Agenda

Keynote Session: Leading During a Crisis

8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. MT

Takes place in Alpine 1 and 2

(CPE: 1.0 Specialized Knowledge)

David Holsten, President and CEO, Mission Aviation Fellowship

An unanticipated crisis can paralyze a ministry’s pursuit of its mission while consuming critically important resources. With lessons learned from a uniquely challenging season of ministry, Mission Aviation Fellowship’s President and CEO, David Holsten, will candidly share how MAF’s executive leaders navigated a series of complex organizational crises.

Learning objectives:

Analyze the types of crises a global ministry may encounter

Identify the burden leaders carry during times of crisis

Assess ways your organization can prepare for the unexpected

Breakout Sessions by Role

9:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. MT

CEO Discussion: Leader Care and the Impact on Trust

Takes place in Alpine 3 and 4

(CPE: 1.5 Specialized Knowledge)

Michael Martin, President and CEO, ECFA

Jake Lapp, VP of Member Accountability, ECFA

Healthy leadership is crucial to ministry effectiveness and trust. Join Michael Martin and Jake Lapp as they share about ECFA’s new Excellence in Leader Care Standard. This session will highlight the importance of investing in holistic leader care based on biblical principles. You will be equipped with practical insights on why the holistic integrity of leaders is vital to ministry flourishing and how governance plays a key role in proactively supporting healthy leadership. Godly governance is the foundation for Christ-centered ministries to build trust and have a lasting impact on the next generation. 

Learning objectives: 

Define the importance of leader care and how a ministry’s board can serve as the catalyst for building trust

Recognize how healthy leaders lead to healthy ministries

Identify where to start when providing intentional care for leaders

CFO Discussion: International Grantmaking – Perils and Promise

Takes place in Alpine 1 and 2

(CPE: 1.5 Taxes)

Ted Batson, Jr., Partner, Tax Counsel, and Professional Practice Leader – Tax, CapinCrouse

Chris Purnell, Partner and Tax Counsel, CapinCrouse

This session will describe the IRS’s framework for analyzing the sufficiency of an organization’s international grantmaking policy and procedures. We will examine guidance on best practices and review cases that demonstrate how the IRS considers whether an organization’s policies and procedures are compliant.

Learning objectives:

Assess the sufficiency of your organization’s international grantmaking policies and procedures

Bring your organization’s policies and procedures into compliance

Advise your organization’s governing board regarding the organization’s international grantmaking compliance obligations

Group Session: Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools to Address International Challenges

11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. MT

Takes place in Alpine 1 and 2

(CPE: 1.5 Information Technology)

Jason Malec, Director, Gloo AI

As AI technology advances and is adopted more widely, international organizations face unique opportunities and considerations as they assess the possibilities. During this session, we’ll demonstrate practical examples using recommended AI tools and share key tools and tips to help you evaluate the potential role of AI at your organization.

Learning objectives:

Identify what AI is, how it works, and key considerations around using it at international organizations

Recognize and evaluate potential applications for AI in your organization’s operations

Address common issues and apply best practices to incorporate the use of AI in a way that supports your mission and goals

Breakout Sessions by Topic

1:40 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. MT

Christian Investing Ain’t What It Used to Be

Takes place in Alpine 3 and 4

(CPE: 1.0 Finance)

Sarah Newman, Principal, Innovest Portfolio Solutions

Richard Todd, CEO, Principal, and Co-Founder, Innovest Portfolio Solutions

In today’s investing landscape, Christian investors face ethical challenges. This session will provide practical tools and a step-by-step Christian investing process to help you align your financial strategies with your faith. While many investment firms offer Christian strategies, most focus solely on screening violations. Innovest’s approach goes further — incorporating proxy voting and Christian-values assessments. We will also cover the entire fiduciary process and the benefits of a diversified asset allocation. As Christians, we have the opportunity to take a stand, influence our culture, and make a meaningful impact. This presentation will highlight ways you can align your investments with your Christian mission and values.

Learning objectives:

Identify the steps in the Christian investing process to help align financial strategies with biblical teachings beyond traditional screening violations

Recognize the important role of evaluating proxy voting firms and conducting Christian-values assessments to enhance the ethical alignment of investment portfolios with Christian values

Summarize the fiduciary process and benefits of a diversified asset allocation along with Christians' ability to influence the culture through Christian-Values Investing

Futureproof Finance – Strategic Leadership for Global Growth

Takes place in Alpine 1 and 2

(CPE: 1.0 Finance)

Aeron Sullivan, Founder and CEO, Pangea Technologies, Inc.

Brian Divine, Co-Founder and Head of Sales and Partnerships, Pangea Technologies, Inc.

This session will take a forward-looking perspective to help equip top-level executives with the tools to ensure long-term success in a global arena. Key topics will include long-term strategic planning, market trends and policy shifts, and the alignment of vision and execution.

Learning objectives:

Assess how proactive C-suite engagement shapes treasury operations and manages financial exchange (FX) risks to drive sustainable growth

Apply in-depth insights into emerging regulations, global market developments, and innovative financial management practice

Formulate collaborative strategies to ensure leadership vision is tightly coupled with operational excellence across all financial functions

Group Session: Insurance Considerations

3:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. MT

Tales place in Alpine 1 and 2

(CPE: 1.5 Business Management & Organization)

Joe Barraclough, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Mission Aviation Fellowship

Reggie Graham, Director of Risk Management, The Navigators

Nathan Merrill, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Bethesda Senior Living Communities and Bethesda Associates

Tim Sims, Partner and Professional Practice Leader – Attest, CapinCrouse

This panel discussion will address considerations related to ministries participating in captive insurance arrangements. We will discuss the factors considered before entering into captive arrangements, the underlying risk assessment process, and the types of insurance coverage provided.

Learning objectives:

Analyze the pros and cons of being in a captive insurance arrangement

Assess how the various levels of insurance are secured and tracked by individual captive participant

Identify and address the ongoing requirements of being in a captive insurance arrangement

Keynote Session: Purpose, Vision, and Influence – Adapting Chick-fil-A’s Leadership Principles to Global Nonprofits

8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. MT

Takes place in Alpine 1 and 2

(CPE: 1.0 Specialized Knowledge)

Cliff Robinson, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Chick-fil-A

Join us for an insightful session with Cliff Robinson, Chief Operating Officer at Chick-fil-A, as he shares about the history and heritage of Chick-fil-A and discusses leadership principles and applications that can be incorporated into your own operational practices. This session will leave you motivated and equipped with actionable insights for your organization.

Learning objectives:

Identify key learnings from the history of Chick-fil-A as a successful business rooted in purpose

Assess leadership principles and applications that can be incorporated into your organization’s operational practices

Determine how these principles and applications can be put into action at your organization

Breakout Sessions by Topic

9:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. MT

Global Human Resources – A Rapidly Changing Landscape

Takes place in Alpine 3 and 4

(CPE: 1.5 Personnel/HR)

Steve Oakley, Attorney, Oakley Strategic Counsel

This session will survey a broad range of issues affecting global human resources. Topics include increasingly remote workforces, global employment options, the rise (and fall) of DEI, global talent acquisition, blending human and digital workforces, continuous upskilling, and a lightning round of hot topics in the global HR space.

Learning objectives:

Recognize issues in international human resources

Develop a framework for thinking about HR risks

Consider HR issues through a strategic lens

Audit Without Borders – Internal Auditing in the Global Landscape

Takes place in Alpine 1 and 2

(CPE: 1.5 Auditing)

Christian Outlaw, Director of Internal Audit and Financial Operations, Young Life

Tim Sims, Partner and Professional Practice Leader – Attest, CapinCrouse

Junice Jones, Partner, CapinCrouse

Join us as we delve into key considerations for internal audits at international organizations. We’ll discuss the function of an effective internal audit and share practical tips and strategies to help you approach an internal audit arrangement, develop a plan, and use the internal audit process as part of your organization’s overall risk assessment and management. 

Learning objectives:

Identify the function of an internal audit and its use in the overall risk assessment and management of your organization

Analyze how to approach an internal audit arrangement

Apply the basics of developing an internal audit plan

Group Session: Key Takeaways – Applying Essential Insights and Practical Knowledge

11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. MT

Takes place in Alpine 1 and 2

In this final session, the Symposium speakers will summarize essential insights and learnings from their sessions to provide key takeaways and practical knowledge you can apply at your organization. There also will be time for open Q&A and discussion on business and operational issues.

Learning objectives:

Apply insights and practical knowledge to address challenges and opportunities at your organization

Address questions about current business and operational issues international nonprofit and mission organizations face