Great Lakes District Event

Wednesday, September 16

• 3:00 p.m. – Registration opens
  • Chicago Marriott Schaumburg
• 4:00 p.m. – Breakout Session 1:
  • Advancement – Beyond the Main Page: Creating a Social Media Strategy for Every Ministry
    Kyle Gorman, Lead Advancement Officer,  Evansville Rescue Mission
    Most organizations have more than one audience to reach. Whether you manage a thrift store, coffee shop, shelter, church, or multiple programs, each ministry has a unique story to tell. Learn how to define the purpose of each social media page, create content that speaks to different audiences, and build one unified brand that strengthens your organization's mission.
  • Programming – Workforce Development: Creating Skill Sets that Let You Soar
    Ann Ebbert - CEO, Cherry Street Mission
    Equipping individuals with tools, resources, and connections to build meaningful careers that support dignity, growth and financial security.
  • Social Enterprise – From Charity to Sustainability: Leveraging Social Enterprises for Long Term Revenue Growth
    Eddie Rapp - Lead Operations Officer, Evansville Rescue Mission
    As grants and charitable giving become less predictable, nonprofits are turning to social enterprise to build sustainable revenue. We will explore how mission-driven businesses can diversify funding, strengthen financial resilience, and create lasting impact without compromising an organization's mission.
• 5:30 p.m. – General Session Dinner - The Armor of the Heart
  • Tracy Gorman – CEO, Evansville Rescue Mission
    We all need discernment when setting emotional boundaries in life. Mission staff absorb much of the trauma that takes place on the streets every day. Tracy will walk through how to love deeply without letting the brokenness of the world infiltrate, disrupt (let alone destroy), and corrupt our peace.
• 7:00 p.m. – Dessert & Board Games
  
  • Join us for a relaxed evening of delicious desserts, fresh coffee, and friendly board game competition. It's the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow attendees, build new relationships, and unwind.

Thursday, September 17

• 8:30 a.m. – Above All Else General Session
  • Steve Cuss – Founder, Capable Life
  • Tom De Vries – CEO, Citygate Network
    Steve and Tom will guide attendees through an honest exploration of how to do ministry without losing your soul and how to lead the most difficult person you know—yourself.
• 12:30 p.m. – Network Group Lunch
  • Join a topic or group that sounds interesting or best serves the role you play on the team:
    Addiction Recovery, Capital Campaign, Case Management, Event Management, Executive Assistant, Executive Leadership, Food Service, Human Resources, Thrift Store Management, and Volunteering
• 3:00 p.m. – Willow Creek Care Center Tour
  • The Care Center is a ministry of Willow Creek Community Church, committed to offering services that help meet immediate needs as well as services that help build toward a more sustainable future for individuals and families in the Chicago area. This tour will highlight how the local community fights poverty and injustice so that lives are transformed and Jesus is known.
• 6:00 p.m. – Top Golf Networking Dinner
  • Whether you’re a great golfer or have never swung a club, you’ll enjoy an evening of food, fun, and great networking!

Friday, September 18

• 9:00 a.m. – Breakout Session 2:
  • Advancement – Branding
  • Programming – One Mission, One Team: Building Alignment Across Your Organization
    Jason Hayes – Lead Program Officer, Evansville Rescue Mission
    Healthy organizations are built through intentional alignment. Learn practical strategies to create cohesive teams, eliminate unhealthy competition, strengthen collaboration, and align every department around a shared mission.
  • Executive Roundtable: Guarding the Heart of the Mission
    Ann Ebbert - CEO, Cherry Street Mission
    Join fellow mission CEOs and executive leaders for a candid conversation about the opportunities and challenges of leading a ministry. Together, we'll discuss how guarding the heart of our organizations—our mission, culture, and people—helps us lead with wisdom, strengthen our ministries, and remain faithful to the calling God has placed before us.
• 10:30 a.m. – General Session: Fixed Eyes, Straight Paths 
  • Tara Beth Leach – Senior Pastor, Good Shepherd Church, Naperville, IL
    Tara will be focusing on longevity in ministry and long-term vision. This closing session will challenge us to keep our eyes fixed straight ahead on Christ and ignoring the distractions that get in the way. It will provide encouragement for the right focus to close out our time together.