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Rock The Empty Nest
30 world-class experts share their powerful strategies, insights, inspiration and resources so you can proactively prepare for this next exciting phase of life after the kids leave home.
We are turning the empty nesting experience around: instead of fretting about your newly quiet house, we invite you to focus on you, on new possibilities and how to prepare for your future!
Hosted by Lisa Waltuch & Jennifer Sullivan
Co-Founders of Encore Retreats
When was the last time you did a deep dive into your financial planning, insurance, and personal logistics? How have your expenses and priorities changed as your kids have gotten older?
After taking care of your family for so many years, is it time to revisit selfcare? Do you have nurturing and healthy routines now that you have more time to yourself?
Do you find yourself sharing your nest with your partner, who has become somewhat of a stranger?
Do you ask yourself, “Who am I now?” Are you ready to reclaim your identity and find meaning, joy and fulfillment with a new direction?
You are not alone! The Rock The Empty Nest conference has you covered with incredible ideas, perspectives, and action items from 30 experts in fields from financial planning and downsizing, aging, sleep and nutrition, relationships and dating, and creating your future. Together, we’ll help you take flight!
You’ll learn from our wise speakers who will be discussing empty nesting in terms of…
LOGISTICS
Money Mindfulness
Financial Planning
Estate Planning
Real Estate
Downsizing
WELLNESS
Fitness
Nutrition
Sleep
Mental Health
Menopause
Aging
RELATIONSHIPS
With Yourself
Your Partner
Dating
Independent Children
Aging Parents
Friends
WHAT’S NEXT?
Rethinking Aging
Careers
Design Thinking
Intuition
Reinvention
Renewal
ALL ABOUT TRAVEL
Alternative Travel
Luxury Travel
Educational Travel
Solo Travel
Travel Hacking
International Housesitting
Learn from these 30 leaders, thinkers and practitioners who will help you create a plan for your best life after empty nesting.
Theme One | Logistics
Money Mindfulness
Erin Papworth
Founder and CEO Nav.it
Financial Health: the Key to Well-Being
Financial Planning
Jen Sapel
CEO at Utor Wealth LLC
How to Achieve Your Retirement Goals
Estate Planning
Shreya B. Ley
Attorney, Co-owner at LayRoots
Safeguard Your Legacy and Protect Your Wealth
Real Estate
Noelle Queen
Real Estate Agent, The Dreyfus Group
Buying, Renting, Moving and More
Downsizing
Julie Riordan
Professional Organizer, Urban Clarity
Simplifying Complex Moves
Theme Two | Wellness
Nutrition
Monica Reinagel
Nutritionist
Beating the Midlife Spread
Fitness
Sarah Gascon, PhD
Olympic Athlete & Scholar
How to Live an Active and Vigorous Life
Sleep
Sharon Maroukel, PhD
Behavioral Sleep Medicine Fellow
The Science, Power & Importance of Sleep
Menopause
Dr. Keira Barr
Dermatologist and
Menopause Specialist
Navigating Mind and Body Changes
Aging
Dr. Louise Aronson
Geriatrician, Author,
Pulitzer Prize Finalist
A Season of Wisdom and Experience
Mental Health
Nanette Freedland, MFT
Marriage and Family Therapist
Addressing Uncertainty of Empty Nesting
Theme Three | Relationships
Yourself
Dr. Nicole McNichols
University of Washington Professor
Reclaiming Yourself, Your Identity and Your Sensuality
Reconnect with Your Partner
Rhoda Sommer
Couples Therapist, LCSW.
Curiosity and Communication
Couples Focusing Forward
Sheila Battle
Change Agent, Human Services Advocate
Vision Mapping Your Future Together
Your Independent Children
Dr. Ruth Nemzoff
Author, Scholar
Create Deeper Connections and Fulfilling Relationships
Your Aging Parents
Dr. Amy D’Aprix
Gerontological Social Worker, Speaker
Essential Conversations
Dating
Amy Nobile
Founder, Love Amy, Dating Coach,
Dating with Self Awareness and Purpose
Your Friends
Dr. Carole Robin
Interpersonal Dynamics Professor,
Co-Founder Leaders in Tech
Building Exceptional Relationships
Theme Four | What’s Next?
Design Thinking
Lisa Waltuch
Empowerment Coach and Co-Founder of Encore Retreats
Creating an Action Plan for Your Best Life
Careers
Dr. Elizabeth Campbell
Psychologist & Career Counselor
Embracing Change for a Midlife Career Shift
Rethinking Aging
Barbara Waxman
Leadership Coach, Gerontologist
Post-Work but Not Post-Purpose
Intuition
Meredith Vaish
Midlife Mentor, Clarity Coach & Pause Box CEO
How To Trust Yourself: Making Intuitive Decisions At Midlife
Reinvention
Pirie Grossman
Transformational Life Coach/Reinvention Strategist
How to Create Your Next Chapter and Activate Your Reinvention
Renewal
Dr. Linda Hawes Clever
President, RENEW & Clinical Professor of Medicine
The Importance of RENEWing You
Theme Five | All About Travel
Sponsored by
Not-for-profit Road Scholar is the world leader in educational travel for adults.
Travel Differently
Jennifer Sullivan
Encore Retreats Co-Founder and Travel Advisor
Purposeful, Immersive and Alternative Ways to Go
Luxury Travel
Laura Madrid
CEO of Resort to Laura Madrid
Travel The World with an Experienced Professional
Educational Travel
Elizabeth Player Jones
Director, Stanford Travel/Study Program
Transformative Travel Through Education
Solo Travel
Robin Finney
Mastermind of Soulo Travel
How to Travel the World on Your Own
Travel Hacking
Amy Rutherford
Creator of Go With Less
How to Get the Most Out of Your Points and Miles
International House Sitting
Nat & Jodie Smith
Roaming Income Girls
Travel the World and Stay for Free
Learn from these 30 leaders, thinkers and practitioners who will help you create a plan for your best life after empty nesting.
Meet Your Hosts
Meet Jennifer Sullivan and Lisa Waltuch, the dynamic duo behind Encore Retreats! They're on a mission to empower people through self-reflection, exploration, and action.
Jen spent 20 years with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and is now the owner of J. Sullivan Advisors, a boutique travel consultancy, and co-founder of Encore Retreats. She is passionate about purposeful, immersive travel; creating unforgettable experiences for others gives her energy. She is the proud mom of Evan, who is a junior at George Mason University, and Nate, who is a senior in high school, studying to be an electrician. Jen holds a BA from the University of Richmond.
Lisa is an Empowerment Coach at Thrive Coaching helping people design the life they want using Design Thinking, and co-founder of Encore Retreats. Her background in leading creative teams for The Discovery Channel, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Walmart allowed her to mentor clients, colleagues and staff and develop a love of working with people to achieve their goals. She is also the busy mom of Theo, who is a senior in high school, and twins Noa and Eli, who are in 8th grade. Lisa holds a BA from Stanford University and MFA from Rhode Island School of Design.
At Encore Retreats, Jen and Lisa host thought-provoking Community Conversations and lead content-rich experiential retreats around the world that are all about having fun, exploring new ideas, embracing change and moving forward.
FAQs
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No! You can start proactively building your empty nest at any point. In fact, the earlier you start, the better!
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Nope! If you ever plan on retiring, we have content for you.
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No, you can access the conference directly from your browser or mobile device ~ no downloading required.
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Each interview is about 30-40 minutes long.