by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, Independent Educational Consultants Association

Last night came the inevitable battle between the two world powerhouses in women’s hockey: USA vs. Canada. The two teams have dominated the sport for many years, and the impending contest at the Olympics resulted in a pressure cooker building for years leading up to the contest. One game, winner takes gold. Imagine trying to motivate the players, or more exactly, ensure that they peak on the right day at the right time without allowing the stress, pressure, and anxiety to take over.

Peter Jensen

Now you understand the role that Dr. Peter Jensen plays for the Canadians. As founder and director of Performance Coaching, Jensen is the sports psychology trainer for the Canadian women’s hockey team, and has been the sports psychologist for 40 Olympic medal winners. In recent years Jensen has taken his techniques and applied them to real life, instructing leaders in business and education, and parents, in how to “ignite” the kind of passion and commitment in others that Olympians have.

We are pleased to announce that fresh off his Olympic success, Dr. Jensen, author of Igniting the Third Factor, will serve as keynote speaker at the opening session of the IECA conference. He will focus on five actions that all of us can take to motivate students to succeed.

Early Bird registration ends today, so if you haven’t registered be sure to do so today. For more information, go to our conference page.

by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, IECA

Registration for our Spring 2010 Conference will be opening soon and details of the scores of speakers, breakouts, seminars, and more will be posted on our Web site. I do want to share a little information about one of our featured speakers. Dr. Peter Jensen is a member of the Canadian Olympic team, soon to travel to Vancouver to help the host country’s athletes. Jensen won’t be on the snow or ice, however. His role is to get into the heads of the athletes, providing them with the mental preparation needed by elite athletes to improve personal performance. Author of The Inside Edge, Jensen has been advisor to athletes for many years, including the last six Olympics Games.

Jensen will be joining us at our Toronto Conference just weeks after the 2010 Olympics. But what does such a professional offer to IECA members and school admission staff? His new book, Igniting the Third Factor gives us the answer.

In his new book, Jensen looks at the techniques parents, counselors, and educators can use to motivate students to succeed. At our conference he will offer solutions on motivation, engagement, self-reliance, and developing adolescent initiative using humor and stories based on his own experiences. The heart of his presentation will be five actions that separate igniters from extinguishers, something every parent and educator needs to know, as well as a wealth of strategies that can immediately be put into action.

by Sarah Brachman, Manager of Communications, IECA

As we head into the final two weeks before our Fall Conference in Charlotte, NC, we wanted to highlight our featured speakers.

Wednesday’s General Session Keynote speaker (1:00 p.m.) is Daniel Pink, author of several books, including “A Whole New Mind,” about the changing world of work, and the six abilities individuals and organizations must master in an outsourced, automated world. A free agent himself, Mr. Pink held his last ‘real’ job in the White House, where he served as chief speechwriter to Vice President Al Gore. He also worked as an aide to U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich, and in other positions in politics and government. (for school, college, and LD representatives, and all educational consultants)

Thursday’s Lunch Keynote speaker (12:00 p.m.) is Nido Qubein, president of High Point University. Dr. Qubein has authored numerous books on leadership, sales, communication, and achievement. The Qubein Foundation has awarded more than $3 million to over 600 students and scholarship endowments at several universities. He is also a business leader, serving as chairman of Great Harvest Bread Company and also serves on the corporate boards of BB&T bank and La-Z-Boy Corporation. (for school, college, and LD representatives, and all educational consultants)

Saturday features a Master Class (9:30 a.m.) by Jeffrey Georgi, clinical director of the Duke University Addictions Program and Intervention Program, and author of “The Adolescent Brain.” Although primarily known for his work in the field of addictions with adolescents, adults, and families, Mr. Georgi is also a national trainer. We invited Georgi back to speak at our Charlotte conference after the positive feedback from his keynote presentation and breakout session at our San Francisco conference. (for therapeutic and emotional growth schools and programs, and all educational consultants)

In addition to these top-notch speakers, the conference will include an abundance of educational and networking opportunities through pre-conference programs, breakout sessions, speed meetings, and all of the activities in Conference Central: the vendor exhibit hall, networking cyber-lounge, bookstore, and one-on-one help with your social networking presence. We look forward to seeing you there!

The IECA Fall Conference is looking GREAT! I’m so thankful for our members throughout North and South Carolina who have been working to pull this gathering together.  In previous blogs I wrote about the planned tours and pre-conference events.  Today—General Sessions:

There are four General Sessions, one each day, with the first two oriented toward school and college admissions, the Friday session a dynamic examination of federal legislation that could transform the therapeutic industry, and the final day dominated by our first-ever MASTER CLASS.

Wednesday’s guest speaker we have sought to feature for many years: Dr. Daniel Pink who will explore why creative, non-linear right-brain thinkers are poised to take charge in the future.

On Thursday one of the most fascinating speakers in the country, Dr. Nido Qubein, entrepreneur, business leader, humanitarian, author, and university president, will explore the intersection of success and significance in one’s life.

On Friday we change the pace with a point/counter-point examination of proposed federal legislation that could forever alter the work of therapeutic schools and programs. For the first time, advocates for all points of view will be heard as those organizing on all sides of the current debate takes a stage together, share their views and answer audience questions.
Saturday we introduce, by popular demand, a more advanced and deeper exploration of the adolescent brain. Led by Dr. Jeff Georgi, his short presentation last spring brought demands for his return. This three-hour session will explore this fascinating topic beyond anything we’ve done as part of a conference before.

Watch the IECA Web site where conference information will be posted in early August.

Posted by Mark Sklarow, IECA Executive Director

If we were expecting an hour-long presentation on economics today by NBC’s Jean Chatzky we got a surprise. The presentation focused on the 8 things that make a difference in determining our financial security.

While a few were expected: habitual saving and investing, MOST dealt with personal traits: happiness, optimism, resilience, passion, intuition, and gratitude. An interesting session and I intend to read her new book The Difference.

Posted by Mark Sklarow, IECA Executive Director

I just got to preview Jean Chatzky’s keynote presentation for IECA. This presentation is based on her new book, The Difference: How Anyone Can Prosper in Even the Toughest Times. The presentation is terrific. First everyone needs to understand which of four categories they are in. The Wealthy (3% of population), Financially Comfortable (27%), Paycheck-to-Paycheckers (55%) and Further-in-Debtors (15%). Once you know the patterns in each group you can learn what steps to take in eight circumstances that make a significant difference as you seek financial security. If you will be in SF Wednesday at 1:00, it is not to be missed!