Speaker Descriptions

Keynote Speaker

Dan Hotchkiss, Author and Congregational Consultant, Alban Institute

Dan Hotchkiss has consulted with hundreds of churches and synagogues across the American religious spectrum on a wide variety of issues. Some areas where Dan is currently focusing his writing, teaching, and consulting include:

• Planning - Healthy congregations have a clear sense of vision or mission that shapes who they are and what they do. In planning, it is often more useful to build on strengths than to fret about weaknesses. Planning can be anything from choosing a short-term project that can be successful quickly to a long process of Holy Conversation. Dan helps congregations to choose the planning process that is right for them at a given moment. He leads the Alban seminar on planning, Shaping Holy Conversations.
• Governance - Dan often helps congregations to move beyond frustrating and ineffective ways of managing the work of boards, clergy, and staff. Good governance starts with clearly defined roles and authority; it succeeds when lay and professional leaders lead ministry together as collaborating partners. How much time does your board or committee spend managing programs? How much time do your program leaders (paid and volunteer) spend seeking approval for choices they could be trusted to make on their own? True partnership begins with clear role boundaries, effective delegation, and a constructive system of accountability. Dan can help you whether you want to sharpen leaders skills, reorganize to grow, or consider an entirely new model for governance.
• Clergy coaching - Dan coaches his colleagues through regular conversation, homework assignments, feedback, and evaluation. Coaching begins with a no-charge conversation about the potential client’s needs, anxieties, hopes, and objectives. Optionally, Dan will come to the clients place of work to shadow for a day, enabling him to observe the clients leadership style. The coaching conversations, which can take place on the phone or in person, typically happen monthly for an hour over a six-month period. Coaching clients can contact Dan by phone or email to check in about issues as they arise.
• Financial assessment - Financial communication is a challenge for many congregations. Dan will examine your financial and giving records and provide a report answering the questions you identify, such as: Is our budget sustainable? Where are we headed? Do we depend too much on a few givers? What stewardship strategy will best move us toward our goals? Should we worry about debt? Are we handling invested reserves and endowment funds responsibly? How can we encourage members to add to these funds? A financial assessment can stand alone or serve as part of a larger planning process.

Church Alliance Speakers

Honorable Bill Thomas, Former Congressman and Former Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee

William Marshall Thomas, commonly known as Bill Thomas, was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1997 – 2007, representing the 22nd District of California.  He last served as the Chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, and retired to private life at the end of the 109th Congress.

Lowell B. Catlett, Ph.D.

Dr. Lowell Catlett is a Regent’s Professor of Economics, Agriculture and Genetic Engineering at New Mexico State University where he became Dean of the College of Agriculture and Home Economics in January 2006.  He is an exciting futurist whose knowledge of technologies and their implications on the way we will live and work is addressed in his varied and upbeat presentations which he delivers both nationally and internationally.

Investment Panel Speakers

Spencer Glendon, PhD, Senior Vice President, Partner, and Director of Global Macro Analysis Research, Wellington Management Company

Spencer is the director of the Global Macroanalysis Research Group at Wellington Management. The Group helps shape the economic, corporate, and political outlook of the firm’s portfolio managers, analysts, and clients. In addition to his responsibilities as director, Spencer pursues an active research agenda. As a specialist on greater China, he researches the structural and cyclical changes in China to provide insights to investing both in Asia and around the world. In addition, he is responsible for leading the Macro Group and the firm in analysis and discussions of global issues. His research includes topics such as commodity demand in emerging markets, international trade dynamics, and capital market development.

Paul McCulley, Managing Director, Pacific Investment Management Company

Mr. McCulley is a Managing Director, generalist portfolio manager, member of the investment committee and head of PIMCO’s Short-Term Desk. He also leads PIMCO’s Cyclical Economic Forum and is author of the monthly research publication Global Central Bank Focus. Mr. McCulley joined PIMCO in 1999, previously serving as Chief Economist for the Americas for UBS Warburg. During 1996-98, he was named to six seats on the Institutional Investor All-America Fixed Income Research team. He has twenty-two years of investment experience and holds a bachelor’s degree from Grinnell College and an MBA from Columbia University Graduate School of Business. Recently co-authored Your Financial Edge released June 2007.

Devotional Speakers

Rabbi Stephen Kahn, Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel

Rabbi Stephen Kahn was born in San Francisco, California. After receiving his B.A. in Politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, Rabbi Kahn attended the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion where he was ordained as a rabbi in 1995. He became Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel in July of 2003.

In addition to his rabbinic duties at the Congregation, Rabbi Kahn is a member on the regional boards of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and the Anti Defamation League (ADL).