Session 6B: Thriving Leadership in the CAC World

Caren Dean, Ph.D., is the Senior Director of People and Culture at Project Harmony, a non-profit Child Advocacy Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Over the last 15 years Dr. Dean has been working in Human Resources with a primary focus on creating human capital strategies that build the strength of an organization through leadership, engagement and culture. Dr. Dean has over 20 years of leadership development, coaching and consulting, Dr. Dean has great depth in knowledge of end to end cycle of human resources, organizational training and development, organizational engagement and creating cultures that invest in the growth and development of the employee journey. Dr. Dean is a Gallup Strengths coach and Wellbeing coach. She is passionate about inspiring, motivating and making a positive and measurable impact on individuals, teams and organizations she works with. As a collegiate athlete and a study of Behavioral Cognitive Psychology, Clinical Social Work and Human Capital Management, Dr. Dean has always been motivated by figuring out how people can be thrive, and bring their best self to work and life everyday. Dr. Dean received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from San Diego State University, and a Doctorate in Human Capital Management from the Business school at Bellevue University in Nebraska. She is a certified ATD Executive Coach, Gallup CliftonStrengths Coach and certified Emergenetics consultant and trainer.

Gene Klein, LCSW, is the Executive Director of Project Harmony, a non-profit Child Advocacy Center in Omaha, Nebraska providing services to enhance the quality of child abuse investigations. Mr. Klein has over 34 years of leadership experience in agencies serving children and families. He has served on the board of directors for the National Children’s Alliance in Washington, D.C., the Nebraska Foster Care Review Board, the Governor’s Commission for the Protection of Children, and the Omaha Archdiocese Review Board for the Protection of Children. Mr. Klein has served as a grant peer reviewer for the Department of Justice (OJJDP) as well as an Accreditation Reviewer for the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) for more than 10 years. Mr. Klein holds a bachelor’s degree from Creighton University and a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He is also a licensed Mental Health Practitioner. He is a certified as an Emergenetics Business Associate, and well as a certified Emotional Intelligence (EQ-i) coach.