The Race to the Bottom

Michael Blackstone is clearly adept at analyzing new markets and establishing start-up businesses, having worked in marketing and advertising and having been co-founder of Thompson & Blackstone, a business think-tank; Frontline Technologies, developers of school administration software; and CF InFlight, LLP, creator of the innovative Skycam. He serves on several boards, among them the board of SEED (Stewards Equipping Evangelism and Discipleship), a charitable foundation which he also co-founded. In this keynote session, armed with perspective honed by experience, Michael will explain why “the business world sees itself as a triangle, with everyone racing for the top,” while “in Christ’s kingdom, the triangle is turned upside down.  It’s a race to the inverted apex.”

LEAD LIKE A BOSS
Unfiltered Tales from CEOs, Founders, and Executives

Beckie Manley is the founder and CEO of Fierce Strategy + Creative, named as a 2024 Inc. 5,000 Fastest-Growing Company in the U.S. With over twenty-five years of industry experience, Beckie has led her agencies to serve clients locally, nationally, and internationally, partnering in brand strategy with organizations such as Hitachi, the NFL, the Creation Museum, the Ark Encounter, PaceMate®, Hillpointe, Pictsweet, and Bleacher Report. Beyond shaping brands, Beckie guides leaders through the unpredictable, often challenging realities of ownership and top-level management. In this session, you’ll hear the words of these CEOs, founders, and executives as they share raw, insightful stories from the trenches. These candid moments have not only shaped their businesses but also transformed them as leaders, preparing them to face the next unexpected moment with resilience and wisdom.

TAME YOUR STRESS

Ethan Rosen, president/owner of Pure Line Seeds, Inc. and MBU alumnus, oversees research and production teams, networking with professional seed growers in the Pacific Northwest to produce high-quality, certified-organic vegetable seeds for global distribution. This workshop presents pivotal keys for taming stress by employing personal lifestyle improvements to be a more dynamic leader.

LEADERSHIP—ENERGIZING INFLUENCE

Bob Loggans, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church (Watertown, WI) and former evangelist and MBU Executive VP, is passionate about mentoring and training men to serve, which is reflective of his workshop presentation in which he will outline the process—”Defining the terms, Delving into the Bible, and Delivering the goods.”

LEADERSHIP AND THE SCIENCE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE 

Jeff Pill, MBU faculty and Director of Soccer Operations, has coached youth, college, and national teams, including the U.S. Soccer U19 National Team and the 1996 U.S. Women’s National Olympic Soccer Team. He contends that “high performance doesn’t just happen; it’s a process.” This session explores that process. Its principles transcend sports, being applicable to business leadership as well.

CREATING A LEGACY WHILE BUILDING A COMPANY TO SELL 
Striking the Balance Between Profit and Purpose

K. Glenn Aldridge, 35-year veteran in public accounting, AuditSense instructor, and managing partner with CoSurge CPAs, has a highly diversified client portfolio. CoSurge CPAs provides audit leadership for other CPA firms throughout the United States. Together with business partner, Ian Ferguson, Aldridge will explore strategies for entrepreneurs and not-for-profit leaders to build an organization to maximize value for a sale (or leadership transition); to design a highly sellable, deeply meaningful organization that reflects its founder’s values.

CREATING A LEGACY WHILE BUILDING A COMPANY TO SELL 
Striking the Balance Between Profit and Purpose

Ian Ferguson, a partner at CoSurge CPAs, has served with a top-200 CPA firm, has managed his own practice, and has provided services for multiple not-for-profit organizations. Combining expertise in this session, Aldridge and Ferguson will explore strategies for entrepreneurs and not-for-profit leaders to build an organization to maximize value for a sale (or leadership transition); to design a highly sellable, deeply meaningful organization that reflects its founder’s values. Strategies will emphasize the importance of long-term thinking and ethical leadership.

WORKSHOP TITLE COMING SOON

Alex Rodriguez, former Chick-fil-A operator for 41 years, is focused on helping leaders become “standard bearers for excellence.” Now a professional coach with Measured Results Consulting, an outstanding people development organization that customizes solutions for food industry businesses, he believes when implemented by the right leaders, Measured Result’s tools will yield blessings beyond potential awards or recognition.

Panelist

Randell Gillespie, CPO, Lower Financial, Housingwire Vanguard Award recipient, and MBU Board of Trustee member, has been an executive leader at some of the world’s largest financial institutions and mortgage banking firms. Having managed thousands of workers, mentoring and promoting leadership at all levels, he is known for a personal leadership style of empowerment, encouragement and humility.

WHAT IS YOUR BRAND?

Todd Valeria, MBU Vice President of Marketing, is strategically visionary, creatively innovative, and a proven expert, having excelled in all marketing positions from advertising to senior executive. Employed by various corporations (including Lands’ End), he most recently served as Vice President of Creative Marketing for Colony Brands, Inc., with oversight of 16 multi-channel retail brands and the privilege of mentoring 90 marketing professionals. Applying leadership savvy to eternal investments, Todd and his wife Brenda were instrumental in planting a church. With the wisdom and experience of more than thirty years in marketing, Todd will inspire you in this workshop to identify your brand.