SPN 27th Annual Meeting: Full Schedule

9:30am MDT

Board Leadership: The ABCs of a Strong Board

Are you a state think tank board member who wants to become more engaged? Would you like to feel more confident that you’re contributing in the most effective ways to helping your organization break through to the next level? Do you wish you had a roadmap for becoming a strong board member? If so, this session is for you. Participants will receive practical guidance on the essential role of a board and how you can have the greatest impact. Discover what your CEO wishes you knew about how you can best support your organization and get answers to the questions you and your fellow board members struggle with. You will leave the session with practical information and tools you can begin applying as soon as you get home.

Speakers

Dr. De Hicks

Founder and President, RMC Group of Companies

Dr. De Hicks is the Founder and President of the RMC Group of Companies which includes SCGI, a research firm dedicated to improving performance of high impact, mission-oriented organizations. SCGI’s research, led by Dr. Hicks, has resulted in significant gains in impact and productivity... Read More →

Wednesday October 30, 2019 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Breakout Sessions, Wednesday

Area Broadmoor West: Champions

9:30am MDT

Communications: Become a Brand They Can't Ignore

A strong brand is critical to your organization’s prosperity. During this session, Brian Walker, CEO of AE Marketing Group, will share his advice to help you build a brand that breaks through media white noise, shifts the marketing conversation, and grows its fundraising.

Speakers

Brian Walker

Chief Executive Officer, AE Marketing

Chief Executive Officer at AE Marketing Group, 3x Inc. 5000 Founder, and Award-Winning Host of the Brand Lab Series™ Rachel Maddow angrily referred to me as a "Jet-setting ad executive" in a lead story on MSNBC. Guided 150-year-old UCAN’s non-profit brand to execute a $40M capital... Read More →

Wednesday October 30, 2019 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Breakout Sessions, Wednesday

Area Broadmoor West: Rocky Mountain Ballroom A

9:30am MDT

Development: Engage a New Generation of Donors

If you are building for the long term, you need a pipeline of future donors. But how do you engage younger donors in your work? Is it even worth the effort? Several think tanks have said yes to the challenge and have successfully cultivated millennials who will be their best donors one day. Learn from their examples to see how you can encourage a new generation of philanthropists to support your work.

Speakers

Sydney Jansen

Development Director, Washington Policy Center

Sydney Jansen is the Development Director at Washington Policy Center. Sydney graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Political Science and remains a loyal husky fan! She also earned her Certificate in Nonprofit Management from UW. Sydney started at Washington... Read More →

Peter Lipsett

Vice President, DonorsTrust

Peter Lipsett is vice president of DonorsTrust, the country’s oldest and largest community foundation serving conservative and libertarian donors. He drives DonorsTrust’s growth through outreach, cultivation, and marketing. He founded the Novus Society, DonorsTrust’s network... Read More →

Vanessa Mendoza

Vice President, Manhattan Institute

Vanessa Mendoza is the executive vice president of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research (MI), a domestic public-policy think tank. As executive vice president, Vanessa works with MI’s president to develop and manage the Institute’s strategic focus and projects. Additionally... Read More →

Joyce Pope

Board Member, John William Pope Foundation

Joyce is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, receiving both her undergraduate and law degrees there. She worked with the Washington, D.C. strategic communications consulting firm Greener and Hook, LLC, and while in law school interned at the Federal Bankruptcy... Read More →

Wednesday October 30, 2019 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Breakout Sessions, Wednesday

Area Broadmoor West: Rocky Mountain Ballroom C

9:30am MDT

Government Affairs: What Legislators Want

Get the insider’s scoop! Join three former legislators, now think tank drivers of policy change, who will share how to capture policymakers' attention, become their go-to public policy resource, and drive policy in your state. You will leave with a list of lawmakers, goals for relationship growth, and ideas for how to get there.

Speakers

Emily Wismer

Government Affairs and Policy Specialist, State Policy Network

As SPN’s Government Affairs and Policy Specialist, Emily works directly with state think tanks to develop transformational policy efforts and cultivate high-performing policy leaders at the state level. Emily also serves as a policy advisor to state think tanks in their efforts... Read More →

Nicole Fox

Director of Government Relations, Platte Institute

My career started in healthcare, and through involvement in my professional organization, I become interested in policy. In 2015, I was appointed to the Nebraska Legislature. In 2017 I joined the Platte Institute as their Director of Government Relations where I work on issues related... Read More →

Victor Riches

President & CEO, Goldwater Institute

Victor Riches, Goldwater Institute President & CEO Prior to joining the Institute, Victor served as Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Budget, where he was responsible for the formation and passage of all of the Governor’s major policy objectives... Read More →

Stephen Bloom

Vice President, Commonwealth Foundation

Steve grew up in New York, Michigan and Pennsylvania. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Penn State University in Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, and his Juris Doctor from the Dickinson School of Law. He became shareholder in a law firm, later founded his own solo... Read More →

Wednesday October 30, 2019 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Breakout Sessions, Wednesday

Area Broadmoor West: West Ballroom A

9:30am MDT

Operations: Prepare for the Nonprofit Salesforce Surge

Salesforce has moved from a minor player in the nonprofit CRM space to the market leader. The transition from older, established donor management systems to Salesforce is happening quickly, and it's transforming how nonprofits use technology. Is your organization ready to take advantage? Paul Keogan, a recognized nonprofit technology expert, will lead a discussion focused on helping you and your organization prepare.

Speakers

Paul Keogan

CEO and Co-Founder, BackOffice Thinking

Paul Keogan is CEO and co-founder at BackOffice Thinking. Paul has been a leading technology consultant for the past 20 years. Paul’s passion is to transform his clients’ use of technology to better serve and engage their constituents, grow their donor base, and run their organizations... Read More →

Wednesday October 30, 2019 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Breakout Sessions, Wednesday

Area Broadmoor West: Louis Stratta

9:30am MDT

Professional Development: Hustle, Resilience, and Opportunity: Leaders Share Their Stories

Clarity about personal vision, combined with hard work and a lot of hustle, makes it easier to select the opportunities that best match your talents and identify where those talents can be put to best use. Hear powerful stories from Network leaders who proactively set themselves up for success, learned from their mistakes, and are now making big changes in their organization and beyond. Learn how you can apply their insight to craft and achieve your personal goals.

Speakers

Madison Ray

Director of Strategic Engagement, State Policy Network

Madison Ray is director of strategic engagement at State Policy Network, serving on SPN’s Leadership Development Initiative team. A May 2015 graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, Madison double majored in political science and Spanish. Prior to her senior year... Read More →

Jonathan Bechtle

COO & General Counsel, Foundation for Government Accountability

Jonathan Bechtle is the chief operating officer and general counsel at the Foundation for Government Accountability. As COO, he is responsible for building and upgrading the organizational structure and core systems of FGA through hiring and management, and as general counsel, he... Read More →

Sarah Curry

Policy Director, Platte Institute

I am the Policy Director at the Platte Institute in Omaha, Nebraska. I previously worked in fiscal policy at the John Locke Foundation and also with the North Carolina Legislature. I am currently pursuing my Doctorate in Business Administration in Finance.

Mike Reitz

Executive Vice President, Mackinac Center for Public Policy

Michael J. Reitz is executive vice president of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, an independent, nonprofit research and educational institute based in Midland, Michigan. Reitz oversees policy development, communications, fundraising and the Center’s strategic plan. Since joining... Read More →

Wednesday October 30, 2019 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Breakout Sessions, Wednesday

Area Broadmoor West: Divide 1

9:30am MDT

Strategy Development (Part 1): Tools to Hone Your Strategic Mindset: Master the Art of Anticipation

Have you ever been caught flat-footed, momentarily stuck and slow to react? There are techniques that you can use to anticipate economic, political, cultural, and societal shifts and react more quickly and effectively. In this session you will learn how to foresee the future and craft responses to increase your agility and seize opportunities.

Speakers

Todd Davidson

Senior Director of Strategic Development, State Policy Network

Todd is State Policy Network’s Senior Director of Strategic Development. Todd works directly with state think tanks to develop transformational policy efforts and cultivate high-performing policy leaders at the state level. Todd also serves as a policy advisor to state think tanks... Read More →

Wednesday October 30, 2019 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Breakout Sessions, Wednesday

Area Broadmoor West: Divide 2

11:00am MDT

Communications: Innovative Marketing Ideas from State Think Tanks

State think tanks are finding innovative ways to communicate policy ideas to key audiences. Four state think tanks will share the secrets behind their creative marketing campaigns, which have included everything from grassroots building through Facebook to covering a state capitol lawn with trolls.

Campaigns to be featured:

Beacon Center of Tennessee: Overcaffeinated Facebook Live program
Empower Mississippi: Waitlisted campaign for school choice.
Illinois Policy Institute: Lincoln Lobby grassroots building
Yankee Institute: Toll Trolls campaign

Speakers

Meredith Turney

Senior Director of Leadership Development & Strategic Communications, State Policy Network

Meredith Turney is the Director of Strategic Communications for State Policy Network’s Leadership Development Initiative. She oversees SPN’s internal and external communications strategy, as well as assists SPN affiliates in developing effective and compelling messaging. Her... Read More →

Joanna Holbert

Director of Marketing and Communications, Empower Mississippi

Joanna is the Communications Director for Empower Mississippi and is responsible for the organization’s overall communications strategy, including branding, public relations, web presence, and social media. As a former newspaper editor with additional experience in marketing and... Read More →

Elisabeth Kines

Executive Vice President, Yankee Institute for Public Policy

Upon earning her Journalism degree from the University of South Carolina, Elisabeth put her degree to good use in the publicity department at Atlantic Records in Los Angeles, CA. From there, she learned how to build organizations that would impact culture through positions in operations... Read More →

Mark Cunningham

Vice President of Communications, Beacon Center of Tennessee

Mark Cunningham serves as the Vice President of Communications and Outreach at the Beacon Center of Tennessee and Beacon Impact. He oversees both the communications, marketing, and outreach arms of both organizations. He also serves as Beacon’s chief spokesman, leads the organization’s... Read More →

Vincent Caruso

Writer, Illinois Policy Institute

Vincent is a writer for the Illinois Policy Institute. In this role, he produces, edits and provides research assistance for written content covering state and local issues such as budget and tax policy, overregulation, criminal justice reform and more. Prior to joining Illinois Policy... Read More →

Wednesday October 30, 2019 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT

Breakout Sessions, Wednesday

Area Broadmoor West: Rocky Mountain Ballroom A

11:00am MDT

Development: The Art and Science of Powerful Vision and Big Idea Meetings

Do you need to fill your pipeline with new prospective major gift donors? Do you want to identify potential board members with high net worth and influence? Are you starting a campaign and want to excite your donor base? Vision meetings can help you accomplish all of these goals and more. Join us for an interactive session on how to plan vision meetings, get the right people there, implement with panache, and follow up with results.

Speakers

Laurel McCombs

Senior Philanthropy Advisor, The Osborne Group

Laurel brings 20 years of experience to her work as consultant and trainer. In addition to her work with clients, Laurel has presented at AFP International, CASE-NAIS, and several professional associations and national conferences. She lives in Portland, OR.

Wednesday October 30, 2019 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT

Breakout Sessions, Wednesday

Area Broadmoor West: Rocky Mountain Ballroom C

11:00am MDT

Government Affairs: Advocacy Tactics in Concert

A think tank has a full arsenal of creative resources that can be deployed at a moment’s notice to influence policy. Join us as we discuss all the tactics in your advocacy toolbox, including the latest ones from 2019, and how to deploy them in concert for maximum impact.

Speakers

Roy Lenardson

President, Strategic Advocacy

Roy founded Strategic Advocacy, a multi-state public affairs management company that engages in lobbying, grassroots organizing and political campaigns. Prior to that Roy helped start the Maine Heritage Policy Center and also worked for the Maine State Legislature for over 10 years... Read More →

Wednesday October 30, 2019 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT

Breakout Sessions, Wednesday

Area Broadmoor West: West Ballroom A

11:00am MDT

Operations: New Manager Crash Course

Calling new managers: this session is just for you! Learn the keys to motivating and coaching your direct reports to success. This session will cover the key elements of successful onboarding, delegating, and managing performance—including some practice with the most dreaded management responsibility: how to let someone go.

Speakers

Tony Woodlief

Executive Vice President, State Policy Network

Tony Woodlief is Executive Vice President at the State Policy Network. He helps oversee SPN operations, supports SPN’s president in her guidance of the leadership team, and helps ensure the organization’s projects and programs measure success, evolve as SPN grows, and maintain... Read More →

Wednesday October 30, 2019 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT

Breakout Sessions, Wednesday

Area Broadmoor West: Louis Stratta

11:00am MDT

Professional Development: Facilitate with Finesse: How to Plan and Run a Productive Meeting

We have all sat through countless meetings that seem to drag on with no apparent purpose, leadership, or action items. When you are tasked with leading meetings, how can you ensure these opportunities are not squandered, but instead result in meaningful breakthroughs toward goals? This session will share essential tips and tools to plan and run an effective meeting.

Speakers

Deron Lehman

Director of Human Resources, Mercatus Center at Geroge Mason University

Deron Lehman has been the Director of Human Resources at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University since 2016. He has more than 18 years of experience in non-profit and government settings, focused on business strategy, building the capacity of HR teams, and streamlining operations... Read More →

Wednesday October 30, 2019 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT

Breakout Sessions, Wednesday

Area Broadmoor West: Divide 1

11:00am MDT

Strategy Development (Part 2): Tools to Hone Your Strategic Mindset: Determine Your Organization's Comparative Advantage

What are you trying to achieve? Why does your organization exist? If another group is doing something similar, why are you needed? If you have ever struggled to answer these questions, you are not alone. Fortunately, there is a way to confidently answer these challenges: strategy. In this session you will learn the process of crafting a unique strategy that differentiates you from your think tank from peers, aligns your team, and outlines a path to advance your ideas.

Speakers

Todd Davidson

Senior Director of Strategic Development, State Policy Network

Wednesday October 30, 2019 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT

Breakout Sessions, Wednesday

Area Broadmoor West: Divide 2

9:30am MDT

Communications: The Tricks and Treats of Healthcare Messaging

Without the guidance of market research, messaging can often be like trick or treating: full of surprises! During this session, State Policy Network will share the findings of a new, nationwide market research project designed to better understand how Americans think about healthcare and what will motivate them to support a limited-government approach. This session will cover opinions on healthcare, tactical suggestions for positioning ideas in ways that audiences will understand and support, and tips for responding to opposing messages.

Speakers

Adam Schaeffer

Founder, Evolving Strategies

Adam Schaeffer is the founder of Evolving Strategies. As a behavioral scientist, he likes to solve human problems – whether it’s getting more people to support a policy or candidate, buy a particular energy drink, or assign negligence in a lawsuit. He’s spent the last twelve... Read More →

Thursday October 31, 2019 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Breakout Sessions, Thursday

Area Broadmoor West: Rocky Mountain Ballroom A

9:30am MDT

Development: Tales from the Crypt: Great Donors Never Die! How to Maximize the Lifetime Value of Your Donors

Predicting and maximizing the lifetime value of donors impacts everything from acquisition decisions to future cashflow. Experts will share how to break down internal silos; retain more donors; and integrate acquisition programs, major gifts, and bequest giving.

Speakers

Ann Fitzgerald

President, A.C. Fitzgerald & Associates

AC Fitzgerald partners with nonprofits to build capacity, break through plateaus and fast forward fundraising teams. Our experienced consultants deliver focus, direction and results. Services include fundraising audits, strategic planning, major gift program development, donor and... Read More →

David Bufkin

President, ClearWord Communications

Dave has been raising money through direct response for more than 30 years as a copy writer, creative director and agency executive. Before founding ClearWord in 2005, he worked for some of the nation’s largest direct response agencies. His clients have included a wide variety... Read More →

Thursday October 31, 2019 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Breakout Sessions, Thursday

Area Broadmoor West: Rocky Mountain Ballroom C

9:30am MDT

Government Affairs: How to Change Policy Without Selling Out

Keep calm and let your brand drive you on. This session will discuss how to avoid sleezy backroom deals and allow your organization’s identity and mission to drive policy change through issue campaigns in your state.

Speakers

Mark Cunningham

Vice President of Communications, Beacon Center of Tennessee

Emily Wismer

Government Affairs and Policy Specialist, State Policy Network

Ron Shultis

Director of Policy and Research, Beacon Center

Ron Shultis serves as the Director of Policy and Research for both the Beacon Center and Beacon Impact. As Director, Ron leads and conducts Beacon's in-house research, sets the organization's policy agenda and coordinates research with Beacon's senior fellows. Additionally, Ron... Read More →

Thursday October 31, 2019 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Breakout Sessions, Thursday

Area Broadmoor West: West Ballroom A

9:30am MDT

Leadership: Using Heat, Collision, and Elevation for National Impact

Performance is what matters most for an organization, and performance depends on doing the hard work of developing leaders. It’s a process, not an event, and organizations that spend too much time delivering content and not enough on leadership development will suffer in the performance arena. This session will discuss how leaders can become more influential and improve at communicating vision and managing change. Learn how this “vertical” perspective makes leadership development and content inseparable, accelerating an organization’s influence.

Speakers

Ren Washington

Leadership Solutions Facilitator, Center for Creative Leadership

Ren Washington is a Leadership Solutions Facilitator for the Center for Creative Leadership from the Colorado Springs Campus. As an organizational communication expert, Ren is committed to helping clients address their most challenging and complex issues around organizational change... Read More →

Thursday October 31, 2019 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Breakout Sessions, Thursday

Area Broadmoor West: Divide 2

9:30am MDT

Professional Development: Be Proactive, Increase Effectiveness, and Help Others: An Overview of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Natalie Brown is a skilled human capital consultant who recently joined FranklinCovey in a senior consultant role. She is fascinated by the power of personal transformation within herself and those around her. Before coming to FranklinCovey she was a facilitator and executive coach for 15 years after over a decade with Accenture in their Change Management Organization. She has had the opportunity to practice her craft globally and is humbled to have engaged with amazing clients in more than 20 countries. Natalie earned her M.B.A. from The Smith School of Business in Maryland, has coach certification through the Center for Executive Coaching, and is a proud alumna of Hampton University.

Speakers

Natalie Brown

FranklinCovery

Thursday October 31, 2019 9:30am - 10:45am MDT

Breakout Sessions, Thursday

Area Broadmoor West: Champions

11:00am MDT

Communications: The Craft: Develop Your Communications Strategy

Messaging, media, content creation, social media, online advertising—there is a plethora of tasks that can consume communications professionals’ time and energy. Without a strategy, communications work can feel chaotic, unfocused, and overwhelming. Carrie Conko will discuss how to build a communications strategy that meets your organization’s objectives and focuses your priorities. This session is ideal for communications professionals looking to grow their skills in strategy and leadership and for non-communications professionals who want to better understand or break into the communications field.

Speakers

Meredith Turney

Senior Director of Leadership Development & Strategic Communications, State Policy Network

Carrie Conko

Vice President of Communications, State Policy Network

Carrie Conko is the Vice President of Communications of State Policy Network. State Policy Network is the incubator and connector of the free market, independent, state-focused think tank network. Carrie provides strategic guidance to enhance and promote the State Policy Network... Read More →

Thursday October 31, 2019 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT

Breakout Sessions, Thursday

Area Broadmoor West: Rocky Mountain Ballroom A

11:00am MDT

Development: Secrets to Fundraising in the States

Join a group of Network fundraising leaders as they discuss keys and powerful methods they use daily to unravel the mystery of how to build successful development departments.

Speakers

Peter Lipsett

Vice President, DonorsTrust

Rachel Hays Roberts

Vice President for Development and Operations, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs

Rachel Hays currently serves as Vice President for Development and Operations, joining the staff in 2012. During her tenure at OCPA, Hays has served in all areas of development before being named vice president in the spring of 2019 where she now oversees all of the organization’s... Read More →

Sarah Atnipp Partin

Director of Major Gifts, Texas Public Policy Foundation

Sarah is the Director of Major Gifts at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, overseeing the major gifts program and fundraising team. Prior to TPPF, Sarah served as the Corporate Relations Development Officer at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston helping to grow its corporate... Read More →

Kimberly Chalek

Executive Vice President, Platte Institute.

Kimberly was an Air Force brat, but is proud to call Nebraska home. Kimberly is a graduate of Bellevue Public Schools, and went on to attend the University of Nebraska at Omaha where she received her Bachelors of Science in Psychology. Upon graduation, Kimberly worked in corporate... Read More →

Claire Kittle Dixon

Executive Director, Talent Market

Claire’s career has focused almost exclusively on talent development. She operated her own headhunting firm in the private sector before realizing she didn’t want to build a life around “making widgets.” She joined the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation where she served... Read More →

Jeremy Beer

Principal Partner, COO & General Counse

Jeremy Beer is the co-founder of and principal partner at American Philanthropic, LLC, which provides strategic consulting and professional services to nonprofit organizations. He is the author of The Philanthropic Revolution: An Alternative History of American Charity and the coauthor... Read More →

Thursday October 31, 2019 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT

Breakout Sessions, Thursday

Area Broadmoor West: Rocky Mountain Ballroom C

11:00am MDT

Government Affairs: Impact by Design: Best Practices in Policy Research

Why did you pick the research you are working on? Why did other projects get cut? Even if you can provide some answers to these questions, this session will give you a framework to better structure your decision-making process, to ensure you keep your goal in mind throughout the project's life, and—perhaps most importantly—to know when to cancel work you have put so much time and energy into. Discover key questions that should be asked before a project starts, and learn best practices for research strategy, peer review, policy editing, and other steps that can improve research quality without breaking the research budget.

Speakers

Christopher Koopman

Senior Director of Strategy and Research, Center for Growth & Opportunity at Utah State University

Christopher Koopman is the Senior Director of Strategy and Research at the Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University. He specializes in regulation, competition, and innovation. His research and commentary has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington... Read More →

Megan Hansen

Research Director, Center for Growth & Opportunity at Utah State University

Megan Hansen is the Research Director at the Center for Growth and Opportunity where she manages the Center’s portfolio of policy-relevant research while ensuring student fellows receive quality mentorship and hands-on research experience. Her current research focuses on the future... Read More →

Thursday October 31, 2019 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT

Breakout Sessions, Thursday

Area Broadmoor West: West Ballroom A

11:00am MDT

Operations: Understanding Your Rights and Responsibilities (Sexual Harassment Training)

Speakers

Natalie Brown

FranklinCovery

Thursday October 31, 2019 11:00am - 12:15pm MDT

Breakout Sessions, Thursday

Area Broadmoor West: Louis Stratta