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SWFLN Staff Day - True North: Libraries Leading with Intention In-Person

SWFLN Staff Day is a full-day event dedicated to honoring the outstanding work of library staff across Southwest Florida. It’s a chance to connect, recharge, and celebrate the creativity and collaboration that drive our libraries and profession forward.

The day will include a morning coffee and networking session, keynote speaker, the annual SWFLN Awards, and presentations by guest speakers. A light lunch and refreshments will be provided throughout the day.

Time	Activity
8:30	Registration/Networking
9:00	Keynote - Steve Hughes
10:00	Morning Break
10:15	Guest Speaker - Anne Ryan - LinkedIn 101: Create a Profile That Shows off Your Superpowers
11:30	Guest Speaker - Laura Cifelli, Lee County Library System - Closed Doors, Open Lessons: What Branch Closures Revealed About Our Staff and Services
12:00	Attendees will enjoy a light lunch and networking opportunities during this extended lunch. Additionally, Amy-Jane McWilliam, Executive Director of SWFLN, will present a brief overview of SWFLN's accomplishments, financial status, board updates and plans for the year ahead.
1: 30	Breakout Session Ballroom: Steve Hughes - How to Lead When You're Not in Charge Cohen 201: Anne Ryan - LinkedIn 201: Build Your Brand and Community
2:30	Afternoon Break
2:45	SWFLN Award Presentation - Honoring outstanding achievements in innovation, leadership, community engagement, and excellence across Southwest Florida libraries.

Date:: Thursday, August 7, 2025
Time:: 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Time Zone:: Eastern Time - US & Canada (change)
Location:: FGCU Cohen Student Union, 11090 Fgcu Blvd N, Fort Myers, FL 33965
Library Type:: Academic Libraries Public Libraries School Libraries Special Libraries
Categories:: Leadership and Management

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Provide the name of the Florida county that your library is based in (for state reporting). If not if Florida, type "N/A".. *

We offer vegetarian and gluten-free lunch options but cannot guarantee all dietary requests. Please select your preference *

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About the speakers:

Steve Hughes, CSP, is the president of Hit Your Stride, LLC, an international communications consultancy. As a sought-after speaker, consultant, and author, Steve helps professionals across industries communicate more effectively and confidently. His engaging sessions have energized audiences at Fortune 500 companies, top law firms, major universities, and national associations.

Before launching Hit Your Stride in 2005, Steve spent 14 years in advertising, including as a partner at a 50-person agency. He is the author of Captivate: Presentations That Engage and Inspire and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Businessweek, BBC World News, NPR, and CBS.

Steve created “International Face Your Fears Day” and holds a BA from the University of Kansas and an MBA from Washington University’s Olin School of Business. His clients include Microsoft, FedEx, Disney, Pfizer, UCLA, SHRM, and Skadden.

Anne Ryan is on a mission to make career growth exciting, strategic, and—dare we say—fun! A dynamic career coach, speaker, and workshop leader, she’s helped thousands of job seekers uncover their unique strengths and land roles they once thought impossible.

Known for her high-energy, interactive sessions, Anne speaks on branding, resumes, LinkedIn, and interviewing at conferences, colleges, and organizations across the U.S., Europe, and Australia. Before launching her own business, she spent 20 years in tech at Palantir Technologies and IBM.

Anne holds a B.S. in Computer & Systems Engineering and Computer Science from RPI and a Master’s in Engineering Management from Duke. Whether coaching one-on-one or leading electrifying workshops, she transforms job searching from daunting to doable—helping people not just find jobs, but find their purpose.

Laura Cifelli is the Manager of Public Services for the Lee County Library System, where she has served for 24 years. Before stepping into her current role, she led the Telephone and Virtual Reference Services Department. In addition to her administrative responsibilities, Laura teaches reference classes to staff, facilitates a monthly book discussion group, and contributes fiction reviews to Library Journal.

She holds degrees from Mount Holyoke College, the Philadelphia Institute for Paralegal Training, Hahnemann University School of Nursing, and the University of South Florida School of Library and Information Science.

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Sign language interpretation will be provided at any SWFLN event upon request. Please notify SWFLN at least five business days prior to the event. Call 239-313-6338 or email the program organizer.

Grant Acknowledgement

This project was funded under the provisions of either the Library Services and Technology Act from the Institute of Museum and Library Services or the Library Cooperative Grant program. Florida’s LSTA and LCG programs are administered by the Department of State’s Division of Library and Information Services.

For FY2024-2025, the total state and federal budgets for SWFLN’s programs are $623,959, of which 36% ($223,959) are supported by federal funds, and 64% ($400,000) are supported by state funds.