Welcome
Best Buddies Leadership Conference The Best Buddies Leadership Conference (BBLC) is an annual event held each summer to inspire thousands of leaders to be Best Buddies advocates and to bring about social change in their communities. BBLC is a once in a lifetime experience that unites Best Buddies leaders, volunteers, and community advocates from around the globe.
Traditionally held as an inperson convening, the 2020 Best Buddies Leadership Conference is transitioning into an online experience. This new format opens the opportunity for global access to leadership trainings, best practice sharing, and community networking as we work to build new experiences for our global community throughout the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
BB LC
Welcome to Leadership Conference! We are grateful for you and your
katelyn quintero STATE DIRECTOR, BEST BUDDIES CALIFORNIA
dedication to inclusion!
jazzmine santos-kendrix DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS, BEST BUDDIES CALIFORNIA
chanel brisbane
sarah won
DIRECTOR OF JOBS, BEST
DIRECTOR OF STATE OPS,
BUDDIES CALIFORNIA
BEST BUDDIES CALIFORNIA
BB
Our Programs BB
Friendship
Jobs
Builds friendships between people with and w/o IDD, offering social mentoring while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion.
Secures jobs for people with IDD, allowing them to earn an income, pay taxes, and support themselves.
Leadership
Living
Educates and empowers people with and without IDD to be leaders, public speakers and advocates.
Fosters an integrated experience for people with and without IDD to live independently in a dynamic environment where they can learn, grow, and thrive.
BB
BB LC
Meet Our Community Leaders BB LC
BB
"I’m thrilled for the opportunity to be in community with leaders from across the country and around the world, which wouldn’t be possible if the Conference wasn’t virtual. I am eager to learn how we
Alia Al-Sharif CIVIC EDGE CONSULTING corporate partner
can hold each other accountable to ensure race equity is a focus for Best Buddies’ programs."
"I am interested in how we can better support and be inclusive in the workplace especially now with COVID. I am hoping to learn about
Haley Bridges BON APPETIT corporate partner
best practices and network!"
BB LC
"Doing the Right Thing, is one of our Maxim at Nike. This is one of the things I personally respect most from working at this Brand, we are relentless in tapping in to unlock potential and helping people in our organization become better human beings. Without question, having a partnership with Best Buddies to source your clients in our retail stores does exactly that,
Najjiya Coussey NIKE corporate partner
it’s the right thing to do. Everyone should belong they belong here, and it’s my mission to ensure they do. "
BB
"I am very interested in this organization and hope to learn more in the event we can partner up in the future."
Jana Fain-Rossen ZWIFT corporate partner
BB
"I'm hoping to gain new insight and ideas on how I can use my contacts and connections to make a bigger impact within my local chapter specifically with respect to the Best Buddies Jobs program. I have also been actively involved in the Champion of the Year Gala for the past two years and would also like to learn how I can contribute to the event in a meaningful and impactful way without being a candidate this year, specifically, as it relates to fundraising
Shari Kaufman GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS advisory board
and sponsorships during a potential virtual event landscape."
BB LC
"I've been involved with Best Buddies for more than a dozen years and am really passionate about our mission. I've always benefited so much from attending LC, so I'm looking forward to learning and connecting with people through our
Connor Regan GOOGLE adivosry board
new digital conference this year!"
BB LC
"This will be my first LC and I am looking forward to learning from and connecting
Allie Kerr ALPHA CROSSLINKCAPITAL friendship walk committee
with other community leaders."
"FIJI Water proudly supports Best Buddies and has been an employer partner for nearly 10 years!"
Monique Moffitt FIJI WATER corporate partner
BB LC
"I am attending the Leadership Conference as I believe inclusion should be the cornerstone of all organizations/businesses. During this conference, I hope to learn ways in how I can be an agent of change professionally and
Amy Pollock PANTHEON corporate partner
personally as well as find out how Pantheon can get more involved as a Best Buddies Partner."
BB
"I have been affiliated with Best Buddies for the last seven years. I grew volunteering with Special Olympics. I believe that all of us should have to live our lives to the fullest and that means opportunity for friendship and meaningful work. I hope to learn and
Ben Scott PARADIGM advisory board
become a better ally through the leadership conference."
"I am currently a board member of the NorCal Best Buddies chapter. As a side to my day job I also act at the relationship manager between Accenture and Best Buddies out of San Francisco and last year was able to participate in the Champion
Carly Reiner ACCENTURE advisory board
of the Year fundraising. Looking forward to getting involved in more ways in the future!"
"We want to diversify our recruitment strategy by learning more about working with adults with disabilities and also to expand our efforts in living the value of inclusion
Charlette Wilburn ACADEMY MUSEUM OF MOTION PICTURES corporate partner
in our work culture."
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"This week at LC I hope to learn how to better service the community of people with developmental disabilities."
Amy Schnepp SPMB corporate partner
BB LC
"I've been extremely fortunate. I have a great family, an amazing wife, lots of wonderful friends, and security. Simply appreciating what I have is not enough—I feel our purpose in life is to seek opportunities to extend kindness and friendship and to bring joy to others' lives. I can't think of a better opportunity than committing to Best Buddies. To be
Ken Seto friendship walk committee
totally honest, I feel I receive much more joy from Best Buddies than I bring to Best Buddies."
"I have volunteered at a summer camp for people with IDD since I was 16 and have always had a passion for this community, so I wanted to find a way to get my company
Kendra Stumbos SPMB corporate partner
involved and give back."
"I am hoping to hear more from Best Buddies Ambassadors, learn fundraising and messaging tips from the sessions and hear from our BB Leadership on how
Deborah Torres CITY OF FRESNO advisory board
we are currently serving our Buddies community."
"I’m excited to hear more about the Global efforts of BB and what more I can do to increase
Rob Shilling OUTFRONT MEDIA advisory board
awareness of this great organization."
"Everyone deserves to be treated with kindness, value, and respect, and given opportunities to live a fulfilled life."
Shail Versfelt VERSFELT DESIGNS advisory board
"I began my involvement with this incredible organization through the new Champion of the Year program. The program allowed me to get a taste for what it means to be an advocate for those with IDD as well as learn how to effectively approach fundraising. I continued my engagement by participating and leading the Ambassador Training program (live and virtually) in which I helped to educate Best Buddies participants about the components of speech writing and delivering and what it means to be an Best Buddies ambassador. I also help with conducting Mock Interviews for job participants who seek to create a stronger foundation for their conversational skills to
Lexi Ben-Meir
maximize success in future interviews. I cherish the friendships and partnerships I have formed over the past couple of years at Best Buddies and am so excited to continue working with this amazing
advisory board
organization for many years to come!"
More Community Leaders: Julie Rushing Christina Cassen Kelly McKenna Sarah Coyne Marco Dondero Shail Versfelt Max Froseth Dakota Ortiz Eduardo Sanchez Luisa Del Cid Brittany Alexis
Advisory Board Friendship Walk Committee Advisory Board Advisory Board Advisory Board Advisory Board Corporate Partner
Silicon Valley Bank
Corporate Partner
Endeavor
Corporate Partner
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Corporate Partner
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Corporate Partner
EIF
More Community Leaders: Madelyn Grassi Kwan Park Colin Eighmy Katie Corrigan Shannon Del Rio Bicki Maron Ally Ranier Stephanie Mosley April Span Lauren Libero Julia Velasquez Anthony Avery
Corporate Partner Corporate Partner Corporate Partner Corporate Partner Corporate Partner Corporate Partner Corporate Partner Corporate Partner Corporate Partner Corporate Partner Corporate Partner Corporate Partner Corporate Partner
NFL Media SPMB SPMB Chubb Insurance ICM Partners Blushington Viz.ai Crescent Capital Group Crescent Capital Group State of CA Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Therabody
2019 BBLC by the Numbers
9 136 11 20 4 Chapter Advisors
Chapter Leaders
State
Ambassadors
Staff Members
Jobs
8 188 Community
Participants Leaders
Lives changed at BBLC
2020 BBLC by the Numbers
BB LC
30 301 32 20 21 39 443 Chapter Advisors
Chapter Leaders
State
Ambassadors
Staff Members
Jobs
Community
Participants Leaders
Lives changed at BBLC
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BB FW
Upcoming Events BB FW
BB
Join us for the Champion of the Year Galas
Bay Area NOVEMBER 13,
2020
Southern California DECEMBER 4,2020
www.bestbuddieschampion.org
Will you be crowned the next California Grand Champion?
Best Buddies Friendship Walk
Thanks for a great 2020 Friendship Walk Season!
Join us in Spring, 2021 IN SAN FRANCISCO AND LONG BEACH
www.bestbuddiesfriendshipwalk.org
Thank You
FRIENDSHIP, JOBS, LEADERSHIP, & LIVING