Healthy County Boot Camp

Welcome and Opening Keynote General Session: Amazed & Amused: Success, Significance and Happiness Even in Challenging Times
Speaker: Ms. Karyn Buxman, Neurohumorist, TEDx Speaker

Success is not measured only in dollars and cents, but also in the moments that you live amazed and amused. Customers aren’t really “yours” until they have been amazed and/or amused by your products, services, or people. Leadership finds its inspiration not in duty, but in grasping the amazing power of one’s vision and will, and in motivating the amusing diversity of many people’s personalities and skills. Neurohumorist and TED x speaker Karyn Buxman will take you on a life-changing journey of humor and hope. [Book: Amazed & Amused]

In this session, attendees will:

• Learn how the philosophy of living Amazed and Amused can help you experience significance and happiness
• Identify three strategies you can implement immediately to change your circumstances for the better
• Identify resources you can tap into now – no matter your level of talent or wealth

Territory Breakouts
Need to Know: Coordinator Orientation
Speakers: Ms. Stacey Bruington, Wellness Consultant, Texas Association of Counties (TAC)
Ms. Ashley Cureton, Wellness Consultant, TAC
Ms. Shameria Davis, Wellness Consultant, TAC
Ms. Biral Patel, Wellness Consultant, TAC
Mr. Mark Zollitsch, Wellness Consultant, TAC

During this session, wellness coordinators and sponsors will learn their roles and responsibilities, share ideas, and interact with fellow coordinators in their territory, and discuss the wellness consulting services available to TAC Healthy County members.

Attendees will:

• Learn about the role and responsibility of a Healthy County Wellness Coordinator
• Learn about the 2022 Healthy County program
• Identify the new programs, services, and benefits provided by TAC HEBP

Breakouts
(A Taste of) Smoothie Power: A Simple, Delicious Routine To Change Your Life and Protect Your Health
Speaker: Mr. Mark Zollitsch, Wellness Consultant, TAC

Have you ever wondered how you can protect yourself against cancer, COVID-19, heart disease, diabetes, and many inflammatory diseases, especially if you dislike vegetables? It turns out substances in fruits and vegetables, called phytochemicals, have an extremely protective effect against these diseases. Unfortunately, the average Texan gets far fewer servings of fruits and vegetables than is recommended. This puts many of us at a serious disadvantage. Come discover in this session an easy way to flip that into an advantage, even if you or a loved one hates vegetables!

In this session, participants will learn:

• How valuable fruit and vegetables are on our health journey
• What phytochemicals are, and how they fight many diseases
• An easy way to dramatically increase fruit and vegetable intake, even if you don’t like vegetables, using a Power Smoothie Matrix with ingredients you have on hand
• How to make four delicious smoothies that dramatically boost your phytochemical intake, including a sample of each smoothie

Coping in a Disconnected Era
Speaker: Ms. Shameria Davis, Wellness Consultant, TAC

During this session, participants will learn:

What we need to cope with:

• Depression
• Substance Abuse
• Virtual Overload
• Loss

How do we cope?

• Disconnect from Virtual Norms
• Neuroplasticity
• Meditation
• Nature – Gardening

Are you ready to dig deep, engage your thoughts and have fun?

Roundtable Discussion: Improve What (You Think) Is Broken
Speakers: Ms. Stacey Bruington. Wellness Consultant, TAC
Ms. Ashley Cureton, Wellness Consultant, TAC

During this session, attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the current level of participation in the wellness program and other initiatives in their county or district and discover opportunities for growth across the engagement continuum, improving communication between employees and leadership, and creating a positive culture of health and wellness.

Uprooted: Adapting to Major Life Changes
Speaker: Ms. Biral Patel, Wellness Consultant, TAC

Major life changes happen to us all. Change can be expected or unexpected, welcome or unwelcome. Whether it’s a new job, job loss, marriage, breakup, new baby or cross-country move, a big change comes with various emotions and experiences. However, it is possible to cope with change in healthy ways to maintain our mental and physical wellbeing.

In this session, attendees will learn how to:

• Acknowledge major life changes
• Process emotions
• Cope and make the most of the change

Unleash Your Most Powerful, Non-Medical Defense Against SARS-CoV-2 and Future Pandemics
Speakers: Ms. Carrye Chen, Wellness Program Administrator, TAC
Mr. Mark Zollitsch, Wellness Consultant, TAC

Have you ever wondered what you could do to protect yourself from COVID-19 and other viruses in a non-medical way? SARS-CoV-2 continues to threaten our health and our future as it evolves from pandemic to endemic, even with vaccines. Who knows what else may occur in the future? What if we focused more on how to use nutrition, rest, and other lifestyle habits to reduce our risk factors and optimize the best non-medical weapon we have, our own immune system?

Participants will be able to:

• Understand how viruses interact with our body and immune system
• Identify the highest risks associated with poor COVID-19 outcomes
• Identify at least two behaviors to lower COVID-19 risk factors
• Learn at least three ways to enhance and improve their immune response to SARS‑Cov‑2 and other viruses

I’ve Got One Nerve Left… and You’re Standing on It: High Performance Humor for the Tired, Frustrated & Stressed Out
Speaker: Ms. Karyn Buxman, Neurohumorist, TEDx Speaker

Expanding responsibilities, shrinking budgets, disengaged employees, too much to do and not enough time to do it! Is it any wonder that we’re all a little edgy? Find out how taking care of yourself can affect your sanity, your success and everyone’s bottom line. Learn how to get through the toughest of days and remain smiling. Discover how to survive and thrive in a world of change.

In this session, attendees will:

• Learn how to lower your emotional stress and build your psychological bandwidth through strategic humor
• Identify how to harness humor and your brain to boost physical resilience
• Identify how to add humor to your life without adding more stress to your life (even if you’re humor impaired)

Breakouts
(A Taste of) Smoothie Power: A Simple, Delicious Routine To Change Your Life and Protect Your Health
Speaker: Mr. Mark Zollitsch, Wellness Consultant, TAC

Have you ever wondered how you can protect yourself against cancer, COVID-19, heart disease, diabetes, and many inflammatory diseases, especially if you dislike vegetables? It turns out substances in fruits and vegetables, called phytochemicals, have an extremely protective effect against these diseases. Unfortunately, the average Texan gets far fewer servings of fruits and vegetables than is recommended. This puts many of us at a serious disadvantage. Come discover an easy way to flip that into an advantage in this session, even if you or a loved one hates vegetables!
In this session, participants will learn:

• How valuable fruit and vegetables are in our health journey
• What phytochemicals are, and how they fight many diseases
• An easy way to dramatically increase fruit and vegetable intake, even if you don’t like vegetables, using a Power Smoothie Matrix with ingredients you have on hand
• How to make four delicious smoothies that dramatically boost your phytochemical intake, including a sample of each smoothie

Coping in a Disconnected Era
Speaker: Ms. Shameria Davis, Wellness Consultant, TAC

During this session, participants will learn:

What we need to cope with:

• Depression
• Substance Abuse
• Virtual Overload
• Loss

How do we cope?

• Disconnect from Virtual Norms
• Neuroplasticity
• Meditation
• Nature – Gardening

Are you ready to dig deep, engage your thoughts and have fun?

Roundtable Discussion: Improve What (You Think) Is Broken
Speakers: Ms. Stacey Bruington, Wellness Consultant, TAC
Ms. Ashley Cureton, Wellness Consultant, TAC

During this session, attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the current level of participation in the wellness program and other initiatives in their county or district, and discover opportunities for growth across the engagement continuum, improving communication between employees and leadership, and creating a positive culture of health and wellness.

Uprooted: Adapting to Major Life Changes
Speaker: Ms. Biral Patel, Wellness Consultant, TAC

Major life changes happen to us all. Change can be expected or unexpected, welcome or unwelcome. Whether it’s a new job, job loss, marriage, breakup, new baby or cross-country move, a big change comes with various emotions and experiences. However, it is possible to cope with change in healthy ways in order to maintain our mental and physical wellbeing.

In this session, attendees will learn how to:

• Acknowledge major life changes
• Process emotions
• Cope and make the most of the change

General Session: Conquer Your Stress: Go From Worrier to Warrior
Speaker: Ms. Kathy Gruver, PhD, LMT, CHt

It’s estimated that stress is responsible for 60 – 90% of doctors’ visits and one million workers miss work each day because of stress, costing companies $602 per employee per year, according to the American Institute of Stress. It is imperative we recognize that stress is not the problem – it’s our reaction to our stress, and we can learn to control it. Acquire cutting edge self-care techniques – affirmations, visualizations, breathwork, mindfulness and mini meditations – that you and county and district officials and employees can do for better health. Master a mini meditation that anyone can do anytime. Learn how we can use visualization to improve our leadership and work performance outcomes. Additionally, you’ll explore how our words and thoughts can make a difference in our daily lives. Also covered will be how we can incorporate all of our senses in daily mindfulness to decrease the stress response and gain control over our reactions, bringing us to greater peace and productivity.

Attendees will walk away with an increased sense of control over stress, and practical tools that can be immediately used in their everyday lives.

• Recognize the emotional, physical and behavioral signs of stress
• Examine current research on mediation, positive self-talk, and visualization and how it can be incorporated into your workday
• Learn a simple technique, known as a mini meditation, to stop the stress response in its tracks
• Understand how you can use your daydreams to boost immune function and increase relaxation
• Discover how to incorporate mindfulness into your day even when you think you don’t have time

Closing Keynote Session: Advanced Presentation Skills – Speaking to Listeners with Limited Time
Speaker: Ms. Reesa Woolf, PhD, TED Talk Trainer, CEO Confident Speaking

In this entertaining and interactive experience with practical use-it-tomorrow techniques for holding attention, Dr. Woolf will share the valuable ideas given to TED Talk speakers in a fun way. These same skills can be used back in the office to motivate direct reports, speak confidently in large meetings with employees or citizen to present to Commissioners Court and for special occasions.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Use the latest Speech-Delivery Techniques to inspire county employees about Healthy County benefits
• Tailor talks to large and small groups, both virtually and in-person
• Increase attendance – learn what is currently appealing in press releases
• Make the biggest impact – with the fewest words – in Commissioners Court, in press conferences on courthouse steps, on social media and in other time-restricted talk
• Techniques for lowering stress when presenting in-person or recording.
• What to include and what to leave out of election speeches.