2026
Professional Development Day
FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2026 | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Join us for a day of growth, learning, and networking at The Alliance Commons! Gain valuable insights from industry experts and connect with professionals across various fields.
GUEST BREAKOUT PRESENTERS
We’re excited to welcome a group of guest presenters who bring valuable insight, experience, and fresh perspectives to our breakout sessions. Each presenter will share practical knowledge and real-world strategies designed to inform, inspire, and support meaningful conversation.
Beth Short
Nonprofit Expert
Ally Bussey
Fundraising Expert
Jake Hastings
Leadership Expert
Mo Ater
Fundraising Expert
Mitchell Baxter
Grant Writing Expert
Randy Lipscomb
Major Gifts Expert
Deborah Easton
Communications Expert
Learn More About Breakout Session Topics
Nonprofit Basics for the State of Ohio - What are all the T's to cross and I's to dot to be compliant with Ohio rules and regulations?
Presenter: Beth Short, Director of Charitable Outreach and Education, for the Ohio Attorney General’s Charitable Law Section
Emotional Intelligence for Leaders: Lead with Awareness and Impact
Presenter: Jake Hastings, Head of Talen Acquisition, Effective Leadership Academy
Great leaders don’t just manage tasks — they understand people. In this engaging and interactive 75-minute session, participants will explore how emotional intelligence strengthens leadership effectiveness, deepens team trust, and enhances workplace culture. Through dynamic discussion, reflection, and practical activities, you’ll develop the skills needed to better understand your team members and coworkers — what motivates them, how they communicate, and what they need to thrive.
Walk away with practical tools to increase self-awareness, strengthen empathy, improve collaboration, and create environments where individuals feel valued and supported. If you’re ready to lead with clarity, connection, and intention – this session is for you.
AI for Grants: What Works, What Doesn’t, and How to Use It Well
Presenter: Mitchell Baxter, Grant Coordinator, Strengthening Stark
Join Mitchell Baxter for a candid, practical conversation about how AI can realistically support grant work today. Together, we’ll explore what AI does well, where it falls short, and how teams are using it thoughtfully for grant research, feasibility assessment, proposal development, and custom GPTs. Attendees are encouraged to bring laptops or devices and follow along as we test tools, walk through examples, and focus on strengthening strategy, not replacing human judgment.
So you want to throw a fundraiser? How to make sure your organization understands all of the ins and out for the state of Ohio.
Presenter: Beth Short, Director of Charitable Outreach and Education, for the Ohio Attorney General’s Charitable Law Section
Generations Working Together
Presenter: Deborah Easton, Communication Skills Consultant
With five generations sharing today’s workplace, communication styles, expectations, and motivations can vary widely — and sometimes collide. This engaging and humor-filled workshop explores what shapes each generation’s perspective and how those differences show up at work. Through lively insights, relatable examples, and costumed portrayals, participants will gain a practical understanding of generational dynamics, learn to avoid stereotypes, and discover strategies for communicating in ways that build connection rather than conflict.
The Governance Playbook: Building Stronger Boards
Presenter: Beth Short, Director of Charitable Outreach and Education, for the Ohio Attorney General’s Charitable Law Section
Fundable or Forgettable?
Presenters: Ally Bussey, President and CEO, VisitCanton (Stark County Convention & Visitors’ Bureau) and Mo Ater, President & CEO, ArtsinStark
Join Ally and Mo for a candid, practical session on what actually makes an organization fundable in 2026 and beyond. We’ll unpack the realities of changing donor trends, donor fatigue, hyper-focused grant programs, and increasing competition for attention — and explore what separates organizations that secure support from those that get overlooked.
Major Gifts Fundamentals: Building Relationships That Inspire Giving
Presenter: Randy Lipscomb, Donor Relations Officer, Akron Canton Food Bank
Major gifts aren’t about big asks — they’re about meaningful relationships. Join Randy Lipscomb for a practical, engaging session on how to build authentic donor connections that lead to transformational giving. You’ll gain proven strategies, real-world insights, and simple tools you can start using immediately to grow your major gifts program with confidence.
Key Note
Dwight Mason
Kevin West
Kevin is the Founder and CEO of Invisible Insights Inc. He resides in Sugarcreek and serves his clients as a Business Advisor, High Performance Coach and Trainer. Kevin is a regular contributor with Forbes.com and works to provide insight and results based development for his clients by mentoring them to see “Invisibles”, the key frameworks behind organizational, personal and professional growth and success.
Dwight Mason
Kevin West