Creative Problem Solving Institute 2026: Full Schedule

10:00am EDT

CEF: Board of Directors Meeting

Saturday June 13, 2026 10:00am - 5:00pm EDT

Butler Library - Alex F. Osborn Brainstorming Center

The CEF Board Meeting is exclusively for invited guests.

CEF Staff and Wings

Beth Miller

Executive Director, Creative Education Foundation

Beth is a 20+ year nonprofit leader who is passionate about history, education, leadership, and creativity. As the Executive Director of the Creative Education Foundation (CEF), she has grown and professionalized all contributed and earned revenue streams including the development... Read More →

Saturday June 13, 2026 10:00am - 5:00pm EDT
Butler Library - Alex F. Osborn Brainstorming Center

CEF Meetings

7:30am EDT

On-Campus Housing Check-In

Sunday June 14, 2026 7:30am - 11:30pm EDT

STAC - Student Apartment Complex

Staying with us on campus? After you check in at Caudell Hall for the conference hop on a golf cart or make your way to STAC to check in and get access to your accommodations.

Sunday June 14, 2026 7:30am - 11:30pm EDT
STAC - Student Apartment Complex

Registration + Check In

8:00am EDT

Welcome Brunch

Sunday June 14, 2026 8:00am - 2:00pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Enjoy our Welcome Brunch when you arrive on campus. Meet some new friends and maybe see some familiar faces, too.

Sunday June 14, 2026 8:00am - 2:00pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Meals

9:00am EDT

Snacks

Sunday June 14, 2026 9:00am - 4:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Lobby

Need a little something? Join us in the HUB (Caudell Hall) for some snacks, coffee and tea.
They'll be available each day - just drop in when you have chance.

Sunday June 14, 2026 9:00am - 4:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Lobby

Meals

10:00am EDT

Registration Open

Sunday June 14, 2026 10:00am - 7:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Lobby

Check in with Jamie and Rosie and receive your conference bag and name tag. Get any questions answered and decorate/customize your name tag with sharpies and stickers.

Housing check-in information will also be available.

Sunday June 14, 2026 10:00am - 7:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Lobby

Registration + Check In

12:00pm EDT

CPSI Lounge

Sunday June 14, 2026 12:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Fireside Lounge

A self guided light and fun way to ease into networking with your peers.

Sunday June 14, 2026 12:00pm - 2:00pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Fireside Lounge

Meet-Ups + Networking

2:00pm EDT

Let's Elevate Networking

Sunday June 14, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Fireside Lounge

Facilitator led Networking Activities.

Sunday June 14, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Fireside Lounge

Meet-Ups + Networking

3:30pm EDT

YouthWise Family Orientation

Sunday June 14, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Assembly Hall

Join us for YouthWise orientation. Parents and children can get to know each other and meet with the YouthWise faculty. Check out the classrooms and what your children will be learning throughout the week.

Presenters

Kit Jones

Mount Vernon CSD

I have an infinity for poetry and art. In addition I love working with the Girl Scouts and camping. Topics that get me going are books, ASL, and education.

Renee Paser-Paull

President, Soaring Pathways

Renee is a professional facilitator, trainer and speaker, with a Master's Degree in Adult Learning. She has been attending CPSI continuously since 1999 and has been part of the YouthWise faculty since 2005 and has also led a number of general sessions. CPSI was instrumental in Renee’s... Read More →

Dee Alexander Langsenkamp

YouthWise Coordinator, Dee Alexander Consulting

Super excited to be back at CPSI as YouthWise faculty again! After a long career in radio, TV, advertising and promotions, Dee earned her MS in Creative Studies and Change Leadership at the Center for Applied Imagination at SUNY Buffalo State. Dee loves nurturing kids’ creative... Read More →

Sunday June 14, 2026 3:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Assembly Hall

YouthWise

4:30pm EDT

Elevate Cocktail Hour

Sunday June 14, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Fireside Lounge

Get ready for the Opening and reconnect with old friends while meeting new ones. Ease into an evening of fun!

Sunday June 14, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Fireside Lounge

Meet-Ups + Networking

5:30pm EDT

CPSI Opening, Keynote, Dinner

Sunday June 14, 2026 5:30pm - 7:30pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Social Hall

Let’s do this! CPSI has arrived—join us as we kick things off with our keynote and dinner.

Sunday June 14, 2026 5:30pm - 7:30pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Social Hall

CPSI Magic

TBA

Schedule YOUR Night Flight

Monday June 15, 2026 TBA

Night Flights are a time-honored CPSI tradition. These workshops are offered by ANYONE at CPSI who has something cool they'd like to share/ They are often a bit more casual and/or experimental than other CPSI workshops. Topics can be anything from tools and techniques to discussions or theories about creativity and innovation.To lead a Night Flight, please fill out this form...
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Monday June 15, 2026 TBA

Important emails

7:00am EDT

Breakfast

Monday June 15, 2026 7:00am - 9:30am EDT

Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Start your day at CPSI with some delicious breakfast. Sit with someone new or some old friends. It's a great way to connect!

Monday June 15, 2026 7:00am - 9:30am EDT
Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Meals

8:30am EDT

CPS Level 1: Foundations of Creative Problem Solving

Monday June 15, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Room 208

If you are new to CPSI, Foundations of Creative Problem Solving is your fast track to a deliberate creativity process for solving problems and capitalizing on opportunities. You’ll learn the Creative Problem Solving (CPS) Process, the research-based gold standard of creativity methods, and be exposed to the FourSight framework, which can help you understand how you and your teammates approach...
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Presenters

Alexandra Suchman

CEO and Co-founder, Barometer XP

Alexandra (Alex) Suchman is a DC-based play facilitator passionate about empowering leaders to create cultures where people are excited about their work and feel a strong sense of purpose and belonging. As CEO and co-founder of Barometer XP, she helps companies leverage the power... Read More →

Jonathan Bannister

Founder, Make Happy

David Lunken

Principal, Cedarcroft Advisors

CPSI frequenter, Core Faculty, Talent Optimizer, Problem solver, Collaborator, Husband, father of 3 girls, triathlete, gardener, baker of sourdough before Covid

Rebecca VanDerveer

Certified Master Trainer, PI Midlantic/ The LAB Team

M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction | Certified Predictive Index Master Trainer | Psychological Safety Playbook Facilitator | Helps teams unlock potential through insight and action | Excited to return to CPSI to teach Foundations!
... Read More →

Monday June 15, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Room 208

Core CPS Track

8:30am EDT

CPS Level 2: Creative Problem Solving Tools

Monday June 15, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Chase Hall - Room 215

Feedback Survey

*PREREQUISITE: Level 1: CPS Foundations at previous CPSI or FLCC. If you did not take Level 1 but have a solid understanding of the Osborne-Parnes Creative Problem Solving process, you must connect with CPSI Program Staff before being enrolled.Level 2: Creative Problem Solving Tools is a natural stepping stone if you have previously taken Level 1: Foundations of CPS. This fast-paced course allows...
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Presenters

Annemarie Boss

Innovation Facilitator, Boss Collaborative

Annemarie Boss is a dynamic facilitator and strategic partner—equal parts co-creator and trusted guide for teams navigating complexity. As the founder of Boss Collaborative, she designs and facilitates transformative experiences that spark insight, deepen connection, and unlock... Read More →

Najja Bouldin

Najja is the founding consultant at Phoenix Innovation Group, LLC, Buffalo, New York, where he serves consumers with awe-inspiring motivational speaking, life-changing performance coaching, as well as teaching and training creative leadership and the Creative Problem Solving process... Read More →

Monday June 15, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Chase Hall - Room 215

Core CPS Track

8:30am EDT

CPS Level 3: Creative Problem Solving Facilitation Techniques

Monday June 15, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Room 234

*PREREQUISITE: Level 1: Foundations of CPS and Level 2: Creative Problem Solving Tools at previous CPSI or FLCC. If you did not take Level 1 or 2 at CPSI/FLCC but have a solid understanding of the Osborne-Parnes Creative Problem Solving process and have experience with CPS tools, you must connect with CPSI Program Staff before being enrolled.Level 3: Facilitating CPSFacilitation skills are central...
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Presenters

Anthony Billoni

Owner, APEX Leader Growth

I have an MS from Center for Applied Imagination. I use CPS/Deliberate Creativity daily in live and in my consulting practice. I have been leading, volunteering and presenting at CPSI for 20+ years.

CEF Staff and Wings

Ray Paull

Fisheries Biologist

Ray is a lifelong practitioner of Creative Problem Solving, having grown up in and around the creative community. Introduced to CPS at birth and CPSI at age six by his mom, Renee Paser-Paull, he has been attending ever since. Now attending his 19th CPSI conference, Ray is a core workshop... Read More →

Monday June 15, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Room 234

Core CPS Track

8:30am EDT

YouthWise

Monday June 15, 2026 8:30am - 5:30pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Assembly Hall

In YouthWise, kids will explore Creative Problem Solving through fun, hands-on activities, "field trips," and games. They will put their new and enhanced skills to work as a team, by creating and presenting a solution to a unique challenge.

Presenters

Kit Jones

Mount Vernon CSD

I have an infinity for poetry and art. In addition I love working with the Girl Scouts and camping. Topics that get me going are books, ASL, and education.

Renee Paser-Paull

President, Soaring Pathways

Dee Alexander Langsenkamp

YouthWise Coordinator, Dee Alexander Consulting

Monday June 15, 2026 8:30am - 5:30pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Assembly Hall

YouthWise

9:00am EDT

Advanced CPS Tools and Organizational Creative Change

Monday June 15, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Butler Library - Alex F. Osborn Brainstorming Center

This Immersion is designed for experienced CPS practitioners ready to deepen their impact in organizations. Day 1, Tools Off the Beaten Path, explores underutilized convergent tools to strengthen decision-making and group alignment. Days 2-4, Leading Change with Agility, Versatility, and Creativity, focus on what teams create (product), the environments they work in (place), and the people and...
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Presenters

Teresa Lawrence

Teresa Lawrence, PhD, PMP, is a former Superintendent of School and longstanding president and owner of International Deliverables, LLC, a NYS certified WBE. Teresa is widely recognized as the SME on the intersection of Creativity and Project Management. Additionally, Teresa serves... Read More →

Monday June 15, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Butler Library - Alex F. Osborn Brainstorming Center

Immersion Track

9:00am EDT

Elevate Your Facilitation Toolbox: Playful Tools and Real-World Practice

Monday June 15, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Step into a high-energy, hands-on series designed to expand both your creative skillset and your facilitation toolbox. Through playful methods and real-time practice, participants will build practical tools while strengthening their ability to guide groups with confidence, presence, and flow. Experience what it means to learn by doing as you explore approaches that spark collaboration, deepen...
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Presenters

Jacqueline Lloyd Smith

Master Trainer / Founder, Strategic Play Global

Jacqueline Lloyd Smith, MA, MBA, (ATR), (CMC), (FRSA)
Jacqueline (Jacquie) is the founder of Strategic Play Group Ltd., a global training company with their head office in Whistler, Canada She is a Registered Art Therapist (ATR), and is certified in Play Therapy and Creative Problem Solving. In 2000, she earned an MA in Conflict Analysis... Read More →

Stephen Walling

Director of PLAY, Strategic Play Global

Monday June 15, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Immersion Track

9:00am EDT

Head, Heart, and How: The Practice of Creative Change

Monday June 15, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

This week of programming explores the shared foundation of Creative Problem Solving (CPS), coaching skills, and affective skills: each shaping how people think, connect, and create change. You’ll begin the week with A Creative Coach’s Toolbox, building practical coaching tools that bring the CPS process to life in real conversations. The second half of the week focuses on The...
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Presenters

Kathy Goller

Life & Leadership Coach, Facilitator & Presenter, Teal Horizon Coaching

Kathy Goller is a life and leadership coach who helps people who are stuck, stretched, or starting something new to live and work in a way that’s more purposeful and productive so that they can lead and serve others more generously. With 20+ years of personal and leadership development experience... Read More →

Monday June 15, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Immersion Track

9:00am EDT

Polarities in Practice

Monday June 15, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

This immersive week explores the dynamic power of polarities as a catalyst for creativity, collaboration, and innovation. We begin with Genius Teams: Polarities in Practice, a deep dive into polarities in practice, building a shared foundation and observing live facilitation to see how teams navigate real-time tensions and unlock high performance. As the week unfolds, participants will sharpen...
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Presenters

Lindsay Burr

CEO, Yarbrough Group

An engaging facilitator and Polarity ThinkingTM Master Trainer, Lindsay brings a depth of knowledge and a global perspective that supports seeing the known in a new way. Lindsay will unpack the key concepts of Polarity Thinking and change how you think about leadership and followership... Read More →

Monday June 15, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Immersion Track

9:00am EDT

Session Lab: Rapid Prototyping to Design Your Own Tools

Monday June 15, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

In this immersion, you’ll apply the CPS process to the art of facilitation design to create experiences that truly deliver. We’ll begin by unpacking the factors that influence great design, including timing, flow, and session dynamics, so you can design with clarity and intention. You’ll also rethink how to select tools and activities.The Lab comes to life as we move beyond choosing from...
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Presenters

Nancylyn Hogarty

Self Employed, Strategist, Facilitator, Guide

Monday June 15, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Immersion Track

9:00am EDT

Snacks

Monday June 15, 2026 9:00am - 4:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Lobby

Need a little something? Join us in the HUB (Caudell Hall) for some snacks, coffee and tea.
They'll be available each day - just drop in when you have chance.

Monday June 15, 2026 9:00am - 4:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Lobby

Meals

9:00am EDT

Clare's Corner - Quiet Room

Monday June 15, 2026 9:00am - 6:00pm EDT

Butler Library - Quiet Room 3

Need a break? Time to decompress? We have a perfect space for you.

Monday June 15, 2026 9:00am - 6:00pm EDT
Butler Library - Quiet Room 3

10:00am EDT

CPSI Pop-Up Bookstore

Monday June 15, 2026 10:00am - 4:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Lobby

Stop by our pop-up bookstore and explore a curated collection of titles published by our very own CEF Press.
Everyone’s invited—leaders, attendees, and curious minds alike! Take a moment during your break to browse, grab a snack, and maybe even spark a conversation with a fellow creative thinker. There’s something for everyone!

Monday June 15, 2026 10:00am - 4:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Lobby

Meals

11:00am EDT

Lunch

Monday June 15, 2026 11:00am - 2:00pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

12:00-1:00 Core CPS Track and YouthWise
12:30-1:30 Immersion Track

Join everyone at the Dining Hall for an array of meal options. Healthy, fun, and specialty diet options are available. Join a table of people you have not met yet and find your next best friend!

Monday June 15, 2026 11:00am - 2:00pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Meals

1:30pm EDT

Free Time

Monday June 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT

Every afternoon, treat yourself to "you time" after lunch. Visit the bookstore in Caudell Hall, go for a walk outside, or go back to your room and decompress. How you use this mini midday break is up to you.

Monday June 15, 2026 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT

CPSI Magic

2:00pm EDT

Elevate Divergent and Convergent Thinking through Play

Monday June 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Divergent and convergent thinking are fundamental steps in the Creative Problem Solving Process, yet many struggle with one or both. This session will explore how to harness the power of play and games to practice sitting in uncertainty and approach divergent and convergent thinking with ease. TakeawaysDiscuss the underlying skills for creative thinking.Identify and practice...
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Presenters

Alexandra Suchman

CEO and Co-founder, Barometer XP

Laura Rentas

Licensed Trainer | Master Facilitator, Strategic Play Global

Laura is a gifted storyteller and trainer with over two decades of success in strategic communications, public relations, and corporate affairs. As a Licensed Trainer in LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methods, Laura’s work combines play with serious work. She excels in building engagement... Read More →

Monday June 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Process Tools & Techniques

2:00pm EDT

Going Around the (Creative) Block

Monday June 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Have you ever gotten stuck when working on a challenging problem? Have you ever found yourself going back to the same solution, even though you know it didn’t quite work in the past? This workshop focuses on how to use creative techniques rooted in metaphors and analogies to define problems or/and to generate ideas for solutions. Many eminent creators have used analogies and metaphors...
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Presenters

Magdalena Grohman

Monday June 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Education, Personal Growth, Process Tools & Techniques

2:00pm EDT

Intelligent Collaboration: Human + AI for ELEVATE-ing your Creative Problem Solving Practice

Monday June 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

In this dynamic, hands-on session, participants will discover how human creativity and AI’s analytical power can work together to accelerate the Creative Problem Solving (CPS) process. Leveraging the AI tool Sluice AI and CPS principles, attendees will engage in experiential exercises that demonstrate how AI can amplify ideation without replacing human insight. This workshop introduces a...
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Presenters

Hallie Brinkerhuff

Sr Director R&D and Innovation, Zimmer Biomet

A 25-year career fostering innovation in the Medical Technology industry to solve unmet patient needs. A passion for creativity, technology and encouraging growth in others. Wife, mother, youth group leader, STEM champion, service dog trainer.

Rush Bartlett

Co-founder, CEO, Sluice AI

Rush Bartlett is the Co-Founder & CEO of Sluice AI, where he combines human-centered innovation with AI to dramatically accelerate the creative problem solving process. Over the past 15+ years, he has helped startups, Fortune 500 companies, and hospital systems turn unmet needs into... Read More →

Monday June 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Business, Current Topics, Process Tools & Techniques

2:00pm EDT

Reframing Creativity at Work: Turning Pushback into Possibility

Monday June 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Creativity often gets a bad rap in corporate and educational settings, dismissed as frivolous or irrelevant. This interactive 90-minute session will explore how to reframe creativity as a vital, strategic tool for solving today’s complex challenges. Drawing on the principles of Positive Creativity, participants will learn to shift perceptions, build buy-in, and demonstrate the tangible value of...
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Presenters

Kim Marie McKernan, MBA, MS

Founder, Inspired Outcomes Now LLC

Kim is an international marketing leader, facilitator, and presenter. She left a career as a marketing executive at a 3 billion company to found her business, Inspired Outcomes Now, to help organizations be more positive, creative, and strategic. Over 125 organizations and individuals have leveraged her A Nu Way™ Branding and Co-Creating the Future processes to stand apart and design their desired future. With an MBA from SUNY at Buffalo, an MS in Creative... Read More →

Monday June 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Business, Process Tools & Techniques

2:00pm EDT

Roll for Innovation: What Dungeons and Dragons Can Teach Us About Innovative Facilitation through Collaboration, Failure, and Indomitable Creativity

Monday June 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

For over fifty years, tabletop roleplaying games like Dungeons and Dragons have kindled creativity and collaboration in millions of people around the world. In this session, we explore and unveil that seemingly magical power that TTRPGs have to bring folks out of their comfort zones and into the most creative versions of themselves, while also learning the facilitation secrets of seasoned...
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Presenters

Mark Bylancik

Chief Administrative Officer, Partners In Prevention

Rob Gelberg

English and Theater Teacher, Montclair Kimberley Academy

Ed Rosini

Actor and MSW Student (USC)

Edward Rosini has been playing Dungeons & Dragons since college. Throughout the pandemic, he started using the game as a tool to engage with young people - getting them out of their shells and out of their heads - and continues those adventures to this day. He is currently pursuing... Read More →

Monday June 15, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

3:30pm EDT

Afternoon Break

Monday June 15, 2026 3:30pm - 4:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Lobby

Join us in the Hub (Caudell Hall Lobby) and grab a quick drink and snack so you can recharge your batteries!

Monday June 15, 2026 3:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Lobby

CPSI Magic

4:00pm EDT

From Insight to Action: Measuring Creative Problem Solving Growth Through a Yearlong Innovation Pathway

Monday June 15, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

This session reveals what we learned from a yearlong creative problem-solving journey that blended CPS with Design Thinking and Lean Discovery at the University of Richmond. We’ll share real student transformation data—from creative confidence gains to tested prototypes and ventures—and then guide participants through a condensed CPS sprint. The workshop highlights how structured creativity...
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Presenters

Andrew Ilnicki

Director, Experiential Education + Emerging Tech, University of Richmond

Somiah Lattimore

Executive Director, APEX Center, Virginia Tech

Monday June 15, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Education, Process Tools & Techniques, Research & Scholarship

4:00pm EDT

From ‘I’m Not Creative’ to ‘Let’s Try It!’

Monday June 15, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Is it possible that when people say they don’t want to participate in a creative activity because “they’re not creative,” what they really mean is that they don’t know how to be creative? What if you had a few strategies or methods to engage them in creative activities before they even have a chance to say that? In this session, you will practice creative techniques such as using...
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Presenters

Jen Verbakel

Educator & Craftsperson, RIT & Self-Employed

Jen is a speech-language pathologist and educator who enjoys doodling and crafting with various media in her free time. She is currently enrolled in the Master’s in the Creativity and Change Leadership Program at SUNY Buffalo. She has attended FLCC a couple of times and appreciates... Read More →

Cheryl Harris, PhD

Consultant, Self-Employed

Monday June 15, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Education, Process Tools & Techniques

4:00pm EDT

Implementation Lab: Getting Ideas—and Intentions—Done

Monday June 15, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Why do good ideas so often fail to become finished work?This hands-on session explores the creative challenges of implementation, exploring five common reasons meaningful goals and projects stall—and what helps them move forward. Using Creative Problem Solving tools and guided reflection, you will reframe and rework a current goal in real time, building clarity, traction, and a more workable...
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Presenters

Kathy Goller

Life & Leadership Coach, Facilitator & Presenter, Teal Horizon Coaching

Monday June 15, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Business, Personal Growth, Process Tools & Techniques

4:00pm EDT

Pattern Theft: A Cross-Domain Problem Solving Experience

Monday June 15, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

What if your next breakthrough comes from a place you've never considered before? This hands-on workshop teaches the mindset and tools needed to systematically find creative ideas and solutions by recognizing patterns across unrelated domains. Through live exercises and real problem solving, participants will practice pattern recognition both with and without AI tools, experiencing firsthand how...
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Presenters

Prashant Anilkumar

Founder/Speaker, Beyond Singular

Monday June 15, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Business, Education, Process Tools & Techniques

4:00pm EDT

The Art of Exploring Judgment

Monday June 15, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

We all have an innate sense of judgment, an ability to quickly decide what we like, what we don’t, and what feels “right.” While this helps us make sense of the world, it can also limit how openly we engage with new ideas. In this 90-minute, hands-on session, participants will explore how their sense of judgment manifests in creative work through a collaborative painting process. Guided by...
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Presenters

Donnalyn Roxey

Partner, COO, Lead Facilitator, Knowinnovation

Annemarie Boss

Innovation Facilitator, Boss Collaborative

Monday June 15, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Personal Growth, Process Tools & Techniques

4:00pm EDT

Dinner

Monday June 15, 2026 4:00pm - 7:00pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Monday June 15, 2026 4:00pm - 7:00pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Meals

5:00pm EDT

On-Campus Housing: Evening Desk Hours

Monday June 15, 2026 5:00pm - 9:00pm EDT

STAC - Student Apartment Complex

Have questions? Need some assistance? We have evening desk hours in STAC for just that.

Monday June 15, 2026 5:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
STAC - Student Apartment Complex

7:00pm EDT

The Future of Creative Education in an AI World

Monday June 15, 2026 7:00pm - 8:15pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Social Hall

Join us for an evening exploring one of the most urgent questions in higher education today: How will Artificial Intelligence reshape creative teaching and learning? Buffalo State University will host a special program on The Future of Creative Education in an AI World, followed by the dedication reception for the Dr. Sidney and Beatrice Parnes Creativity Collection.This gathering brings together...
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Presenters

Gerard Puccio

SUNY Distinguished Professor & Department Chair, Buffalo State University

Gerard J. Puccio is a State University of New York Distinguished Professor and Department Chair for the Center for Applied Imagination at Buffalo State University. Dr. Puccio has written more than 60 articles, chapters and books. In recognition of his outstanding work as a scholar... Read More →

Sarah Thurber

Monday June 15, 2026 7:00pm - 8:15pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Social Hall

Special Programming

7:30pm EDT

Game Night: Dungeons & Dragons

Monday June 15, 2026 7:30pm - 9:30pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Fireside Lounge

Have you ever wanted to play Dungeons and Dragons but didn't know where to start? Have you been playing for years and want to meet some new folks? Then this Night Flight is for you!This one-night-only event will take you on a thrilling 2-hour adventure run by your Game Masters Rob Gelberg and Mark Bylancik. No prior experience necessary, all materials provided. Just bring yourself (and a friend!)...
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Presenters

Mark Bylancik

Chief Administrative Officer, Partners In Prevention

Rob Gelberg

English and Theater Teacher, Montclair Kimberley Academy

Monday June 15, 2026 7:30pm - 9:30pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Fireside Lounge

Night Flights

7:30pm EDT

Night Flights

Monday June 15, 2026 7:30pm - 9:30pm EDT

Night Flights present the opportunity for CPSI Leaders or Attendees to present new content or personal passions to the CPSI audience. Sessions are coordinated daily and updated daily.

If you are interested in presenting a Night Flight, look for a QR code at CPSI to complete a simple online form.

Monday June 15, 2026 7:30pm - 9:30pm EDT

Night Flights

8:30pm EDT

Dedication Reception, Dr. Sidney and Beatrice Parnes Creativity Collection

Monday June 15, 2026 8:30pm - 9:30pm EDT

Butler Library

Celebrate the opening of the Dr. Sidney and Beatrice Parnes Creativity Collection and Buffalo State’s historic role in advancing applied creativity.

Monday June 15, 2026 8:30pm - 9:30pm EDT
Butler Library

Special Programming

7:00am EDT

Breakfast

Tuesday June 16, 2026 7:00am - 9:30am EDT

Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Start your day at CPSI with some delicious breakfast. Sit with someone new or some old friends. It's a great way to connect!

Tuesday June 16, 2026 7:00am - 9:30am EDT
Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Meals

8:30am EDT

CPS Level 1: Foundations of Creative Problem Solving

Tuesday June 16, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Room 208

Presenters

Alexandra Suchman

CEO and Co-founder, Barometer XP

David Lunken

Principal, Cedarcroft Advisors

CPSI frequenter, Core Faculty, Talent Optimizer, Problem solver, Collaborator, Husband, father of 3 girls, triathlete, gardener, baker of sourdough before Covid

Jonathan Bannister

Founder, Make Happy

Rebecca VanDerveer

Certified Master Trainer, PI Midlantic/ The LAB Team

Tuesday June 16, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Room 208

Core CPS Track

8:30am EDT

CPS Level 2: Creative Problem Solving Tools

Tuesday June 16, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Chase Hall - Room 215

Feedback Survey

Presenters

Annemarie Boss

Innovation Facilitator, Boss Collaborative

Najja Bouldin

Tuesday June 16, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Chase Hall - Room 215

Core CPS Track

8:30am EDT

CPS Level 3: Creative Problem Solving Facilitation Techniques

Tuesday June 16, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Room 234

Presenters

Anthony Billoni

Owner, APEX Leader Growth

I have an MS from Center for Applied Imagination. I use CPS/Deliberate Creativity daily in live and in my consulting practice. I have been leading, volunteering and presenting at CPSI for 20+ years.

CEF Staff and Wings

Ray Paull

Fisheries Biologist

Tuesday June 16, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Room 234

Core CPS Track

8:30am EDT

YouthWise

Tuesday June 16, 2026 8:30am - 5:30pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Assembly Hall

Presenters

Kit Jones

Mount Vernon CSD

I have an infinity for poetry and art. In addition I love working with the Girl Scouts and camping. Topics that get me going are books, ASL, and education.

Renee Paser-Paull

President, Soaring Pathways

Dee Alexander Langsenkamp

YouthWise Coordinator, Dee Alexander Consulting

Tuesday June 16, 2026 8:30am - 5:30pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Assembly Hall

YouthWise

9:00am EDT

Advanced CPS Tools and Organizational Creative Change

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Butler Library - Alex F. Osborn Brainstorming Center

Presenters

Mike Ackerbauer

Certified Rock Balancer, Ackerbauer Labs | Buffalo State University

Mike Ackerbauer (Macker) spent over 25 years at IBM leading technology and change leadership initiatives across dozens of organizations and industries. He now leads Ackerbauer Laboratories, a 3rd-generation consultancy specializing in organizational culture, change leadership, and... Read More →

Christa Heydt-Hernandez

Founder and Principle Consultant, Idea Alchemy

New to independent contracting and freelance work. I help organizations, teams, and individuals who have a challenge or problem to solve and do not think they have the tools or time to solve it. I work with clients to: Position the user first, whether customer, employee or individual... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Butler Library - Alex F. Osborn Brainstorming Center

Immersion Track

9:00am EDT

Elevate Your Facilitation Toolbox: Playful Tools and Real-World Practice

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Presenters

Jacqueline Lloyd Smith

Master Trainer / Founder, Strategic Play Global

Stephen Walling

Director of PLAY, Strategic Play Global

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Immersion Track

9:00am EDT

Head, Heart, and How: The Practice of Creative Change

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Presenters

Kathy Goller

Life & Leadership Coach, Facilitator & Presenter, Teal Horizon Coaching

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Immersion Track

9:00am EDT

Polarities in Practice

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Presenters

Lindsay Burr

CEO, Yarbrough Group

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Immersion Track

9:00am EDT

Session Lab: Rapid Prototyping to Design Your Own Tools

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Presenters

Nancylyn Hogarty

Self Employed, Strategist, Facilitator, Guide

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Immersion Track

9:00am EDT

Snacks

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:00am - 4:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Lobby

Need a little something? Join us in the HUB (Caudell Hall) for some snacks, coffee and tea.
They'll be available each day - just drop in when you have chance.

Tuesday June 16, 2026 9:00am - 4:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Lobby

Meals

10:00am EDT

CPSI Pop-Up Bookstore

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:00am - 4:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Lobby

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:00am - 4:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Lobby

Meals

11:00am EDT

Lunch

Tuesday June 16, 2026 11:00am - 2:00pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Tuesday June 16, 2026 11:00am - 2:00pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Meals

1:15pm EDT

Library Tour with Gerard Puccio

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:15pm - 1:45pm EDT

Butler Library

A guided library tour with Gerard Puccio, SUNY Distinguished Professor & Department Chair. If you're into everything creative and the history of it all - join Gerard for this limited opportunity.A sign up sheet will be available at Registration Check In on Sunday, June 14th.This tour is limited to 15 people.Meet inside the library entrance, facing Campbell Student Union (view the venue...
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Presenters

Gerard Puccio

SUNY Distinguished Professor & Department Chair, Buffalo State University

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:15pm - 1:45pm EDT
Butler Library

Meet-Ups + Networking

1:30pm EDT

Free Time

Tuesday June 16, 2026 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT

CPSI Magic

2:00pm EDT

Co-Create to Elevate: Designing Better Services Through Shared Creativity

Tuesday June 16, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

In this workshop, participants will explore how to use creative collaboration and design thinking to transform the way government and public institutions deliver services. Through an immersive design sprint simulation, attendees will learn how to bring together staff, citizens, and leaders to co-design people-first solutions that stick. TakeawaysExperience the impact of co-creation on...
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Presenters

Ponja Hoxha Ocumarez

Principal experience researcher

Tuesday June 16, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Business, Current Topics, Process Tools & Techniques

2:00pm EDT

Creative Thinking Profiles, Preferences, and Possibilities

Tuesday June 16, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Creative thinking profiles and assessments such as FourSight, KAI, VIEW, and others are widely used to help individuals and teams understand creative differences. At CPSI, we are lucky to have both designers and users of various profiles and assessments, and therefore, we wanted to open a discussion on what we can learn from these creative thinking profiles collectively. Through interactive...
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Presenters

Hana Mamnoon

Facilitator, Knowinnovation

Hana is your go-to person for blending science, creativity, and project management. With a background in Psychology and Business from the University of Rochester and a Master’s degree in Creativity and Change Leadership from Buffalo State University, she brings both analytical rigor... Read More →

Ryan Hammer

Facilitator, Knowinnovation & Renaissance Teams

Tuesday June 16, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Process Tools & Techniques

2:00pm EDT

Storytelling for Impact: Elevate How You Communicate Through the Creative Problem Solving Process

Tuesday June 16, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

The most compelling storytellers do more than inform—they shift perspectives, spark emotion, and catalyze action. TEDx Talks provide great examples. This workshop teaches participants how to design powerful, audience-centered stories using the Creative Problem Solving (CPS) process as a backbone for crafting impactful narratives. Through hands-on exercises, participants transform a personal or...
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Presenters

Christa Heydt-Hernandez

Founder and Principle Consultant, Idea Alchemy

Tuesday June 16, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Business, Process Tools & Techniques, Personal Growth

2:00pm EDT

The Right Strength at the Right Stage

Tuesday June 16, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

It’s not a question of IF you are creative, it’s a question of HOW you are creative. In what ways can you leverage your unique talents in the creative problem solving process? Through guided reflection and process mapping, you will examine how your CliftonStrengths talent themes support—or sometimes complicate—different stages of the Creative Problem Solving process. You’ll learn how you...
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Presenters

Kathy Goller

Life & Leadership Coach, Facilitator & Presenter, Teal Horizon Coaching

Tuesday June 16, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Business, Personal Growth, Process Tools & Techniques

2:00pm EDT

Unlocking the Power of Constraints: How Limits Make Us More Creative

Tuesday June 16, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Creativity is often sparked not by unlimited freedom, but by meaningful constraints. In this interactive workshop, participants experience how limits on time, materials, and rules can actually increase innovation through hands-on design challenges. Drawing on Creative Problem Solving principles and Eliyahu Goldratt’s Theory of Constraints, this session will reveal how identifying and...
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Presenters

Nicole Wagner

Director of STREAM Programming, NativityMiguel Middle School of Buffalo

Nicole Wagner is the Director of STREAM Programming at NativityMiguel Middle School of Buffalo, where she designs hands-on, creativity-driven learning experiences that integrate problem solving, collaboration, and 21st-century skills. She is currently completing a Master’s degree... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Business, Education, Personal Growth

2:00pm EDT

Your Third Third

Tuesday June 16, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

This session is geared towards those who are 55-plus and wondering what the Third Third of their life is going to be like. It is based on the book, “The Third Third of Life: Preparing for Your Future," by Walter C Wright, Jr. We will be exploring Hope and Dreams for the “third third” as well as considering what a “renewed calling” might be like. The “Third...
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Presenters

Mary Ellyn Vicksta

Founder, Vicksta Innovative Practices, LLC

Mary Ellyn has attended CPSI since 1992. She started leading sessions in the late 90's ranging from Core Courses to Immersions. She’s been recognized by the CPSI community by receiving CEF's Distinguished Leader and Service Awards. She became interested in re-defining herself after... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Personal Growth

3:30pm EDT

Afternoon Break

Tuesday June 16, 2026 3:30pm - 4:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Lobby

Join us in the Hub (Caudell Hall Lobby) and grab a quick drink and snack so you can recharge your batteries!

Tuesday June 16, 2026 3:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Lobby

CPSI Magic

4:00pm EDT

Beyond the Ordinary: Elevating Your Creative Identity Through Archetypes

Tuesday June 16, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

In a world of AI-generated sameness, your creative identity is what elevates you above the noise. This experiential workshop uses archetypal frameworks—rooted in Jung, Campbell, and modern brand psychology—to help you discover and articulate the distinctive character that makes you extraordinarily you. Through visual exploration, guided reflection, and structured storytelling, you'll craft a...
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Presenters

Amie Dowker

SVP, Integrated Strategy, Dentsu Creative

Tuesday June 16, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Business, Personal Growth

4:00pm EDT

Elevate the Invisible: How What We Don’t Say Shapes Creative Leadership

Tuesday June 16, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Most leadership and creative breakdowns don’t come from bad ideas—they come from unspoken assumptions, invisible power dynamics, and communication habits we don’t notice. This session helps participants elevate the invisible layers of communication so teams can think more creatively, collaborate more bravely, and lead more consciously.Takeaways:Notice what’s shaping the conversation before...
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Presenters

Katharine Rumrill-Teece

Professor / Facilitator, Onondaga Community College

Katharine Rumrill-Teece is an accomplished Trainer, Facilitator, and Professor of Communication with over 30 years of experience leading impactful workshops and training programs. With a Master’s degree in Intercultural Communication & Conflict Resolution and a Doctorate in Executive... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Business, Process Tools & Techniques, Education

4:00pm EDT

Elevate Through Play: Using LEGO® Serious Play to Unlock Creative Problem Solving

Tuesday June 16, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

This session elevates creative problem solving by transforming play into a strategic invitation—helping participants move from imagination to insight, and from insight to action. Through LEGO® Serious Play (LSP) and Creative Problem Solving (CPS), participants experience how embodied thinking, storytelling, and structured divergence/convergence elevate both individual creativity and group...
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Presenters

Andrew Ilnicki

Director, Experiential Education + Emerging Tech, University of Richmond

Tuesday June 16, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Education, Process Tools & Techniques

4:00pm EDT

The Creativity Canvas: Mapping Your Creative Ecosystem

Tuesday June 16, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

This workshop introduces a dynamic visual tool designed to map out your personal creative process. During this 90-minute session, you’ll explore key enhancers and critical blockers that make up your creative ecosystem. Through hands-on activities, you’ll design your own creativity canvas, gaining insights into how to unlock your full potential and drive creative breakthroughs. ...
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Presenters

Kim Macuare, Ph.D

Director of Education and Co-Director of Innovation Labs, The Dali Museum

In her role as the lead program designer and facilitator for the Innovation Labs, Kim has helped many organizations—from non-profits to government entities to Fortune 100 companies—build their innovation capacities by developing creativity-focused mindsets and problem-solving... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category The Arts, Personal Growth, Process Tools & Techniques

4:00pm EDT

Dinner

Tuesday June 16, 2026 4:00pm - 7:00pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Tuesday June 16, 2026 4:00pm - 7:00pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Meals

5:00pm EDT

On-Campus Housing: Evening Desk Hours

Tuesday June 16, 2026 5:00pm - 9:00pm EDT

STAC - Student Apartment Complex

Have questions? Need some assistance? We have evening desk hours in STAC for just that.

Tuesday June 16, 2026 5:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
STAC - Student Apartment Complex

7:30pm EDT

Planetarium Experience

Tuesday June 16, 2026 7:30pm - 9:30pm EDT

Science + Math Complex - Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium

The Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium at Buffalo State University is a state-of-the-art facility offering immersive educational and entertainment experiences in astronomy and beyond. Located within the Science and Mathematics Complex on campus, the planetarium features a 35-foot diameter dome and is equipped with advanced projection systems—including a Spitz SciDome 4K digital projector, a Zeiss...
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Tuesday June 16, 2026 7:30pm - 9:30pm EDT
Science + Math Complex - Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium

CPSI Magic

7:30pm EDT

Night Flights

Tuesday June 16, 2026 7:30pm - 9:30pm EDT

Night Flights

7:00am EDT

Breakfast

Wednesday June 17, 2026 7:00am - 9:30am EDT

Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Start your day at CPSI with some delicious breakfast. Sit with someone new or some old friends. It's a great way to connect!

Wednesday June 17, 2026 7:00am - 9:30am EDT
Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Meals

8:30am EDT

CPS Level 1: Foundations of Creative Problem Solving

Wednesday June 17, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Room 208

Presenters

Alexandra Suchman

CEO and Co-founder, Barometer XP

Jonathan Bannister

Founder, Make Happy

David Lunken

Principal, Cedarcroft Advisors

CPSI frequenter, Core Faculty, Talent Optimizer, Problem solver, Collaborator, Husband, father of 3 girls, triathlete, gardener, baker of sourdough before Covid

Rebecca VanDerveer

Certified Master Trainer, PI Midlantic/ The LAB Team

Wednesday June 17, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Room 208

Core CPS Track

8:30am EDT

CPS Level 2: Creative Problem Solving Tools

Wednesday June 17, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Chase Hall - Room 215

Feedback Survey

Presenters

Annemarie Boss

Innovation Facilitator, Boss Collaborative

Najja Bouldin

Wednesday June 17, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Chase Hall - Room 215

Core CPS Track

8:30am EDT

CPS Level 3: Creative Problem Solving Facilitation Techniques

Wednesday June 17, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Room 234

Presenters

Anthony Billoni

Owner, APEX Leader Growth

I have an MS from Center for Applied Imagination. I use CPS/Deliberate Creativity daily in live and in my consulting practice. I have been leading, volunteering and presenting at CPSI for 20+ years.

CEF Staff and Wings

Ray Paull

Fisheries Biologist

Wednesday June 17, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Room 234

Core CPS Track

8:30am EDT

YouthWise

Wednesday June 17, 2026 8:30am - 5:30pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Assembly Hall

Presenters

Kit Jones

Mount Vernon CSD

I have an infinity for poetry and art. In addition I love working with the Girl Scouts and camping. Topics that get me going are books, ASL, and education.

Renee Paser-Paull

President, Soaring Pathways

Dee Alexander Langsenkamp

YouthWise Coordinator, Dee Alexander Consulting

Wednesday June 17, 2026 8:30am - 5:30pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Assembly Hall

YouthWise

9:00am EDT

Advanced CPS Tools and Organizational Creative Change

Wednesday June 17, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Butler Library - Alex F. Osborn Brainstorming Center

Presenters

Mike Ackerbauer

Certified Rock Balancer, Ackerbauer Labs | Buffalo State University

Christa Heydt-Hernandez

Founder and Principle Consultant, Idea Alchemy

Wednesday June 17, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Butler Library - Alex F. Osborn Brainstorming Center

Immersion Track

9:00am EDT

Elevate Your Facilitation Toolbox: Playful Tools and Real-World Practice

Wednesday June 17, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Presenters

Roger Firestien

Associate Professor Emeritus, Buffalo State University

Dr. Roger Firestien has presented programs on innovation to over 600 organizations around the world including: fortune 500 corporations, government agencies, universities, associations, hospitals and religious institutions.
His expert views on creativity have been covered in Fast ... Read More →

Wednesday June 17, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Immersion Track

9:00am EDT

Head, Heart, and How: The Practice of Creative Change

Wednesday June 17, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Presenters

Jessica Andrews-Wilson

Conference & Training Consultant, Creative Education Foundation

Jessica Andrews-Wilson currently serves Creative Education Foundation as a Conference & Training Consultant, providing ideation and implementation around anything related to FLCC, CPSI and CPS training. Outside of CEF, Jessica serves as the Executive Director at GUIDE, inc., a nonprofit... Read More →

Kim Macuare, Ph.D

Director of Education and Co-Director of Innovation Labs, The Dali Museum

Wednesday June 17, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Immersion Track

9:00am EDT

Polarities in Practice

Wednesday June 17, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Presenters

Lindsay Burr

CEO, Yarbrough Group

Wednesday June 17, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Immersion Track

9:00am EDT

Session Lab: Rapid Prototyping to Design Your Own Tools

Wednesday June 17, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Presenters

Nancylyn Hogarty

Self Employed, Strategist, Facilitator, Guide

Wednesday June 17, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Immersion Track

10:00am EDT

CPSI Pop-Up Bookstore

Wednesday June 17, 2026 10:00am - 4:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Lobby

Wednesday June 17, 2026 10:00am - 4:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Lobby

Meals

11:00am EDT

Lunch

Wednesday June 17, 2026 11:00am - 2:00pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Wednesday June 17, 2026 11:00am - 2:00pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Meals

1:30pm EDT

Free Time

Wednesday June 17, 2026 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT

CPSI Magic

2:00pm EDT

How Might I Get Curious? Creative Questions for Deep-Diving Conversations

Wednesday June 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

The same creative question starters that ignite brainstorming can also be infused into conversations of discovery, from podcast-style interviews to personal conversations. We'll show you how to strategically and seamlessly transform questions to dive deeper and discover more. Participants will be able to apply these journalist-like skills to the data gathering portions of the CPS process and to...
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Presenters

Emily Matthew

Tim O'Shei

Wednesday June 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

2:00pm EDT

Disaster Quick Quests: Elevate Creativity for Social Impact

Wednesday June 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

How can we turn fear of disaster into fuel for community resilience? Join this high-energy "Design Studio" to use Creative Problem Solving (CPS) to catalyze social impact. In this hands-on session, you will work in a small team to ideate and develop a "Quick Quest" — a 5-10 minute game-based activity — to help individuals and communities prepare to face a wildfire, flood, or other disaster....
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Presenters

Susanne Jul

Founder & Executive Director, Creative Crisis Leadership

Susanne is a multifaceted professional with a passion for empowering individuals to become self-reliant, particularly in times of crisis. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Creative Crisis Leadership, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading social resilience and... Read More →

Garett Dworman

Principal Designer, Creative Crisis Leadership

Wednesday June 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Current Topics, Personal Growth, Process Tools & Techniques

2:00pm EDT

Kaleidoscope of You - Dream, Share, Incubate, Create

Wednesday June 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Kaleidoscope of YOU offers an intimate yet expansive invitation to pause, play, and reawaken child-like curiosity. You will engage in guided daydreaming, visible thinking, writing, and creative mark-making to explore your past, present, and future creative selves. The journey continues in a “Living Gallery Walk.” This innovative workshop also invites others in the CPSI community to contribute...
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Presenters

Kathy Frazier

Gifted Education and Creativity Specialist, Touching the Future Today LLC

Katie Ravich

Founder, InsideOut Creativity™

Katie Ravich is a creative education specialist, systems designer and creative strategist who works at the intersection of creativity, learning ecosystems and applied neuroplasticity. With a B.A. in Visual Communications (University of Technology Sydney) and an M.Sc. in Creativity... Read More →

Wednesday June 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category The Arts, Process Tools & Techniques, Personal Growth

2:00pm EDT

Language of Renewal™: Using Narrative Intelligence to Expand Creative Capacity

Wednesday June 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Narrative is one of the most under-used tools in applied creativity. This workshop introduces Language of Renewal™, a framework that helps participants reframe complexity and ambiguity through metaphor, story structure, and reflective creativity practices. Through hands-on exercises, participants learn how narration can discover insight, reduce cognitive rigidity, and strengthen creative...
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Presenters

Michelle Wicmandy

Global Marketing Campaigns Manager, KBC (A Yokogawa Company)

Michelle Wicmandy, DBA is a global marketing and communications strategist who helps organizations communicate complexity with clarity. Her work integrates applied creativity, sustainability communication, and narrative design to strengthen engagement and leadership impact. She is... Read More →

Frederik Hertel

Associate Professor, Aalborg University (Denmark)

Wednesday June 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Business, Education, Process Tools & Techniques

2:00pm EDT

Possibility Books for Accessing Embodied Wisdom Before Logic

Wednesday June 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Before we analyze, we sense. Before we articulate, we feel. Before we problem-solve with logic, we can access embodied wisdom. Come experience Possibility Books, a creative practice that activates and helps us access the inner wisdom living within each of us. We’ll play with mark-making coupled with dialogue to transform these insights into actionable intuition that can be used...
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Presenters

Kris Stanec

Director of Creativity and Innovation, Colorado College

Kris Stanec, MAT, directs Creativity and Innovation at Colorado College. A faculty member for 25+ years, she facilitates sessions across contexts that prioritize active engagement. Her creative leadership transforms learning, cultivates communities, and enhances possibilities for... Read More →

Wednesday June 17, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Process Tools & Techniques, Research & Scholarship

3:30pm EDT

Afternoon Break

Wednesday June 17, 2026 3:30pm - 4:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Lobby

Join us in the Hub (Caudell Hall Lobby) and grab a quick drink and snack so you can recharge your batteries!

Wednesday June 17, 2026 3:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Lobby

CPSI Magic

4:00pm EDT

A Historical Perspective of Divergence and Convergence

Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Creative Problem Solving (CPS) is a process with many hidden gifts and coping mechanisms to fact today's challenges. This experiential and interactive session will explore the evolution, revolution and application of Divergence and Convergence in CPS in every aspect of our daily lives, if we are willing to take the plunge. We will take a deep dive in the intricacies of divergence and convergence...
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Presenters

Joette Field

Consultant, Creative Problem Solving; Retired, Daemen University

Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Current Topics, Process Tools & Techniques, Business

4:00pm EDT

Be an Illuminator: Discover Ways to Bring Out the Best in Others

Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Illuminators shine a light on others. They make people and their ideas come alive. With their distinct blend of skills, they excel as facilitators and relationship builders.Illuminators make others feel seen, heard, and appreciated. Their curiosity invites richer stories and deeper insights. They see and celebrate others’ strengths.Takeaways:In this session, you’ll work with a partner to...
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Presenters

Sari Gluckin

Founder, Wishful Thinking

Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Personal Growth, Process Tools & Techniques

4:00pm EDT

Curiosity Is the New Mastery: Elevating Creative Confidence with Improv, Design Thinking, and AI

Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

This 90‑minute, highly interactive workshop invites CPSI participants to “elevate” their practice by shifting from mastery-as-endpoint to curiosity-as-engine, using improv, design thinking, and AI as complementary tools. Drawing on research with 94 community college students, Betsy Tuma will show how short, guided improv activities significantly elevated participants’ creative self-concept...
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Presenters

Betsy Tuma

Assistant Professor, Pikes Peak State College

Betsy Tuma, MFA, is a design educator and writer based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She teaches in the Multimedia Graphic Design program at Pikes Peak State College, where she helps students rediscover curiosity, confidence, and creative risk-taking. Her MFA in Design Thinking is... Read More →

Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Education, Process Tools & Techniques, Research & Scholarship

4:00pm EDT

Elevate Emerging Potential: Using CPS & Innovation Sprints to Build Creative Readiness

Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Elevate Emerging Potential: Using CPS & Innovation Sprints to Build Creative Readiness Many emerging professionals—and the educators, mentors, and managers who support them—struggle to name themselves as creative problem solvers. This session explores how Innovation Sprints, paired with Creative Problem Solving (CPS), build creative confidence, agency, and adaptability across...
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Presenters

Jessica Driscoll

Innovation Sprints Coordinator, University at Buffalo

Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Education, Personal Growth

4:00pm EDT

How to Create a Personal AI Assistant for Creative Collaboration

Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

In this session, participants will learn to create their own personal AI assistant by exploring and applying easy-to-use AI tools in ChatGPT. Attendees will learn to enhance their skills in creative problem solving, productivity, and innovation with the help of their personalized AI assistant. We’ll cover the fundamentals of prompt design for creating customized projects for real-world...
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Presenters

Dr. Greg Buschman

Co-Founder, Strategic Leadership Development

Debbie Buschman, MPA, CDO

Co-Founder, Strategic Leadership Development

Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Business, Education, Process Tools & Techniques

4:00pm EDT

Celebration Dinner

Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 7:00pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 7:00pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Meals

5:00pm EDT

On-Campus Housing: Evening Desk Hours

Wednesday June 17, 2026 5:00pm - 9:00pm EDT

STAC - Student Apartment Complex

Have questions? Need some assistance? We have evening desk hours in STAC for just that.

Wednesday June 17, 2026 5:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
STAC - Student Apartment Complex

7:30pm EDT

CPSI Rewind PUB Night

Wednesday June 17, 2026 7:30pm - 9:30pm EDT

Meals

7:00am EDT

Breakfast

Thursday June 18, 2026 7:00am - 9:30am EDT

Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Start your day at CPSI with some delicious breakfast. Sit with someone new or some old friends. It's a great way to connect!

Thursday June 18, 2026 7:00am - 9:30am EDT
Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Meals

7:30am EDT

On-Campus Housing Check-Out

Thursday June 18, 2026 7:30am - 9:00pm EDT

STAC - Student Apartment Complex

Quick and easy check-out process to get you to your sessions and on with your day.

Thursday June 18, 2026 7:30am - 9:00pm EDT
STAC - Student Apartment Complex

8:30am EDT

CPS Level 1: Foundations of Creative Problem Solving

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Room 208

Presenters

Alexandra Suchman

CEO and Co-founder, Barometer XP

Jonathan Bannister

Founder, Make Happy

David Lunken

Principal, Cedarcroft Advisors

CPSI frequenter, Core Faculty, Talent Optimizer, Problem solver, Collaborator, Husband, father of 3 girls, triathlete, gardener, baker of sourdough before Covid

Rebecca VanDerveer

Certified Master Trainer, PI Midlantic/ The LAB Team

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Room 208

Core CPS Track

8:30am EDT

CPS Level 2: Creative Problem Solving Tools

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Chase Hall - Room 215

Feedback Survey

Presenters

Annemarie Boss

Innovation Facilitator, Boss Collaborative

Najja Bouldin

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Chase Hall - Room 215

Core CPS Track

8:30am EDT

CPS Level 3: Creative Problem Solving Facilitation Techniques

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Room 234

Presenters

Anthony Billoni

Owner, APEX Leader Growth

I have an MS from Center for Applied Imagination. I use CPS/Deliberate Creativity daily in live and in my consulting practice. I have been leading, volunteering and presenting at CPSI for 20+ years.

CEF Staff and Wings

Ray Paull

Fisheries Biologist

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:30am - 12:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Room 234

Core CPS Track

8:30am EDT

YouthWise

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:30am - 3:30pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Assembly Hall

Presenters

Kit Jones

Mount Vernon CSD

I have an infinity for poetry and art. In addition I love working with the Girl Scouts and camping. Topics that get me going are books, ASL, and education.

Renee Paser-Paull

President, Soaring Pathways

Dee Alexander Langsenkamp

YouthWise Coordinator, Dee Alexander Consulting

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:30am - 3:30pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Assembly Hall

YouthWise

9:00am EDT

Advanced CPS Tools and Organizational Creative Change

Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Butler Library - Alex F. Osborn Brainstorming Center

Presenters

Mike Ackerbauer

Certified Rock Balancer, Ackerbauer Labs | Buffalo State University

Christa Heydt-Hernandez

Founder and Principle Consultant, Idea Alchemy

Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT
Butler Library - Alex F. Osborn Brainstorming Center

Immersion Track

9:00am EDT

Elevate Your Facilitation Toolbox: Playful Tools and Real-World Practice

Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

CEF Staff and Wings

Jane Fischer

Lead Creativity Trainer/CPSI Emcee, Creative Education Foundation

Jane has always drawn on three things: a love of humor and performing, her imagination and ideas, and the desire to help others. Her professional life began with a focus on “helping others." She has two decades of experience and leadership in health education and human services... Read More →

Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Immersion Track

9:00am EDT

Head, Heart, and How: The Practice of Creative Change

Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Presenters

Jessica Andrews-Wilson

Conference & Training Consultant, Creative Education Foundation

Kim Macuare, Ph.D

Director of Education and Co-Director of Innovation Labs, The Dali Museum

Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Immersion Track

9:00am EDT

Polarities in Practice

Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Presenters

Liz Monroe-Cook

Owner, Monroe-Cook & Associates

As the only child of two very different parents, Liz was a natural for going into psychology and being drawn to any approach that calls for “both-and” thinking. Facilitating and presenting Polarity Thinking™ for the past 24 years has been important for her work in general and... Read More →

Beth Slazak

Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Immersion Track

9:00am EDT

Session Lab: Rapid Prototyping to Design Your Own Tools

Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Presenters

Nancylyn Hogarty

Self Employed, Strategist, Facilitator, Guide

Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 12:30pm EDT

Immersion Track

10:00am EDT

CPSI Pop-Up Bookstore

Thursday June 18, 2026 10:00am - 2:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Lobby

Thursday June 18, 2026 10:00am - 2:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Lobby

Meals

11:00am EDT

Lunch

Thursday June 18, 2026 11:00am - 2:00pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Thursday June 18, 2026 11:00am - 2:00pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Bengal Kitchen

Meals

1:30pm EDT

Free Time

Thursday June 18, 2026 1:30pm - 2:00pm EDT

CPSI Magic

2:00pm EDT

Charting Your Path Without a Map: Using Deliberate Creativity to Anticipate, Adapt, and Move Forward

Thursday June 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Charting Your Path Without a Map invites participants to explore how deliberate creativity can support forward movement when certainty is unavailable and conditions continue to change. Building on the Osborn–Parnes tradition, this live session frames creative problem solving as a shared foundation for anticipating change, adapting with intention, and making progress without waiting for perfect...
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Presenters

Tricia Garwood

Leadership Strategist, Bright Bridge Strategies

Thursday June 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Business, Education, Personal Growth

2:00pm EDT

Wayfinding in Action: Tools & Moves for Dynamic Facilitation

Thursday June 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

All aboard! Step into an interactive, fast-paced session designed to bring your facilitation skills to life.In this hands-on experience, you’ll take a quick journey through the Wayfinding Method—a simple framework for guiding groups from intention to insight—before diving into the real fun: practical tools and facilitation moves you can use right away.Along the way, you’ll explore your own...
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Presenters

Jessica Andrews-Wilson

Conference & Training Consultant, Creative Education Foundation

Thom Gonyeau

Co-owner, Mountain View Group, LTD.

Thom Gonyeau is a co-owner of Mountain View Group, a creative communications agency, and media production company, where he has worked for more than 35 years.

Thom began his career as a producer and has held many positions at Mountain View from business development to Chief Operating Officer. In 2008, he and his business partner, Stephen Pruitt, purchased the company from its original owner, Jim Tusty, and his role as an entrepreneur took... Read More →

Thursday June 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

2:00pm EDT

What’s Stopping You?

Thursday June 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Do you suffer from an unrequited creativity, a particular creative itch you haven’t—for reasons you can’t identify—been able to scratch? In this session, we’ll look at why you might resist doing the creative work you’re called to do, and how to jumpstart and sustain it. First, we’ll identify your creative blocks, drawing on Stephen Pressfield’s The War of Art, Robert Kegan and Lisa...
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Presenters

Paul Reali

Executive Director, Charlotte Lit

Paul Reali is co-founder of Charlotte Lit, a nonprofit literary arts center in Charlotte, NC, and is a lead for its Authors Lab book-writing program. He is co-author of "Creativity Rising", which is used in introductory creativity classes at colleges worldwide. He won the 2023 Doris... Read More →

Haley Forest

Innovation & Strategy Consultant, HCForest

Thursday June 18, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm EDT

Breakout Workshops

Program Category Personal Growth, Process Tools & Techniques

3:30pm EDT

Afternoon Break

Thursday June 18, 2026 3:30pm - 4:00pm EDT

Caudell Hall - Lobby

Join us in the Hub (Caudell Hall Lobby) and grab a quick drink and snack so you can recharge your batteries!

Thursday June 18, 2026 3:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Caudell Hall - Lobby

CPSI Magic

4:00pm EDT

CPSI Conference Closing

Thursday June 18, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT

Ciminelli Recital Hall

All good things must come to an end—but at CPSI, the Closing Celebration is just the beginning of what’s next. Join us as we reflect on our shared experience, explore ways to stay connected, and discover how to keep stretching, growing, and creating beyond the conference.

Thursday June 18, 2026 4:00pm - 5:30pm EDT
Ciminelli Recital Hall

CPSI Magic

4:00pm EDT

Closing Dinner

Thursday June 18, 2026 4:00pm - 7:00pm EDT

Campbell Student Union - Fireside Lounge

Enjoy our farewell dinner at CPSI 2026.

Thursday June 18, 2026 4:00pm - 7:00pm EDT
Campbell Student Union - Fireside Lounge

Meals

7:30am EDT

On-Campus Housing Check-Out

Friday June 19, 2026 7:30am - 1:00pm EDT

STAC - Student Apartment Complex

Quick and easy check-out process to get you to your sessions and on with your day.

Friday June 19, 2026 7:30am - 1:00pm EDT
STAC - Student Apartment Complex