2025 Spring Symposium Presentations

DATES
May 5-7, 2025

LOCATION
Hilton Cleveland Downtown
100 Lakeside Ave E.
Cleveland, OH 44114

Fraternal & Communications Track:

Sharpening Your Video Skills for Society Success: A Hands-On Workshop
- Tim Parsons, Senior Advisor, Idealist.org

Governance & Leadership Track:

The Three Stewardship Imperatives of Fit-for-Purpose Boards
- Jeff De Cagna, Executive Advisor, Foresight First LLC

Fraternal & Communications Track:

Social Media as a Megaphone for Fraternal Impact
- Marianne Blando, Social Media Coordinator, 1891 Financial Life
- Sarah Fracek, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Trusted Fraternal Life
- Natasha Herleman, Digital Media & PR Specialist, GBU Life
- Hari Srinivasan, Founder & CEO, iCover

Governance & Leadership Track:

Fraternal Gravitas: Projecting Expertise and Confidence for Better Outcomes
- Kevin O’Connor, Certified Executive Coach

Fraternal & Communications Track:

Reimagining the Chapter System: Strategies for Restructure and Growth
- Angie Bardsley, Team Lead, Philanthropy, Royal Neighbors of America
- Melissa Gottwalt, Fraternal Impact Manager, Modern Woodmen of America
- Keri Rursch, Fraternal Director, Modern Woodmen of America

Governance & Leadership Track:

Appropriate Fraternal Spend: What’s Too Much or Too Little for a Tax-Exempt Insurer?
- Mike Ahles, Senior Vice President of Distribution, Trusted Fraternal Life
- Chris Campbell, CEO & Chair of the Board, BetterLife

Fraternal & Communications Track:

Making Your Case for Fraternal Department Change: Strategies for Preventing Resistance
- Kevin O’Connor, Certified Executive Coach

Governance & Leadership Track:

Fraternal Executive Compensation: The Right Talent, The Right Pay
- Brett Herand, Managing Director, Pearl Meyer
- Tony Mravle, President & CEO, KSKJ Life
- Steve Shaffer, CEO, Homesteaders Life

Keynote: Developing a Foresightly Perspective for the Turbulent Twenties
- Jeff De Cagna, Executive Advisor, Foresight First LLC

Fraternal & Communications Track:

Building Stronger Communities with Powerful Member Events
- Derek Hohn, Director, Fraternal Programs, Croatian Fraternal Union
- Jennifer Stockdale, AVP Communications & Community Development, GBU Life
- Angel Thomas, Senior Vice President Member Engagement, BetterLife

Governance & Leadership Track:

Balancing Risk and Reward: ERM Strategies for Success
- Andrew Edelsberg, SVP, Head of Business Development – Life Solutions Group, Gallagher Re
- Chris Myers, Enterprise Capital Strategist, New England Asset Management
- Bobbi Sedor, AVP, Enterprise Risk Management, GBU Life

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Rock & Roll



Scenes from the Spring Symposium