Unconventional Business Network

UBW Gathering | Millennial Panel
2019-05-06 17:30 - 19:45 (America/Chicago) | The Ballroom at Doubletree Hotel & Convention Center, 16625 Swingley Ridge Road, Chesterfield, 63017
Single Tickets are $35 Table of 8 is $250
Click Here to Register
Join us for an evening of celebrating the uniqueness of our generations … and our call to unity in Christ!
UBW is thrilled to present a faithforward millennial panel of four of our own talented and accomplished business professionals. At this Gathering, each panel member will share their insights into best practices for a successful cross-generational workforcep. Their overarching focus will be on God-honoring team building insight–important to all generations.
Our Panel Members and Moderator
Paige Clark, Senior Manager, Accenture. Paige is a Senior Manager at Accenture aligned to their Products-Retail consulting practice. She specializes in organizational change management, helping companies navigate large transformations and organizational changes. She lives in St. Louis with her husband Adam and enjoys shopping for a good bargain, attempting to craft and summer nights that end at Ted Drewes. She is on a daily pursuit of Christ and expecting her first baby in June seeking to love like Him. Paige is and is anxious to see where this new journey leads her.
Sophia Marcum, Client Operations Advocate, Krause Basler Network. Sophia fell in love with God through the Catholic faith and over time He broke down her boxes of what “church” could look like through some Mennonites, time backpacking through Europe, and dear friends who gathered around dinner tables to share meals and pray for one another. She believes wherever two or more are gathered in His name – church manifests. She also believes ministry is not an event or an organization, but a lifestyle. Having moved to St. Louis in August of 2018 after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Human Capital Management, she serves as a Client Operations Advocate for the Krause Basler Network at Keller Williams Realty Chesterfield. In her free time she also partners with the visions of Divulge Ministries International, Gateway House of Prayer, Gateway 61, and Living Hope.
Brittany Starks, Entrepreneur. Brittany Starks is a corporate climber, turned social entrepreneur, passionate about empowering and advancing women and girls of color, as well as doing meaningful work to level the social and economic playing field for marginalized groups. Former owner of award-winning event planning company, Build A Wedding, Brittany Starks has planned and directed everything from small intimate weddings to large scale events featuring Grammy-nominated artists. Grateful for every success and specifically every failure, Brittany is reminded that she is a product of God’s extraordinary grace and unfailing love. When Brittany isn’t working on a new business venture, you’ will find her still falling head over heels for her husband, Kevin, or tending to her new passion as a vegetable gardener.
Evangeline Sutton, Co-Founder & COO, Regenerative Marketing, LLC. Evangeline is the happy wife to her husband, Nicholas. She is a strong woman of faith that believes that true religion is first to show love and care to those who need family. And to keep faith no matter what life throws our way. In 2016, Evangeline co-founded a St. Louis-based marketing firm specializing in digital marketing and marketing technologies. While they are still a boutique firm, they currently reach more than 650 people per second via their client’s digital platforms. Together, she and her co-founder have rapidly grown their clientele to include U.S., Canada, Australia, Ireland, and Italy. They are truly serving the world through the hands of their clients. For fun, Evangeline contributes to publications such as the Christian Examiner and Forbes Magazine. She also sits on several local boards including Junior Achievement of Greater St. Louis, Wings of Hope, Women in Tech – St Louis, and Unconventional Business Women. Evangeline was humbled to be included in the 2018 nomination for Forbes 30 Under 30, and attended the Global Summit as a Forbes 30U30 semi-finalist in April of 2019.
Our Moderator Beverly Jenkins is a native Missourian with a wonderful husband, four kids and a dog. Together they pastor Refuge and Restoration Church, which she calls the mecca of millennials. Beverly has a Masters degree in Organizational Leadership and Management from Regent University. She is a missionary, friend to crabby people and happy people alike, speaks at multiple conferences and workshops on leadership as well as various other topics, & host a marriage podcast on iHeartRadio as well as iDisciple.</p

UB Women's Gathering with Tracy Bouwens of Scooter's Coffee
2019-04-25 17:30 | The Venue, 4800 W. 135th St. #108, Leawood, KS, 66224, United States
Tracy and her husband, Shawn opened their first Scooter’s Coffee in Omaha, Nebraska in 2004, ultimately moving their family to Kansas City as Area Developers. From these roots, Tracy transitioned to Scooter’s corporate team in 2010, overseeing the operations of 29 corporately owned locations.
During her tenure at corporate, she worked on the oversight and development of operational and training systems. Ms. Bouwens also served as lead in establishing Scooter’s University, a comprehensive online training website, and formed the manager in training (MIT) program—both of which are actively utilized today throughout the Scooter’s Coffee franchise system.
In 2014, Tracy, along with 3 business partners, formed Freedom Enterprises. As the president of Freedom Enterprises, Tracy manages the daily operations of the company and leads a team of 450+ employees. Freedom Enterprises is currently the largest franchisee in the Scooter’s Coffee system with 35 operating locations in a 4-state region and 5+ locations in various stages of development.
After more than a decade of learning many lessons in the business arena, Tracy realized that this journey has not as much to do with management, business philosophy, or even coffee, but about taking the lessons learned and using them to advance Kingdom purposes. Come hear her unconventional business story of how she pursues her deepest passion—helping women, from all walks of life, to rise up and become all that God has designed them to be and to pursue their God-given calling.
Download the event flyer.

Luncheon with Former Mob Boss, Michael Franzese
2019-02-21 11:00 - 13:00 | The Ballroom at Doubletree Hotel & Convention Center, 16625 Swingley Ridge Road, Chesterfield, 63017
Michael Franzese grew up as the son of the notorious Underboss of New York’s violent and feared Colombo crime family. At his most affluent, he generated an estimated $5 to $8 million per week from legal and illegal businesses. It was a life filled with power, luxury…and deadly violence.
In 1986, mafia boss, Michael Franzese was named by Vanity Fair as one of the biggest money earners the mob had seen since Al Capone. At the age of 35, Fortune Magazine listed him as number 18 on its list of the “Fifty Most Wealthy and Powerful Mafia Bosses,” just 5 behind John Gotti. Avoiding traditional mob domains, Michael masterminded brilliant scams on the edge of the legitimate business world. From auto dealerships and union kickbacks, to financial services and the sports and entertainment industries, to a multi-billion dollar gasoline tax scheme, he earned millions in cash every week at his peak. Not surprisingly, Michael quickly became the target of Manhattan’s famed federal prosecutor, Rudy Guiliani. After promising Michael 100 years behind bars after indicting him on racketeering charges, Rudy only came up empty handed. Escaping four more indictments, it seemed Michael Franzese truly was invincible.
While producing “Knights of the City,” a break dance movie filmed in Florida, Michael met a beautiful dancer from Anaheim, California, named Camille Garcia, whose innocent beauty and faith turned his world upside down. After falling in love and eventually marrying Cammy, Michael took the rap on racketeering charges. Michael pled guilty, accepted a 10 year prison sentence and vowed to do the unthinkable – walk away from the mob. Nobody of his rank had ever just walked away – and lived. Until now.
Michael Franzese is the only high ranking official of a major crime family to ever walk away, without protective custodies, and survive.
Determined to use the compelling experiences of his former life for the benefit of corporate executives, professional and student athletes, at-risk youth, church audiences, and for anyone seeking the inspiration to beat the odds and make positive changes in their lives, he has become a highly regarded motivator and a source of invaluable information. Franzese candidly describes how he survived dozens of grand jury appearances, 5 major racketeering indictments, 5 criminal trials, 7 years in prison and a Mafia death sentence. He tells how he engaged bankers, corporate executives, union officials and professional and student athletes in a wide variety of financial scams. His open and honest presentations are fresh and unique. Audiences are captivated by stories of his personal experiences in organized crime and genuinely affected by his powerful anti-crime messages and eye opening revelations.
In his autobiography, Blood Covenant, Michael reveals answers to many mysteries surrounding his incredible journey. Walk the streets with him to find out how he has done what no one else has managed to do.
His latest book, I’ll Make You An Offer You Can’t Refuse, was recently released by Thomas Nelson, and contains insider business tips from the former mob boss.

Download the event Flyer

Luncheon with Vermeer's Chair of the Board, Mary Vermeer Andringa
2019-02-14 11:00 - 13:00 | Embassy Suites Des Moines Downtown, 101 E. Locust St., Des Moines, IA, 50309, United States
On Thursday, July 19th, 2018, an F3 tornado ripped through the Vermeer plant, leaving a large path of destruction. It has been hailed as a true miracle that no one was killed. You won’t want to miss Mary Vermeer Andringa’s unconventional business story of Vermeer’s commitment to place Christ at the center of their business, and how God performed a miracle during this deadly storm.
Mary Vermeer Andringa is Chair of the Board at Vermeer Corporation, a global industrial and agricultural equipment company headquartered in Pella, Iowa. Prior to assuming her current role in November 2015, she was CEO and Chair of the Board for one year and President and CEO for five years. Her earlier roles at Vermeer have included Co-CEO and COO, focusing on her passion for continuous improvement and innovation.
Ms. Andringa is integral in continuing the family legacy of her father and Company Founder, Gary Vermeer. With humble beginnings, Vermeer Corporation has grown to become a global organization with more than 3,000 team members at Vermeer and affiliated organizations, serving the underground construction, surface mining, tree care, environmental and agricultural industries. Today, Vermeer facilities are found in Latin America, Asia Pacific, China, Europe and the U.S.
Due to her successful tenure at Vermeer, as well as her growing reputation as an expert ambassador for manufacturing, Ms. Andringa is sought after as a speaker and spokesperson. Ms. Andringa is a member of the B20, the private sector’s channel into the G20, providing leadership on small business and entrepreneurship with the intent to use her voice to remove obstacles and create a better business environment for small businesses to thrive. She also currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Iowa Business Council.
Throughout her career, Ms. Andringa has been an advocate of the manufacturing industry. Ms. Andringa was inducted into IndustryWeek’s Manufacturing Hall of Fame in 2013. She served a two-year term as chair of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the nation’s largest manufacturing association and has recently been named Honorary Vice Chair. She also served as one of 18 private sector members of President Obama’s Export Council, where she represented manufacturing on important trade matters. Ms. Andringa is also a past member of the Export-Import Bank Advisory Committee.
Download the flyer.

Luncheon with former CIA Operative, Michele Rigby Assad
2019-01-31 11:00 - 13:00 | Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS, 66211, United States
Michele Rigby Assad is a former undercover officer in the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency’s Directorate of Operations. Trained as a counterterrorism specialist, Michele served her country for ten years, working in Iraq and other secret Middle Eastern locations.
Upon retirement from active service, Michele and her husband Joseph (also a former agent) joined a group of Americans who wished to aid persecuted Christians. Their efforts resulted in the evacuation of a group from northern Iraq that was featured on ABC’s 20/20 in December 2015.
Michele holds a master’s degree in Contemporary Arab Studies from Georgetown University. Today she serves as an international security consultant, splitting her time between the Middle East, Florida, and Washington, D.C.
Download the Event Flyer

UB Women Gathering with Marquita Miller
2018-11-08 17:30 - 19:45 | The Venue, 4800 W. 135th St. #108, Leawood, KS, 66224, United States
Marquita Miller owns and operates Five Star Tax and Business Solutions from her headquarters in Kansas City, MO—offering full service accounting & business consultation. KC Business magazine named Miller as one of Kansas City’s top Rising Stars (2010), most Influential Women (2011), and top Women Who Mean Business in 2014.
In addition to her entrepreneurial duties, Marquita is a prominent guest speaker and regular segment host on CBS & FOX morning shows. She is also a contributing writer for Black Enterprise Magazine and President for the National Speakers Association’s KC Chapter.
You won’t want to miss Marquita’s Unconventional Business story of her move from Fortune 500 corporate accountant to small business owner. She will share how the trials and tribulations of beginning a small business moved her to become what she calls a “Faithpreneur, a person who follows the path to entrepreneurship by first following the path of God.” Today, Marquita continues to be faithforward in the marketplace and is the co-author of Faithpreneur: God is not an agent for your failure but for your success and author of four additional titles.
Download the event flyer

Luncheon with Chick-fil-A Company Culture Expert, Dee Ann Turner
2018-10-18 11:00 - 13:00 | Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS, 66211, United States
Dee Ann Turner is a business leader, best-selling author and speaker.
She started her career at Chick-fil-A in 1985 as an administrator in the Human Resources department. Selected as Chick-fil-A’s first female officer in 2001, Dee Ann has led various areas of the business including Human Resources, Franchisee Selection, Culture, Learning and Development, Talent Management and Talent Acquisition. She currently serves as the Vice President, Enterprise Social Responsibility.
In 2015, Dee Ann’s first book, It’s My Pleasure, The Impact of Extraordinary Talent and a Compelling Culture was released and became a best-seller. She speaks all over the United States and internationally for both business and non-profit organizations on the topics of leading culture, talent selection and talent development among others. During her tenure at Chick-fil-A, Chick-fil-A has grown from 319 restaurants with $164,000,000 in sales to over 2100 restaurants in 46 states and the District of Columbia with annual sales of over $8 billion.
Married to her husband, Ashley for over 30 years, they are the parents of three grown sons, Trenton, Trevor and Trey and daughter-in-love, Katie. She is an avid sports enthusiast and she and Ashley enjoy traveling and active adventures. Together they serve their local church and Dee Ann has served on the boards of a number of ministries that support initiatives for women and children.
You can connect with Dee Ann on twitter @deeannturner or Instagram @itsmy.pleasure or on Facebook: Dee Ann Turner Author.
Download the event flyer.

UB Women Gathering with Stacy Washington
2018-10-15 17:30 - 19:30 | Silver Oaks Chateau, 1168 Highway 100, Pacific, MO, 63069, United States
Stacy Washington is the host of the nationally syndicated Stacy on the Right Show, broadcast on Urban Family Talk and American Family Radio weekdays from 2 – 4 p.m. central time, from St. Louis.
She is also the co-chairwoman of the Project 21 National Advisory Council of the National Center for Public Policy Research. She is an Emmy Nominated TV personality and Air Force Veteran.
Stacy has appeared on Fox News, Fox Business, NRATV, CNN, The Blaze, PBS, RT TV, Al Jazeera, HuffPost Live, Donnybrook on PBS, Fox5 DC and a host of network tv stations. Stacy was a regular fill in host for The Wilkow Majority, the Bill Plante Show and the Larry O’Connor Show. Stacy has guest hosted for Cam and Company, The Wilkow Majority, Mornings on the Mall on WMAL, The Allman in the Morning Show, The Marc Cox Show and The Dana Show.
A married mom of three teens, Stacy enjoys the beach and time spent with her family on vacation.
Heavy appetizers and refreshments included.
Download the event flyer

Luncheon with Chick-fil-A Culture Expert, Dee Ann Turner
2018-09-25 11:00 - 13:00 | Embassy Suites Des Moines Downtown, 101 E. Locust St., Des Moines, IA, 50309, United States
Dee Ann Turner is a business leader, best-selling author and speaker.
She started her career at Chick-fil-A in 1985 as an administrator in the Human Resources department. Selected as Chick-fil-A’s first female officer in 2001, Dee Ann has led various areas of the business including Human Resources, Franchisee Selection, Culture, Learning and Development, Talent Management and Talent Acquisition. She currently serves as the Vice President, Enterprise Social Responsibility.
In 2015, Dee Ann’s first book, It’s My Pleasure, The Impact of Extraordinary Talent and a Compelling Culture was released and became a best-seller. She speaks all over the United States and internationally for both business and non-profit organizations on the topics of leading culture, talent selection and talent development among others. During her tenure at Chick-fil-A, Chick-fil-A has grown from 319 restaurants with $164,000,000 in sales to over 2100 restaurants in 46 states and the District of Columbia with annual sales of over $8 billion.
Married to her husband, Ashley for over 30 years, they are the parents of three grown sons, Trenton, Trevor and Trey and daughter-in-love, Katie. She is an avid sports enthusiast and she and Ashley enjoy traveling and active adventures. Together they serve their local church and Dee Ann has served on the boards of a number of ministries that support initiatives for women and children.
You can connect with Dee Ann on twitter @deeannturner or Instagram @itsmy.pleasure of on Facebook: Dee Ann Turner Author.

UB Women Gathering with Denise Mills- SOLD OUT
2018-08-23 17:30 - 19:30 | The Venue, 4800 W. 135th St. #108, Leawood, KS, 66224, United States
This event is SOLD OUT. No tickets are currently available.
Join us for a UB Women Gathering with Denise Mills! Denise is Founder and Chief Mindset Officer of The LeaderFuel Center, a global leadership development consulting organization. Her title fits her well as she challenges mindset and perspectives with leadership teams for greater effectiveness.
Denise works with leaders in local organizations such as Honeywell, Sprint, Compass Minerals, KCP&L, UMB, and CommunityAmerica Credit Union; non-profits such as Comprehensive Mental Health Services, Tri-County Mental Health Services, Mattie Rhodes Center, Johnson County Library, Ronald McDonald House, Boys and Girls Club and many Catholic parishes; government agencies such as the US State Department, the Government Accountability Office and United Nations NGOs; and global organizations such as Dupont International, Service Management Group, and Toyota to name a few.
Denise is an Iowa farm girl, comes from large family and deeply values her Catholic upbringing, however, her Religious life and spirituality were kept very separate from her work and her work was distinctly separate from her Faith. Several years ago Denise felt called to bring her Faith Forward in all aspects of her life, including in business and with her clients. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,who loved me and gave himself for me. Join us to hear her “Unconventional Business” story of her journey from “obligatory Catholic” to good and faithful servant to how she strives to put God first in all aspects of her life.
Heavy appetizers and refreshments included.
Meet & Greet with Denise from 5:30-6 p.m.
Download the event flyer

Luncheon with Hobby Lobby President, Steve Green
2018-08-09 11:00 - 13:00 | The Ballroom at Doubletree Hotel & Convention Center, 16625 Swingley Ridge Road, Chesterfield, 63017
Steve Green is the president of Hobby Lobby, the world’s largest privately owned arts and crafts retailer. Founded in 1972 by his father, David, in 300 square feet of retail space, the chain has grown to more than 700 stores. Along with its affiliated companies, Hobby Lobby employs more than 32,000 people companywide.
Green also serves as chairman of the board of Museum of the Bible and is the visionary leader in establishing one of the world’s largest private collections of rare biblical artifacts, known as the Green Collection.
Green authored his first book—Faith in America—in 2011. His latest book, The Bible in America (2013), explores the history and impact of the Bible on U.S. history and in today’s world.
Green and his wife, Jackie, have been married for more than 30 years and reside in Oklahoma City, where Hobby Lobby is headquartered. Their family includes a son, five daughters, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law and four grandchildren.
Download the event flyer

Luncheon with Franchise Executives, Mark & Mary Kay Liston
2018-07-26 11:00 - 13:00 | Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS, 66211, United States
Mark and Mary Kay Liston are a power couple with valuable franchise experience and training in the Dwyer Group’s® Code of Values.
Mary Kay was named president of Five Star Painting and ProTect Painters when Dwyer Group® acquired them in 2015. This is the third franchise brand with Dwyer Group for Mary Kay. For the past three years she has served as vice president of operations at Mr. Appliance®, where the network grew from 155 franchises to over 185. Working with a team of talented franchise consultants, the company realized double-digit growth each year. She first came to Dwyer Group with Mr. Electric®, where she started their national sales program.
Mary Kay’s career in franchising began in 2003 when she joined the Valpak Direct Marketing Systems. During her six years there, Mary Kay led the company’s largest operation and turned it from having a negative cash flow to a highly profitable entity. In just her second year as general manager in Los Angeles, she and her team of 100 associates received the coveted Chairman’s Cup, Valpak’s highest award for sales and operations excellence. She cultivated relationships with franchisees to foster best practices across the network.
Mark joined Glass Doctor as the vice president of operations in April 2010. Mark’s experience in franchising began in 1981 when he joined Kinetico Incorporated and worked with Kinetico dealers throughout the world. After 18 years in the water treatment field, on both the corporate and franchise level, Mark joined Batteries Plus to lead their franchise development effort. Later, Mark joined Midas International in franchise development, where he awarded franchises throughout 27 states and western Canada.

Mark is also very involved in the International Franchise Association (IFA), where he currently sits on the Board of Directors. He is past chairman of the Board of Governors for the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives having earned his CFE in 2005. He is also on the IFA’s Educational Foundation Board of Trustees. Previously, Mark was a member of the VetFran Committee and IFA’s Public Relations Committee.
Download the event flyer

Luncheon with Former Quarterback, Neal Jeffrey
2018-06-07 11:00 - 13:00 | Embassy Suites Des Moines Downtown, 101 E. Locust St., Des Moines, IA, 50309, United States
NEAL JEFFREY, former All-American quarterback at Baylor University and quarterback for the San Diego chargers, learned the meaning of overcoming early in life. A stutterer since childhood, Neal had to find a way to “get through what he couldn’t get over” to achieve his lifelong dreams. Today, he is one of America’s most powerful and passionate communicators, speaking for corporate conferences, national conventions, sales organizations, sports teams – twice for the New York Yankees – school districts, student groups and churches from coast to coast. Everywhere he goes he inspires audiences to go “higher, swifter, stronger” in the critical areas of life. In addition to a busy speaking schedule, Neal serves as a speaking/teaching minister at the 28,000-member Prestonwood Church of Dallas, Texas, where he has served for over 25 years. He and his wife Sheila live in the Dallas area and have three grown children. His new book, If I Can, Y-Y-You Can! is available nationwide

UB Women Gathering with Kim Plank
2018-05-14 17:30 - 19:45 | Silver Oaks Chateau, 1168 Highway 100, Pacific, MO, 63069, United States
Kim’s unconventional business story begins with her family’s motorcycle business in Southeastern Ohio, where her passion for entrepreneurship ignited. Since then Kim has launched multiple small businesses, including mystery shopping, advertising, domestic cleaning services, and more. She has also served the St Louis Regional Chamber as a seasoned economic developer—recruiting Health Science and Services & Biosciences business to the region. Her faith-filled compassion is witnessed in her ongoing involvement with North St Louis ministries that foster sustainable economic advancement and racial reconciliation. Today, she leads CIC St Louis which connects about 270 innovative entrepreneurs to programming, venture capital and a vibrant community of collaboration.
Meet and greet from 5:30- 6p.m. Heavy appetizers and refreshments included.
Download the event flyer.
Registration is closed for this event.

SOLD OUT Luncheon with VeggieTales Creator, Phil Vischer
2018-05-10 11:00 - 13:00 | Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS, 66211, United States
Phil Vischer made his first animated film when he was nine years old; by the age of fourteen, he was convinced he would be a filmmaker when he grew up. After a brief stint at a Bible college, Phil struck out on his own, looking for a way to integrate his faith with his filmmaking.
This quest led him to a tomato and a cucumber. The year was 1991, and Phil was a newly married 25 year-old with no financial backing and no idea how his vegetables would ever see the light of day.
Today, almost 50 million VeggieTales videos have been purchased and Phil’s faith- filled stories can be found in one-third of all American homes with young children. Although Phil’s original company, Big Idea Productions, collapsed in bankruptcy in 2003, Phil continues his creative involvement with VeggieTales through its current owner.
Phil captured the breathtaking rise – and heartbreaking fall – of Big Idea Productions in the book Me, Myself & Bob, which was published by Thomas Nelson. He is also the author of the popular children’s books Sidney and Norman and 47 Beavers on the Big Blue Sea.
Phil’s latest project is a 13-DVD series called Buck Denver Asks What’s in the Bible? that will take families all the way through the Bible – Genesis to Revelation. He also started JellyTelly, an interactive, online “mini-network” for children.
Phil lives with his wife Lisa and their three kids in Wheaton, IL.
Download the event flyer

Luncheon with former CIA officer, Michele Rigby Assad
2018-05-03 11:00 - 13:00 | The Ballroom at Doubletree Hotel & Convention Center, 16625 Swingley Ridge Road, Chesterfield, 63017

Luncheon with Erik Dellenback
2018-03-01 11:00 - 13:00 | Embassy Suites Des Moines Downtown, 101 E. Locust St., Des Moines, IA, 50309, United States
Throughout his career, Erik Dellenback has had many titles including movie producer, business executive, college professor, speaker and entrepreneur, however he would rather simply be defined as husband, father and follower of Jesus.
For the past seven years, Erik served as the first President and Executive Director of the Tim Tebow Foundation. His primary responsibility was to implement Tim’s vision of bringing Faith, Hope and Love to children around the world. Erik was also responsible for overseeing all areas of the foundation including fundraising, ministry outreach initiatives, and operational management.
Prior to that role, Erik spent more than 11 years working in the business of college football with the Gator Bowl Association, most recently as Vice President/CMO.
A native Floridian, Erik graduated from the University of Florida and his favorite “favorite” is spending quality time with his wife, Elizabeth, and three children, Blake, Tyler and Emma.

Luncheon with Major General (Retired) Robert F. Dees
2018-02-15 11:00 - 13:00 | Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS, 66211, United States
Major General (Retired) Robert F. “Bob” Dees served for 31 years in the U.S. Army in a wide variety of command and staff positions culminating in his last three assignments as Assistant Division Commander for Operations, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); Commander, Second Infantry Division, United States Forces Korea; and as Deputy Commanding General, V (US/GE) Corps in Europe, concurrently serving as Commander, US-Israeli Combined Task Force for Missile Defense. Commissioned a second lieutenant after graduating from West Point in 1972, he is also a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and Royal College of Defense Studies in London, England.
Following military retirement in January 2003, Bob served as Executive Director, Defense Strategies, Microsoft Corporation; followed by leadership of a non-profit outreach to the military. While authoring The Resilience Trilogy (Resilient Warriors, Resilient Leaders, and Resilient Nations), he pioneered resilience programs for the military and beyond as Associate Vice President for Military Outreach, Adjunct Professor, and Director of the nation’s first Institute for Military Resilience at Liberty University. Most recently Bob served as National Security Advisor and Campaign Chairman, Carson for President 2016. His primary endeavor now is pioneering a national “Resilience God Style” campaign to restore faith-based resilience at individual, leader, and national levels.
Bob speaks at numerous seminars and conferences, as well as commentary on national security and resilience in venues such as FOX Huckabee, FOX Business, Focus on the Family, Christian Broadcasting Network, American Family Radio, Wildfire Men’s Conferences, New Canaan Society, Pinnacle Forum, Wallbuilders Live, My Family Talk, Samaritans Purse, Family Research Council, Newsmax TV, and numerous churches, military bases, and business organizations across America. He was featured as one of 30 “Master Leaders” in America by noted author George Barna.
Bob is married to the former Kathleen Robinson of Houston, Texas. They have two children and seven grandchildren, and currently reside in Round Rock, Texas. General and Mrs. Dees are grateful for the privilege of serving God, Nation, and others during these critical times.
Download the Event Flyer

Unconventional Business Luncheon with Phil Vischer
2017-11-09 11:00 - 13:00 | Embassy Suites Des Moines Downtown, 101 E. Locust St., Des Moines, IA, 50309, United States
We are partnering with Faith at Work Iowa to bring you this incredibly entertaining storyteller and creator of VeggieTales, Phil Vischer. He made his first animated film when he was nine years old; by the age of fourteen, he was convinced he would be a filmmaker when he grew up. After a brief stint at a Bible college, Phil struck out on his own, looking for a way to integrate his faith with his filmmaking.
This quest led him to a tomato and a cucumber. The year was 1991, and Phil was a newly married 25 year-old with no financial backing and no idea how his vegetables would ever see the light of day.
Today, almost 50 million VeggieTales videos have been purchased and Phil’s faith- filled stories can be found in one-third of all American homes with young children. Although Phil’s original company, Big Idea Productions, collapsed in bankruptcy in 2003, Phil continues his creative involvement with VeggieTales through its current owner.
Phil captured the breathtaking rise – and heartbreaking fall – of Big Idea Productions in the book Me, Myself & Bob, which was published by Thomas Nelson. He is also the author of the popular children’s books Sidney and Norman and 47 Beavers on the Big Blue Sea.
Phil’s latest project is a 13-DVD series called Buck Denver Asks What’s in the Bible? that will take families all the way through the Bible – Genesis to Revelation. He also started JellyTelly, an interactive, online “mini-network” for children.
Phil lives with his wife Lisa and their three kids in Wheaton, IL.

Unconventional Business Lunch with Steve Graves
2017-11-02 11:30 - 13:00 | The Ballroom at Doubletree Hotel & Convention Center, 16625 Swingley Ridge Road, Chesterfield, 63017
Dr. Stephen R. Graves is a strategist, executive coach, and author. At any given time, he is working with a handful of remarkable executives leading large global organizations and young social entrepreneurs just starting out. This includes Fortune 100 public companies, all-sized family businesses, and world-changing Not-for-Profits. He is honored to be the go-to-guide for hundreds of CEOs across the globe over the last three decades.
Steve has authored over a dozen books aimed at teaching people how to flourish in their life and work, and he publishes a weekly article read by more than ten thousand leaders around the world. One of his most memorable projects was the launch and scale of the Life@Work Magazine, an award winning and trend-setting publication.
Steve tries to accept a few speaking engagements every quarter. Over the years he has spoken in such varied venues as an arena crammed with 75,000 men, conferences like TedX and Q, and simple but highly strategic round tables of executives.
Although coaching CEOs and writing consume most of his work world, Steve also owns a couple of small businesses and sits on two boards (Q and Praxis).
When Steve is not consulting or writing on strategy, leadership, or impact, you can find him back-casting in the cold clear rivers of northwest Arkansas. He is married, and he loves hanging out with his three adult children when they will tolerate him. To explore Steve’s content, visit stephenrgraves.com.
Download the event flyer

Unconventional Business Luncheon with Jim Daly
2017-10-19 11:00 - 13:00 | Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS, 66211, United States
Jim Daly is president of Focus on the Family and host of the daily broadcast, heard by more than 6.3 million listeners a week on more than 1,000 radio stations across the U.S. The show was honored as 2012 Program of the Year by the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB).
Daly’s personal journey from orphan to head of an international Christian organization dedicated to helping families thrive is a powerful story. Abandoned by his alcoholic father at age 5, he lost his mother to cancer four years later – a wound deepened when his grieving stepfather emptied the family home and left Daly, the youngest of five children, and his siblings to fend for themselves after their mother’s funeral.
Several tough years followed, including time in foster care, before Daly became a Christian in high school and found meaning, purpose and a sense of belonging.
“I am living proof,” he wrote in his 2007 autobiography, “Finding Home,” “that no matter how torn up the road has already been, or how pothole-infested it may look ahead, nothing – nothing – is impossible for God.”
Daly was named president of Focus on the Family in 2005 after 16 years with the ministry. Under his leadership, the organization has taken on a major role nationally in encouraging and helping facilitate foster-care adoptions, earning recognition from the White House and Congress for its efforts. The ministry also has reinvigorated its traditional focus on helping couples build strong marriages and raise healthy, resilient kids. In just the last 12 months, with the help of Focus on the Family, research indicates that 770,000 couples have built stronger marriages and 870,000 moms and dads built stronger, healthier and more God-honoring families.
Daly started his career at Focus in 1989 as an assistant to the president, fostering relationships with the ministry’s supporters. He was appointed international field director for Asia, Africa and Australia in 1992, and in 1997 was promoted to vice president of the International Division. In 2004, Daly was appointed chief operating officer, the role he held until he was handpicked by Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson to be the group’s president.
Daly graduated from California State University, San Bernardino, in 1984 with a B.S. in Business Administration. During his senior year, he attended Waseda University in Tokyo, and after graduating worked for a Fortune 500 company. In 1997, he completed his MBA in International Business at Regis University in Denver. In 2009, he received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Colorado Christian University in Denver.
Daly has received the 2008 World Children’s Center Humanitarian Award, the 2009 Children’s Hunger Fund Children’s Champion Award, and the 2010 HomeWord Family Ministry Award. He has appeared on such television programs as “Fox & Friends,” “America Live with Megyn Kelly,” “ABC World News Tonight” and PBS’ “Religion & Ethics”; and been featured in Time, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today and Newsweek, which named him one of the Top 10 next-generation evangelical leaders of influence. He was also the subject of a July 2011 cover story in Christianity Today.
Daly is an author whose book, “ReFOCUS: Living a Life That Reflects God’s Heart,” explores how to engage the culture for Christ in a compassionate and winsome way. In 2014, he wrote “The Good Dad,” which looks at how dads can become better fathers regardless of their background or the parenting mistakes they’ve made. In his latest book, “Marriage Done Right: One Man, One Woman,” Daly examines God’s purposes for marriage, including the unique benefits that a mom and a dad bring to the partnership of raising children.
Daly has been married to his wife, Jean, since 1986. They have two sons and are currently parenting two children in foster care. They reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
He will inspire and provide practical wisdom on how to “Honor Your Family In Your Work”
Download the Event Flyer

Unconventional Business Women Luncheon with Lisa Nichols
2017-09-12 11:30 - 13:00 | KS
Content is protected.

Unconventional Business Luncheon with Roger Gardner
2017-08-24 11:00 - 13:00 | Sheraton West Des Moines, 1800 50th St., West Des Moines, IA, 50266, United States
We are partnering with Faith at Work Iowa to bring you this expert on company culture, Roger Gardner. Gardner began his Learfield career in 1982 as a farm broadcaster, while a junior at the University of Missouri. Throughout his more than three decades of service, Gardner has provided integral guidance to virtually every area of the company, specifically in essential areas of operational and management roles. Most of his work over the years has been in development of Learfield’s collegiate athletic multimedia marketing and sponsorship sales business. Gardner currently leads the communications and marketing areas of the company focused on Learfield’s continued involvement with various industry events while spearheading events aligned with the company culture. Gardner and his wife Cheri live in Plano, Texas and have two grown children.

Unconventional Business Luncheon with Bobby Albert
2017-08-08 11:00 - 13:00 | Doubletree Hotel Tulsa – Warren Place, 6110 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa, OK, 74136, United States
We are partnering with Management Leadership Institute in Tulsa to bring you Bobby Albert! Bobby led the Albert Companies to unprecedented growth—and he did so during one of the most challenging economic periods of our lifetime. His unique leadership, coupled with an unending desire to learn, enabled this CEO and his team to grow revenues, profits, and EBITDA by 500 percent between 2005 and 2011, the year he sold his business to a publicly traded company.
Using a values-driven approach, Bobby created a unique and special workplace culture. The Best 100 Companies to Work for in Texas awarded their coveted designation to the Albert team for the first two years they applied for consideration.
Bobby’s love of God and people has fueled his passion, informed his decisions and guided his leadership. He’s especially excited and humbled about how he learned to successfully weave his heart for ministry into the very fiber of his organization. Seeing his work as worship enabled him to integrate his faith with the high calling of business.
He is currently president of Values-Driven Leadership, LLC. His passion is to help other leaders build inspiring workplace cultures through values-driven leadership. Bobby writes, speaks, and consults with key leaders to share the principles and practices that he used to grow his company from five employees to an organization of more than 150 team members.
As a regular contributor on Fox News Radio, Bobby provides insight on leadership, workplace culture, and employee engagement.
Bobby’s first book, Principled Profits – Outward Success is an Inside Job, will be available summer, 2017.
Bobby lives in north Texas with his wife, Susan. They have three married sons and seven grandchildren.

Unconventional Business Luncheon with Lisa Nichols
2017-08-03 11:30 - 13:00 | The Ballroom at Doubletree Hotel & Convention Center, 16625 Swingley Ridge Road, Chesterfield, 63017
Lisa Nichols is the CEO and co-founder of Technology Partners, a Woman Owned Business Enterprise and national provider of premier IT staffing and solutions. Lisa and her husband, Greg Nichols, founded Technology Partners in 1994 driven by their passion to revolutionize the staffing industry with their transparent business model.
Using her background in accounting and marketing, Lisa heads up the business side of the company, and her leadership has been recognized by numerous awards including regional finalist for EY’s Entrepreneur Of The Year® award for both 2013 and 2014, 2013 YWCA Leader of Distinction, and the 2013 Enterprising Women Award. Lisa was also featured in Forbes’ “Most Powerful Women” issue in 2013, for Missouri, and 2014, for Texas.
Not only committed to her clients’ success, Lisa is also focused on the success of the community and has devoted her time to many philanthropic organizations over the years, including: Co-chair for the American Heart Association’s 2017 Go Red for Women, United Way deTocqueville Society, Vice-Chair for Young President’s Organization Christian Fellowship Network, Executive Committee for Junior Achievement of Greater St. Louis, Vice President Board of Trustees for Stages St. Louis and President of the Board for BreakDown St. Louis.
She will be talking about what it means to lead an Unconventional Business. Ticket sales are currently off-line since the event is this Thursday. Please call 913-782-9333 if you would like to purchase a ticket.
Download the Event Flyer

Unconventional Business Luncheon with Rich McClure
2017-07-20 11:00 - 13:00 | Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS, 66211, United States
Rich McClure is former President of UniGroup, the parent of United Van Lines, Mayflower Transit, UniGroup Relocation, and UniGroup Logistics. In 2011, Rich and his wife Sharon were the first couple featured on the CBS show, Undercover Boss, featuring United Van Lines. He came to the UniGroup companies in 1995 as executive vice president/chief operating officer of United Van Lines and has also served as president of UniGroup Worldwide prior to being appointed President in April 2002. He retired in December, 2014.
He co-chaired the Ferguson Commission appointed by Governor Jay Nixon of Missouri in November, 2014 to study and recommend actions to address the underlying causes of the social unrest in the St. Louis region. The Commission issued their report “Forward though Ferguson” in September, 2015. His consulting firm, Spero Advisors LLC, provides strategic planning and governance advisory services.
Prior to joining UniGroup, Mr. McClure was a banking executive with Central Bancompany of Missouri. Early in his career, he held public policy positions as chief of staff for then-Missouri Governor and former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft; and as deputy chief of staff to Governor Jim Thompson of Illinois; also serving in the cabinet as director of Illinois’ Department of Central Management Services.
Mr. McClure earned his bachelor’s degree in management from Missouri State University and his master’s degree in public administration from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University. He has served on the Executive Committee and the Board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and is former vice chairman of the St. Louis Regional Chamber. He currently serves on the Board of the United Way of Greater St. Louis, the Board of Trustees of St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and the regional board of Teach for America. He is Chairman of the St. Louis Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Rich and his wife of 37 years, Sharon, have two married children. They co-chaired the large donor campaign of the St. Louis United Way in 2011 and together serve on the Board of Governors of Opportunity International, the largest faith-based microfinance bank.
He will inspire and provide practical insights on doing business God’s way, “Unconventionally”!
Download the Event Flyer

Unconventional Business Lunch with Dr. Paul White
2017-06-01 11:00 - 13:00 | Holiday Inn Des Moines Airport, 6111 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA, 50321, United States
Dr. Paul White is a psychologist, author, speaker, and consultant who “makes work relationships work”. Dr. White is coauthor of three books, including The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace, written with Dr. Gary Chapman (author of the #1 NY Times bestseller, The 5 Love Languages) which is in 15 languages and has sold over 225,000 copies worldwide. Based on their extensive research and expertise, Dr. White and Dr. Chapman have developed a unique way for organizations to improve staff morale, increase employee engagement, and create enhanced levels of trust.
For the past 20 years, he’s improved numerous businesses, schools, government agencies and non-profit organizations by helping them:

Create positive workplace relationships and improve staff morale.
Eliminate the cynicism, sarcasm and lack of trust that often is associated with traditional employee recognition programs.
Reduce staff burnout and turnover (without spending a lot of money to do so!)

A frequently sought after keynote speaker and leadership trainer, his speaking style has been described as “world-class expertise grounded in Midwestern practicality, with the right touch of warmth and humor”. Dr. White has given lectures around the world, including North America, Europe, South America, Asia, and the Caribbean. He has spoken to Microsoft managers, SHRM and association conferences across North America, at international conferences, and to numerous national organizations.
Having grown up in the context of a family-owned business, Dr. White helps financially successful families and companies deal with the relational issues intertwined with transferring business ownership, business management, and the family’s assets across generations. His expertise in this area has been requested Princeton University, the Milken Institute, Napa Valley Community Foundation, Dartmouth College, Houston Community Foundation, and numerous large private companies.
Dr. White graduated Magna Cum Laude from Wheaton College with a major in Christian Education, earned his Masters of Counseling from Arizona State University, and received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Georgia State University. He has been married for over 30 years and is the father of four adult children.
Download the Event Flyer

Unconventional Business Luncheon with Phil Vischer
2017-05-18 11:00 - 13:00 | The Ballroom at Doubletree Hotel & Convention Center, 16625 Swingley Ridge Road, Chesterfield, 63017
You do not want to miss this incredibly entertaining storyteller and creator of VeggieTales, Phil Vischer. He made his first animated film when he was nine years old; by the age of fourteen, he was convinced he would be a filmmaker when he grew up. After a brief stint at a Bible college, Phil struck out on his own, looking for a way to integrate his faith with his filmmaking.
This quest led him to a tomato and a cucumber. The year was 1991, and Phil was a newly married 25 year-old with no financial backing and no idea how his vegetables would ever see the light of day.
Today, almost 50 million VeggieTales videos have been purchased and Phil’s faith- filled stories can be found in one-third of all American homes with young children. Although Phil’s original company, Big Idea Productions, collapsed in bankruptcy in 2003, Phil continues his creative involvement with VeggieTales through its current owner.
Phil captured the breathtaking rise – and heartbreaking fall – of Big Idea Productions in the book Me, Myself & Bob, which was published by Thomas Nelson. He is also the author of the popular children’s books Sidney and Norman and 47 Beavers on the Big Blue Sea.
Phil’s latest project is a 13-DVD series called Buck Denver Asks What’s in the Bible? that will take families all the way through the Bible – Genesis to Revelation. He also started JellyTelly, an interactive, online “mini-network” for children.
Phil lives with his wife Lisa and their three kids in Wheaton, IL.
Download the Event Flyer

Unconventional Business Luncheon with the Benham Brothers
2017-05-11 11:00 - 13:00 | Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS, 66211, United States
The Benham Brothers, identical twins, David Benham and Jason Benham, are former professional baseball players, best selling authors, speakers, and nationally acclaimed entrepreneurs. Their rise to success earned them a reality show with HGTV that was set to air in the fall of 2014- yet the show was cancelled because of their commitment to biblical values.
They started using biblical values for their real estate business in 2002. They found it to be a tough business to get off the ground, especially fresh out of baseball with no real estate experience. This forced them to their knees to simply ask God to bless the work of their hands as they applied His life principles to the marketplace.
Within 10 years their real estate company topped dozens of business charts, including: Inc Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Ernst & Young, and the US Chamber of Commerce.
They have appeared on Fox News, ESPN, CNN, Fox Business, ABC’s Nightline and Good Morning America.
They have authored two books, Whatever the Cost and Living Among Lions and today they run BENHAM Real Estate Group.
The brothers live in Charlotte, NC. David is married to Lori with five children, with Jason is married to Tori with four children.
Although they had no formal business training, they were armed with a core set of life principles that paved the way to success the “Unconventional Business” way!

Download the Event Flyer

Unconventional Business Luncheon with Kelly Shackelford
2017-05-02 11:00 - 13:00 | Doubletree Hotel Tulsa – Warren Place, 6110 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa, OK, 74136, United States
Faith at Work: Is It Legal?
Kelly Shackelford, Esq., is president and CEO of First Liberty Institute, the largest legal firm in the nation dedicated exclusively to protecting religious freedom for all Americans. He has served in this role since 1997, leading First Liberty’s efforts to defend religious freedom in the courts and in the public arena. Under his leadership, First Liberty’s legal team has participated in cases before the United States Supreme Court, federal courts of appeals, federal district courts and various state courts, where they have won more than 90 percent of their cases.
Shackelford is a constitutional scholar who has argued before the United States Supreme Court, testified before the U.S. House and Senate, and has won a number of landmark First Amendment and religious liberty cases.
He was recently named one of the 25 greatest Texas lawyers of the past quarter century by Texas Lawyer, and is the recipient of the prestigious William Bentley Ball Award for Life and Religious Freedom Defense for pioneering work protecting religious freedom.
Shackelford is a highly sought-after speaker and frequent guest on national news and talk shows including Good Morning America, The Today Show, The O’Reilly Factor, CNN, Fox and Friends, MSNBC, and Hannity. He also has been featured in the National Law Journal, Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Times, The Washington Post, and The L.A. Times, and many others.
Shackelford is on the Board of Trustees of the United States Supreme Court Historical Society and earned his law degree from Baylor University.
Download the Event Flyer
