Keynote Speaker

The Courage to Be Real: Leading with Emotional Authenticity

We live in a culture that often rewards perfection, productivity, and performance over humanity and heart. Yet the leaders and caregivers who last the longest and leave the greatest impact are those who have the courage to be real. In this keynote, Nicole Walton, forensic nurse, nonprofit founder, and speaker, shares her journey of moving from performance-driven leadership into authentic, vulnerable presence. Attendees will leave with a renewed understanding that leading authentically is not weakness, it is the most sustainable and transformative strength we have.

Bio:

Nicole is the Founder of Monarch 61 Project and the visionary behind OASIS: The Emotional Health Conference for Professionals. Her work centers on helping women and caring professionals reclaim their voice, identity, and emotional authenticity after trauma. With over 7 years of experience as a forensic nurse, Nicole has walked closely with survivors in some of their most vulnerable moments. In addition to her clinical work, she spent more than a decade traveling, researching, and learning from organizations serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking, gaining deep insight into both crisis response and the long-term gaps in restorative care.

Nicole holds a Business Degree and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, bringing both strategic leadership and trauma-informed clinical expertise to her work. As a survivor herself, she understands the complex layers of shame, guilt, and disconnection that often follow trauma. She also understands the power of restoration.

Founded in August 2020, Monarch 61 Project was created to walk with women and girls beyond crisis and into healing through creativity, connection, and community. Monarch 61 opened a 4,000-square-foot trauma-informed healing space dedicated to long-term restoration. Nicole also founded OASIS, a first-of-its-kind emotional health conference in Arkansas designed to support nurses, counselors, advocates, ministers, and leaders in sustaining their work without losing themselves in the process.

Breakout Leader

Pace for Success

This dynamic breakout session introduces the PACE framework—a powerful tool that combines goal-setting with color psychology to enhance performance and self-awareness. Participants will learn to assess their current abilities across four key areas using an intuitive color-coded system: Red (Attention/Needs Help), Yellow (Opportunity/Growth Area), Green (Quality/Performing), and Blue (Productive/Excellent). Through interactive exercises, attendees will identify their personal goals and map their PACE progress using colors that psychologically support growth and motivation. The session emphasizes "showing up with heart and harmony" rather than operating from fear, helping participants build confidence through honest self-assessment. Participants will leave with a personalized PACE worksheet, understanding of how color psychology impacts motivation, and practical strategies for tracking progress in a visually engaging way that promotes sustained success.

Bio:

Dr. Jason Williamson is a dynamic speaker, author, and educator with more than two decades of experience inspiring growth in students, professionals, and organizations. Known for his energetic presence, optimism, and authenticity, Dr. Williamson masterfully connects with audiences—whether delivering a keynote to a packed auditorium or facilitating an interactive workshop.

As the Founder and Principal Consultant of Second Mile Initiative LLC, he champions the “Second Mile Mentality,” a mindset and movement designed to foster resilience, drive excellence, and cultivate intentional leadership. His signature frameworks—Second Mile Service and PACE for Success—equip individuals and teams with practical tools to clarify purpose, strengthen relationships, and build thriving cultures.

Through captivating storytelling and actionable strategies, Dr. Williamson empowers audiences to go beyond surface-level success and embrace the deeper work of lasting impact. He has partnered with schools, businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations across the country, consistently reminding leaders and teams that who they are is the most powerful thing they bring.

Breakout Leader

Naked Truths: Speaking Desire, Disappointment, and Vulnerability in Intimacy

Participants will gain more confidence in expressing vulnerability, desire, and even disappointment in their sexual and romantic relationships. They’ll gain practical tools for honest, empathic communication that honor both their own needs and their partner’s, creating space for real connection without fear or shame. Participants will explore ways to turn lonely moments into closeness, navigate difficult conversations with courage, and embrace what it truly means to be seen, wanted, and emotionally present. By leaning into authenticity and speaking their truths, participants will leave with actionable skills to deepen intimacy, strengthen trust, and engage in relationships with both boldness and heart.

Bio:

Katelyn Nabors is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist who currently sees clients at River City Counseling in Fort Smith. She graduated from John Brown University in 2017 with a master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has worked with several populations including agency, residential treatment centers, school-based therapy, and now private practice. Katelyn received her Certified Sex Addiction Therapist training in 2022 and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Sexology.

Katelyn specializes in sex, porn, and love addictions as well as sexual shame, trauma, and other intimacy struggles. She also works extensively with gender identity, transitions, self-discovery, LGBTQIA+ relationships, polyamory, exploring kink, BDSM and power dynamics in a healthy way.

Outside of the therapy office, Katelyn is one of the co-founders of The Affirmative and volunteers at Monarch 61. She is passionate about advocating and supporting marginalized groups as well as assisting in helping others find their voice.

Breakout Leader

Unlocking Resilience: The Four Tendencies as a Path to Emotional Health

Understanding how individuals respond to expectations is key to supporting emotional resilience, preventing burnout, and sustaining satisfaction in both personal and professional roles. This interactive session introduces Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies framework—Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, and Rebel—and explores how these personality patterns shape stress responses, boundaries, and self-care practices. Participants will identify their own tendency, gain insight into how others may view expectations differently, and learn strategies to strengthen resilience in the workplace and beyond. Through engaging discussion and practical application, attendees will leave with tools to better understand themselves and those they serve, fostering healthier communication, improved collaboration, and sustainable emotional well-being.

Bio:

Dr. Jourdan Scoggins is a 2011 alumna of the Carolyn McKelvey Moore School of Nursing. She knew the minute she stepped on the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith campus that it felt like home, and she is proud to now be faculty at her alma mater. She has experience in psychiatric mental health, nursing leadership and management, hospice, and emergency nursing.

Scoggins' true passion is nursing education, and she feels as though she is living out her life’s purpose when working with students. She teaches psychiatric/mental health nursing and is called to destigmatize mental illness and model therapeutic use of self to students. In her free time, she studies and researches habits and human behavior. She is a certified nurse educator, and it is her hope that her passion for teaching and mental health is evident in her daily encounters with students.

Breakout Leader

The Light That Brought You Here: An Embodied Collage Experience

This experiential breakout session invites participants into a gentle, creative process of reconnecting with their inner light—the part of themselves that has always known healing was possible. Using Melanie Taylor’s method of Embodied Collage™, attendees will create a symbolic, visual representation of the self that survived, hoped, and believed—even in silence.

Through guided reflection, sensory prompts, and hands-on creative exploration, this session offers a unique opportunity to slow down and listen inward. No artistic experience is needed—just a willingness to engage with your story in a new way. This process is both soothing and revealing, and participants often leave with a sense of grounded clarity, emotional presence, and deeper connection to their authentic self.

Bio:

Melanie Taylor is a trauma therapist, author, and creator of the TRUE Framework™, a healing model rooted in developmental repair, somatic integration, and the belief that every person holds an inner self that was never broken—only hidden. As a licensed professional counselor and supervisor, Melanie brings over a decade of clinical experience to her work with clients, therapists, and organizations seeking meaningful transformation. She co-founded the Center for Emotional Enlightenment, where she trains professionals in her original approaches, including the Inner Light Protocol and Embodied Collage™.

Melanie’s work is deeply personal. Her book You Are For True traces her own healing journey, offering a blend of narrative, art, and spiritual reflection that invites readers to remember their worth. Whether she’s leading retreats, guiding therapists, or creating trauma-informed resources, Melanie brings warmth, wisdom, and a reverence for the sacred parts of each person’s story.

She believes healing begins the moment we stop trying to be fixed—and start remembering who we’ve always been.

Breakout Leader

Journaling for Self-Care

Journaling is one of the most common forms of self-care. Learn some practical tips on setting your intention, selecting a place to journal, what types of books/journals to use, and how to start getting those thoughts out of your head onto paper.

Bio:

At 58, Mollie made the life-changing decision to leave an eight-year marriage marked by abuse. Two years after leaving her abuser, she faced another major challenge—losing her job. In the face of these life events and trauma, Mollie knows firsthand what it means to experience resiliency, rebuilding her life and redefining her purpose. In other words, living her full, authentic self.

One of the most overlooked problems in the workplace is a lack of engagement and high turnover, which can often be a hidden result of domestic abuse and trauma that employees are silently coping with every day. Recognizing this critical issue, Mollie launched her professional speaking business to shed light on how domestic abuse impacts individuals and organizations and to help break the stigma surrounding these conversations.

Today, she combines more than 30 years of experience as a human resources professional with her lived experience as a survivor to educate, advocate, and empower others. Through her work, Mollie brings the topic of domestic abuse out of the shadows, breaking down stereotypes and stigma while fostering safe, informed, and compassionate workplace culture

Breakout Leader

Building Resilience: Thriving Through Life's Challenges

In this engaging workshop, participants will learn practical strategies and tools to develop resilience, enabling them to overcome obstacles, adapt to change, and emerge stronger from life's challenges.

Bio:

Dr. Jackie Scarborough has been a licensed professional counselor for nearly 31 years and holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision. She has also taught at the university level for over 21 years. She is currently in private practice, where she sees individuals sixteen and older with a variety of mental health issues. Dr. Scarborough is also the chair of the Human Services Program at Arkansas Tech University in Ozark, Arkansas.

Breakout Leader

Motivation to unmask and reveal your authentic self.

Are you feeling stuck? Do you ponder who am I and where do I fit in this world? Engage in an interactive session of self reflection to rejuvenate your journey to self actualization.

Bio:

Talicia Richardson previously served as the Executive Director of 64.6 Downtown, a non-profit organization specializing in inclusive and creative placemaking. Ms. Richardson possesses extensive knowledge and expertise in various business disciplines, with over 20 years of experience in operations, quality control, and counseling within the hospitality and health care industries. Recently, she has expanded her professional journey into private practice, focusing on mental health therapy with Eirene Mental Health Services & Business Consulting.

Ms. Richardson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Spelman College and a Master of Science degree in counseling from the University of Arkansas. Her philosophy is succinctly stated, "How can we work together with kindness and respect while sustaining a greater place for all to coexist." She resides in Arkansas with her husband, State Representative Jay Richardson. Together, they have two children, Yuri and Jag.

Co-Breakout Leader

Wellness in Full Color: Exploring the 8 Dimensions of a Radiant Life

This breakout session offers an overview of the Radiant Life program through an engaging exploration of the 8 Dimensions of Wellness. As an excerpt from the full Radiant Life presentation, this session highlights the key aspects of each dimension—emotional, physical, social, intellectual, spiritual, occupational, environmental, and financial—to promote a deeper understanding of overall well-being. Participants will gain insight into how each area connects to create balance and fulfillment, empowering them to live a more radiant and intentional life.

Bio:

Katherine Chitwood and Jadyn McGrew are both Certified Prevention Specialists with Harbor House, Inc. Prevention Programs. Katherine has been working in prevention for two and a half years, while Jadyn brings six years of experience to the field. Together, they share a strong passion for serving their community and promoting healthy, positive lifestyles through education, outreach, and prevention initiatives.

Co-Breakout Leader

Wellness in Full Color: Exploring the 8 Dimensions of a Radiant Life

This breakout session offers an overview of the Radiant Life program through an engaging exploration of the 8 Dimensions of Wellness. As an excerpt from the full Radiant Life presentation, this session highlights the key aspects of each dimension—emotional, physical, social, intellectual, spiritual, occupational, environmental, and financial—to promote a deeper understanding of overall well-being. Participants will gain insight into how each area connects to create balance and fulfillment, empowering them to live a more radiant and intentional life.

Bio:

Katherine Chitwood and Jadyn McGrew are both Certified Prevention Specialists with Harbor House, Inc. Prevention Programs. Katherine has been working in prevention for two and a half years, while Jadyn brings six years of experience to the field. Together, they share a strong passion for serving their community and promoting healthy, positive lifestyles through education, outreach, and prevention initiatives.

Breakout Leader

Sound Healing Meditation: A Journey to Renewal

This immersive sound healing meditation is designed to help professionals release stress, restore balance, and reconnect with their inner peace. Through the soothing vibrations of crystal singing bowls, chimes, and other therapeutic sounds, participants will experience deep relaxation and nervous system regulation. This session provides a sacred space for rest and renewal, allowing the mind and body to reset amidst the demands of caregiving. No prior meditation experience is necessary—simply arrive, breathe, and receive the healing frequencies. Join us for this transformative journey and discover the power of sound as a tool for sustainable self-care.

Bio:

Amber, founder of Sacred Heart Alternative Therapy, is a dedicated sound healer passionate about guiding others toward balance and renewal through vibrational healing. She specializes in immersive sound healing experiences that promote relaxation, emotional release, and deep inner connection. With a deep understanding of the mind-body connection, Amber brings a heart-centered approach to self-care, helping individuals—especially healthcare professionals—restore their energy and well-being. At Oasis, she is honored to share the transformative power of sound healing, offering a sacred space for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Breakout Leader

Finding Capacity: Yoga as a Tool for Emotional Balance

Emotional overwhelm is not a personal failure but often a reflection of nervous system capacity. In this experiential breakout session, participants will explore how yoga and breathwork can be used as a practical tool to increase emotional regulation, build resilience, and widen your window of tolerance. Through guided somatic practices, breathwork, and gentle movement, attendees will learn accessible strategies to shift from reactivity toward grounded responsiveness.

This session blends brief education with embodied experience, offering tools that can be integrated immediately into personal and professional settings.

Bio:

Gabrielle Delayne graduated from Cambio Yoga in Colorado in 2019 with her 200 yoga teacher training. Shortly after relocating to Arkansas later that year, she continued her education through YogaFit and Embody Lab with 160 hours of trauma-informed, somatic-focused education. This inspired her in co-creating Monarch 61 Project, a non-profit in Van Buren that offers donation based healing classes for women 14 and older.

Since 2020, she has dedicated her work to supporting women survivors of domestic violence, by creating safe and empowering spaces for healing and self-discovery. During her second pregnancy in 2023 she decided to expand her offerings to Fort Smith by opening Bloom Movement & Wellness where a variety movement classes are offered. Her mission is to teach people how to move safely in their bodies and believes that offering options for movement under intuitive instruction can help people feel confident and safe again.

Gabrielle is a full time student, mom & business owner who knows all too well how easy it is for burnout to creep in. She believes her relationship with movement & breathwork is what gives her the capacity to keep moving forward into emotional resilience. She is happy to share tools with others to add to a more regulated collective.

Breakout Leader

Exploring the Five Behaviors of a Team

Amy Langston, leadership coach and founder of RGB Wellness, presents a keynote on the Five Behaviors™ model—Absence of Trust, Fear of Conflict, Lack of Commitment, Avoidance of Accountability, and Inattention to Results. Drawing from two decades in leadership and wellness, Amy explores how these dynamics undermine team performance and offers real-world examples and practical strategies to build trust, foster healthy conflict, promote accountability, and focus on results. Attendees will engage in mindful leadership practices, such as pauses and check-ins, to reduce burnout and embed well-being into organizational culture. The session provides actionable tools for leaders to immediately enhance team alignment and drive sustainable performance.

Seven Directions to Unwind

This gentle, re-energizing yoga class is designed to release tension from sitting and reset the spine after a full day of conference learning. Through simple, accessible movements, light standing flow, and breathwork, participants will restore circulation, improve mobility, and leave feeling clear, steady, and refreshed for the closing session. No yoga experience required. Modifications will be available. 

Bio:

Amy Langston is the Founder and CEO of RGB Wellness, an experienced mindful leadership speaker and consultant, and a 500-HR RYT Yoga Instructor. Based in Sherwood, Arkansas, Amy is dedicated to helping organizations reduce burnout, strengthen trust, and build resilient teams. She currently serves as the Chief Revenue Officer at Greene IS and teaches weekly at Blue Yoga Nyla. With over 20 years of experience leading teams through growth and change,

Amy combines strategic leadership frameworks with nervous system education and practical tools for presence. Her informed approach is designed to foster environments where individuals can perform at their best without sacrificing their well-being. Amy integrates trust-building and team accountability, EOS® and DISC tools, The Five Behaviors™ model, stress and capacity management, movement, alignment, and breath for clarity and focus. With market research showing up to 83% of workers report workplace stress, Amy helps leaders create environments where people can perform at a high level without sacrificing their humanity. Her leadership bootcamps and workshops provide a cohesive space to practice together, build shared language, and shed emotional weight. Participants leave with practical ways to communicate, reset, and work better — not just harder. https://www.linkedin.com/in/amylangston/

Closing Session

The Matters of Mattering: I, You, We Matter

In The Matters of Mattering: I, You, We Matter, Lynette Thrower invites us into a powerful exploration of belonging, validation, and why we long for both.

Rooted in the 2026 theme of Emotional Authenticity, Lynette challenges us to reflect on how we assign value — especially in seasons where performance, productivity, or position feel like measures of worth.

What if emotional authenticity requires us to first believe that we matter — not because of what we produce, but because of who we are?

As an accomplished writer, lecturer, and higher education leader, Lynette brings a thoughtful, poetic, and grounded voice to conversations about identity, belonging, and shared humanity.

This session will not simply close the conference. It will send you back into your work rooted in purpose — and reminded that I matter. You matter. We matter.

Bio:

Lynette Thrower serves as the Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Students at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith, where she advances student-centered initiatives across the university. She is also an accomplished poet, short story writer, and community lecturer. Her creative work has appeared in Applause Literary Journal and the Arkansas English Journal, and she has participated in several notable writing cohorts, including the inaugural Artists 360 cohort sponsored by the Mid-America Arts Alliance and the Walton Family Foundation, the Open Mouth Reading Series cohort, and the Nick Cave Until artists convening in Northwest Arkansas.

Lynette has taught magical realism as a guest instructor for the Write Now Workshop at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and has served as a partner artist for the museum’s CB to You Mobile Art Lab, a traveling pop-up art experience.

Her lectures explore identity, belonging, and purpose, with topics such as I Am My Community, I Am My Institution; The Matters of Mattering: I, You, We Matter; Understanding Your W.H.Y.: The 4th & 5th Circles of Why; and Empathy: I Feel You, Sister.

Across all her work, Lynette is dedicated to honoring humanity—particularly the under-celebrated and overlooked—while imagining the unspoken conversations and “what ifs” that shape our shared narrative.

Breakout Leader

Building a Foundation of Ownership: Practical Lessons for Leaders, Teams, and Everyday Life

This presentation explores what ownership really looks like in leadership, management, and everyday life. We will focus on practical strategies that help leaders set the tone, strengthen accountability, and promote a culture where people step up instead of stepping back. Through real stories and lessons drawn from my and other's work experience and relationships, participants will learn how ownership creates stronger teams, healthier workplaces, and more resilient individuals.

Bio:

I am the Compliance Director for My HR Pros. I manage a team of Compliance Officers who assist our clients in Human Resource best practices through consultation and training. I am over our internal Human Resources and responsible for ensuring My HR Pros is in compliance with Federal and State regulations. I am John C. Maxwell certified as a speaker, coach, and trainer. I love to train the next leaders of our organizations and communities. My preferred focus is in communication and leadership techniques and building those key relationships to build success within ourselves to be the best we can be. The only limits we face are the ones we create. Let’s shatter the glass ceilings we’ve placed on ourselves and rise beyond, becoming more than we ever imagined possible.

I also train on Federal and State regulation requirements to help managers be more successful in their roles. I am a partial owner for My HR Pros which is a family owned company lead by my brothers and myself. In addition to my work environments, I also have a call of the heart to community outreach. I am a board member to several organizations to include: CASA of Crawford County, Western AR Human Resource Association, Family Enterprise Center Advisory Board, and volunteer for the Van Buren Education Foundation, and Lion's Club of Van Buren. I am the President of the Board for My HR Professionals.

Breakout Leader

Burnout and Compassion Fatigue: Effects and How to get Stuff Done

Compassion fatigue and burnout result from the emotional strain of working with patients suffering from the consequences of traumatic events. Repeated exposure to emotional strain associated with caring for trauma patients without taking time for self-care can lead to a gradual lessening of compassion over time, and more dangerously, self-destructive behaviors. Caregivers and providers must be vigilant regarding compassion fatigue to be able to provide healthy, compassionate care to the patients they serve. The purpose of this presentation is to define compassion fatigue and burnout, discuss symptoms of compassion fatigue and burnout, illustrate approaches of the caregiver/provider when dealing with compassion fatigue and burnout, and identify approaches for managing compassion fatigue and burnout.

Bio:

Nycole Oliver, DNP, MBA, MSN, APRN, RN, FNP-C, ACNPC-AG, ENP-C, CEN, FAEN is a highly accomplished Nurse Practitioner dual-certified in Acute and Primary Care. With four nursing degrees and a business degree, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her roles as an Emergency Department, Hospitalist, and Primary Care provider.

As a Fellow in the Academy of Emergency Nursing, Dr. Oliver has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the prestigious AANP State Award for NP Excellence and the Emergency Nurses Association Frank L. Cole Nurse Practitioner Award—an honor she has received twice.

An engaging speaker and educator, she has presented her research at various local, state, regional, national, and international conferences, both as a keynote speaker and through podium and poster presentations. Dr. Oliver is actively involved in multiple nursing organizations, having held leadership positions, including past president of her state’s NP and emergency nursing organizations.

Her expertise has garnered attention in podcasts, news stories, and articles, and she has contributed as an author to nursing and NP textbooks and journals, further showcasing her commitment to advancing the nursing profession.

Breakout Leader

Trauma Informed Leadership

Trauma-Informed Leadership equips healthcare leaders to create safe, supportive workplaces by recognizing the impact of trauma on staff and/or patients. This presentation covers core principles—safety, trust, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural awareness—while offering practical strategies to reduce burnout, strengthen communication, and foster resilience. Leaders learn how to model empathy, respond to stress effectively, and build organizational systems that promote well-being, teamwork and high-quality care.

Bio:

Mrs. Crystal Lougin is a graduate of Henderson State University where she received her Bachelors and Masters degrees. She has been an Arkansas licensed professional counselor since 2003. Her background includes mental health treatment of all ages at various levels of care. The past 15 years of her career has centered on leadership and administrative roles, with her current position being the Director of Behavioral Health at Baptist Health-Fort Smith.

She is the owner of and mental health provider for Therapy Friends Counseling and Consulting, LLC. In February 2021 she was appointed by Governor Asa Hutchinson to the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling and served until 2024.

She has served on several local Boards of Directors, including The Good Samaritan Clinic, The Future School of Fort Smith, Comprehensive Juvenile Services and Arkansas Family Supports. She is also a member of the Arkansas Mental Health Counselors Association and has served in several leadership roles within the organization.

She and her husband Torrey, have 2 adult daughters and have lived in Fort Smith since 2003. They also share their home with their wonderful nephew.

Breakout Leader

Rooted in the Senses: A Sensory Practice in Noticing, Tolerance, and Choice

This experiential space offers a beginning taste of tuning into subtle nervous system shifts. Rather than teaching techniques to change your state, the room invites curiosity about how your body automatically responds to different stimuli — and how you typically manage those responses.

Through simple sensory stations and brief reflection prompts, participants observe patterns of activation and settling in real time. The focus is not on fixing, but on noticing.

Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of what it means to attune to their whole experience by intentionally allowing and honoring sensory information as foundational — not secondary — to thoughts and emotions. This room offers a beginning step in learning to listen to the body’s signals and how they shape perception, response, and meaning.

Bio:

Skylar Moore, MA, LAC, NCC is a Licensed Associate Counselor with Greenleaf Professional Counseling in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She specializes in nervous system-informed, bottom-up therapy for adults, including those navigating complex and developmental trauma, compassion-fatigue and burnout, and identity and self-worth concerns Her work integrates somatic awareness, expressive arts, parts work, and mindfulness to support emotional regulation and compassionate awareness. Skylar helps individuals understand how their nervous system organizes experience — especially under stress — and how safety and sensory awareness can restore clarity, steadiness, and choice.