To recognize the hard work and dedication of Cal State San Bernardino employees, all faculty, staff and administrators are invited to the third annual Employee Development Day and Appreciation Picnic on Thursday, Sept. 13, and Friday, Sept. 14.“Acknowledgement and recognition are important elements to how we build our campus community. We value the commitment and hard work of all of our employees,” said César Portillo, assistant vice president of human resources and Employee Appreciation Picnic chair, and Rowena Woidyla, director of Leadership Development & Employee Enrichment and Employee Development Day chair. “Here at CSUSB, our successes are possible because of the involvement of our staff, faculty and administrators in our vision, mission and core values.”The two-day event kicks off with a Coyote Social Hour at 8 a.m. in the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration (JHBC) lobby, complete with a light continental breakfast and beverages. Following the social hour, CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales and Employee Development Day planning team members will provide the opening remarks in Room 102 in the JHBC building. The opening remarks will also be available to view via Zoom video conferencing.Day one will feature keynote speaker Ellen Contente with her talk “Workplace Change & Resiliency” from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the JHBC building, Room 102.Contente is the founder of Heart-Centered Programs — a training and coaching company — and an international speaker and seminar leader. As a professional trainer and coach, she has worked with thousands of professionals across the United States. She is a best-selling author of “M& M’s: Motivational Musings to Live an Inspired Life” and co-author of “Rock your Life.” Contente is also a featured contributor to her local newspaper and Life by Me.Both day one and day two will feature a series of learning sessions, which are grouped by categories: 

  • career and professional development;
  • diversity and inclusion; and
  • health and wellness.

All sessions (except the Wellness Walk) will take place in either the JHBC building or John M. Pfau Library. For more information about each session and to register, visit the Employee Development Day website.The Employee Appreciation Picnic will take place the second day, Friday, Sept. 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the John M. Pfau Library lawn. The menu will include BBQ beef, chicken and black bean vegan sliders; grilled corn; macaroni, potato and quinoa salads; watermelon and assorted desserts. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy music, play games, win prizes and participate in a photo booth.Divisions will also have a chance to compete in a donation contest to benefit the Obershaw DEN food pantry. Employees are asked to donate non-perishable food and hygiene items, which will be sorted and weighed during the Employee Appreciation Picnic. The division with the most donations will win bragging rights and receive a DEN trophy. Visit the Employee Development Day website for more information about the contest and for a list of preferred items.Employee Development Day and the Employee Appreciation Picnic were made possible through the efforts of the CSUSB Staff Development Center and Human Resources. For more information and to register for the Employee Appreciation Picnic and for any of the Employee Development Day sessions, visit the Employee Development Day website.