Experience a powerful blend of keynote speakers, interactive sessions, and collaborative conversations designed to inspire growth, build networks, and prepare you for what’s next.
Thursday, April 16
About the Event
Empowered ’26 Connections brings together students, community members, and industry professionals for a collaborative learning experience focused on leadership, confidence, and career readiness. Open to all, the event intentionally centers and elevates female and gender-expansive individuals pursuing technical and workforce pathways.
Participants will engage in interactive sessions designed to build communication and leadership skills, strengthen professional networks, and gain strategies for success beyond technical training. Men are encouraged to participate as collaborators and allies, contributing to inclusive conversations and stronger workplace cultures.
Two Sessions * Two Campuses
Staples Campus- Common Area
9:00 am -12:00 pm
Keynote: Lisa Bjerga, President and CEO of Lakewood Health System
Featuring: Riaz Patel’s ConnectEffect, a transformative entertainment experience paired with engaging roundtable conversations
Brainerd Campus – Gymnasium
2:00 pm-5:00 pm
Keynote: Cindy Clough, Executive Director of Just for Kix and Head Coach Brainerd Warrior Dance Team “The Kixters”
Featuring: Riaz Patel’s ConnectEffect, a transformative entertainment experience paired with engaging roundtable conversations
Our Purpose
With five generations working side-by-side, Empowered ’26 Connections celebrates the power of shared experiences and new perspectives. Made possible by a grant from the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, this event is designed to strengthen mentorship, collaboration, and economic empowerment in technical pathways.
We invite students, advisory committee members, and the broader community to join us.
Lisa Bjerga
President and CEO, Lakewood Health Systems
Lisa Bjerga serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Lakewood Health System, an independent rural healthcare provider based in Staples, Minnesota. Since joining the organization in 2008, Ms. Bjerga has held multiple leadership roles, including Finance Director, Revenue Cycle Director, Vice President of Finance and Revenue Cycle, and Chief Financial Officer, prior to her appointment as CEO in early 2023.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Economics from St. Cloud State University, an MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Management from the University of St. Mary, and maintains an active CPA license. Ms. Bjerga has received national recognition for her professional accomplishments and is actively engaged in numerous regional and national associations and committees. She resides in the Motley area with her husband, Dan, and two children, Gage and Garrett. As a family, they spend many weekends at wrestling tournaments, and enjoy spending time together outdoors.
Cindy Clough
Executive Director, Just for Kix
Head Coach Brainerd Warrior Dance Team “The Kixters”
Cindy Clough is the Founder and Executive Director of Just For Kix, a national youth dance organization that has expanded to 200 locations across 13 states and serves more than 30,000 dancers each year. She oversees dance programming, nationwide summer camps, large-scale performance tours, and a major retail division supporting dancers across the country.
A celebrated coach since 1976, Cindy has led the Brainerd Warrior Dance Team to 10 state championships, a National High Kick title, and 21 consecutive Top-3 state finishes. She has choreographed over 35 collegiate bowl-game halftime shows and helped elevate the sport statewide as co-founder of the Minnesota Association of Dance Teams. Her accolades include multiple Hall of Fame inductions and back-to-back Minnesota AAA Coach of the Year awards in 2024 and 2025.
Riaz Patel
Executive Producer/Director
2 Emmy & NAACP-Image Award Nominated Creator, ConnectEffect
As a producer, director or development executive in Hollywood, Riaz’s projects have been nominated for all major awards: Emmy, Oscar, Golden Globe, Tony & NAACP Image Award.
With a background in Psychology, Riaz’s TV series, media projects – and most recently, two Broadway shows – create transformative & ‘perspective-shifting’ experiences for audiences. They have been filmed in twenty-one countries and distributed worldwide by companies such as Discovery, AMC, A&E, NBC/Universal, Netflix, Hulu and others.
Logo design created by Rebekah, a talented student from the CLC Graphic Design Program, showcasing creativity, professionalism, and the innovative spirit of our students.