Friday, August 5

Marriott, Union Room

Degrees of Change board of directors gather over breakfast to celebrate the departing board members and welcome incoming members.

Tollefson Plaza

Enjoy a grab-and-go breakfast in Tollefson Plaza. Given the size of our group, it will not be possible to wait until the last minute to grab breakfast and go so make sure to get there early enough to eat.

Dress is business casual for the day.

Marriott, Chambers Bay Ballroom 3

• Wakeup
  Emcees Act Six Staff + Scholar
• Plenary Address
  Erin Jones
  Independent Education and Systems Consultant
  First Act Six Selection Committee
  Early Act Six Tacoma-Seattle Staff
• Introductions of Act Six Firsts
  Dr. Tim Herron
  Chief Executive Officer, Degrees of Change
  Early Act Six Founder
  • Corporate
    • Michelle Y. Bess
      Senior Vice President of People, OppFi
      Whitworth University Cadre 3, ’09
      First Act Six Corporate Vice President
      First Act Six Graduate Board Chair, Degrees of Change
    • Amaria Price Hawkins
      Former CEO, Kindest
      Whitworth University Cadre 3
      First Act Six Corporate CEO
  • Education
    • Lauren Taylor
      Principal, Manitou Park Elementary
      Whitworth University Cadre 1, ’07
      First Act Six Public School Principal
    • L. Denice Randle
      Former Executive Director, Peace Community Center
      Whitworth University Cadre 2, ’07
      First Act Six University Trustee
      First Act Six High School Principal
  • Government
    • Mycal Ford
      Risk and Compliance Specialist, McKinsey & Company
      Pacific Lutheran University Cadre 1, ’12
      First Act Six Fulbright Scholar
    • Tono Sablan
      School Board Director, Franklin Pierce School District
      Grants and Contracts Administrator, Raikes Foundation
      Pacific Lutheran University Cadre 7, ’14
  • Science + Medicine
    • Dr. Augustine Ajougu
      Hospital Medicine Physician, Indiana University Health Ball Hospital
      Northwest University Cadre 1, ’13
      First Act Six Medical Doctor
    • Dr. Danjuma Quarless
      Manager, Corporate Strategy, AbbVie Inc
      Whitworth University Cadre 4, ’10
      First Act Six Ph.D.
  • Social Sector
    • Jonathan Jackson
      Executive Director, Palmer Scholars
      Pacific Lutheran University Cadre 1, ’12
      First Act Six Nonprofit Executive Director
    • Josiah Lara, J.D.
      Staff Attorney, The Way to Justice
      Gonzaga University Cadre 4, ’16
      First Act Six Law Graduate
• Announcements
  Emcees Act Six Staff + Scholar

UW Tacoma Joy Hall

Listen in as two Act Six graduates who were the first in the network to achieve notable career milestones share a conversation about their journeys. Select the first of two sectors that interest you most. Sessions will be repeated in the following block, where you can select your second interest.

• Corporate (Joy 110)
  • Michelle Y. Bess
    Senior Vice President of People, OppFi
    Whitworth University Cadre 3, ’09
    First Act Six Corporate Vice President
    First Act Six Graduate Board Chair, Degrees of Change
  • Amaria Price Hawkins
    Former CEO, Kindest
    Whitworth University Cadre 3
    First Act Six Corporate CEO
• Education (Joy 114)
  • Lauren Taylor
    Principal, Manitou Park Elementary
    Whitworth University Cadre 1, ’07
    First Act Six Public School Principal
  • L. Denice Randle
    Former Executive Director, Peace Community Center
    Whitworth University Cadre 2, ’07
    First Act Six University Trustee
    First Act Six High School Principal
• Government (Joy 211)
  • Mycal Ford
    Risk and Compliance Specialist, McKinsey & Company
    Pacific Lutheran University Cadre 1, ’12
    First Act Six Fulbright Scholar
  • Tono Sablan
    School Board Director, Franklin Pierce School District
    Grants and Contracts Administrator, Raikes Foundation
    Pacific Lutheran University Cadre 7, ’14
• Science + Medicine (Joy 206)
  • Dr. Augustine Ajougu
    Hospital Medicine Physician, Indiana University Health Ball Hospital
    Northwest University Cadre 1, ’13
    First Act Six Medical Doctor
  • Dr. Danjuma Quarless
    Manager, Corporate Strategy, AbbVie Inc
    Whitworth University Cadre 4, ’10
    First Act Six Ph.D.
• Social Sector (Joy 207)
  • Jonathan Jackson
    Executive Director, Palmer Scholars
    Pacific Lutheran University Cadre 1, ’12
    First Act Six Nonprofit Executive Director
  • Josiah Lara, J.D.
    Staff Attorney, The Way to Justice
    Gonzaga University Cadre 4, ’16
    First Act Six Law Graduate

UW Tacoma Joy Hall

Listen in as two Act Six graduates who were the first in the network to achieve notable career milestones share a conversation about their journeys. Select the second of two sectors that interest you most.

• Corporate (Joy 110)
  • Michelle Y. Bess
    Senior Vice President of People, OppFi
    Whitworth University Cadre 3, ’09
    First Act Six Corporate Vice President
    First Act Six Graduate Board Chair, Degrees of Change
  • Amaria Price Hawkins
    Former CEO, Kindest
    Whitworth University Cadre 3
    First Act Six Corporate CEO
• Education (Joy 114)
  • Lauren Taylor
    Principal, Manitou Park Elementary
    Whitworth University Cadre 1, ’07
    First Act Six Public School Principal
  • L. Denice Randle
    Former Executive Director, Peace Community Center
    Whitworth University Cadre 2, ’07
    First Act Six University Trustee
    First Act Six High School Principal
• Government (Joy 211)
  • Mycal Ford
    Risk and Compliance Specialist, McKinsey & Company
    Pacific Lutheran University Cadre 1, ’12
    First Act Six Fulbright Scholar
  • Tono Sablan
    School Board Director, Franklin Pierce School District
    Grants and Contracts Administrator, Raikes Foundation
    Pacific Lutheran University Cadre 7, ’14
• Science + Medicine (Joy 206)
  • Dr. Augustine Ajougu
    Hospital Medicine Physician, Indiana University Health Ball Hospital
    Northwest University Cadre 1, ’13
    First Act Six Medical Doctor
  • Dr. Danjuma Quarless
    Manager, Corporate Strategy, AbbVie Inc
    Whitworth University Cadre 4, ’10
    First Act Six Ph.D.
• Social Sector (Joy 207)
  • Jonathan Jackson
    Executive Director, Palmer Scholars
    Pacific Lutheran University Cadre 1, ’12
    First Act Six Nonprofit Executive Director
  • Josiah Lara, J.D.
    Staff Attorney, The Way to Justice
    Gonzaga University Cadre 4, ’16
    First Act Six Law Graduate

Tollefson Plaza

Pickup and enjoy your boxed lunch at Tollefson Plaza. Please pick up after yourself and ensure no trash is left behind. Make a point to be on time to the 1:00 pm session.

Marriott, Third Floor Foyer

Whether you’ve known since you were a kid that you’d someday be a doctor or you haven’t ever considered graduate school, it is important to keep your options open for the future. What should you be doing now to best position yourself for graduate studies?

• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) (Chambers Bay Ballroom 2)
  Dr. Danjuma Quarless
  Manager, Corporate Strategy, AbbVie Inc
  M.B.A., Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management ’22
  Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences: Genomics and Computational Biology, U.C. San Diego ’16
  B.S., Bioinformatics, Whitworth University Cadre 4, ’10
  First Act Six Ph.D.
• Social Science (Chambers Bay Ballroom 3)
  Dr. Kelly Bay-Meyer
  Chief Operations Officer, Degrees of Change
  Ph.D., M.A., Political Science, Brown University ’11
  B.A., Foreign Affairs, University of Virginia ’05
• Medicine (Point Defiance Room)
  Dr. Augustine Ajougu
  Hospital Medicine Physician, Indiana University Health Ball Hospital
  M.D., University of Washington Medical School ’18
  M.S., Integrated Immunology, Oxford University ’14
  Certificate, Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ’13
  B.S., Biology, Northwest University Cadre 1, ’13
  First Act Six Medical Doctor
• Law (Union Room)
  Josiah Lara, J.D.
  Staff Attorney, The Way to Justice
  J.D., Gonzaga University School of Law ’20
  B.A., History and Criminal Justice, Gonzaga University Cadre 4, ’16
  First Act Six Law Graduate
• Fulbright + Other Fellowships (Chambers Bay Ballroom 1)
  Mycal Ford
  Risk and Compliance Specialist, McKinsey & Company
  M.A., International Affairs, American University School of International Service ’17
  Fulbright Taiwan, U.S. Department of State ’13
  B.A., Chinese Studies, Pacific Lutheran University Cadre 1, ’12
  First Act Six Fulbright Scholar

Marriott, Chambers Bay Ballroom 3

Andrew Whitney
Director, Seed Internships, Degrees of Change

Melissa Atienza
Manager, Seed Internships, Degrees of Change

A brief orientation to the schedule for the afternoon career fair and professional sessions.

Marriott, Chambers Bay Ballroom 3

Andrew Whitney
Director, Seed Internships, Degrees of Change

Melissa Atienza
Manager, Seed Internships, Degrees of Change

A step-by-step guide to getting the most out of any career fair. We’ll cover how to find career fairs and attending employers. Provide examples of how to introduce yourself, questions to ask and how to approach an employer. And what you can do after the career fair to build out your network or stay in touch regarding any potential internship or employment opportunities. You’ll then get to apply these skills during the 3pm Career & Graduate School Fair!

Marriott, Third Floor Foyer

Whether you’re looking to jump into the job market or pursue graduate education we’ll have local employers and graduate schools to network with. Come ready to ask questions, share your resume or CV, and learn about each of the organizations and how you could be a fit.

Marriott, Third Floor Foyer

Meet and network with local employers and graduate schools. Be ready to apply some of the tips you learned during the Navigating Career Fairs session. Each of the employers and graduate schools want to meet and hear about your goals – walk up and say hello!

Marriott, Chambers Bay Ballroom 3

Michelle Y. Bess
Senior Vice President of People, OppFi
Whitworth University Cadre 3, ’09
First Act Six Corporate Vice President
First Act Six Graduate Board Chair, Degrees of Change

Mycal Ford
Risk and Compliance Specialist, McKinsey & Company
Pacific Lutheran University Cadre 1, ’12
First Act Six Fulbright Scholar

Discover tips for professional networking and getting a jump-start on your first career job search from two Act Six graduates and world-class professional connectors.

Marriott, Chambers Bay Ballroom 3

Andrew Whitney
Director, Seed Internships, Degrees of Change

Melissa Atienza
Manager, Seed Internships, Degrees of Change

Internships can provide great professional exposure while still working toward your degree. Seed Internships combines a 10+week paid summer internship at various local employers with professional development sessions. Come and learn about this unique internship experience, how to apply and standout during an interview, and more about how internships can be a great compliment to your college career and beyond.

Marriott, Chambers Bay Ballroom 3

• Reflections from Act Six Firsts
  Dr. Tim Herron
  Chief Executive Officer, Degrees of Change
  Early Act Six Founder
  • Corporate
    • Michelle Y. Bess
      Senior Vice President of People, OppFi
      Whitworth University Cadre 3, ’09
      First Act Six Corporate Vice President
      First Act Six Graduate Board Chair, Degrees of Change
    • Amaria Price Hawkins
      Former CEO, Kindest
      Whitworth University Cadre 3
      First Act Six Corporate CEO
  • Education
    • Lauren Taylor
      Principal, Manitou Park Elementary
      Whitworth University Cadre 1, ’07
      First Act Six Public School Principal
    • L. Denice Randle
      Former Executive Director, Peace Community Center
      Whitworth University Cadre 2, ’07
      First Act Six University Trustee
      First Act Six High School Principal
  • Government
    • Mycal Ford
      Risk and Compliance Specialist, McKinsey & Company
      Pacific Lutheran University Cadre 1, ’12
      First Act Six Fulbright Scholar
    • Ricki Ruiz
      Oregon State Representative
      Warner Pacific University Cadre 3, ’16
      First Act Six Elected Official
  • Science + Medicine
    • Dr. Augustine Ajougu
      Hospital Medicine Physician, Indiana University Health Ball Hospital
      Northwest University Cadre 1, ’13
      First Act Six Medical Doctor
    • Dr. Danjuma Quarless
      Manager, Corporate Strategy, AbbVie Inc
      Whitworth University Cadre 4, ’10
      First Act Six Ph.D.
  • Social Sector
    • Jonathan Jackson
      Executive Director, Palmer Scholars
      Pacific Lutheran University Cadre 1, ’12
      First Act Six Nonprofit Executive Director
    • Josiah Lara, J.D.
      Staff Attorney, The Way to Justice
      Gonzaga University Cadre 4, ’16
      First Act Six Law Graduate
• Announcements
  Emcees Act Six Staff + Scholar

Tollefson Plaza

There will be three local food trucks in Tollefson Plaza offering dinner with limited menu options. An assigned number of tickets are available per food truck. Please visit only the truck corresponding to your ticket description. Enjoy your outdoor dinner and please pick up after yourself. There should be any trash left behind.

Tollefson Plaza

An opportunity for Act Six graduates to reconnect with each other across the years, colleges and communities in an informal, fun, family-friendly, outdoor environment in downtown Tacoma. Various food truck options will be available for purchase on site.

Marriott, Chambers Bay Ballroom 2

Got a fun group game? Grab a bunch of folks and get it going. Whether it is Mafia, a game of cards, or reenactments of classic movie scenes, take advantage of this rare time together as a network and get to know some new people.

If you plan to participate in Café Six, you must come and talk with Darwin Paet. Light snacks offered

Things to do at Hotel + Downtown

• Use the pool + hot tub on the fourth floor
• Walk across the Chihuly Bridge of Glass to Thea Foss Waterway
• Foss Waterfront Museum and water access (705 Dock St, Tacoma) around 11th and Dock st
• Tacoma Center YMCA 1144 Market St
• Bubbles Tea Shop on Pacific Ave
• Starbucks on Pacific Ave
• The Old Spaghetti Factory on 13th and Pacific Ave
• The Fish Peddler Dock St and E 15th st
• THEKOI Japanese Cuisine, Commerce and 17th street
• Campfire Coffee S 17th st and Market St

Marriott

At the hotel, you can continue your conversations quietly or call it a night, but remember you are not the only guests. Please be courteous to each other and other paying guests. You are representing yourself, your college and Act Six. Be sure you get the rest you need to be ready to fully engage in tomorrow’s sessions.