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2026 RYT Summit
Adapt Through Change. Lead with Confidence. Thrive at RYT Summit.
Join us at the RYT Summit, where professionals come together to connect, learn, and grow through change. This premier professional development conference features a dynamic keynote, leadership panel, and workshops designed to equip attendees with actionable strategies for resilient leadership, career growth, and thriving in an evolving workplace.
AGENDA
Additional contributors to be announced. Agenda subject to change.
Keynote Speaker:
Krista Ryan is a certified executive coach, speaker, and Workplace Performance expert on a mission to help leaders thrive through chaos and change. As CEO of KfG Coaching , she works with everyone from startup founders to elite athletes. A former HR Director and third-generation bank leader, she brings nearly 20 years of hands-on leadership experience. Krista is the author of The Keep F!#ING Going*?a bold, practical guide for leading with clarity and confidence.
This keynote introduces Krista?s transformative KFG Method ? an empowering formula developed in the wake of personal and professional upheaval. Originally created as a response to personal tragedy (involvement in the Las Vegas mass shooting in 2017 and also a recent Stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis as of May 2024) this method has evolved into a powerful approach for leading with purpose, perseverance, and resilience through challenging times. Teams will learn how to build unity and collaboration by focusing on shared goals, mutual accountability, and forward momentum.
Rated PG for candid and authentic conversations, The KFG Method (Keep F*!#ing Going) equips participants with a tangible action plan for navigating unexpected changes with confidence, ultimately creating stronger team bonds and a deeper sense of purpose.
Krista Ryan has worked with teams at Amazon, Johnson & Johnson, Yelp, The New York Times, McDonald?s, and Uber Freight, earning a reputation as a dynamic keynote who sparks clarity and action.
Workshop: Elevate Your Skills
Dive into an engaging and informative workshop with several topics to pick and choose from. Our workshops are led by industry experts offering insight, advice, and training to impact your skills, both in business and in life.
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Adapt & Deliver: Navigating the New Era of Local Media & Team Innovation
As local journalism faces a historic inflection point marked by cord-cutting, shifting audience behaviors, and rapid technological advancements KTTC-TV is redefining how local media serves its community. In this interactive session, Stephanie Hedrick and Zach Fuller will share how KTTC is actively adapting to meet evolving viewer, digital, and mobile demands. The presenters will share how KTTC is restructuring its newsroom into a content-centric, audience-first operation, optimizing how stories are produced and distributed across platforms. They will also talk through the challenges they face and what leadership lessons they have learned along the way. Crucially, they will highlight the "human element" of this evolution: how a team representing diverse professional and personal backgrounds is collaborating to embrace modern workflows, train on new multi-platform delivery, and build resilient, forward-looking careers.
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The Third Place: Where the Next Chapter Starts
Every reinvention starts somewhere that isn't home and isn't work. Axe Ahmed has rebuilt his career more than once cancer patient, consultant, healthcare analytics, financial services, ed-tech, founder, and a run for mayor and every turn traces back to a third space: a gym, a coffee table, a room he didn't have to be in. This workshop is a practical session on finding the rooms that change your path how to pick them, how to show up before you need anything, and how to help the community inside them thrive.
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Improv for the Professional: How Yes, And Can Change Your Work and Your Life
Communication can have its challenges, no matter the stakes of the moment. Learn how the most basic rules of improv can become a pillar of your active listening ability, leading to clearer communication, more positive collaboration within your teams, and stronger working relationships. Join Managing Director of Rochester Civic Theatre, Jaclyn Johnson, as she guides participants to exercises to learn the foundation of improvisation, and discuss how to apply to everyday life - professionally and personally.
Panel Discussion: Thriving Through Career and Industry Transformation
Change isn't just inevitable it's becoming the defining feature of modern work. This conversation brings together leaders who have reinvented themselves, shifted industries, and embraced the unknown. Together, they will unpack the emotional and strategic sides of transition: how to let go of an old professional identity, how to recognize the right moment to pivot, and how to stay grounded when industries evolve faster than job titles. Attendees will leave with renewed confidence, actionable insights, and a deeper understanding of how to shape a career that grows with them.
- Dawn Griffin, Administrator Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic NEW!
- Lindsey Hemker, Chief Development Officer, University of Minnesota Rochester
- Sarah Pacchetti, Owner, Bloom Acai Cafe
- Sam Slightam, CEO, Jimmy?s Dressings and Dips
- Jeremiah Van De Steeg, Assistant General Manager, Mayo Civic Center
Summit Social
Take a break between the workshops and keynote to connect with fellow attendees, exchange ideas, and enjoy some time to network. Grab a bite, refreshment, and popcorn while you meet new people and recharge before coming back together for the keynote.
WHO IS THIS EVENT FOR?
- Professionals at any stage in their career
- Those who are seeking to enhance their skills and gain valuable insights
- Anyone looking to expand their network and connect with other area professionals
By attending a Chamber event, you consent to the Chamber Event Policy.
Event Sponsors
GOLD SPONSOR
RECEPTION SPONSOR
HOST SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSOR
Date and Time
Tuesday Oct 6, 2026
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM CDT
The date, time, location, and agenda of this event noted is subject to change. All attendees will be made aware if anything changes.
Location
Rochester Civic Theatre
30 Civic Center Dr SE,
Suite 100
Rochester, MN 55904
Fees/Admission
Chamber Member Admission: $50
(If are you unsure if your business is a Chamber member, you can search our online directory or call 507-288-1122)
General Admission: $60
Table: $350 for a reserved tale of 8 plus company name in promotion of the event
The RYT Summit is open to the general public
Registration is required by Friday, September 25
Contact Information
Claire Henneman
Send Email
Printed courtesy of www.rochestermnchamber.com/ – Contact the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce for more information.
220 South Broadway Ste 100, Rochester, MN 55904 – (507) 288-1122 – chamber@rochestermnchamber.com