Riker Opportunity Institute, Inc.

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
…more
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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.

02/11/2026

Having dinner in West Chester with my husband and one of my first U-ROC Leadership graduates, Zahree, who is now a senior at West Chester University, is a moment I cherish. Zahree will soon graduate with a degree in Human Resources, a remarkable journey for someone who initially thought he wanted to design video games and pursue Computer Science.

I feel blessed that my graduates keep in touch with me, and now I have the opportunity to support Zahree with a project for one of his courses. The project aims to learn how to collect data to support an objective or idea for a written paper.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could take less than a minute to complete this survey that Zahree designed. He needs a minimum of 10 responses by Saturday, Valentine's Day. Your support will mean a lot to Zahree as he works hard to complete college.

Here’s the link to the survey: https://forms.gle/MuByudrk3eYMfaWv7

Thank you for your help!

Dana

02/04/2026

Yesterday marked the first full day of Leadership Main Line 2026, a flagship leadership program of the Main Line Chamber. Pictured here with me are our remarkable non-profit leaders:

- Stephanie Gambone, President & CEO of the Southeast Region of Junior Achievement
- Nyne Sellers, President & CEO of Launch of Philly
- Scott Fisher, Executive Director of the Bryn Mawr Film Institute
- Cheryl Brubaker, Executive Director of The Fund for Women and Girls

During the session, Scott Fisher shared a quote about leadership that truly resonated with me. I realized I may have flipped his formula; I learned, returned, and now I'm working on figuring out how to earn at the same time. A heartfelt thank you to these esteemed leaders for sharing their time, talents, and wisdom.

02/02/2026

I recently came across a piece of art at Boscov's that featured house rules, and I found them to be quite impactful. These rules resonate not just at home, but also in the workplace.

Creating a healthy workplace culture doesn't have to be complicated. If we all embraced these simple house rules, it could lead to a more positive and productive environment for everyone.

01/19/2026

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending the 37th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Commemoration & Spirit Hall of Fame, featuring keynote speaker Vince Stango, Interim President and CEO of the National Constitution Center. This event is a collaborative effort between The Media Fellowship House and the Media Branch of the NAACP.

The celebration began with an impressive performance by the Jaisohn Youth Drum Team. A standout moment was when Miriam Charlene Pickett, a member of the NAACP Media Area Youth Council, inspired us all with her call to uphold and live by the Constitution as our guiding framework.

Local public leaders and representatives, including Dr. Monica Taylor, were in attendance, contributing to the event's significance. Three quotes resonated with me during the commemoration, two of which are captured in the accompanying picture. The third quote that struck me was, "Democracy is strongest when dialogue and dignity come together."

I encourage everyone to reflect on these quotes and consider how we communicate with dignity, combat injustices, and serve others for their well-being. Remember, one person and one action can make a world of difference.

01/07/2026

How did you start your New Year? I started mine reconnecting with most of my U-ROC Leadership Program graduates. The saying below comes from a sermon I heard the first Sunday of 2026. It was challenging us to look beyond our resolutions that are intended to make us the best version of ourselves to how that can be a means to an end that is not about you? If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?

If you knew the stories of some of my graduates and what they have had to overcome, it hopefully would break your heart, because many of us would not have been able to survive, no less overcome some of the challenges these smiling individuals have faced. I am very proud of each and everyone of them. This picture is also about building community and how important it is for us to genuinely care about each other and stay connected. What are you going to do to lift up another human being this year? We all have value and significance. At the end of 2026, what difference will you make that we can celebrate New Year's Eve 2026?