About Us

2025 Southern Region Middle Managers Conference Agenda

5 min read
Huntsville, Alabama. April 2, 2018. Saturn 5 Rocket at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration.

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Tuesday, April 8

  • Noon–8:00 p.m.
    • Registration
  • 5:00–6:00 p.m.
    • Newcomer’s Orientation
  • 6:00–8:00 p.m.
    • Welcome Reception

Wednesday, April 9

  • 7:00 a.m.
    • Registration
  • 7:00 a.m.
    • Breakfast
  • 7:15 a.m.
    • Load Busses for Tours A & B
  • 8:45 a.m.
    • Load Bus for Tour C
  • 6:00 p.m.
    • Dinner on Your Own
Tour A: The Shoals Tour

Tour A: The Shoals Tour

People must register by March 9. The TVA requires a driver’s license to tour the facilities. Once the tours are assigned, those selected for this tour will be contacted and asked to provide their driver’s license information. This tour also has the following clothing requirements: closed-toe shoes, pants, and sleeved tops.

Before You Go

Watch Muscle Shoals. This documentary explores FAME Recording Studios, one of the more than 40 recording studios in the Shoals area during the ‘60s and ‘70s. The Shoals—a marketing term for Florence, Sheffield, Muscle Shoals, and Tuscumbia (Lauderdale and Colbert Counties)—is a key region in music history. It is available on Amazon Prime and other streaming services.

  • 7:15–7:30 a.m.—Load Buses at The Westin
  • 7:30–9:00 a.m.—Travel
  • 9:00–10:15 a.m.—Explore Ivy Green
    • Ivy Green is the birthplace and childhood home of Helen Keller in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Visit the well pump where Keller first communicated with her teacher, Anne Sullivan. The home is a National Historic Landmark and museum honoring Keller’s life and achievements.
  • 10:15–10:30 a.m.—Travel
  • 10:30–11:30 a.m.—Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
    • This iconic studio in Sheffield, Alabama is known for its influence in music. Hear about its history with artisits like the Rolling Stones, Bob Sege, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and modern stars like Lana Del Rey and Alicia Keys.
  • 11:40 a.m.–12:50 p.m.—Lunch
  • 12:50–1:00 p.m.—Travel
  • 1:00–2:00 p.m.—Rosenbaum House
    • Rosenbaum House in Florence, Alabama was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1940. Discover Wright’s Usonian design, emphasizing natural materials and open spaces. The house, now a museum, was restored by the City of Florence in 1999.
  • 2:00–2:15 p.m.—Travel
  • 2:15–3:15 p.m.—Wilson Dam
    • Wilson Dam is a hydroelectric facility in Florence, Alabama. Located on the Tennessee River, this neoclassical-style dam was completed in 1924 and is the highest single-lift lock east of the Rocky Mountains.
  • 3:15–5:00 p.m.—Travel and Return to The Westin
Tour B: Rocket City Tour

Tour B: Rocket City Tour

United Launch Alliance requires an ID and has the following clothing requirements: closed-toe shoes, pants, and sleeved tops.

Before You Go

Research a few key areas to enhance your experience. For United Launch Alliance, look into their history and notable rockets like the Atlas V and Delta IV. For the Huntsville Botanical Garden, research its major attractions and any special tours. For the US Space and Rocket Center, review significant space exploration milestones and major exhibits, such as the Saturn V rocket.

  • 8:45–9:00 a.m.—Load Buses at The Westin
  • 9:00–9:45 a.m.—Travel
  • 10:00–11:30 a.m.—United Launch Alliance
    • Located in Decatur, Alabama, United Launch Alliance is a prominent provider of spacecraft launch services. At this facility, you will have the opportunity to see firsthand the technology and processes involved in building and launching rockets. The tour will offer insights into the alliance’s contributions to space exploration and role in deploying satellites and spacecrafts.
  • 11:30 a.m.–Noon—Travel
  • Noon–2:45 p.m.—Huntsville Botanical Garden (Lunch and Tour)
    • The Huntsville Botanical Garden is a serene and picturesque destination, featuring a diverse collection of gardens, including a butterfly house, seasonal exhibits, and themed gardens. During your visit, you will enjoy a guided tour that highlights the garden’s most impressive features and horticultural practices. Lunch is available, offering a chance to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the surroundings.
  • 2:45–3:00 p.m.—Travel
  • 3:00–4:45 p.m.—US Space & Rocket Center
    • The US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama is an educational complex dedicated to the history of space exploration. It features a vast array of exhibits, including rockets, spacecrafts, and astronaut memorabilia. The center also provides an interactive experience with simulators, educational presentations, and displays that celebrate the achievements of NASA and the space program.
  • 4:45–5:00 p.m.—Travel and Return to The Westin
Tour C: Alabama Extension Tour

Tour C: Alabama Extension Tour

Before You Go

Pack comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes suitable for outdoor activities. The People’s Patch Garden focuses on sustainable farming practices, so prepare to be in the soil learning about organic gardening. At the Graham Farm and Nature Center, you will explore the great outdoors through walking trails, farm animal visits, and more. The Blount County Multipurpose Complex offers a variety of recreational and event spaces, so be prepared to be on the move at this stop.

  • 7:15–7:45 a.m.—Load Buses at The Westin
  • 7:45–8:00 a.m.—Travel
  • 8:00–9:00 a.m.—The People’s Patch
    • The People’s Patch at Alabama A&M University serves as a community garden and educational space where students and visitors can engage in sustainable farming practices. The garden focuses on growing fresh produce and promoting healthy eating while educating the public on urban agriculture. It is a great place to learn about organic farming, crop rotation, and the local food system.
  • 9:00–10:00 a.m.—Travel
  • 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.—Graham Farm & Nature Center (Tour and Lunch)
    • The Graham Farm and Nature Center offers a unique opportunity to experience rural agriculture and environmental conservation. Located in a picturesque setting, the center provides a range of activities focused on preserving local wildlife habitats, sustainable farming, and the natural beauty of the area. Visitors can explore walking trails, visit farm animals, and learn about conservation efforts.
  • 12:30–2:00 p.m.—Travel
  • 2:00–3:30 p.m.—Blount County Multipurpose Complex
    • The Blount County Multipurpose Complex is a community hub that offers a variety of recreational and cultural activities. This stop will showcase the complex’s facilities, which include sports fields, a conference center, and event spaces.
  • 3:30–5:00 p.m.—Travel and Return to The Westin

Thursday, April 10

Our Keynote Speaker

Meet Kristin Scroggin

Kristin Scroggin is a huge fan of generational diversity, armed with a master’s degree in communication studies from the University of Alabama and a bachelor’s degree in decoding Gen Z slang and millennial emojis from the University of Montevallo. Scroggin embarked on her research endeavors during her almost twenty-year tenure as a professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville before starting her company, genWHY Communications, in 2017.

Scroggin has a passion for decoding the generational enigma and is known for her straight-talk speaking style and wicked twist of humor. She has been on stages in forty-two states, left her mark in three countries, and sprinkled her wisdom across more than 160 conferences for 350+ diverse organizations. From Fortune 500 giants to pint-sized nonprofits, Scroggin has been there, done that, and left an indelible impression.

Being published in magazines, appearing on multiple podcasts, and being the workhorse behind groundbreaking research, Kristin is not just about speaking. She is about making waves in the world of succession planning and leadership program development. Need someone to referee the battle of boomers and millennials on your teams? Look no further. Scroggin consults on attracting, developing, and retaining the brightest minds.

But wait. There is more! Fueled by an unrelenting wanderlust, Scroggin and her partner-in-travel (husband) are on a quest to explore every nook and cranny of the globe. Amidst their jet-setting adventures, they somehow manage to keep their sanity while raising four humans, who never stop eating.

To learn more and get resources, visit www.genwhy.com.

Friday, April 11