We are thrilled to announce our 2026 Annual Conference speakers!
Keynote Speaker: Sarah Parsons
Sarah Parsons, MBA, PMP, ICF-ACC, is a transformation strategist and executive coach with more than 20 years of experience leading enterprise change across global brands including Nike and adidas.
She partners with Excelerate to support complex cross-functional transformation initiatives while also leading her independent coaching and advisory practice. Sarah specializes in helping leaders bring clarity to competing priorities, align stakeholders around meaningful outcomes, and build execution systems that work in high-ambiguity environments.
Her work focuses on the critical layer “before the software” — ensuring strategy, ownership, and decision-making clarity are in place before tools and processes are introduced. She is known for translating ambiguity into structure and helping teams move from conversation to measurable progress.
Keynote Title: Leading the Response Zoo: Decoding Stakeholder Behavior in Complex Change
Summary: Stakeholder resistance is only part of the story. In complex transformations (restructures, system implementations, agile shifts) project leaders encounter a wide spectrum of behavioral responses. Some are vocal. Some are silent. Some attempt to lead the narrative. Others withdraw. Misreading these responses often creates friction, stalled momentum, and unnecessary escalation. (1 PDU)
Building on Prosci’s foundational “Resistance Zoo,” this session expands the lens to the full Response Zoo: a practical framework for decoding stakeholder behavior and proactively leading through it.
Participants will learn how to:
- Identify dynamic response patterns early
- Differentiate influence-driven behavior from avoidance or protection
- Tailor engagement strategies by response type
- Convert high-friction stakeholders into strategic allies
Blending enterprise transformation experience with applied stakeholder strategy, this session equips project professionals with practical tools to lead human dynamics with the same rigor they apply to scope, schedule, and risk.
Speaker: Jeremiah R. Hammon, PMP
Jeremiah R. Hammon, PMP is the founder of Project Revolution and author of The Project Management Pathway. With nearly two decades leading programs and teams in complex, high-pressure environments including aerospace, nuclear energy, and infrastructure, he focuses on the communication breakdown between leaders, stakeholders, and teams that creates uncertainty, stalled decisions, and execution friction. His work centers on influence, emotional intelligence, and execution discipline as the skills modern project leaders must master to move work forward when authority is limited and stakes are high. His work focuses on developing self-charging, high-voltage leaders, project managers, and teams who bring energy, conviction, and action to the projects the world depends on.
Session Title: What's up Waterfall
Summary: This session focuses on the role stakeholder silence plays in slowing execution. Participants will examine how unclear decision framing, unspoken assumptions, and lack of feedback create hesitation and rework. Using practical decision confidence and communication tools, this session shows project leaders how to surface expectations, clarify tradeoffs, and create conditions where stakeholders engage, respond, and commit instead of disengaging. (1 PDU)
Speaker: Lorie Gordon, CSM, CSPO, Green Belt, ICP-ACC, ICP-ATF, SAFe
Lorie Gordon, CSM, CSPO, Green Belt, ICP-ACC, ICP-ATF, SAFe a Transformation Leader and Enterprise Agile Coach with 20+ years of experience spanning the U.S. Air Force, software engineering, and global logistics. She specializes in helping scaling organizations balance technical fluency with people-centered leadership, integrating Agile/Lean principles and AI to drive sustainable growth. An active community mentor and ICAgile-certified professional, Lorie is dedicated to building resilient, autonomous teams that prioritize both outcomes and empathy.
Session Title: Agile Intersections: From Basic to State Of Agility & AI
Summary: A quick overview of Agile for those unfamiliar, a look at state of Agile trends today, and where we can "partner" with AI to help our teams excel! (1 PDU)
Speaker: Jana Hodgins
Jana Hodgins is a speaker and strategist delivering systematic alignment to drive clarity, momentum, and sustainable business outcomes. She simplifies complex challenges into actionable strategy across tech and partnerships through continuous discovery, inclusive collaboration, and hacking team dynamics with healthy relationship patterns.
Session Title: The Architecture of Collaboration: Why Your Methodology Doesn't Matter (But Your Systems Do)
Summary: We spend an inordinate amount of time debating Agile versus Waterfall, often missing the fundamental issue: neither framework solves for the human element of high-pressure delivery. When teams struggle, it is rarely because they chose the wrong project management tool. Misalignment and missed expectations are because teams lack the relational infrastructure to support it.
Drawing on leadership in strategic partnerships and product development, this talk will explore how we can treat project frameworks not as rigid doctrines, but as social systems. We will move beyond the methodology wars to discuss how to build psychological safety, establish clear boundaries between cross-functional teams, and create flow regardless of the delivery model. Attendees will learn how to diagnose the human bottlenecks in their projects and shift their focus from managing tasks to managing the connective tissue of their organization. (1 PDU)
Speaker: Dr. Gwendolyn Avington
Dr. Gwendolyn Avington is a healthcare leader, educator, and organizational development consultant with extensive experience in clinical laboratory science, leadership development, and quality improvement. She holds a Doctor of Health Administration, an MBA in Healthcare Management, a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Communication, and an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Laboratory Technology.
Session Title: Communication in the Intersection of Diversity, Agility, and Leadership
Summary: This presentation explores how effective communication serves as the strategic bridge that enables project leaders to harness the strengths of diverse perspectives while maintaining the adaptability required in agile environments. Participants will examine how inclusive communication practices enhance team engagement, strengthen trust, and foster psychological safety, allowing project teams to collaborate more effectively and innovate with confidence.
Drawing on real-world leadership experiences and organizational development principles, the session will highlight practical strategies for communicating across differences in culture, professional backgrounds, and working styles. Attendees will also learn how communication frameworks can support agile decision-making, reduce misunderstandings, and align stakeholders around shared goals. (1 PDU)
Speaker: Diana Larsen
As a Leadership and Agility Guide, 
Diana Larsen engages with challenges that emerge at the intersection of leadership, team improvement, and learning. She works alongside leaders to build their proficiency in shaping environments for productive, resilient teams and to accelerate organizational learning. In every interaction, Diana brings the wisdom she’s gained in over 30 years of working with leaders, teams, and organizations. She guides participants through the "Thrive in Turbulent Times" program for leaders. Diana has contributed to the Agile community with board service, mentorship, and as co-author of several influential books, including Agile Retrospectives 1st & 2nd editions, Liftoff: Start and Sustain Successful Agile Teams 2nd edition, The Art of Agile Development 2nd edition, Agile Coaching Qualities, and, most recently, Lead without Blame.
Session Title: The Project Manager's Menagerie: A Panel Discussion on the PM Toolkit with Special Guest Diana Larsen
Summary: Multi-speaker panel (1 PDU)