Worcester Event Speaker Inspires Kindness And Compassion

From "OC Today"

Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, Jan. 13

By Katie Tabeling, Staff Writer
Jan 05, 2017

Dr. Lou Ann Daly

Carrying on the tradition of inspiring the community in the new year, the county chambers of commerce will be hosting the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast for the second year, on Friday, Jan. 13 from 7-9 a.m.

Last year marked the first time that the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, the Ocean Pines Chamber of Commerce, the Berlin Chamber of Commerce, the Snow Hill Chamber of Commerce and the Pocomoke Chamber of Commerce banded together to put on the event. The breakfast was organized by Bruce Spangler for 25 years before he stepped down.

“This event has been such an inspiration and uplifting morning, where the entire community would come together - including our local citizens, community leaders, elected officials, church congregations, local police and fire departments, the business community, educators and school representatives and nonprofit organizers,” Ocean City Chamber Event Director Lisa Layfield stated in a press release. “It proved to be a perfect fit for us to begin a great partnership last year and continue the long-standing tradition.”

This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Lou Ann Daly, a socio-linguist, educator, author and the co-founder of O! LAD, the Organization for Life Architecture and Design.

“I’ve always helped people see how amazing they are, even when I was a tutor in middle school,” she said. “I love helping people see their strengths – and with linguistic studies, I can do it more rapidly.”

Daly holds a doctorate in sociolinguistics, the study of social factors in language, from Georgetown University. She served as the chair of Communication Arts at Salisbury University.

Daly also served on the faculty at the School for Managing and Leading Change, Lesley University School of Management. She later moved to administrative work and served on the Executive Minds for Social Innovation in Boston to bring best practices from business enterprises to the nonprofit world.

She has written two books, “Counterintuitive” and “Human Being: Creating your life from the inside out.” The latter book includes a soul grid that is used to recognizing unconscious choices that block insight and creativity.

In 2000, Daly and her business partner, Lynn Potoff, started O! LAD. The organization helps individuals and teams in businesses identify thinking patterns that undermine their strengths, and create a work plan that aligns with their passions. Past clients include a spectrum of industries such as Fortune 50 and 100 companies, nonprofits and universities.

Daly said she delivers two address a year on average, and is delighted that the prayer breakfast is one of them.

“I don’t focus on public speaking, but I love Ocean City,” she said. “I lived there, I have friends there and this is returning to a place I love.”

She added that her speech during the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast will be directed toward bringing internal emotions and thoughts to outside life, using the soul grid as a guide.

“It’s all about the integration of kindness and compassion with your desire for results,” Daly said.

In the new year, Daly hopes that people will begin to see the brighter side of life.

“Laugh and lighten up!” she said. “It’s easier to enjoy life when you find the funnier things in it.”

The Mayor’s Breakfast, which will include a hot buffet, will be held at the Clarion Fontainebleau Hotel on 101st Street. Tickets cost $20 per person. Table sponsorships are also available.

Tickets can be purchased at the Ocean City Chamber Visitors Center in West Ocean City, Ocean Pines Chamber, Berlin Chamber or the Pocomoke Chamber. Tickets can also be purchased online at chamber.oceancity.org.