Riker Opportunity Institute, Inc.

07/06/2026

Celebrating our country's 250th birthday reminds us of the leadership required at every level, from individuals to CEOs and Presidents, to establish our independence and create this remarkable nation. Effective leadership opens the door to joy—joy in our work and joy in the impact we make on society.

The images shared here represent this joy. As the facilitator of the Leadership Main Line Program, I have the privilege of working alongside regional leaders who are committed to making a meaningful impact in our community.

The picture in the upper left corner is a memory from 7 years ago. In 2019, the non-profit project delivered by the LML class was Today is a Good Day. This was the last time we presented to the board of directors in person until this year. This year's class had the opportunity to present to the Girls Spark Board at the Main Line Chamber, and the other picture captures the Leadership Main Line Class of 2026 on their graduation day!

Leadership is not just about what you accomplish; it's about how you achieve it and the impact you have on those you serve. Are you leading with joy to create joy?

06/08/2026

I attended the Opportunity Summit presented by The United Way of Southeastern PA and NJ. These pictures are of Bill Golder, CEO of this United Way and some of the other outstanding speakers that they have every year. The quote below showed up in my Planner a week later. The main focus of this Opportunity Summit was that each one of us has to take the time to care and effort to lift up others. This quote reveals why it doesn't happen more. I say if each one of us intentionally encourages one human being a day and makes an extra effort at least once a month to extend a kindness of some sort, maybe being human can get a little easier. A perfect example of this is I received an e-mail from a young man I met while speaking at the Girls Spark Summit at Penn State Brandywine thanking me because of an introduction to a technology company I made through my network that resulted in a nice job for him. Think about the impact if each one of us took the time to open a door of opportunity to at least one young person every spring how that might change the projectory of poverty to economic mobility and living the American Dream!

06/03/2026

The quote below was in my planner during the same week I attended the Main Line Chamber's Middle Market Business Growth Summit 2026. We heard from Matt Jesson who founded and owns Green Lawn Fertilizing & Green Pest Solutions. He talked a lot about one of his key values that has fueled his rapid growth, which is caring about people by treating them well, developing them and providing leadership training. He said "Build your business the right way by focusing on people, process and doing things right." I once worked with a VP from 3M who said 'If the people and process are right, the business will come." For me, caring about people and bringing out the best in them are values that make the trip worth it!

06/02/2026

Well, I have been enthusiastic about my work for nearly 30 years. Next March will be 30 years of running Riker Opportunity Institute. I love bringing out the best in people and organizations. This picture is from a recent get together with some of my U-ROC Leadership peeps! As they always say, if you do what you love, or love what you do, you never work a day in your life. Feeling very blessed!

04/13/2026

Be Unstoppable is the theme of this year's Girls Spark Summit. I have the privilege of being one of the speakers to help these young ladies realize their full potential as a leader, and how to use emotional intelligence to increase their influence and command for respect. We will follow "The Golden Rule" and learn how to practice that on a consistent basis and why it matters.

A recent article I read from Franklin Covey said that if we want effective leaders in every aspect of our lives, we need to start developing them sooner. If you know a middle school or high school girl sign them up for the Girls Spark Summit and help them to "Be Unstoppable" in today's world!

The girls who show up… they change. 💫
They grow in confidence.
They find their voice.
They realize just how powerful and capable they truly are.

The only question is… who will you sign up to be there?

With just 2 weeks left to register, now is the time to say YES to an experience that could shift everything.

Give her the space to be inspired, supported, and reminded that she is truly UNSTOPPABLE. 💥
🔗 Save her spot today before it’s too late.
https://lnkd.in/eQE7P4my

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Julia Kasper Nicole Stephenson, IOM Stormy Bell Marguerite Cruz, MBA Seta M. Daniela Cerullo Bridgett Battles Kristen Struys Kristen McCabe Francesca Zampaglione Dr. Melissa Rice, PhD Lindsey Hancock Stormy Bell Laura Kasper Founder, CEO⭐Recruiter 😊Non-Profit Leader 🫶
Melissa Sims, Ph.D. Elizabeth Scheirer Missy Kleinz, PhD, LPC, LPCMH, NCC Susan Redding MBA, SPHR, CPTD Corey Crapella, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, MSHR Dr. Kristin Meyer Dana Wallis, MBA Melinda Janofsky Regina Pellegrino, RDN, LDN Lindsey DeCaro, RDN, LDN Michele Trego Garrett, M.Ed., ACC, RYS, Corey Crapella, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, MSHR Dana Riker Jackson Cara J. Dixon MA, LPC, NCC Penn State Brandywine
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04/01/2026

March 26 was an inspirational day. It began with a webinar featuring Will Guidara, the author of Unreasonable Hospitality and co-producer of the hit show "The Bear." One of his impactful quotes was, "If you are seeking it and open to it, Inspiration is everywhere."

Following that, I attended the Main Line Chamber's Signature SPW event, where the "real" Ms. Abbott, the inspiration behind the show Abbott Elementary, spoke. She emphasized the importance of authentic relationships, especially with young people, and encouraged us to ask the meaningful question below.

I concluded my day with four of my U-ROC Leadership graduates, celebrating Ademha's courage as he is deployed in the Navy overseas for the first time. I posed the question Ms. Abbott suggested, and they responded that nothing I do or say stresses them out. Investing in young people is crucial; they are truly worth it.

03/11/2026

Trust is the essential foundation of a healthy, high performance culture. Research shows that employees who trust their managers are far more passionate about the work they do and the organization they work for – resulting in the highest levels of performance. And yet, it seems that many leadership teams do not know how to build trust with their employees, and now with the disruptions we’ve had and are having, the need to rebuild trust has never been more critical for successful business outcomes. The ideal way to start to rebuild trust is to measure the current level of trust in your organization. Most engagement surveys do a very poor job of measuring the trust employees have for management. ROI has been measuring trust in organizations since the early 2000’s, including the trust factors necessary for employees to feel psychologically safe. And psychological safety is critical to have where people who are different feel included. If you are experiencing any of the indicators below and want to learn how improve trust in a tangible, measurable way, reach out to me. Would love to have a conversation with you.

03/09/2026

Remember I shared with you that I was getting the opportunity to perform at the Media Theatre with my Praise Team from church which was a full circle moment because I saw my first movie there as a 5 year old. It was the Sound of Music. Still my all time favorite movie. This video is one of the songs we sang as backup singers to the up and coming Christian Artist, Rachael McVey. The song is called "I Made It" by CAIN. May this song be inspiration to everyone who is feeling challenged and also to all women out there during this Women's HIstory Month. Just think of the women who came before us who can honestly say "I Made It." We will too!

03/05/2026

These are the panelists who shared insights on increasing levels of engagement, emphasizing that engagement is just the starting point. Strategic leadership begins with people, and it is essential to create a culture where everyone strives to be their best and feels empowered to do so.

Trust was a key topic, yet it remains elusive for many organizations. This is why I have been part of the Conscious Leadership Alliance for nearly 30 years and am a certified Associate in Trust Within Assessments. This body of knowledge defines how to communicate and behave to build trust with others, and it can be measured. The old saying holds true: what is measured can be achieved.

I encourage you to explore more at https://lnkd.in/e2aAbfZg.

A special thanks to the esteemed panelists: Kelly Jones, Maureen Becker, Tanea Ellis, and Steve Safier. Also, thank you to PSPS for hosting a great event.

03/02/2026

During these tumultuous times, focusing on love feels especially important. Recently, my husband and I attended a celebration of life service honoring Vita Stevens, officiated by my dear friend, Rev. Stuart Spencer. He concluded the service with a meaningful quote that serves as a reminder to lead with love, particularly towards our young people.

Now more than ever, they need us adults to step up and shower them with love. Although my husband and I do not have children of our own, we cherish many young people in our lives, treating them as if they were our own. A recent visit to my great grandfather's Riker Electric at the AACA Library in Hershey highlighted this connection. These young people enjoy spending time with us because we prioritize love in our interactions.

May you also find ways to lead with love in your life.