2023 TAI Annual Conference Agenda*
Honor the Past, Shape the Future
Wednesday, September 27
3 pm – 6 pm
Registration
3:00- 5:00 pm Sonesta hotel lobby
5:30 pm Pyramid Club
Must present photo ID to enter
6 – 7:30 pm
Opening Reception
Meet, Inspire and Connect
Welcome from Travelers Aid International and Families Forward Philadelphia
Kathleen Baldwin
President and CEO
Travelers Aid International
Jason Miller
President and CEO
Families Forward Philadelphia
7:30 pm
Explore Philly’s Nightlife!
Thursday, September 28
7:45 am
Arrive at Convene
Commerce Square, 2001 Market Street
Shuttles will be provided to and from the Sonesta.
8 am
Welcome to Philadelphia!
Speaker:
Atif Saeed
CEO
City of Philadelphia Department of Aviation
8:15 – 9 am
Breakfast Buffet
Sponsored by SP +
8:45 am
Welcome to TAI 2023
Speakers:
David Sinski
Vice President and Executive Director
Heartland Human Care Services
Chair
Travelers Aid International Board of Directors
Alison Brill
Assistant Federal Public Defender
Office of the Federal Public Defender, District of New Jersey
Chair
Families Forward Board of Directors
9 – 10 am
General Session
Mobility as a Service — Maintaining Relevance in a Forever-Changing World
Speaker:
Elias Lebbos
CEO
Travellers Aid Australia
10 – 10:15 am
Break
10:15 – 11:15 am
Concurrent Sessions
Session A
Affordable Housing Innovations: Closing the Generational Wealth Gap
Speakers:
Tameka Gunn
President and CEO
Community Link
Greg Heller
Director
Guidehouse
Session B
Excellence in Customer Service: Accessibility and Inclusion
Speakers:
Lynn Smith
Program Director
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program
Kevin Carter
Customer Care Management
American Airlines
11:15 am – 12:15 pm
Concurrent Sessions
Session A
SOAR! Works
Speaker:
Dan Coladonato
Principal
SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access and Recovery (SOAR)
Session B
Panel Discussion — Beyond the Info Desk
Moderator:
Scott Elmore
Vice President, Communications and Marketing
Airports Council International-NA
Panelists:
Leah Douglas
Director, Customer Service
Philadelphia International Airport
Dennis Hazell
Director, Customer Service
Reagan Washington National Airport
John Ishu
Director
Travelers Aid Chicago
12:15 – 12:45 pm
Lunch
Spotlight on Therapy Dog Programs
Harvey Finkel
Alliance of Therapy Dogs
12:45 – 1:15 pm
Travel to 30th Street Station
1:15 – 1:35 pm
30th Street Station Introduction
Jim Feeney
30th Street Station Volunteer
1:45 – 2:30 pm
Travel to Tour Sites
2:30 – 4 pm
Tour A
Families Forward Philadelphia
Reception to follow
2:30 – 4 pm
Tour B
Philadelphia International Airport
Reception to follow
Free time—enjoy!
Friday, September 29
8 – 9 am
Breakfast Buffet
Sponsored by Greyhound
TAI and Greyhound Today
Speaker:
David Reeves
Senior Sales Manager—Commercial
Greyhound
9 – 10 am
General Session
Where We Are, What We’re Doing, What’s Ahead
Moderator:
Kathleen Baldwin
President and CEO
Travelers Aid International
TAI Board Members Q & A
10 – 10:45 am
General Session
Volunteer Management: Addressing Cognitive Decline
Speaker:
Daniel Salomone
Volunteer Community Educator
Alzheimer’s Association, Delaware Valley Chapter
10:45 – 11:30 am
Break and Team Building
11:30 am- 12:30 pm
Concurrent Sessions
Session A
Got Funding? The Value of Strategic Partnerships
Speaker:
Meagan Schmidt
Principal
MMS Consulting
Session B
The Value and Impact of Volunteers
Speaker:
Betsy McFarland, CVA, CAWA
Principal
Adisa, LLC
12:30 -1:15 pm
Lunch
Sponsored by Flippit
1:15 – 2:15 pm
Concurrent Sessions
Session A
Harm Reduction Panel
Speakers:
Mark Atwood
Chairman and Founder
The Christopher Atwood Foundation
Kate Perch, MSW
Housing Coordinator
Prevention Point Philadelphia
Dale Tippet
Shelter Site Supervisor
Prevention Point Philadelphia
Session B
Volunteer Management Roundtable
Moderator:
Betsy McFarland, CVA, CAWA
Principal
Adisa, LLC
2:15 – 2:30 pm
Special Presentation
2:30 – 3:15 pm
General Session
Perspectives on the Human Trafficking Crisis
Speakers:
Michael Camal
Senior Advisor
Blue Lightning Initiative, Department of Homeland Security
Stefanie Snyder
Special Agent
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia
Jason Sankey
Airport Security Manager
Philadelphia International Airport
3:15 – 4:00 pm
General Session
Your Organization’s Online Presence — Telling Your Story
Speakers:
Ryan Ewing
Web Manager
Travelers Aid International
Susan Mathews
Brand and Digital Content Manager
Travelers Aid International
4:00 pm
Snack Break
Door Prizes — Must Be Present to Win!
4:15 pm
Conference Adjournment
See You Next Year!
*Subject to change
With Special Thanks to Our Sponsors
