6:00–8:00 pm • Student Center Ballroom | Did you know there’s a correct way to eat soup? Do you know how to pass items around the table? What is the difference between American and Continental styles of dining? Learn all this and more at the 2nd Annual VIP Etiquette Dinner, a perfect opportunity to learn everything you wanted to know about making a lasting impression as a dinner guest!

Debra Fine, nationally recognized keynote speaker, best-selling author, and conversation expert, joins us for an interactive dinner based on her book, The Fine Art of Small Talk. Attendees will also have an opportunity to learn formal dinner etiquette and get a chance to interact with Mines alumni.

3:30–5:00 pm • Alderson 151 | Professionalism is a sentiment we hear all the time. “Act professionally.” “That wasn’t very professional.” “Employers are looking for professionalism in the workplace.”But what does this mean? And what does it mean for you?

During this workshop we will explore what professionalism means to you, discover shared and personal values, and identify where and how you can apply your personal values in a professional setting; including emails, virtual meetings, and networking events!

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Undergraduate Intern Program Manager, Marcus Giron, will facilitate this interactive, engaging session; where you will leave with personal, applicable concepts for school, career, and maybe even your personal life!

Mar 1 | VIP is proud to host our 2nd annual VIP Professional Development Symposium on Wednesday, March 1st!

Sage B. Hobbs, host of “Race, Culture, & Beyond: A Naked Conversations Podcast Series” and author of Naked Communication, joins us to discuss “Communication for Connection.” With candor, humor, and practical wisdom, Sage Hobbs will discuss specific strategies and inspirational stories to better understand the subtleties of transformational, widely effective communication, showing you how to create meaningful connections through every conversation and make your communication an asset that sets you apart.

Kristin Swisher, Business Communications Instructor at the UC Boulder Leeds School of Business, will finish out the evening with a fun and interactive networking mixer with industry partners and Mines alumni!

Mar 8 | We often talk about leading others, and talk less often about what is required to lead yourself. Developing as leaders requires a sense of creativity, successful mindsets, and the ability to speak the truth.

Charlyn Moss, Chief of Staff at EdSolutions and Founder of Working Within, will take students through a series of activities to help release outdated narratives of who they are, visualize where they’d like to be, and understand what commitments they need from themselves and others to achieve whatever vision they see.

Mar 15 | Many of us struggle when it comes to talking about our own accomplishments. Cultural and gender modesty norms as well as impostor syndrome can prevent anyone from acknowledging their remarkable attributes and expressing their achievements.

During the 90 minute workshop, you will learn the importance of self-promotion in your personal and professional life and be equipped with tools to develop this skill. Participants will be invited to challenge the social perception around self-promotion.

Boost your confidence and learn to express your achievements. 82% of participants declared to feel more confident since attending this workshop.

Natasha Wright is the Director of Business Operations at Trust Lab, Inc., which is a startup working to make the internet safer by reducing misinformation and violent extremism. She previously worked at Google where she armed Google’s senior leaders with the tools to navigate ambiguity, and confidently lead their teams through complex challenges. She also founded Colorado’s women@Google effort which offers development opportunities, facilitates connections and builds a community of professional women who empower and inspire each other. Lastly, Natasha founded Chai for Charity, a nonprofit that makes giving more inclusive to include donors from varied socioeconomic backgrounds and generations so that we can all give in ways that honor where we are in life. Natasha earned Sociology and Urban Planning degrees from UCLA, and is raising 3 small men in Lafayette, Colorado.

Apr 11 | Join us for an intimate conversation with panelists from Ball Aerospace as they share their stories, experiences, and insights in navigating a career in STEM and what owning your professional development entails—especially as members of marginalized communities.  Our panelists come from various backgrounds including experience and education and currently serve in several capacities at Ball Aerospace!

Meet Our Panelists
	Salvador Almanza-Salinas	Salvador Almanza-Salinas (Sal) is a Manufacturing Engineer focused on product execution of electromechanical systems for satellites, instruments and other products. Sal has been an advocate for D&I his whole career at Ball, holding various leadership positions withing the Hispanic Latinx Ball network and mentoring several interns across the years.
	Caleigh Rowan	Caleigh Rowan is currently an Associate Systems and Test Engineer at Ball Aerospace in Boulder, CO where her work focuses on assembling, integrating, and testing satellites for Civil Space and National Defense programs. During her time at Ball, she has served as the Pride Network Co-lead for all of Ball Corporation and a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Council for Ball Aerospace. She previously graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a B.S. in  Aerospace Engineering. During her time there she completed 4 internships, first at Heraeus Noblelight as an Engineering Intern, second at GE Aviation as an Engineering Intern, third at Boeing as a Systems, Integration, and Flight Test Engineering Intern, and fourth at Ball Aerospace as a Systems and Test Intern and then Technical Aid.
	Zyola Mix	Zyola Mix is a Technical Specialist in the Opto-Mechanical branch of the Mechanical Solutions department at Ball Aerospace. In this role she is a member of a team designing world class optical instruments, sensors and cryogenic applications. Zyola is also a leader in Ball’s Diversity and Inclusion program as a Divisional Lead for the African Diaspora Ball Network, and Co-Lead for the Indigenous Peoples Ball Network.
	Kaitlin Engelbert	Kaitlin Engelbert is an Associate Systems Engineer working as the manager for risk & opportunity and change management on a National Defense program at Ball Aerospace. Prior to this role she worked in Ball’s Marketing & Communications Department as a STEM Outreach specialist helping connect engineers to classrooms around the country to talk about Ball’s programs, capabilities and people to the general public. She was recipient of the Go Beyond Excellence Award, one of the highest awards one can receive at Ball and a recipient of the Brooke Owens Fellowship; a program that empowers and advocates for women in aerospace. She received her B.A in Astronomy, Minored in both Education and Communications and is currently working on her M.S in Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.
	Stephen Rock (Moderator)	Stephen Rock serves as the Manager of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) at Ball Aerospace. Rock supports efforts to build and scale Ball Aerospace’s D&I strategy into every aspect of the Aerospace business and culture in partnership with Ball Corporation’s D&I team. Rock initially joined Ball Aerospace in 2016 under the Talent & Organizational Development team, helping employees advance their careers through facilitated professional development opportunities and coaching. In 2020, he transitioned to a Human Resources Business Partner where he partnered with strategic business leaders to help create a more sustainable environment for employees on all levels. In May 2022, Rock was awarded the Denver Business Journal’s 2022 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Changemaker Award, recognized for his leadership contributions and innovations to DE&I within Ball Corporation and the community.