Joyful Connection Masterclass - Connection Crew by Covve with EPIC Summit
“Loneliness and isolation represent profound threats to our health and well-being.” Dr. Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General Report 2023
Connect and learn with connection leaders at the next workshop hosted by the Covve community, Connection Crew. Have fun and elevate your connection coaching expertise with fellow peers who are passionate about connection. This is where your kind of people hang out.
Why attend?
Expand Your Toolkit: Learn how to facilitate three new connection activities that you can take back to your own communities and gatherings.
Valuable Networking: Connect with Connection Pros. Learn from those who not only talk about social health but actively shape it. Meet people who are as dedicated and passionate about social health as you are. Make connections that go beyond the workshop.
Fun and Engaging: Expect a session full of laughter, learning, and light-hearted yet deep connections. It's not just a workshop; it's a social exercise for your professional soul.
Learn with Your Peers: Enjoy the rare opportunity to be a participant rather than a leader, in a room where everyone speaks your language of community and connection.
Elevate Your Expertise: This workshop isn't just about discussion; it's about elevating your skills with practical, hands-on experiences.
What to expect?
A 90 minute joyful connection experience. You will be paired with one connection leader for the duration of the event. To ensure you both have a wonderful experience, It's important you agree to the following:
Have video and audio on during 3 breakout room sessions
Participate fully during the breakouts
Be present for at least the full hour (15 minute after party is optional)
Bring curious and open energy, ready to learn from and share with your peers
[Virtual] doors will close after we have reviewed the group agreements. Approximately 5-10 minutes after the hour. Please be on time to ensure you make it in and get the full experience.
There will be prompts that invite you to share something that may feel vulnerable to you (please find a safe place to join the call from)
Who is this for? People who already prioritize social health in their personal and professional lives and want to continue elevating their connection skills. If you’re typically the one hosting the gatherings and workshops, this is your chance to have fun learning and sharing with other folks in your shoes.
Connection & Belonging Advocates
Workplace Culture Champions
Community Leaders
Coaches and Facilitators
Networking Gurus
Social Health Champions
Your March Connection Crew Co-Hosts:
Steve Ralph (he/him) - Pepperdine Professor, Founder of EPIC Impact Society, CEO of Open Ingenuity, Licensed LEGO SERIOUS PLAY Methods Trainer for Strategic Play Global
Dr. Steve Ralph is passionate about catalyzing ingenuity in those he comes into contact with. He is the founder and CEO of Open Ingenuity, a practice that focuses on designing and delivering customized workshops and retreats for organizations focused on fostering creative leadership, building innovative teams and work cultures.
Dr. Ralph is also the founder and president of the EPIC Impact Society, an education and arts based nonprofit organization that produces the annual creativity and social innovation conference, EPIC International Summit. The Summit has been recognized in a variety of industry rankings, including being recognized as one of the top 15 most innovative meetings in North America (BizBash) and has featured leaders from organizations such as Disney, NASA/JPL, Lionsgate and award-winning actors, entrepreneurs and educators.
Dr. Ralph serves as a faculty member with Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School, where he teaches courses in creativity and innovation, leadership, and team dynamics. His research interests are centered in creativity and innovation, with special focus in personal disruption, leadership development, pause practices and the impact of exponential technology. He is also a certified facilitator in the FourSight Thinking Assessment and a Licensed LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® methods trainer with Strategic Play Global.
Dave Green (he/him) - Founder/Chief Mysterious Officer at Mystery Trip
"Dave Green is the Founder and Chief Mysterious Officer of Mystery Trip, where he designs playful, surprise-driven team bonding experiences that help people connect like humans, not coworkers. For over 15 years, he’s turned cities across North America into unexpected adventures for teams and conferences looking for something more memorable than the usual offsite.
His work has been featured by CNN, Forbes, The Boston Globe, Society for Human Resource Management, and Smart Meetings. Mystery Trip was named a Top 50 Vendor by Cvent in 2025 and 2026, and Dave was recognized on BizBash’s BizBash 500 list of the most influential event professionals.
He lives in Los Angeles, but will forever have Philadelphia wooder running through his veins."
Connect: LinkedIn | Website | Facebook | Instagram
Stacey Stowell (she/her) - CEO at Stowell Leadership Group, LLC
Stacey Stowell is the CEO and Co-Founder of Stowell Leadership Group, where she serves as a trusted advisor to executives and boards navigating complex organizational challenges. Stacey helps leaders create clarity, alignment, and sustainable results. She is known for her practical, people-centered approach, bridging strategy with real-world execution to strengthen teams and cultures.
Stacey holds a master’s degree in management and leadership from Pepperdine University and is a certified Hogan assessment expert. Her work spans multiple industries, where she partners with senior leaders across nonprofit and for-profit organizations to strengthen leadership effectiveness, improve team collaboration, and drive meaningful change.
She is dedicated to helping teams grow and collaborate effectively while building connected, high-trust cultures where people feel valued and empowered to do their best work.
Connect: LinkedIn
Host of the Joyful Connection Masterclass
Charley 'Sparkle' Lapomardo (they/them) - Speaker, Singer, and Facilitator | Founder of Sparkleworks
Charley ‘Sparkle’ Lapomardo is a dynamic Speaker, Singer, and Facilitator. They founded Sparkleworks in service of a joyful world where all beings are free to sparkle.
Their career is driven by the question: “How might we design experiences that activate and recharge sparkle?”
The Sparkle Methodology is rooted in ongoing testing and refinement with participants, friends, and colleagues.
Before freelancing for 2 years as an Event Host, Facilitator, and Emcee, Charley spent 5 years as a Lead User Researcher and Community Culture Manager at Wayfair and 2 years as a Retail Analyst at TJX. They hold a BBA in Marketing, Theater, and Media Literacy from UMass Amherst.
Sparkle sings with the San Diego Women’s Chorus, Encore Vocal Ensemble, and Sonic Bloom Quartet.
Connect: LinkedIn | Website | Instagram | YouTube
What is the Connection Crew by Covve?
The Olympic training team for connection professionals. A community of people passionate about connection and inspired to take action to flatten the loneliness epidemic curve. Leveraging our diverse skill sets, we come together to learn from and amplify each other’s impact in the world. We grow together and are stronger by sharing wisdom and having a team to go through this journey.
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” - Hellen Keller
Who is in the Connection Crew? Here is a sample of the inspiring humans you may connect with:
Zach Blumenfeld, Co-Founder at CultureCon
Yiannis Gavrielides, Co-Founder & CEO at Covve
Dr. Vaneeta Sandhu, Head of Learning & Clinical Product Operations at Coa
Tim Jones, Founder & Executive Director at Longer Tables
Tes Cohen, Founder + CEO at Transformative Gatherings
Taylor Harrington, Head of Community at Groove
Steven Michael Crane, Researcher, Behavior Designer: Stanford School of Medicine
Steve Haase, Co-Founder at Superabound
Sondra Norris, Culture Consultant, Coach, Researcher
Sherry Belul, Founder at Simply Celebrate
Sean Harvey, Founder at Warrior Compassion
Sara Schairer, Founder & Executive Director at Compassion It
Robin Landsong, Creative Producer, Landsong Studios
Richard Lee-Thai, Founder at ExcusesToConnect
Rachel Rozen, Founder & CEO at Connection Catalyst
Phivos Hadjinicolaou, Writer at Bond&Quill
Payal Beri, Global Empathy Speaker & Social Impact Founder at RK Empathy Inc.
Paul Jones, Founder at Bridgio
Patti Traglio, Client Relationship Manager at GigTalent
Dr. Niraj (Raj) Nijhawan, Founder at Life Ecology Organization
Nikki Haritatos, Creativity Coach at Find Your Delight
Nicole Martin, Program Manager - Culture at WHEDA
Nick Lombardino, Co-Founder at Culture Con
Nathan Obokoh, Interdisciplinary Artist and Storyteller at Nathan Obokoh Artistic
Mónica Nainsztein, Ideator at Localipsum
Melina Kontou, Head of Marketing at Covve
Megan Wheeler, Founder & CEO, Spoken
Marta Riggins, Strategic Consultant: Employer Brand, Employee Engagement, Social Impact
Mariella Torres, Founder at Mariella Torres Advising
Linda Brandt, Founder & Co-Organizer of Lean In Together MSP
Lia James, Human Experience Advisor at &Human
Laura Zug, Community Strategist & Founder at The Hive
Lara Storm, Co-Founder at Make Believe Works
Kindra Maples, Founder at Culture Crush Business
Kevin Monroe, World's Gratitude Coach
Katya Davydova, Founder & Coach at Effervescent You
Kamilla Pinel, Founder, Speaker, and Leadership Coach at You Dream You Do
Johnny Levy, CEO at DataJoe
Jessie Jacob, Sr. Community Engagement Manager at Culture Amp
Jenny Sauer-Klein, Founder + CEO at the Scaling Intimacy School of Experience Design
Dr. Jenn Gunsaullus, Sociologist, Relationship Speaker, Intimacy Coach, and Author
Jason Meucci, VP Facilitation & Coaching at Take Flight Learning
Jan Keck, Trainer, Facilitator, Experience Designer
Héðinn Sveinbjörnsson, Founder of Handson Coaching
Hansen Hunt, Head of Community at Covve
Gary Ware, Founder & Facilitator at Breakthrough Play
Garry Ridge, Culture Coach & Founder, The Learning Moment & Chairman Emeritus WD-40 Company
Erin Crumley, Talent Development Consultant at SCAN Health Plan
Eleanor Dizon, Prevention Science Scholar & Community Leader
Devinne Jackson, Director of People and Culture
Devin Keane, Chief Operating Officer at Gratitude Plus
Dan Moyle, HubSpot Advisor at Impulse Creative
Craig Forman, Founder at CultureCraig
Christy Tonge, CEO of LeadersGetReal
Charley Lapomardo, Experience Facilitator and Founder of Sparkleworks
Cat Moore, Founder of The Belonging Studio
Carrie Klewin Lawrence, Strategic Storytelling Expert and Author of Origin Story
Brian Mohr, Co-Founder at Anthym
Brian Helfman, Founder & Chief Experience Officer at Third Nature
Brandy Cerne, Brand Strategist at BrandByBrandy
Beth Ridley, CEO at Ridley Consultants
Ben Swire, Co-Founder at Make Believe Works
Baily Hancock, Connection Strategist, Workshop Facilitator, and Keynote Speaker at Overlap Collective
Ashley Jones, Founder at Momento Foundation
Ariana Friedlander, Founding member of Groove
Andrea Diaz, Founder of Casa Cinco
Amy Clanin, Founder, Executive Direcotr, and Learning Experience Designer at Design Pathways
Allison Gilbert, Emmy award-winning Journalist and Author
Alina Tomeh, Portfolio Manager at Mindful Philanthropy
Acey Holmes, Founder at BoredLess
You?
What to Expect?
Join us for an interactive and engaging session filled with connection exercises that are both fun and insightful. Our expert-led activities are designed to not only teach but also provide a platform for meaningful interactions. You’ll engage in practical scenarios that mirror real-world challenges.
So, if you're ready to be energized by connection, to laugh and learn with the best in the field, and to be part of a high-quality gathering of like-minded professionals, this workshop is for you.
A few reactions about a previous experience:
"This is a can't miss event on my calendar every month."
“Thank you SO much for today. Wow.”
"Surprised by the community focus. Felt at home with like-minded individuals. Rare and cool experience."
"Great session, met amazing people. High-quality gathering. Thanks for the invite, Hansen."
Join us for a unique experience where connection isn't just talked about – it's actively practiced and celebrated.
Spots are limited – reserve your place in this gathering of connection experts today!