The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) is aiming to enrich its members with insightful events dedicated to equipping leaders and fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace.

With that in mind, a specialized breakfast and forum are scheduled for Wednesday at the 2024 AMPP Annual Conference + Expo in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

“Our mission is to build an inclusive community of excellence where every voice is valued,” says Kailey Dharam of Dairyland, co-chair of the event. “The AMPP Valuing Voices Forum provides an opportunity for AMPP members to learn about topics like the importance of diversity in growing our industry, the power of inclusion, and the role of leadership in creating a people-first environment.”

The Valuing Voices Breakfast is scheduled for 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, March 6, and it will feature John Rogers, director of global DEI and talent acquisition at Jensen Hughes.

In that slot, Rogers will lead “From Inception to Inclusion: Fostering a DEI Program at Jensen Hughes,” an engaging session highlighting the progression of DEI initiatives within the industry. His remarks will feature a detailed exploration of the DEI program at Jensen Hughes, including its journey from its beginnings to its current successes and future directions.

Participants will learn practical approaches and obstacles faced in developing DEI communities, with an emphasis on the importance of leadership commitment; active employee participation; and ongoing education in creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace environment.

Following breakfast, all conference attendees can participate in the free, interactive AMPP Valuing Voices Forum led by speaker Casey Mackert. From 9:45 to 11:15 a.m., this forum will explore lessons from “The Ideal Team Player,” a book authored by Patrick Lencioni.

Mackert will share practical tools for recognizing, recruiting, and nurturing perfect team players across various organizations. This session is designed for leaders eager to foster a collaborative culture; human resources professionals searching for genuine team players; and employees aiming to become indispensable members of their teams. Sponsored by MESA, this forum is co-chaired by Kailey Dharam, Mary Macedo of Equity Engineering Group, and Kelsey May of MESA.

“Valuing Voices affirms that we achieve great results not at the expense of people, but by including, honoring, strengthening, and celebrating their unique contributions,” Dharam says. “We are thrilled to facilitate an opportunity for members to learn and grow their leadership influence, whether they are in a formal leadership position or not.”

All conference participants can attend the free workshop, while breakfast tickets are an additional $15 each for students and $25 for all others. Conference registration details are available here.

Pictured, from left to right: Kailey Dharam, Mary Macedo, and Kelsey May.