CHISPA of Innovation Summit

Empowering Employees to Innovate

A summit that gave employees a platform to present innovative ideas directly to executive leadership, celebrating creativity and collaboration across the organization.

The CHISPA of Innovation Summit invited employees from across the organization to share their ideas for improvement, transforming creativity into action. Submissions poured in and the top ten ideas were selected. Those employees were flown to Austin where they presented directly to a panel of executive leaders including the Chief Communications Officer, the Chief of the Unaccompanied Children Program, the Vice President of Project Management, the Vice President of Digital Transformation, and the Director of Procurement and Contract Services.

As the Internal Communications Manager, I supported the planning and coordination of the summit alongside national and regional stakeholders, helped employees prepare to present their ideas, and ensured the event was effectively communicated across the organization. I worked with the communications team to design promotional materials, captured event highlights through photography and videography, and collaborated with the copywriter and Social Media Manager to share outcomes with staff nationwide.

Through this initiative, I applied my skills in communications, employee engagement, and event planning to bring the summit to life. The project not only showcased innovation but also strengthened connections across departments and empowered employees to see themselves as changemakers.

Together We Made it Happen

Communications Team
  • Chief of Communications
  • Internal Communications Manager
  • Brand & Project Manager
  • Social Media Manager
  • Graphic Design and Production Specialist
  • Multimedia Specialist
  • Copywriter
National Stakeholders
  • Unaccompanied Children’s (UC) Program Division
  • Legal
  • Human Resources
  • Procurement
  • Finance
  • Project Management
  • Digital Transformation Office
Regional Stakeholders
  • South Texas UC Programs
  • Houston UC Programs
  • El Paso UC Programs
  • Arizona UC Programs
  • California UC Programs
  • Wellness Coordinators
  • Community Engagement Coordinators
External Stakeholders
  • VistaPrint
  • Sam’s Club
  • McCarthy Print Inc

Project Insights

The biggest challenge was coordinating efforts across national and regional stakeholders to make sure every detail, from finalist preparation to event logistics, came together smoothly while I was also managing time on and off PTO. I overcame this by building strong communication channels, creating clear materials to guide participants, and maintaining alignment with leadership priorities throughout the process.

I applied my skills in communications, employee engagement, and event planning. I also used interviewing techniques, photography, videography, and collaboration tools to support finalists, capture the summit, and coordinate with stakeholders.

This project pushed me to collaborate with employees across departments and prepare them to present their ideas directly to executive leaders. It required me to be both a coach and a communicator, ensuring participants felt confident and supported while also managing the event’s logistics and communications.

The summit celebrated creativity and empowered employees to see themselves as innovators. It not only gave staff a platform to share their best ideas but also fostered collaboration, strengthened cross-department relationships, and showed that leadership valued employee voices.

I will carry forward the importance of creating platforms that amplify employee ideas and voices. This project taught me how to balance logistical planning with creating space for authentic expression, which I will apply to future initiatives that require both precision and creativity.

I am most proud of helping employees prepare to present their ideas and seeing their confidence shine during the summit. Being part of a project that turned creativity into action and positioned employees as changemakers was deeply rewarding.

Participants expressed gratitude for the support they received, and leadership recognized the value of the event as a driver of innovation. This feedback reinforced my commitment to designing experiences that celebrate employee contributions and foster organizational growth.

I learned that leadership involves creating opportunities for others to lead. By supporting employees to present their ideas and ensuring they felt heard at the executive level, I saw how empowering others can spark innovation and build lasting confidence

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