10 Years Together-
Renewing our Capacity for Change
What: Great Lakes Motivational Interviewing Conference
When: August 5-7, 2026
Where: Madison, Wisconsin
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a highly flexible and powerful approach to helping practitioners address behavioral change and growth for their clients and patients. MI is particularly useful because it can be applied to a variety of situations and settings, including behavioral health, human services, health care, education, corrections, business and more.
This summer, we invite you to explore how the practice of MI can improve your clients’ engagement, resulting in transformative outcomes.
The interactive Great Lakes Motivational Interviewing Conference will share best practices, build skills and promote interprofessional networking. Breakout sessions will be offered at various levels, targeting students, providers who are new to MI and seasoned practitioners.
We look forward to welcoming you to the beautiful city of Madison, where you can learn more about this evidence-based practice, hone your skills and network with other MI practitioners and trainers from the Midwest.
Please direct questions to [email protected]
When: August 5-7, 2026
Where: Madison, Wisconsin
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a highly flexible and powerful approach to helping practitioners address behavioral change and growth for their clients and patients. MI is particularly useful because it can be applied to a variety of situations and settings, including behavioral health, human services, health care, education, corrections, business and more.
This summer, we invite you to explore how the practice of MI can improve your clients’ engagement, resulting in transformative outcomes.
The interactive Great Lakes Motivational Interviewing Conference will share best practices, build skills and promote interprofessional networking. Breakout sessions will be offered at various levels, targeting students, providers who are new to MI and seasoned practitioners.
We look forward to welcoming you to the beautiful city of Madison, where you can learn more about this evidence-based practice, hone your skills and network with other MI practitioners and trainers from the Midwest.
Please direct questions to [email protected]
Details
This conference will be held at the Best Western Premiere Park Hotel in Madison, Wisconsin.
Pre-Conference: Wednesday, August 5, 2026 8:00am-4:00pm
Conference: Thursday, August 6-Friday 8:00am-4:15pm, August 7, 2026 8:00am-12:00pm
Learning Objectives:
Pre-Conference: Wednesday, August 5, 2026 8:00am-4:00pm
Conference: Thursday, August 6-Friday 8:00am-4:15pm, August 7, 2026 8:00am-12:00pm
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the purpose, benefits and limitations of MI
- Identify key concepts, attitudes, processes, skills and strategies of MI
- Identify best practices for using MI across professions
- Describe how MI can be used as part of an interprofessional team
- Plan how to incorporate MI skills into your professional practice
Keynote Speakers
Jess Sneed
Jess Sneed (they/them) is a Motivational Interviewing trainer, facilitator, and instructional designer with experience developing and delivering behavior change training and curricula for behavioral and mental health startups.
Jess graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Gender and Sexuality Studies. Jess is a passionate helper who takes a holistic, trauma-informed approach to helping folks make changes in their lives.
They became a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers in 2022 and have been working with a group of MINTies to uncover and define this new horizon with MI called Macro MI. Since beginning this work, Jess has co-facilitated several presentations and is excited to continue co-creating and training Macro.
Jess Sneed (they/them) is a Motivational Interviewing trainer, facilitator, and instructional designer with experience developing and delivering behavior change training and curricula for behavioral and mental health startups.
Jess graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Gender and Sexuality Studies. Jess is a passionate helper who takes a holistic, trauma-informed approach to helping folks make changes in their lives.
They became a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers in 2022 and have been working with a group of MINTies to uncover and define this new horizon with MI called Macro MI. Since beginning this work, Jess has co-facilitated several presentations and is excited to continue co-creating and training Macro.
Carol DeFrancesco
Carol DeFrancesco, MALS, RDN grew up skipping stones and hunting for Petoskeys on the shores of Lake Huron. She moved west to begin research and clinical work at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) training under Denise Ernst, PhD and working on Denise’s MITI coding team. Carol’s areas of research include health promotion utilizing MI with long-haul truckers and fire fighters, mindfulness and stress research with corrections professionals and qualitative interviewing in addiction medicine. Carol completed her TNT in 2000 and was selected as a trainer for MINT sponsored TNTs in New Orleans (2018), Tallinn, Estonia (2019) and virtual TNTs in 2020, 2023, 2025. She teaches a 12-week course in MI to graduate level nutrition and nursing students at OHSU fostering more spacious listening in healthcare interactions.
Carol DeFrancesco, MALS, RDN grew up skipping stones and hunting for Petoskeys on the shores of Lake Huron. She moved west to begin research and clinical work at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) training under Denise Ernst, PhD and working on Denise’s MITI coding team. Carol’s areas of research include health promotion utilizing MI with long-haul truckers and fire fighters, mindfulness and stress research with corrections professionals and qualitative interviewing in addiction medicine. Carol completed her TNT in 2000 and was selected as a trainer for MINT sponsored TNTs in New Orleans (2018), Tallinn, Estonia (2019) and virtual TNTs in 2020, 2023, 2025. She teaches a 12-week course in MI to graduate level nutrition and nursing students at OHSU fostering more spacious listening in healthcare interactions.
Agenda
Who Should Attend
The conference is for any helping professional who works directly with clients who are reluctant to change their attitudes, behaviors and/or thoughts. This training experience should be helpful for participants who have never learned about MI, have forgotten what they learned about MI or want a good review in order to recommit to this evidence based practice. It is designed for those who want beginning to advancing professionals working across the United States, including but not limited to:
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Registration Information
Pricing
Value |
Conference Bundle (Pre-Conference and Conference) |
Pre-Conference Only |
Conference Only |
Student Rate |
$195 |
$75 |
$150 |
Regular Pricing (May 1-July 20) |
$575 |
$300 |
$375 |
Late Registration (July 21-August 6) |
$650 |
$375 |
$475 |
Lunch will be on your own.
Lodging
There will be a room block available at the Best Western Premiere Park Hotel.
Address: 22 S Carroll St, Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 285-8000
Address: 22 S Carroll St, Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 285-8000
Continuing Education
Total possible Continuing Education Units:
Pre-Conference: 6 credit hours
Conference: 9.5 credit hours
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Continuing Education will email conference Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to the email address listed on participant’s registration. Participation will be verified and CEUs sent prior to September 1, 2026. Be sure to check-in at each session, to ensure the correct processing of your CEUs. CEUs are earned by participating in live sessions.
Pre-Conference: 6 credit hours
Conference: 9.5 credit hours
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s School of Continuing Education will email conference Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to the email address listed on participant’s registration. Participation will be verified and CEUs sent prior to September 1, 2026. Be sure to check-in at each session, to ensure the correct processing of your CEUs. CEUs are earned by participating in live sessions.
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