Our leadership team recently returned from the ANCOR Connect ’25 Oceans of Opportunity conference in San Diego, and the impact of what they learned is already shaping our approach to the year ahead. While each team member had different takeaways, there was a shared theme: how innovative thinking, collaboration, and personal empowerment can drive meaningful changes in both our organization and the services we provide. Below, our leaders share highlights from the sessions they attended, tying them back to our strategic goals for the year.

Prioritizing Well-Being and Empowerment

One of the most impactful sessions for Sonja, our Director of Finance, explored how organizations can better support staff during personal crises—an especially important topic in the emotionally demanding field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). The session, Employer Resource Networks: Prioritizing Well-Being in Challenging Times, highlighted how tailored support for employees, especially when connected to community partnerships, can improve retention. This aligns closely with our goal to foster a resilient and engaged organizational culture, demonstrating that prioritizing employee well-being creates greater stability and engagement across the organization. As Sonja noted, this approach is something we want to build on, ensuring that employees feel supported both personally and professionally.

Another session that deeply resonated was My Life, Your Job: Empowering Voices in Decision-Making, presented by Michelle Davidson and Amanda Faulkner from Frontier Community Services. It emphasized the importance of including the individuals we support in decisions that affect their lives—a core aspect of our strategic goal to foster inclusion. The focus on participatory leadership reminded us of the transformative impact of empowering people with intellectual disabilities to have their voices heard in all areas of life, including within our organization. A phrase from the session that particularly stayed with Sonja captures this spirit perfectly: “Nothing about me without me.”

Harnessing Technology for Individual-Centered and Organizational Growth

Melissa, our Director of Operational Support, focused on sessions in the Technology & Innovation track, each offering new ideas for how we can evolve both our services and our systems. These sessions spoke directly to our strategic goal of utilizing technology to expand community reach, improve operations, and elevate outcomes that reflect what matters most to each individual.

In Achieving Outcomes through Enabling Technology, presenters from Keystone Human Services shared how they’ve embedded assistive technology into the very beginning of a person’s support journey—not as an add-on, but as a foundational tool. Their approach emphasized that when technology is integrated early and intentionally, it can play a powerful role in promoting independence and supporting truly person-centered outcomes. For Melissa, this raised important questions about how we can better evaluate and introduce technology in our own programs—from discovery to implementation—to enhance the experience and autonomy of the people we support while improving staff workflows.

Support Me, But Don’t Touch: Innovations in Non-Contact Remote Supports showcased emerging tools that are redefining how support can look and feel. From radar-based fall detection to passive monitoring systems, these technologies offer safety and health oversight while minimizing physical intrusiveness—creating a more respectful, less invasive experience. This session aligned closely with our goal to find progressive solutions that meet shifting workforce and support needs. As staffing landscapes change and expectations around privacy and dignity evolve, these kinds of non-contact technologies give us the flexibility to respond in new and thoughtful ways.

In Leveraging AI & Data Visualizations to Improve Supports, presenters demonstrated how artificial intelligence and advanced data dashboards are being used to detect patterns, surface insights, and enhance decision-making. From identifying early signs of changes in behavior to optimizing resource allocation, this session pointed to exciting possibilities for improving both individual outcomes and organizational efficiency. For Melissa, it reinforced the idea that with the right systems and questions in place, technology can help us be more responsive, more precise, and more aligned with each person’s unique goals.

Each of these sessions served as a reminder that technology is not just about gadgets—it is a strategic lever that can help us grow, adapt, and deepen our commitment to thoughtful, individualized support.

Learning from Broader Perspectives to Build a Stronger Workforce

Tony, our Director of Services, was especially moved by the session Cross-Cultural Learning in Rwanda: Powerful Personal & Professional Lessons. This session resonated deeply with him both personally and professionally. Sharing a similar cultural background with many of our staff, Tony connected strongly with the presenters’ reflections on how immersing themselves in Rwandan communities transformed their approach to leadership and support. The session highlighted the importance of understanding and respecting employees—especially those from immigrant backgrounds—through a lens of cultural awareness.

For Tony, the most important takeaway was the reminder that supporting the individuals we work alongside is closely connected to how we support the people providing that support. Our organization takes pride in its diverse workforce, which includes many immigrant employees. This session encouraged us to be more intentional about making every staff member feel seen, valued, and respected—not only culturally but also emotionally and professionally. This commitment aligns directly with our strategic goals of fostering a resilient and engaged organizational culture and responding with progressive solutions to the challenges of a rapidly evolving workforce.

Building on this, Tony also attended Creating Employment Pathways for Newly Arrived Immigrants, a session that offered practical strategies for not only hiring immigrant staff but also supporting their ongoing growth, development, and sense of belonging. It reinforced that when we invest in truly understanding and supporting our workforce, we strengthen the whole organization and position ourselves to better achieve our mission.

Innovation in Advocacy and Empowerment

Finally, Becky, our Chief Executive Director, was drawn to sessions that reflected both creative and clinical approaches to enhancing the lives of those we serve. One session that stood out was Innovative Self-Advocacy Training: Empowerment through Theater Arts, presented by The Cedars of Marin. This session showcased how clients use theater to explore and express self-advocacy, offering a powerful example of how creative programming can spark deeper personal growth and empowerment.

This approach connects closely with our strategic goal to foster a resilient and engaged culture by emphasizing the importance of voice, agency, and self-expression in building confidence and connection. Hearing how individuals felt supported in telling their own stories—on their own terms—can transform their sense of self was both inspiring and a potential model for expanding our own programs, like Stage & Screen.

Becky was also impacted by the clinically focused session, Managing Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome in Individuals with I/DD. This presentation detailed the complexities of diagnosing and managing this rare epilepsy through a personalized treatment journey. It reinforced our dedication to responding with progressive solutions by highlighting the need for individualized, evidence-based care that adapts as new information emerges. The session served as a strong reminder that quality services depend on ongoing curiosity, collaboration, and tailored approaches to meet each person’s unique needs.

Closing Thoughts

Each of the sessions our team attended at the ANCOR conference provided new insights and strategies that are now shaping the way we think about and approach our work. From leveraging technology to empowering individuals to learning from diverse cultural perspectives, the lessons we brought back are deeply aligned with our strategic goals for the year ahead. As we continue to evolve and innovate, we remain committed to using what we’ve learned to create a stronger, more supportive environment for both the individuals we support and our incredible staff.

Take a look at a few more snapshots our Executive Team captured while representing us in San Diego!