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SME Membership Meeting
Preparing Yourself to Hold the Hard Conversations That Are Keeping You Stuck — Personally and Professionally
Some conversations feel like landmines and avoiding them can keep you stuck, both in your personal life and at work. This session explores how to identify when a conversation needs to happen, and what makes it a crucial one. You’ll also learn practical strategies for preparing yourself so emotions don’t hijack the moment. Think of it as the emotional version of rocket science with real-world tools you can actually use.
The primary learning objectives of presentation:
- Learn how to recognize the types of conversations that can move you forward when you’re feeling stuck.
- Discover how to manage your emotions by examining—and changing—the story you’re telling yourself.
About the Tony Pannone
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ny Pannone is a technology leader, strategist, and certified Crucial Learning instructor who has spent more than two decades helping organizations build stronger systems, stronger teams, and better conversations.
As Chief Information Officer at Highmark Federal Credit Union, Tony leads technology infrastructure, cybersecurity, strategic planning, and leadership development. He holds three Microsoft Engineer certifications and two Cisco Associate certifications, with expertise spanning enterprise networking, systems architecture, and cybersecurity.
Tony is also deeply involved in his community and the credit union industry. He serves as Past Chair of the Spearfish Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, sits on the Black Hills Works Foundation Board, and serves on the Partner Advisory Board for SavvyMoney, a leading provider of credit score education and marketing technology for financial institutions.
Beyond technology, Tony has a passion for developing people. As a certified instructor for Crucial Learning, he works closely with Highmark’s Training and Human Resources teams to teach Crucial Conversations and Crucial Accountability, helping employees and leaders navigate the conversations that matter most.
Tony’s approach is simple: technology matters, strategy matters, but people and communication are what ultimately make organizations successful.