Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Cintas Center

2026 Conference Workshops

10:00 - 11:00 am

Strategy to Service: Implementing Vision with Purpose, Alignment and Commitment

10:00 - 11:00 am

In today’s rapidly evolving social landscape, having a bold vision isn’t enough, execution is everything. This workshop equips leaders and changemakers in social services with the tools to translate strategic plans into high-impact service delivery. Participants will explore how to align organizational vision with community needs, build implementation roadmaps that are both agile and accountable, and lead teams with clarity and purpose. Through real-world examples, interactive exercises, and practical frameworks, attendees will leave with actionable strategies to drive measurable outcomes and foster lasting change. 

Presenters: Laura Mitchell, President and CEO, and Brittany Speed, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Beech Acres Parenting Center

Laura Mitchell is President and CEO of Beech Acres Parenting Center, leading a vision to nurture children’s strengths and unlock their potential. Former Cincinnati Public Schools superintendent, she guided 36,000 students through crisis and drove growth. A Cincinnati native, she champions innovative, family-centered solutions that empower communities and transform outcomes for youth. 

Brittany Speed is COO and CFO of Beech Acres Parenting Center, driving operational excellence, financial strength, and strategic growth. A CPA and innovative leader, she transforms organizations through data-driven decisions and compassionate culture. With experience across sectors, she builds high-performing teams and advances impactful initiatives supporting youth and community well-being.

Audience: CEO/EDs, VP or Director level leadership

Stronger Together: Mobilizing Volunteer Leadership for Fundraising Success

10:00 - 11:00 am

Every successful campaign depends on volunteers—but how do executive leaders inspire them to become true fundraising partners? In this candid panel discussion, local executive directors will share lessons learned from leading major campaigns and capital projects, highlighting the strategies that helped volunteers move from passive supporters to passionate ambassadors. Through real-world stories and practical insights, attendees will gain actionable ideas for recruiting, engaging, and partnering with volunteers to build momentum, strengthen relationships, and achieve ambitious fundraising goals.

Presenter: Tara Noland, President, Ignite Philanthropy

Tara Noland is President and co-owner of Ignite Philanthropy, where she has helped clients raise more than $500 million since 2020. A former nonprofit executive, Tara brings deep experience in campaign strategy, fundraising, and organizational leadership, helping nonprofits build stronger organizations and achieve ambitious philanthropic goals.

 Audience: CEO/EDs, fundraisers, board members; any size or stage nonprofit

Psychological Safety at Work: The Power of Diverse Perspectives

10:00 - 11:00 am

Creating a mentally healthy workplace goes beyond offering benefits—it requires building a culture where employees feel safe to speak up, share ideas, and be their authentic selves. We will explore the critical role psychological safety plays in supporting mental health at work and how a broadly diverse workforce strengthens that foundation. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of psychological safety, examine common barriers that prevent employees from feeling heard and valued, and learn practical strategies to foster inclusive, supportive environments. This session will provide actionable insights to help create workplaces where all individuals can contribute, thrive, and feel a true sense of belonging.

Presenter: Stephanie Schuckman, MA, MCLC, Senior Corporate Program Manager, 1N5

Stephanie Schuckman is the Senior Corporate Program Manager at 1N5, bringing more than 25 years of experience in corporate learning, higher education, leadership development, and organizational culture.

She designs data-informed learning experiences that turn complex ideas into practical action—strengthening employee engagement, inclusion, recruitment, retention, and individual growth. Stephanie is especially skilled at helping organizations build cultures where people feel supported, capable, and connected.

Before joining 1N5, Stephanie led large-scale professional development and research training initiatives at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, partnering with diverse stakeholders to deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes. Earlier in her career, she developed training programs and supported team leadership at Fidelity Investments.

At 1N5, Stephanie advances the organization’s mission to erase the stigma surrounding mental illness and promote optimal mental wellness through proactive workplace education.

Audience: CEO/EDs specifically, yet all are welcome to attend.

11:15 am - 12:15 pm

Your Board Isn't Broken—It's Governing the Wrong Organization

11:15 am - 12:15 pm

Nonprofit boards rarely fail because they lack commitment—they struggle because they continue governing the organization they remember instead of the one it is becoming. As public scrutiny, funding, workforce expectations, technology, and community needs evolve, leaders must help boards evolve as well. This interactive session introduces the Future-Ready Board Framework, giving leaders practical tools to strengthen board partnership, navigate change, and prepare their organizations for what's next.

Presenter: J. Michael Durnil, Ph.D., Director of Executive Search and Senior Management Consultant, Cooper Coleman

J. Michael Durnil, Ph.D., a nationally recognized nonprofit thought leader has spent more than 30 years helping organizations evolve through leadership transitions, governance challenges, and strategic growth. Having served as CEO, COO, board president, and executive search consultant, he brings practical insight from every seat at the boardroom table.

Audience: Board members, CEO/EDs, C-Suite leaders

Planning for Fundraising Growth: Aligning Mission, Revenue, and Capacity

11:15 am - 12:15 pm

Many nonprofit organizations set ambitious fundraising goals without first defining what additional revenue would make possible or what investments will be required to achieve sustainable growth. This interactive session will introduce a practical framework for aligning fundraising goals with mission impact, organizational capacity, and strategic priorities. Participants will work through a simple scenario-planning exercise to evaluate growth opportunities, identify resource needs, and determine whether their organization is truly ready to pursue additional revenue. Attendees will leave with a worksheet and actionable tools to support future planning conversations with staff, leadership, and board members.

Presenter: Katie Askey, Founder & Principal Consultant, Katie Askey Consulting

Katie Askey is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Katie Askey Consulting. With more than a decade of experience in fundraising, campaign planning, and development operations, she previously held leadership roles at Riley Children's Foundation, where she helped plan and manage a $300 million comprehensive campaign.

Audience: Executive directors/CEOs, fundraising professionals, and board members; most relevant for organizations in growth or mature stages

Mindful Leadership: Leading with Presence, Resilience, and Connection in Times of Change

11:15 am - 12:15 pm

Nonprofit leaders are navigating unprecedented levels of complexity, uncertainty, and change. Yet sustainable leadership requires more than strategic thinking - it requires the ability to remain present, resilient, and connected while facing daily challenges. In this interactive session, participants will explore practical mindfulness-based approaches to managing stress, responding rather than reacting, active listening, and fostering authentic workplace relationships. Drawing on contemporary mindfulness practices and real-world nonprofit leadership experience, attendees will learn simple tools they can immediately apply in meetings, difficult conversations, decision-making, and self-care. Participants will leave with actionable strategies for leading with greater clarity, compassion, and effectiveness.

Presenter: Nune Sargsyan, Chief Development Officer, Santa Maria Community Services; Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, Sweet Mandala

Dr. Nune Sargsyan is a Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, Inner MBA graduate, and nonprofit leader with nearly 25 years of fundraising experience. Her mindfulness practice deepened through her own healing journey from chronic pain. Today, she combines lived experience, mindfulness, and nonprofit leadership to help others cultivate resilience, presence, and compassionate leadership.

Audience: CEOs, senior leaders, fundraisers, board leaders, and emerging leaders; organizations in any stage

1:45 - 2:45 pm

Leading Through Disruption: Building the Human Capacity AI Can't Replace

1:45 - 2:45 pm

Nonprofit leaders are navigating burnout, disruption, and the growing demands of an AI-driven world — often without the internal capacity to sustain it. "Brain capital" — the human skills that drive adaptive, resilient leadership — is emerging as a defining factor in organizational sustainability. This session explores what the research tells us about the capabilities leaders need most, and offers practical tools to assess and strengthen them in your organization.

Presenter: Anne Wallace, PhD, Founder and CEO, Coaching for Change LLC

Anne Wallace, PhD, is Founder and CEO of Coaching for Change. She brings 20+ years applying behavioral science and positive psychology to leadership development — helping leaders and organizations build the human capacity to navigate change, strengthen their cultures, and achieve outcomes that last.

Audience: Executive directors and senior leaders responsible for organizational strategy and leadership development

Practicing Curiosity: Choosing Courage Over Certainty

1:45 - 2:45 pm

Today's nonprofit leaders are expected to have answers amid uncertainty, scarcity, and constant change. But what if one of the most courageous leadership choices is resisting certainty in favor of curiosity? Drawing on insights from a Fulbright in Central Europe and 25 years of nonprofit leadership, this interactive session explores how practicing curiosity helps leaders reclaim agency, ask better questions, strengthen relationships, and rediscover purpose—even when circumstances remain beyond our control.

Presenter: Shiloh Turner, Principal, Executive Philanthropy Advisors

Shiloh Turner, MPA, IPA, is Principal of Executive Philanthropy Advisors and a nationally recognized advisor on philanthropy, collective impact, and civic infrastructure. A 2026 Fulbright U.S. Scholar to the Czech Republic, she helps foundations, nonprofits, and cross-sector partnerships strengthen leadership, collaboration, and lasting community impact.

Audience: CEO/EDs, senior leadership teams, board, foundation staff, consultants, and emerging nonprofit leaders

3:00 - 4:00 pm

Operationalizing Mission Through Technology

3:00 - 4:00 pm

Technology projects often fail when they start with the tool instead of the mission. In this session, The Health Collaborative and TDEOS will share an 18-month case study of replacing an underused CRM, automating reporting, improving stakeholder visibility, and building toward an AI-enabled operating model. Beyond the tools, this session focuses on what made the transformation work: investing time upfront to understand process and data, choosing technology aligned with staff capability, and bringing the team along through change management. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for operationalizing mission through technology.

Presenters: Jill Collet Riester, Vice President, Operations, Programs & Member Services, The Health Collaborative, and Raman Arora, Founder & CEO, TDEOS

Jill Collet Riester applies her training in engineering and public health to lead initiatives at The Health Collaborative at the intersection of technology, mission, and process. Her work builds the capacity and efficiency to unite and empower healthcare stakeholders and community partners to address critical healthcare issues best solved together.

Raman Arora is the Founder & CEO of TDEOS, where he helps nonprofits and mid-market organizations transform underused CRM systems into trusted operating platforms. He brings over 20 years of leadership experience across CRM, automation, data, Al enablement, and digital transformation.

Audience: CEO/EDs, CFOs, COOs, technology and operations leaders at small-to-midsize nonprofits

Building the Future: Aligning Strategy, Funding, and Innovation for Sustainable Impact

3:00 - 4:00 pm

In our rapidly changing nonprofit environment, organizations must balance mission, sustainability, and growth. This panel brings together leaders in strategic planning, philanthropy, and artificial intelligence to discuss how nonprofits can build stronger futures through intentional planning, funding readiness, and innovation. Participants will gain practical insights into developing actionable strategic plans, understanding what funders seek in funding requests, and leveraging AI to enhance efficiency, decision-making, and organizational capacity. Attendees will leave with tools and strategies they can immediately apply to strengthen their organization's impact and long-term sustainability.

Presenters: Ashley Afya, Director of Consulting Services, BEAM Center for Nonprofits, and Kendra Ramirez, CEO of KR Digital

Ashley Afya is a dynamic leader, strategist, and advocate for nonprofit excellence, with a steadfast commitment to strengthening communities and advancing equitable opportunities. With more than ten years of consulting experience across healthcare, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations, Ashley has built a reputation for helping teams develop stable, sustainable programs and high-functioning divisions that are positioned for long-term success.

Ashley currently serves as the Director of Consulting Services at BEAM Center for Nonprofits, where she partners with organizations to design innovative strategies, implement sustainable solutions, and strengthen internal operations. Her portfolio spans strategic planning, program development, organizational audits, leadership coaching, and sustainability planning.

Ashley also founded Accent Events that specializes in nonprofit events that elevate outreach, boost visibility, and drive organizational growth. She helps nonprofits deepen donor engagement, expand networks, and bring their missions to life through intentional, high-impact experiences for organizational growth.

Ashley’s diverse background across healthcare, construction, and the nonprofit sector fuels her ability to understand complex challenges and deliver solutions that are practical, innovative, and community-driven. She is also a certified expert in Leadership Development, Equity, and Inclusion, bringing a holistic perspective to every project.

Kendra Ramirez: As the CEO of KR Digital, a leader in Digital and Al solutions, we spearhead initiatives that drive digital and Al transformation in B2B markets. Since building bots in 2018, I have become an Al advocate, serving on the Cincinnati Al Catalyst Committee and co-hosting, CincyAl, the Tristate's largest Al community and winner of the Al Catalyst Leader award. With a track record of delivering over 250 Al sessions, my commitment to educating and engaging professionals in Al is my driving force.

Additionally, I am globally recognized on Linkedln.com's homepage, a global Claude Ambassador, recipient of the Women of Influence Award, John Barrett Entrepreneur Vision Award, Cincy Chic Woman of the Year, and STEM Influencer. With over 15 years in technology companies, my leadership is focused on navigating change across the organization.

Audience: CEO/EDs and Development teams