“Unshakeable Resilience for Life and Leadership.”

Life and leadership both come with unexpected challenges — but the difference between breaking under pressure and rising stronger comes down to one thing: resilience. In this inspiring and practical presentation, Connie will share personal and professional stories of setbacks and comebacks, practical leadership strategies for guiding teams through uncertainty and simple, actionable tools to help you recover, adapt, and thrive in your personal and work life.

You’ll discover:

• The mindset shift that transforms “Why me or us?” into “What now?”
• How vulnerability can fuel strength and connection
• Practical habits to recharge and build resilience in daily life
• Leadership strategies to foster adaptability and trust in teams
• A simple framework to help you and your organization “bend, not break”

Whether you’re navigating personal challenges, leading through change, or simply looking to grow stronger in the face of adversity, this presentation will leave you with the tools — and the inspiration — to bounce forward, not back. Don’t miss this chance to reframe challenges into opportunities and walk away with resilience lessons you can apply in both life and leadership.

Connie Deneweth has built a remarkable career grounded in resilience, service, and an entrepreneurial spirit that began early in her life. A seasoned leader and banking executive, Connie has led through some of the most challenging moments in business and life. As CEO and President of Traverse City State Bank, she helped take the institution from one of Michigan’s worst-performing banks during the Great Recession to one of its strongest—transforming not only a company, but the livelihoods of those it served. Her career has spanned leadership in finance, real estate development, and entrepreneurship, including the more recent creation of Lakemore Resort, a luxury lakefront retreat in Traverse City.

Through both professional challenges and personal loss, Connie has continued to model strength, optimism, and purpose. Whether leading teams through crisis and challenge or building into her community, Connie’s story is a powerful reminder that true leadership is not defined by titles or success—but by the courage to rise, adapt, and give back no matter the circumstances.

Resilience: Hard-Won Wisdom for Living a Better Life

Resilience is a collection of letters offering practical, compassionate guidance on how to navigate hardship with strength and purpose. Blending philosophy, psychology, and lived experience, the book explores how courage, discipline, responsibility, and connection help us grow through adversity rather than be defined by it. It’s an accessible, inspiring roadmap for developing resilience in everyday life.

Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy

Option B blends personal story and research to show how people can recover from loss, trauma, and setbacks by building resilience and creating meaning. Through real-world examples and actionable strategies, the book explains how individuals and teams can rebound from challenges, strengthen relationships, rediscover joy, and cultivate the capacity to move forward even when life doesn’t go as planned.

11:00am - Doors Open // Sponsor Expo // Networking

11:15-11:45 - Lunch, Open Networking Continues

11:45-12:50 - Welcome, Featured Presentation

12:50-1PM - Q & A and Wrap-up

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