Agenda
Session II is designed around leading others. During this session participants will explore how to lead and motivate teams through enrichment programs about how to work with others and manage conflict.
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
| Time | Activity | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Welcome | Texas A&M Forest Service |
| 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Learning Principles for Challenging Engagements | Dr. Thomas Easley – The Easley Branch, LLC |
| 6:30 PM | Dinner with Texas A&M Forest Service | The Canteen |
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
| Time | Activity | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 7:15 AM – 8:00 AM | Breakfast | N/A |
| 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Managing Conflict: Strategies for Communicating with the Disagreeable | Dr. Steven Beebe – Texas State University |
| 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Lunch | N/A |
| 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Generational Learning | Amy Hays – For Science Sake |
| 6:30 PM | Dinner on your own | Group reservation available at Red’s Ice House |
Thursday, April 9, 2026
| Time | Activity | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 7:15 AM – 8:00 AM | Breakfast | N/A |
| 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Coaching | Frank Keck – Core Build Solutions Inc. |
| 10:30 AM | Headshots | N/A |
| 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch and Graduation | Texas A&M Forest Service |
Speakers
Thomas RaShad Easley, Ed.D.
Founder and CEO
Easley Branch, LLC
Dr. Thomas R. Easley has spent most of his career focused on and reframing the recruitment, retention, and diverse talent in natural resource disciplines.
Dr. Easley earned his undergraduate degree in Forest Science from Alabama A&M University, his master’s degree in Forest Genetics from Iowa State University, and his doctorate in Adult Education at North Carolina State University.
Easley has served as the Assistant Dean of Community and Inclusion in the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University and the Diversity Director of the College of Natural Resources at NC State University. As a professor, Easley designed numerous courses and leveraged his background in forestry/genetics/education to do community workshops, course lectures, and provide diversity facilitation.
Along with Easley’s academic experience, he is also an Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America) and an ecumenical minister. Lastly, Dr. Easley is a musician and is known by RaShad in the world of music. His art is called “Save Your Life Music” because he puts a message of love, embracing self, and helping others in his music.
Steven A. Beebe, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Texas State University
Dr. Steven A. Beebe (Ph.D. University of Missouri-Columbia) is Regents’ and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Communication Studies at Texas State University. He served as Chair of his department at Texas State for 28 years and concurrently as Associate Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication for 25 years. Prior to joining the faculty at Texas State he was a tenured member of the Communication faculty at the University of Miami for 10 years.
He is author and co-author of fourteen books (with editions totaling more than 75 books) that have been used at hundreds of colleges and universities throughout the world (including international, Canadian, Russian and Chinese editions) by several million students. He has authored or co-authored more than 60 articles and book chapters, plus more than 160 papers and presentations at professional conferences. Steve’s research, focuses on instructional communication and communication skill development and has appeared in such journals as Communication Education, Human Communication, Communication Research Reports, and several Russian academic journals.
Amy Hays
For Science Sake
Amy E. Hays is the founder and principal consultant of For Science Sake and co-author of Science Story Speak: Cultivating Your Agricultural Story (2024), a practical guide that helps scientists and agricultural professionals translate complex science into stories that build trust and support evidence-based decision-making. Her work focuses on generational intelligence, adult learning, and the human dimensions of conservation.
Amy brings more than three decades of experience working across the natural resource sector, including rangeland ecology, production agriculture, wildlife conservation, landscape analysis, and water resource management. Her career has included research, outreach, and leadership roles with the Oka’ Institute at East Central University, Noble Research Institute, Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
She has authored publications and developed training programs on generational intelligence in environmental decision-making, helping leaders understand how values, life experiences, and generational perspectives influence motivation, communication, and teamwork. Her workshops and training sessions incorporate adult learning principles, audience motivations, and emerging tools, including AI, to help professionals strengthen science representation and communication.
Frank Keck
Core Build Solutions Inc., CEO
Frank Keck’s driving force in life is to be a catalyst in the pursuit of “Idealness”. In other words, helping people move closer to their ideal state in life. His driving force is motivated by values of authenticity, curiosity and adventure. Keck began his professional speaking career in 1990. Zig Ziglar is among the speakers that inspired him to pursue his passion. Thanks to a natural ability and fine-tuning while working at Dale Carnegie, Keck has become an expert at dealing with people. He focuses on behavior change, whether he is delivering content on leadership, team building or culture shaping. Keck truly is the “People Whisperer”. Keck utilizes humor, encouraging audiences to be focused, but to not to take themselves too seriously—enjoying life while challenging themselves. He leaves audiences energized and enlightened with the skills to produce positive effects in their personal and professional lives. What makes Keck remarkable is the effect he has on individuals and groups. He is able to connect with people and help them grow with a simple tool: questions. When Keck facilitates content or conversation, he asks questions encouraging the participants to think on a deeper level.
“Frank Keck has launched our organization into a level of leadership unseen in our history.” –Bill Stockton, Texas A&M Transportation Institute
“With Frank, you will leave a presentation informed, enlightened with different and unique perspectives on even things you may have taken for granted, and making the complex simpler and very practical. There is a strong possibility you will also be entertained. One thing for sure, you will not be disappointed!“ –John Watson, PMI Northeast Florida