Aims Community College will welcome three nationally recognized thought leaders to Greeley this fall for a dynamic, one-day event designed to spark ideas, inspire growth and strengthen leadership across the community.
At 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, the Spotlight Speaker Series returns in a new, high-impact format at the Welcome Center, 4901 W. 20th St. This year’s event features change expert Cassandra Worthy, acclaimed researcher on introversion and leadership Susan Cain and leadership strategist Dan Heath. Together, they will share powerful insights on navigating change, leading effectively and unlocking personal and organizational potential.
Designed for professionals, educators, nonprofit leaders and community members, this event offers a chance to connect and grow together, fostering a stronger local community.
“The Spotlight Speaker series is about creating space for meaningful ideas and conversations that people can carry back into their work and lives,” says Dr. Leah L. Bornstein, Aims Community College CEO and president. “Our next event brings together three distinct but complementary perspectives on how we lead, adapt and thrive.”
The day of professional and personal development begins at 8 a.m. with networking, followed by keynote presentations and conversations, concluding at 3:30 p.m. Highlights include:
A keynote, “Master the Chemistry of Change: Emotional Alchemy Through Change Enthusiasm” from Cassandra Worthy. She is a disruptive thought leader on the kind of change companies need to build organizational resilience and adaptability. She says only 10 percent of successful change adoption is about know-how, while the other 90 percent is centered on the motivation and willingness to embrace change.
A fireside chat with Susan Cain on “Quiet Leadership: How to Harness the Strengths of Introverts to Change How We Work, Lead, Learn, and Innovate.” Cain is the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” and “Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole,” an Oprah Book Club selection. For the past 20 years, she has explored a distinct realm of human nature: the quiet, the sensitive, the thoughtful and the bittersweet.
Dan Heath will present a talk titled “Reset: How to Change What’s Not Working.” Heath is the number-one New York Times bestselling author or co-author of six business books: “Switch,” “Made to Stick,” “Decisive,” “The Power of Moments,” “Upstream” and his latest, “Reset,” which debuted in January 2025. His books have been translated into 35 languages and have sold more than four million copies worldwide.
Building community conversations
This event gives the entire community a chance to learn and grow. Zac McFarlane, vice president of marketing and communications at Aims, led the team that developed this series. He believes that offering this type of presentation to the community is core to Aims’ mission of access and education.
“We’re a learning college and this is a whole other type of learning that you can do,” he says. “You don’t have to be in a traditional classroom. You can come right here and learn from people who have done pretty big things in the world.”
One of McFarlane’s favorite things about the first series is the dialogue it inspired.
“Those conversations after each speaker were just really rich,” he says, “really spurring a lot of reflection and change.”
Bornstein also received positive comments regarding the first four Spotlight Speaker Series events.
“People were buying tickets for their families, their friends and even their colleagues. I’m constantly getting feedback on how fabulous it is to have this in Northern Colorado and not have to drive to Denver,” he says.
Moderating the speaker series is Lisa Taylor, senior program officer for workforce development at the Weld Trust. Taylor leads Q&A sessions to delve deeper into the topics and foster further discussion.
The Sept. 16 Spotlight Speaker event is part of the broader 2026-27 series. Aims will announce details regarding the rest of the season soon. This includes a special evening presentation with Tim Tebow at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 30, 2027. Tickets for that event go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1.
Secure your seat for Sept. 16
Tickets are $50 plus tax and fees and are available starting at 10 a.m. Friday, May 1. Attendees will enjoy a complimentary lunch and have time to network with other Northern Colorado professionals. For more information and to buy tickets, visit spotlightspeakerseries.com.
