Brave New Workshop Creative Outreach Announces Panelists for Innovation Conference in February

The Brave New Workshop's (BNW) Creative Outreach team is thrilled to announce its set of panelists for its spring innovation conference, MNovation, on Thursday, February 16th. The third MNovation event features panelists from organizations including Uponor, 3M, C.H. Robinson, Hilton Worldwide, UnitedHealthcare and many others.

MNovation is a conference designed for all levels of professionals to come, network, laugh, and learn. Participants will experience panels of Minnesota-connected innovators sharing insights and teaching, breakout sessions practicing behaviors designed to help maintain a Mindset of Discovery, and a keynote session from Brave New Workshop's owner and author of The Innovative Mindset, John Sweeney. The event closes out with a full-scale sandwich-making happy hour, where participants will be assembling and packaging sandwiches that will go out that night to feed the hungry in Minneapolis.

The current set of panelists for MNovation 3.0 are:

• Bill Gray, a self-starter who worked his way up the ranks to become the president of Uponor.

• Barry Kudrowitz, leader of the Product Design school at the University of Minnesota, who studied humor and engineering at MIT and has designed a Nerf gun, an elevator simulator, and a ketchup dispensing robot.

• Mark Meier, head of innovation at logistics and supply chain leader C.H. Robinson.

• Amelia Franck Meyer, founder and CEO of ALIA, a company dedicated to child welfare.

• Warren Naviasky, leader of sales and marketing at Life Care Services, a company dedicated to senior living facilities.

• Gina Valenti, Vice President of Brand Management and leader in customer service innovation for Hilton Worldwide.

• Dr. Vidya Raman-Tangella, head of UnitedHealthcare's Innovation Center of Excellence.

• Sondra Samuels, leader focused on ending multigenerational poverty through education and family stability at the NAZ (Northside Achievement Zone) Collective.

• Jan Shimanski, Chief Learning Officer and leadership development specialist at 3M.

• Hamse Warfa, Founder and Vice Chairman at BanQu, a company dedicated to ending poverty once and for all.

John Sweeney, owner of the Brave New Workshop, has expressed how excited he is for this conference and opportunity to moderate the panels, as well as give a keynote speech and help drive people to live more in a Mindset of Discovery.

"When we started thinking about really living in the Mindset of Discovery and providing a place for professionals to practice the Big Five behaviors that lead to that mindset, there were so many examples were in our own backyard. From innovations in customer service to leaps in how we take care of our youngest and elder populations to elevator simulators, Minnesota has been a cutting-edge playground of innovation and service for so long, we didn't have to look far for amazing panelists and partners who truly embody the Mindset of Discovery," says Sweeney. "We've found the best people in so many different industries, there really is something for everyone here."

"My favorite part of past MNovation events was witnessing the participants take part in the breakout exercises, and seeing the 'Aha!' moments that were happening all around," says Elena Imaretska, co-author of The Innovative Mindset and VP of Partnerships and Sustainability for BNW. "Whether they were practicing Listening, Jumping In, Declaring, Reframing or Deferring Judgement, each person was able to laugh, get to know their breakout group further, and get themselves into a mindset I truly feel is beneficial for everyone."

While the exact details of the day are still in development, one thing is certain, and that is Sweeney and Imaretska's excitement over the day. "We had so many fun surprises in past MNovations, from food provided by one of our panelists to spirit animals guiding groups through breakout sessions, I just can't wait to see the reactions to what we have in store this time."

About "MNovation"

Thursday, February 16th

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Location: The Brave New Workshop ETC Theatre at 824 Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis

Cost: $300. Tickets are available at http://bit.ly/mnovation

About The Brave New Workshop

The Brave New Workshop has been crafting audacious, hilarious, and thought-provoking original comedy, improv and satire in Minneapolis since 1958 - longer than any other theatre in the U.S. Founded by the legendary Dudley Riggs, the Brave New Workshop is a truly unique place to laugh, learn, think, and play. Alongside our own theatrical productions, the BNW hosts a variety of performances in our ETC theatre, and also provides video production, live event entertainment, emcee services and venue rentals. The BNW's school, the Student Union, boasts the most comprehensive improv training curriculum in the country. Our Creative Outreach division offers speaking and training for Fortune 500 companies like Microsoft, Hilton, General Mills, and Target. With a commitment to sustainability and a unique business model, the BNW operates as a self-funding arts organization.

BNW's Creative Outreach team's mission is to make sure everyone in the world lives and breathes as their most innovative selves, through laughter, service, and practice of the Big Five behaviors of Jumping In, Declaring, Deferring Judgement, Reframing, and Listening. This team has been giving keynote speeches and facilitating enterprise level trainings for Fortune 500 companies for years, and in 2015 published The Innovative Mindset, available wherever great books are sold.

For more information, please visit www.bravenewworkshop.com

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