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  • MCA Spring Workshop - Females in the Military - We are NOT Invisible

MCA Spring Workshop - Females in the Military - We are NOT Invisible

  • 03/22/2018
  • 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Willmar Conference Center

Registration

  • Does not include lunch
  • Does not include a lunch
  • Cost is for lunch only. Workshop fee is complimentary.

An invoice will be emailed to you immediately after you complete your registration. If your agency is paying for your registration, please give the invoice to them for payment processing immediately. A separate invoice will NOT be sent to your agency.

Registration Closed - Contact the MCA Office
at mca-mn@hotmail.com regarding registration.

Females in the Military - We are NOT Invisible


Join us in hearing from female veterans and their experiences as military personnel and as civilians. 

Learn about resources available to female veterans who may be experiencing issues upon return to civilian life.

MCA Spring Workshop
March 22, 2018
Willmar Conference Center
 2800 East Hwy 12
Willmar, MN
8:30 Registration/Exhibitor Resource Fair Opens
9:00 Workshop Starts

Registration Rates:
$50 All Day Workshop (includes lunch)
$25 Student/Retiree Member (includes lunch)
$25  Morning or Afternoon Session (1/2 Day-no lunch)

8:30-9 AM:             Registration and Resource Fair
9:15-10:30 AM:      Panel 1: Bridget Cronin, Jennifer Diaz, and Angie Batica
10:30-10:45 AM:    Break
10:45-12:15 PM:    Panel 1, Question and Answer
12:15-1:30 PM:      Lunch and Resource Fair
1:30-2:30 PM:        Panel 2: Penny Nelson, Kimberly Dobler, and Julie Grandaw-U.S. Air                                Force-Retired
2:30-2:45 PM:        Break
2:45-4:00 PM:        Panel 2, Question and Answer

Early registration rates apply only if payment is received by March 1, 2018. After this date, invoices not paid and registrations will increase by $25.00. 

You will receive verification of registration via e-mail.

Click here for Exhibitor Registration

Click here for Attendee Registration

Presenters:

Bridget Cronin - Bridget Cronin is the Executive Director of Ars Bellum Foundation as well as a founding board member. For the past four years, she has been instrumental developing the organization and bringing clinical art therapy to veterans experiencing PTSD, their families, survivors of Military Sexual Trauma, and Gold Star families through its mobile programs, retreats, and experientials. Her collaboration with other veteran service organizations in raising awareness for women veterans through the “I Am Not Invisible” campaign has brought the challenges of women veterans into the public eye, giving these heroes a new voice and reminding us all of their sacrifices for our country. She was recently honored for her continuing dedication to the Veteran community by being named a lifetime honorary member of the Special Forces Association. Bridget is also the mother of four children, including a son with autism.

Jennifer Diaz -  Chief Warrant Officer Three (CW3) Jennifer Diaz enlisted in the MN Army National Guard as a Personnel Administrative Specialist in December 1995 and was appointed as a Warrant Officer in August 2008.  She earned her Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology in March 2017 and her Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts with a Concentration in Management in August 2011. CW3 Diaz’s has held multiple assignments in her 22 year career.  In August 2008, she accepted her appointment to Warrant Officer One and moved to the Warrant Officer Recruiting Program with the Recruiting and Retention Battalion.  On March 24th 2013, Chief Diaz accepted the position of the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator for the MN Army and Air National Guard where she worked until May 2017 when she was assigned as the Labor Relations Specialist.  She is currently a serving member on MN Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MNCASA) Board of Directors.

Angie Batica - Angie Batica served in the U.S. Army from June 1992 to February 1998. She experienced Military Sexual Traumas (MST) & developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Angie became an alcoholic and drug addict and added a long list of arrests. She experienced homelessness and joblessness. Once she got sober, she became a career volunteer and woman veteran advocate. Angie has a family, a business and mentors other women who’ve gone through similar experiences.

Penny Nelson - During her 20 year tenure on active duty in the Navy (1994-2014), Penny experienced many cultural changes, starting with the Tail Hook fall out and ending with full integration of women into combat. After retiring from the Navy, Penny enrolled in the Alcohol and Drug Studies (ADS) program at Minnesota State University- Mankato which she will be graduating from in May 2018.  With her military background, the Fifth Judicial District Veterans Treatment Court was the logical choice for her required internship. The primary tasks during this internship include: restructuring client files and contacts with the Case Manager, revamping the Mentor Program (a unique component of the Veterans Treatment Court), and to complete a recidivism study specifically for the Veterans Treatment Court.

Upon graduation, Penny hopes to continue this fulfilling work by focusing specifically on veterans and the unique challenges they present when they become involved in the criminal justice system.

Kimberly Dobler - The mission of the Minnesota Women Veterans Program is to ensure women Veterans have equitable access to federal and state benefits and services. We respond to the gender specific needs of women Veterans and ensure that women Veterans are treated with dignity and respect. Our outreach events are geared to improve the awareness of available benefits, services and eligibility criteria for the women who served in the United States Armed Forces.

Julie Grandaw - Major Julie Grandaw served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 25 years: both active duty and in the National Guard. She began her military career when she was 18 years old, enlisting in the Air Force, specializing in logistics. During her eight years of active duty, she held multiple leadership positions and was stationed at four U.S. Air Force bases. Upon receiving an honorable discharge, Julie joined and worked for the Minnesota National Guard full time. In 2004, she was board selected as an officer candidate and received her commission graduating #1 from the U.S. Air Force Academy of Military Science. Julie retired in 2017 as the148th Fighter Wing’s Public Affairs Spokesperson in Duluth, Minnesota. Her company, DWI Solutions, is a 100 percent female, Veteran-Owned Small Business and is federally- and state-certified. She has a Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and volunteers with local veteran organizations.

 Hotel Accommodations (not included in conference registration):
Best Western Plus Willmar
2100 US Hwy 12
Willmar, MN
320-235-6060
$99 plus taxes - check in at 3; check out at 11
Be sure to ask for the MCA block

Cancellation* Policy E-mail cancellations to the MCA office mca-mn@hotmail.com.  The following refund schedule will apply: 100% refund for cancellations by 02/22/18; 50% refund 2/23/18 to 03/07/18; no refunds 3/8/18 or after. *In lieu of cancellation, you may send a replacement in your spot.  Processing fee will be deducted for payments made thru PayPal. 

Payments through PayPal:   If you are paying for your membership and have an event invoice open and you do not intend to pay for your event invoice, proceed carefully during your payment process to ensure you are aware what you are paying for.  Refunds will not be made for accidental payments of all open invoices.  Attendees will need to submit their payment receipt to their agency for reimbursement.

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