Conference Updates

Conference Updates - Professional Development

#SoACE19 Conference Recap

December 20, 2019 by 0 Comments

It was a rockin’ rollin’ good time in Memphis for the #SoACE19 “Live From Memphis!” annual conference! SoACE members from near and far gathered for learning, networking, and fun in the heart of the Bluff City at the famous Peabody Hotel. This was a record breaking conference with over 500 attendees!

Members on the SoACE Board and the Conference Planning Committee started the week by running the St. Jude races. The SoACE Team raised $4,490 dollars for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which was also the conference philanthropy.

The #SoACE19 Conference began with 5×5 sessions, bringing rapid fire information on topics ranging from employer relations & career advising to data & technology. We “Let the Good Times Roll” at the President’s Reception, ending the night with good food, fellowship, and a photo booth.

Our very own SoACE President, Charlie Wilder, tried his hand at being the Duck Master, leading the famous Peabody Ducks into the conference kick-off breakfast. We learned from and networked with colleagues throughout the week during sessions, roundtables, Knowledge Groups, and State Association meetings, but one of the most impactful learning moments was at the National Civil Rights Museum for the Diversity and Inclusion Networking Night. The reception was planned by the Diversity and Inclusion, Employer Relations, and Experiential Learning Knowledge Groups. We explored our nation’s storied past and learned about the fight for civil rights throughout the exhibits at the Lorraine Motel, while some of our employer members shared their Diversity and Inclusion recruiting initiatives.

SoACE attendees learned about leadership and innovation at FedEx from the opening Keynote Speaker, Shannon Brown. Maren Greathouse informed attendees about challenges that LGBTQ+ students face in the job search and how to best support them, and we ended the conference with Mercedes Ramirez Johnson’s incredible story of intention, perspective, and perseverance.

We put on our “blue suede shoes” and danced the night away at Elvis Presley’s Graceland for a wonderful ending to a fabulous conference. Thank you to the SoACE Board and Conference Planning Committee for an informative and fun week in Memphis, Tennessee!

See you next year in Orlando for the #SoACE20 Annual Conference!

Congratulations to the #SoACE19 award winners:

Honorary Lifetime Award: Sam Ratcliffe, Virginia Military Institute (Retired)
Southern Star Award: Norma Guerra-Gaier, University of Texas at Austin
President’s Award: Jessica Campbell, Rice University
New Professional Award: Ashley Rizzotto, Florida International University
Champion of Diversity Award: Jessica Baker, University of Florida
Mosaic Award: Phillips 66
Imaginative Spirit Award: University of Alabama Huntsville

Conference Updates - Letters from the President

Letter from the President: Charlie Wilder

December 6, 2019 by 0 Comments

Dear SoACE Colleagues,

The #SoACE19 conference is just days away!  Our conference committee has worked diligently throughout the year to plan what may be the best SoACE conference to date.  Here are just a few reasons why I am excited about the days ahead.

Tomorrow, December 7, several of our conference attendees will participate in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon event.  As of the writing of this post, our fundraising team, Team SoACE, has raised $2,550 for this year’s conference philanthropy: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Did you know? Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food.  It’s not too late to make your contribution to support Team SoACE and the children and families at St. Jude.

Many Thanks to our Fundraising Team:

  • Alicia Smyth, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Danny Pape, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
  • Charlie Wilder, Auburn University
  • Corinne Earle, CMC Global
  • Jessica Campbell, Rice University
  • Kelly Atwood, Mississippi State University
  • Kim Billeaudeau, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
  • Mark Colvenbach, The University of Tampa
  • Taylor Eljaua, William & Mary

I’m also looking forward to our Diversity & Inclusion Networking Night taking place on Tuesday, December 10th.  This event will be held at the National Civil Rights Museum, and I am so excited that we’ll have the opportunity to explore the museum while there.  Thanks to our sponsors, Tennessee ACE, University of Memphis Career Services, and CareerShift, and to the SoACE groups that collaborated to host the event: the D&I Committee, Employer Relations KG, and Experiential Education KG.

Finally, you have by now hopefully noticed that this year’s conference begins on a Monday instead of a Sunday.  Please be sure to let the board and conference committee know if you would like to see us continue this change in our usual pattern when you complete the post-conference survey.

I hope you all have safe travels to Memphis, TN, and I look forward to welcoming you at the President’s Reception held on the rooftop of the Peabody Hotel.

See you soon!

Charlie Wilder, Ph.D.

2019-20 SoACE President

Auburn University

Conference Updates

#SoACE19 Conference Keynote Speaker: Mercedes Ramirez Johnson

December 4, 2019 by 0 Comments

Mercedes Ramirez Johnson HeadshotIn 1995, Mercedes Ramirez Johnson narrowly survived a commercial airplane crash that killed 160 people, including her parents. She presents her proprietary Second Chance Living concept, an innovative mindset and approach with a proven track record, to organizations such as General Electric, ExxonMobil, Microsoft, NASA, Chevron, and the various branches of the US Armed Forces. Before becoming a speaker, Mercedes spent nearly a decade in high-level sales in the pharmaceutical and medical software industries. A record-breaking, multimillion-dollar producer, she became the youngest female and sole Latino account executive at Cerner Corporation. She is an active leader in philanthropic organizations advocating for children and children’s health initiatives, notably for Make-A-Wish and The National MPS Society.

Mercedes and her story have been the subject of considerable national and international media coverage.

Her extensive media experience includes appearances on The BBC, National Geographic Channel, Discovery Health Channel and as a recurring guest on numerous nationally syndicated daytime talk shows on NBC and ABC. In addition, numerous national magazines and major-market newspapers have run cover stories and special-interest pieces about her, and she was recognized as one of the country’s top young Hispanic up-and-comers by People Magazine’s Spanish edition, People en Español.

Mercedes and her husband live in the Dallas area with their four sons.
To learn more, visit www.MercedesRamirezJohnson.com