partners. Melissa left Ameriprise in 2014, after eight years of service to join the Festival Foods HR team as a Regional HR Manager and was promoted to the HR Director role in July 2015.  In April 2019, Melissa was promoted to the HR Senior Director Role. 

In 2013 Melissa received her senior level certification in human resources from the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM). In addition, Melissa is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Human Resources from her alma mater, Lakeland College. Melissa is a 2017 graduate of “Leadership Green Bay” and was named “Top Women in Grocery” by Progressive Grocer Magazine in 2018.

Thank you to our Sponsor!

Gensler - La Crosse

If you'd like more information on Sponsoring an upcoming meeting visit: https://bit.ly/31ePDMM