2009 Risk Management and Finance Summit for Nonprofits
EARLY-BIRD DEADLINE EXTENDED TO AUGUST 10
Sunday to Tuesday, September 20–22, 2009
AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center at the University of Texas at Austin • Austin, TX
| Main | Register | Program | Location |
Conference Program
Sunday, September 20
| All Day 2:00–5:30 pm |
Arrival of Conference Attendees Registration and Bookstore — Get a jump start on the SUMMIT by being among the first to register. Peruse the BOOKSTORE and ONLINE TOOLS kiosk to check out the new resources available from the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. Light refreshments will be served from 4:30-5:30 pm. |
| 2:00–5:30 pm | Exhibit Set up — Representatives from the Summit Corporate Sponsors are invited to set up their booths and displays. |
| 3:00–5:00 pm | Pre-Conference MEETINGNRMC Satellite Office Meeting(by invitation only) |
Monday, September 21
Tuesday, September 22
*Common Ground is an international, interdenominational forum of leaders of property & casualty insurance and risk management programs who gather annually and share ideas throughout the year to advance their emphasis on ownership and alternative risk financing, ministry protection and stewardship. Since 2001 a different faith tradition has hosted the annual meeting, allowing the invited group to learn as well about the fundamental principles of that denomination and how they link to their risk management efforts
PLENARY SESSIONS
The School of Rough Waters: Managing Risk at Sea and at Home
As Vice President for External Relations, Enrollment Management, and Student Affairs at Spalding University, Tori reports directly to the President of the University and serves as a member of the President’s Cabinet.
She oversees Admissions, Financial Aid, the Registrar, Marketing and Public Relations, Information Technology, Intercollegiate Athletics, and serves as Corporate General Counsel. Tori works in concert with the Dean of Student Development and Campus Life to supervise: Student Organizations, Residence Life, Campus Safety, the Counseling Center, Dining, and Disability Services.
Tori earned her A.B. from Smith College, a Masters in Divinity from Harvard University, a Juris Doctor from the University of Louisville School of Law, and a Masters of Fine Arts in Writing from Spalding University. She was admitted to the practice of law in 1995 and is a lawyer in good standing with the Kentucky Bar Association.
Professionally, Tori has worked as Chaplain at Boston City Hospital, the executive director of a shelter for homeless women, as a public policy assistant for the Mayor of Louisville, and she worked for Muhammad Ali to assist with early efforts to create the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville.
Tori is best known as the first woman and first American to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She was also the first woman and first American to travel over land to the geographic South Pole, skiing 750 miles from the ice shelf to the pole. An avid mountaineer, Tori has climbed on several continents and she was the first woman to climb Lewis Nunatuck summit in Antarctica. She is a fully certified Emergency Medical Technician in both urban and wilderness areas. She is also a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School semester courses in Alaska and Kenya.
Tori is the recipient of multiple international honors. Thor Heyerdahl presented her with the Peter Byrd Trophy; Tori was the first woman to be honored with this award. In Paris she was recognized along with Lance Armstrong by L’Academies des Sport for significant sporting achievement. At the Moscow International Festival of Mountaineering and Adventure Films, the French documentary “Beyond Limits—Tori Murden,” took the prize for the “Best Foreign Adventure Film,” and Dr. Yuri Aleksandrovich Senkevich awarded Tori with a Russian chalice for extraordinary achievements.
Stories about Tori have appeared in more than ten books and thirty major magazines. Tori has appeared on national television shows including Good Morning America, The Today Show, CNN Domestic and International, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Late Night with David Letterman, Exhale with Candice Bergen, The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, The Rosie O’Donnel Show, Inside Edition, The 34th Annual Victor Awards (Fox Sports Network), The Discovery Channel, “Storm Warnings,” “Beyond Limits – Tori Murden” French Television TF-1, The Travel Channel “World’s Most Dangerous Sporting Events,” and National Geographic, “Base Camp.”
Life is a Verb! — Six Practices for More Mindful Living
(and working)
In October 2003, Patti Digh’s stepfather was diagnosed was lung cancer. He died just 37 days later, a time frame that shocked and scared her. She started asking herself one question every morning, a question that changed her life: “What would you be doing today if you only had 37 days to live?”
Patti will share what she has learned in the six years since that fateful day in this lively keynote filled with stories and learning and laughter—and questions for you to ponder.
Her stories of subtle and shocking change, jarring recognitions, discoveries in everyday routine, and the insights of knowing adults and wise children will touch your heart and mind. Explore with her the six practices she discovered that help us live a fuller, more meaningful life at home and work. You’ll leave refreshed and with new ways to find joy and deeper meaning in the very simple moments of your days.
Patti Digh is the author of Life is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally, a finalist for both the 2008 Books for a Better Life Award and Southern Independent Booksellers Association book of the year, as well as the award-winning blog, 37days. Her first book, Global Literacies, was named a Fortune Magazine "best business book" for the year 2000. Patti is a writer, blogger, speaker, social justice activist, and—most importantly—a mom.
Workshop Descriptions
Risk Management 101: Practical Ways to Manage Risk in a Changing World
Ideally your risk management program creates an environment where your organization can take more risk, not less. In this session you will learn about basic risk management strategies and terms before moving on to small group discussion around real-life risk management challenges. Groups will apply their learning and knowledge in a practical way to address how an organization might deal with their risk every day. These strategies and exercises will help you walk away from the session with the tools to build and strengthen a sound risk management foundation for your organization that adapts to the everyday challenges of a changing world.
COMMON GROUND: Hot Topics in Employment Law for Churches and Religious Nonprofits.
Retaliation, age discrimination, and managing leaves of absence are just a few of the topics with which leaders of churches and religious nonprofits must be familiar. This workshop will explore the world of employment risk through the lens of a church or faith-based nonprofit organization, offering practical as well as values-based advice.
Ethics and Volunteers: What’s the Big Deal?
Most of us are familiar with ethical issues related to board governance, financial management, and human resources. But what about all those volunteers? This session will present the core ethical principles which apply to volunteer management, and provide an opportunity to explore a practical decision-making process for navigating the real-life ethical dilemmas commonly faced by organizations like yours.
Managing Fraud Risk in Your Nonprofit: Practical Tools to Safeguard Your Assets
In the Report to the Nation on Occupational Fraud and Abuse, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners estimates that 7% of organization revenues are lost to fraud.In 2008, fraud losses amounted to a staggering $994 billion.From Ponzi schemes to embezzlement, it is clear that nonprofits are more vulnerable to fraud than widely recognized.Equally disturbing, nonprofit sector frauds are too often committed by your most valued assets: long-time, trusted employees and volunteers. Even worse, some experts predict that fraud will spike during the economic downturn. Attend this workshop to learn what factors contribute to fraud, facts about the crimes, who is committing fraud, the fraud schemes used, and best practices that organizations should employ to combat this growing category of crime.
Culture Change and Risk Communication
Inspiring sound risk management practices in a mission-driven organization requires more than a process or framework and an hour in the conference room. Truly effective risk management efforts in the nonprofit sector take place when culture change is the guiding vision for the effort. As leaders appreciate the nuances of a risk-aware culture, an integral step is to communicate effectively. The co-presenters for this workshop will discuss proven strategies for inspiring culture change and effective risk communication. Some of the concepts discussed at this workshop are covered in the Center’s brand-new book, Ready…or Not: A Risk Management Guide for Nonprofit Executives.
COMMON GROUND: Legal Developments and Rulings Impacting Churches and Religious Nonprofits
This workshop will explore recent legal developments and judicial decisions that require special notice by religious nonprofits and churches. Attend this workshop to find out what changes have taken place and what additional changes and rulings leaders should anticipate
Insurance Boot Camp
D&O, CGL, professional liability, non-owned auto, business interruption, and crime coverage are just a few examples of insurance policies commonly purchased by nonprofit organizations. Depending on the mission, the environment, and the services provided, a nonprofit’s insurance program takes different forms—there is no one-size-fits-all answer. And the components of an appropriate insurance program change over time as the nonprofit’s programming changes and the organization grows in size or scope. This fast-paced workshop will offer a quick study of key insurance topics, including how to read an insurance policy and a survey of the policies commonly purchased by nonprofit organizations. You’ll leave this workshop with a clearer understanding of what to look for in the coverage you purchase, and new insights on the value or gaps in your insurance program.
Managing Special Event Risks
Special events are common place in the nonprofit sector. Whether your nonprofit hosts a single annual event or numerous events of different types and stripes throughout the year, special events bring a new breed of risk to your operations. Special events often require special attention on venue selection and logistics, security, the involvement of spectators and the general public, and the reliance on brand-new or spontaneous volunteers. The presenter for this practical workshop is the co-author of the Center’s soon to be released book on Managing Special Event Risks.
Got Risk? A Closer Look at Effective Risk Sharing and Transfer
Unfortunately, most nonprofits do not take full advantage of the risk transfer opportunities that arise from day-to-day business operations. Contractors, vendors and facility users expect to see indemnification language and insurance procurement requirements in contracts and agreements
Regardless of how an entity finances risk—whether through self-insurance or a traditional insurance program—an effective risk transfer program will stabilize losses by getting another party to pay for losses and legal defense costs. This workshop will tackle practical ways to use indemnification agreements and insurance procurement requirements in contracts and agreements. This session will address:
- Risk transfer opportunities
- When not to sign a contract
- Indemnification and hold harmless agreements
- Sample insurance requirements (contractors, transportation carriers, facility users, consultants)
- Additional insured status
- Additional insured endorsements (which to use and which to avoid)
- Analyzing insurance certificates
- Sample contract language
Taking the High Road: Compassionate and Risk-Savvy HR Practices
Decisiveness and compassion are recognized as essential leadership qualities during a crisis. The same qualities are key elements of success when managing a nonprofit’s human resources. Did you know that the risk of a lawsuit is 20-times greater when NO reason is given for a termination? Honesty, clarity and managing expectations pay enormous dividends in the world of employment risk. Attend this workshop for tips in balancing the essential ingredients of sound business practices with honesty and compassion in risk-savvy HR practices.
COMMON GROUND: Financial Risk Management for Churches and Faith-Based Nonprofits
Finance and tax matters are birds of a different feather in the world of churches and religious nonprofits. This session will explore challenges posed by the Church-finance paradigm, and provide insight for volunteers and staff concerned about managing risks that arise in the realm of financial management and oversight of financial strategies and activities.
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Insurance, But Didn’t Know Who to Ask
Have you ever felt as though your nonprofit was on the hot seat during the process of applying for insurance? Many leaders express frustration with the increasingly complex and lengthy process required to obtain property and casualty coverages. This workshop will turn the tables and give nonprofit leaders the opportunity to pose questions to a panel of insurance industry executives. Do the financial ratings of carriers really matter? What are my premiums going up when we haven’t grown and have never had a loss? Why can’t we buy the limits we are required by our funders to have in place? Why did our carrier drop us after we filed our first claim? Are mergers and consolidations in the insurance industry good or bad for nonprofit consumers?
Mission-Driven Risk Management
Actions speak louder than words! Has your nonprofit leadership team taken the time to incorporate risk management practices that are aligned with your organization's mission? This session willhelp you understand why risk management cannot be an 'add on' or just another task ‘as assigned.’ Learn how sound risk management practices can be used to sustain corporate stewardship inhelping your organization achieve its mission.
The 10 Biggest Legal Traps Nonprofit CEOs should Avoid
A successful nonprofit CEO doesn't need a law degree, but he or she does need to spot legal red flags and be able to effectively deal with them. Let one of the nation's leading legal advisors to nonprofit organizations walk you through the 10 most significant legal issues faced by the typical nonprofit CEO. Gain practical tips for how to deal with and resolve complex dilemmas that expose your nonprofit to liability. You'll have ample opportunity to ask questions and get understandable, practical answers to your most pressing legal questions.
Best Practices in Nonprofit Governance and the Legal Duties of Nonprofit Boards
Governance is one of the hottest issues facing the nonprofit sector. Across the country nonprofit leaders are searching for the perfect recipe for 'best practices' in board governance. This workshop will offer a menu of good governance practices, with case studies to whet your appetite. The development of appropriate, customized policies will be discussed. Since the key to good governance is ensuring that those around your board table are both aware of their legal obligations and embrace their fiduciary roles and responsibilities, this workshop will share practical strategies for enhancing the board’s appreciation of governance risks and helping the board provide the leadership required to protect the nonprofit’s mission, programs and assets.
Crisis Management
If a crisis is, “a change—sudden or evolving—that results in an urgent problem that must be addressed immediately”* most nonprofit leaders bring vast experience to the discipline of crisis management. What nonprofit CEO or Board Chair hasn’t faced a crisis? This workshop will explore the bases for effective crisis planning, crisis management and crisis communications. Learn how to adopt a “state of the art” approach to surviving a crisis facing your organization, regardless of the source or trigger.
*Managing Crisis, Harvard Business Press, Pocket Mentor
Implications of Directors’ and Officers’ Fiduciary Failures in Nonprofit Organizations
A growing number of nonprofit boards have moved well beyond the question of whether D&O insurance is a necessary coverage for the organizations they served. While the question “D&O—Yes or No?” has been answered with a resounding “Yes” new questions about the protection afforded by this critical coverage have emerged. These questions are particularly important in the current era of unprecedented scrutiny of nonprofit operations and governance practices. What are the most common and potentially catastrophic fiduciary failures committed by nonprofit boards? What lessons can be gleaned from the claims files of prominent insurers of nonprofit D&O coverage? Attend this workshop to learn the answers to these (and other) thought-provoking questions.
Volunteer Liability: What You Don’t Know About “Free” Workers Could Cost You
Experienced volunteer coordinators and nonprofit CEOs know full well that volunteer service is anything but “free of charge.” Astute leaders must proceed with care when recruiting, training and deploying volunteers. Experts are predicting that volunteer numbers will climb as poor economic conditions continue. This workshop will explore some obvious, and some less-than-obvious risks presented by volunteers and offer practical strategies for getting the most out of volunteer service.
Advanced Financial Management
Nonprofit CFOs and Finance Managers often walk a difficult tightrope. They are obligated by professional ethics to report accurately the financial condition of the nonprofits they serve, but wish to do so in way that doesn’t cause further harm to the nonprofit’s reputation and standing among key partners and donors. Financial reports of a nonprofit can send powerful signals about the effectiveness and sustainability of the organization. Too often, financial managers get caught in a cycle of delivering bad news and possibly being tuned out or misunderstood. Nonprofit leaders need expert financial assistance to understand the real financial issues and be brought on board to address the issues as early as possible. Financial managers need to keep many different constituencies informed throughout a financial crisis; funders, board members, bankers, senior managers and the rank in file, all have a vested interest in understanding and addressing the financial realities the nonprofit faces. Attend this workshop for seasoned finance executives to discuss effective approaches to delivering accurate news to your CEO, Board of Directors and other stakeholders in a way that will inspire sound decision-making while not inviting the “shoot the messenger” syndrome. Learn from our expert presenter how to become part of the solution for long-term fiscal health, rather than simply a messenger of doom.
Forum for Agents and Brokers, Part 1
Each autumn, insurance agents and brokers who specialize in serving nonprofits gather to share wisdom and insights and discuss current and emerging challenges. For insurance specialists, the forum has become a highlight and “not-to-be-missed” component of the annual conference. This year’s program continues that tradition. If you are an agent or broker with a sizeable or growing book of nonprofit accounts, plan to join your industry colleagues for a fast-paced forum covering critical topics. Representatives of insurance carriers are also welcome.
Identity Theft: What Your Nonprofit Needs to Know Now
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), identity theft is the #1 consumer fraud complaint. In addition to obvious harm to victims whose identities have been stolen, your nonprofit faces potential exposure for claims alleging negligence in the storage of personal information. This workshop will offer practical advice on safeguards that every nonprofit should take to protect personal information required for its operations. Learn what you can do to comply with legal requirements and protect potential victims as well as the mission and assets of your nonprofit.
Partnerships and Collaboration: Risk Management Lessons from Success and Failure
Nonprofit leaders are drawn to collaboration like bees to honey and moths to a flame. There’s nothing like a good old fashioned collaboration to bring out the best in people and their organization, but watch out for the partnership that might sting when you least expect it. This workshop offers a practical approach to managing partnership and collaboration risks with inspiration from a soon to be released publication on this topic from the Nonprofit Risk Management Center.
Project Risk Assessment
Many nonprofit leaders worry about lurking risks. Have we identified everything that could go wrong? Control self-assessments (CSAs) have become increasingly popular with both auditors and managers as a way to internally identify and control risks.This facilitated technique brings out the best of an organization and its employees to identify its objectives, activities, risks, and controls. Participants will learn basic steps and methods to implement this powerful tool as well as other strategies, including working with consultants, to conduct a practical, results-oriented risk assesment.
Forum for Agents and Brokers, Part 2
During this session we’ll continue the discussion that began earlier in the day among agents and brokers specializing in serving nonprofits.
Workshop Speakers
The following professionals have graciously agreed to serve as workshop speakers at the 2009 Risk Management and Finance Summit for Nonprofits.
Bob Bambino
Bob is Vice President, Risk Management for Wright Risk Management Company, LLC. (WRM). He is responsible for coordinating risk management projects for all WRM clients and various other insurance and self-funded programs involving public and private sector clients. He is an instructor at Hofstra University where he teaches insurance and risk management courses in the Center for Continuing Education and Professional Advancement (CCEPA). He is also the coordinator of the CPCU program at CCEPA. Bob has published articles on risk management, and he has spoken before numerous groups across the county on risk management and insurance related topics. (Got Risk? A Closer Look at Effective Risk Sharing and Transfer)
Arthur F. Blinci
As vice president of Adventist Risk Management, Inc., Arthur Blinci is responsible for Field Services, Corporate Communication and client education. He is a member of the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) and the University Risk and Insurance Management Association (URIMA). Arthur has served as a board member and past president of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center in Washington, D. C. In 1999, he had the privilege to testify on behalf of nonprofit sector before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations and Emergency Management. (Mission Driven Risk Management)
Katherine H. Campbell
Katie Campbell has worked in the field of nonprofit and volunteer management for 30 years as practitioner, author, trainer and leader. Since 2003 Katie has worked as an independent consultant in nonprofit and volunteer resources management. In this capacity, she assists public and private nonprofit organizations in accomplishing their mission through effective and efficient management of people and resources. She also works as Executive Director of the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration. Katie has authored and co-authored several articles and publications on the subject of volunteerism and teaches as adjunct faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University and University of Virginia. (Ethics and Volunteers: What’s the Big Deal?)
Jeffery I. Chasen
Jeff Chasen serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of The AGOS Group, LLC. AGOS is a risk management consulting practice, working with thousands of educational and religious organizations, public entities, and other private and public nonprofit organizations across the United States and abroad. As part of his role, Jeff assists organizations in developing preventative programs, including online, hotline, and live training components. Previously, he served as Senior Counsel to School, College and University Underwriters Ltd.; before that, he was a trial lawyer in private practice. He received his B.A. and J.D. degrees from George Washington University. (Hot Topics in Employment Law for Churches and Religious Nonprofits)
Mark E. Chopko, Esq.
Mark E. Chopko, Esq.,is a Partner and Chair of the Nonprofit & Religious Institutions practice group of Stradley, Ronon, Stevens & Young, LLP, in its Washington, D.C. office. He represents religious and nonprofit institutions from across the US and from Europe on structural, risk management and risk avoidance issues and defending them in complex liability and constitutional litigation in various parts of the United States. In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Chopko is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University where he co-teaches a seminar on Church-State Law. He also serves as an Advisor to a project of the American Law Institute writing a single volume treatise on the principles of the law of nonprofit institutions. Mr. Chopko graduated with a B.S. (summa cum laude and with Honors in Chemistry), from the University of Scranton (Pennsylvania); and a J.D. (cum laude), from the Cornell Law School (Ithaca, New York). (Legal Developments and Rulings Impacting Churches and Religious Nonprofits)
Tim Delaney
Tim Delaney serves as President & CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, the network that links more than 20,000 nonprofit members through state nonprofit associations. Tim brings unique insights from a career that included service as a partner at a large law firm, next as the Solicitor General and then Chief Deputy Attorney General for his state, and then as founder of the nonprofit Center for Leadership, Ethics & Public Service. Through those positions Tim helped impeach a Governor, won cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, prosecuted the removal of elective officials for breaching the public trust, protected half a million citizens whose voting rights had been stripped, worked with more than 22,000 people across the country championing positive ethics, advancing civic engagement, and promoting democracy, and helped nonprofits as an attorney, author, board chair, CEO, consultant, founder, incubator, lobbyist, teacher, trainer, and volunteer. Since becoming head of the National Council of Nonprofits in July 2008, Tim has applied insights from those experiences to serve nonprofits across America. (Best Practices in Nonprofit Governance and the Legal Duties of Nonprofit Boards)
Karla Grossenbacher
Ms. Grossenbacher is a partner in Seyfarth Shaw’s Washington D.C. office concentrating in labor and employment law. She is Chair of the Washington D.C. labor and employment practice and serves on the firm’s national Labor and Employment Steering Committee. Karla has extensive experience representing employers in employment-related litigation on federal, state and local levels before courts, arbitration tribunals and administrative agencies, regarding claims concerning discrimination, wage and hour violations (including collective actions), ERISA, enforceability of arbitration agreements in the employment context and covenants not to compete. In addition, Karla regularly provides counseling to employers on matters of employee discipline, enforcement and implementation of employment policies, workplace investigations and reductions in force. She has also provided training on a variety of issues, such as administering discipline, conducting performance appraisals, managing in a union environment, electronic privacy issues and sexual harassment. (Taking the High Road: Compassionate and Risk-Savvy HR Practices)
Mike Gurtler
Mike Gurtler is a risk management professional who enjoyed 25 years as a YMCA professional before forming Safe-Wise Consulting in 2007. Safe-Wise works with nonprofits all over the US helping to nurture sound safety and risk management practices. Mike takes a broad but practical approach to risk management and tries to avoid being type-cast as an expert who tells people what they cannot do. According to Mike, “I think the challenge for insightful risk consulting is being able to say “Yes” in a responsible way that is acceptable to the organization and its mission.” (Risk Management 101: Practical Ways to Manage Risk in a Changing World)
Melanie Lockwood Herman
Melanie serves as Executive Director of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center and has spent her entire career in the nonprofit sector and has authored. She is the author or co-author of more than 15 books covering a wide spectrum of nonprofit management issues. Each year she delivers numerous workshops, seminars and keynote presentations on nonprofit management topics. Her most recent books are Exposed: A Legal Field Guide for Nonprofit Executives (2009), Ready…or Not: A Risk Management Guide for Nonprofit Executives (2009), Financial Risk Management: A Guide for Nonprofit Executives (2008), and Coverage, Claims & Consequences: An Insurance Handbook for Nonprofits-2nd Edition (2008). In August 2007 Melanie was named to the 10th annual NonProfit Times Power & Influence Top 50, a list of "executives and thinkers ... selected for the impact they have now and for the innovative plans they are putting in place to evolve the charitable sector." In August 2008 Melanie was again recognized and is among those on The NPT Power & Influence Top 50, Class of 2008. Melanie is a graduate of American University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Affairs. She earned her J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. (Culture Change and Risk Communication)
Marcus Horton
Marcus Horton has worked as an internal auditor for the past 11 years with the University of Texas at Austin and currently Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Austin, Texas. Besides senior-level audit services, he was integrally involved in the implementation of a highly-successful enterprise risk management program at the University of Texas. He has been credentialed as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and Certification in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA). He has been involved in fraud prevention outreach and investigation with his employers as well as independently as a consultant. His consultation services also include enterprise risk management and risk & control self-assessment facilitation. (Managing Fraud Risk: Practical Tools to Safeguard Your Assets)
Colleen Lazanich
Colleen Lazanich is currently the Vice President, Western Region for Riverport Insurance Company, a Berkley Company. Colleen oversees the California branch office of Riverport which handles the underwriting, claims and loss control for the Human Services program in seven western states. She earned her Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation from the National Institute in 2001 and her Certified Risk Manager (CRM) designation in 2007. Colleen is excited that her first trip to Texas is to teach at the 2009 Risk Management & Finance Summit for Nonprofits! (Insurance Boot Camp)
Edward M. Mulherin
Ed has over 25 years of experience providing tax, accounting and business consulting services to a varied group of clients and businesses. In 2001, Ed conceived and founded eCratchit, a revolutionary concept for web based bookkeeping and accounting services. eCratchit developed a proprietary web-portal software that allows eCratchit the ability to perform the daily bookkeeping functions for their clients and allows their clients complete access to accounting records and software on-line.
Ed has provided a diverse range of services to the firm’s clients, which includes a large number of nonprofit organizations. (Advanced Financial Management)
John B. Pearson
John Pearson has over 36 years in Big Brothers Big Sisters work. In addition to being the founder of a new BBBS program in 1972, doing direct casework for seven years, during five years on the national staff of BBBS of America he led efforts to study and track abuse within the BBBS system. For 25 years he was the CEO of the largest adult male mentoring program in the nation. He is a board member of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center adding the strength and breadth of the center's risk management. John is on the Board of the Mass Mentoring Partnership and he has led many successful and a few unsuccessful collaborative and partnership efforts.
Joe Risser
Joe Risser is a risk management consultant who presents and writes on risk management topics in the areas of special events, student interns, camps, contracts, insurance requirements and waivers. Joe's practice, Risk Management Design, is based on the California Central Coast. Joe's professional metamorphosis from camp director to a public entity risk manager is fitting for a former Boy Scout who loves to keep people safe. Joe’s learned that applying the basic tools and lessons of risk management can often keep the bad thing from happening—or at least lessen the negative impact. (Managing Special Event Risks)
H. Robert Showers, Jr.
Robert Showers formed Simms Showers LLP, originally a Baltimore, Md.-based law firm, in 2002 as a principal partner and heads up the Northern Virginia/Metropolitan D.C. office. His practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation and nonprofit, tax exempt and business law. He regularly handles numerous lawsuits and claims against nonprofits and small businesses and advises them on corporate, risk management, tax-exempt and employment issues to avoid future problems. Before going into private practice in 1989, Rob acted as Deputy Assistant Attorney General and served as Executive Director of the National Obscenity Enforcement Unit (NOEU), later called the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), within the U.S. Department of Justice. He earlier served as Special Assistant, to the U.S. Attorney General as his criminal justice and drug policy advisor as well as personal liaison to the 93 U.S. Attorneys. Prior to his appointment as Special Assistant, Mr. Showers served as Assistant U.S. Attorney in Raleigh, N.C. where he did a variety of federal prosecutions and handled complex civil litigation as Chief of the Civil Section. Rob has started and run a couple of nonprofits including National Law Center for Children and Families and NonprofitChurchlaw.org and has lectured extensively nationwide and written articles on church and nonprofit law, sexual misconduct, and child sexual exploitation. He presently is the Co-author of the Nonprofit Church Law newsletters with national distribution. He is the co-author of Legal Hotspots in the Church and Nonprofits(2003); a series of Child Protection and Risk Management memos for churches and nonprofits and numerous law review articles includingChurch Law in Virginia (to be published in 2009). In 1977, Rob graduated cum laude from Wake Forest University with honors in History. In 1980 he graduated from Wake Forest University School of Law where he served with distinction on the Law Review and Moot Court Board.(COMMON GROUND: Legal Developments and Rulings Impacting Churches and Religious Nonprofits)
Jeffrey S. Tenenbaum
Jeffrey S. Tenenbaum is a partner with and head of the Nonprofit Organizations Practice Group of Venable LLP. Jeff concentrates his practice exclusively on nonprofit law, counseling his clients on a broad array of legal issues and representing them before numerous federal and state agencies and on Capitol Hill and serves as special counsel to ASAE & The Center. He is the author of the book Association Tax Compliance Guide, published by ASAE, and is a contributor to numerous ASAE & The Center books and other publications. Jeff is a frequent lecturer, author and commentator on nonprofit legal issues for the major industry organizations and publications, as well as for mainstream media such as the New York Times and The Washington Post, and served as a “professor” for the ASAE Virtual Law School. He is an active participant in the nonprofit community and serves on several industry boards and committees. (The 10 Biggest Legal Traps Nonprofits CEOs Should Avoid)
Anne-Marie Vercruysse Welch
Anne-Marie Vercruysse Welchis an attorney at the Clark Hill law firm’s Detroit office. Her areas of practice focus primarily on employment litigation, counseling and investigations, labor law, and nonprofit risk management. She is experienced in defending against discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge, and related tort claims, as well as in pursuing and defending claims pertaining to non-competition agreements, pension benefits, and unemployment insurance. Anne-Marie is a contributor to legal and professional publications and serves as a speaker for various business, professional, and trade organizations on topics such as volunteer liability, employee misuse of the Internet, legal hiring and termination practices, privacy rights in the workplace, and employers' methods to reduce healthcare costs. She earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from the Michigan State University College of Law, where she received a full academic scholarship and had the privilege of serving as an editor of the Michigan State Law Review and as an intern to the Honorable Avern L. Cohn of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. As an active citizen in the Detroit Metropolitan community, Ms. Welch serves on the board of directors for the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Barristers, the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit’s Camping Services, and The Birmingham Community House Uptown Group.(Volunteer Liability: What You Don’t Know About “Free” Workers Could Cost You)
Chris Youngberg
Three years ago Chris Youngberg was named Director of Account Education for the Non Profit Insurance Program (NPIP). As head of Account Education Chris designs, creates and oversees the delivery of NPIP’s training curriculum. Over 1,000 trainings are conducted each year on a wide variety of topics aimed at assisting organizations with reducing their exposure to risk. Chris has also developed and organized the Northwest’s preeminent conference specifically intended to address issues impacting non profits. The annual conference is sponsored by NPIP in conjunction with the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. Chris earned her Master’s in Education from Central Washington University. She went on to teach music for 18 years and during that time received numerous honors and recognitions including an Jazz Educator of the year. Recently Chris completed a training course on Effective Risk Communication at the Harvard School of Public Health. (Culture Change and Risk Communication)