April 15-17, 2026
St. Louis, Missouri
Join us for an inspiring three-day conference bringing together leaders from across the Hope Ignites Network.
Guest arrivals at Residence Inn โ Clayton
Boards, Development & Marketing, and Program teams meet for conversation and brainstorming
Transportation by bus will be provided from the Residence Inn โ Clayton
Hosted at Hope Ignites St. Louis with food, cocktails, and networking
Complimentary hot breakfast served at the Residence Inn โ Clayton
State of the organization + panel led by Hope Ignites President & CEO Kristin Ostby
Led by Lauren Schwartze from Bellwether Education Partners, this is an interactive and engaging session that will explore impactful approaches to Hope Ignites programming through a showcase of innovative and high-quality affiliate work. All attendees are invited to join this session.
Group lunch
Leadership session led by Colette Kopon (Network Board Member, Attorney)
Three concurrent breakout sessions.
Preparing Scholars for Post-secondary Success led by James Williams and the Mission Effectiveness Team
Keep, Grow & Reconnect: Donor Engagement Strategies led by Bill Fronczak, VP of Advancement; Dana Nichols, Senior Director of Donor Engagement; and Jenny Starkey, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, Hope Ignites
Strengthening Our Connections: Network and Affiliate Board Members led by Kristin Ostby, President & CEO, Hope Ignites
Reception, dinner, and awards celebration honoring outstanding leadership and impact across the Hope Ignites Network.
Transportation will be provided to and from the Residence Inn โ Clayton
View Awards Details & Recipients โDJ spinning tunes while folks celebrate the evening's achievements
Complimentary hot breakfast served at the Residence Inn โ Clayton
Led by Pete Schweiss, Hope Ignites Director of Technology Services
Hands-on sessions led by Ashley Scoville, Gigi Burgos, Erin Beezley, and Xiรก Simmons
AI is already part of the tools we use every day โ and this session is about learning to make it actually work for us. Through hands-on scenarios using Microsoft Copilot, we'll work together in small groups to practice prompting, reflect on what we learned, and leave with the confidence to keep experimenting on our own.
Hands On Materials โA panel discussion on the trends, skills, and implications for scholars and the network
Moderator: Laura Stevens, Senior Director of Organizational Impact, Hope Ignites
Panelists:
Misty Jones, President & CEO, Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley
Bob Olwig, VP, Global Partner Alliances at World Wide Technology, Inc.
Hope Ignites alumni share insights from their experiences and discuss how to meet the challenges and opportunities of the evolving work landscape.
Moderator: Kristin Ostby, President & CEO, Hope Ignites
Panelists:
Serena Cooper, Hope Ignites Baltimore
Rebecca Molina, Hope Ignites Phoenix
IvyAnna Peoples, Hope Ignites Detroit
Grab-and-go lunch; conference concludes
Misty Jones is the President and CEO of Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley, where she leads with extensive experience in nursing, hospital operations, and executive management. With an MBA, MSN, and a background as a Registered Nurse, she is dedicated to advancing patient-centered care and driving excellence across the healthcare landscape.
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Bob Olwig serves as the Executive Vice President of Global Partner Alliances at World Wide Technology, leveraging nearly 40 years of experience to foster strategic growth within the IT industry. A passionate community advocate, he also holds leadership roles with organizations like House Everyone STL and St. Patrick Center to address homelessness in the St. Louis region.
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Jonathan Solomon is a highly skilled executive administrator and strategic leader with nearly a decade of experience enhancing operational efficiency across the philanthropic and community development sectors. A recent honors graduate in Political Science, he is recognized for his commitment to leadership development and his ability to build collaborative, streamlined environments for executive teams.
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Colette Kopon is an experienced employment law attorney and Of Counsel at Littler Mendelson, where she advises organizations on complex litigation, internal investigations, and crisis management. Beyond her legal practice, she is deeply committed to community service, serving as a Board Member for Hope Ignites Network Headquarters and a mentor within the Chicago legal community.
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Bio information here - share their journey and achievements
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Serena Cooper currently serves as a Youth Specialist at Hope Ignites Baltimore and a Program Support Fellow at iMentor, where she focuses on student outreach. In addition to her work in youth advocacy, she is a certified freelance Yoga Instructor and previously handled highly sensitive materials as a Student Research Assistant for the USC Child Interviewing Lab.
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Bio information here - share their journey and achievements
View LinkedIn Profile
Bio information here - share their journey and achievements
View LinkedIn ProfileBio information here - share their journey and achievements
Bio information here - share their journey and achievements
View LinkedIn ProfileDates: April 15-17, 2026
Wednesday: 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Thursday: 6:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Friday: 6:00 AM - 1:00 PM
St. Louis, Missouri
Residence Inn โ Clayton
Hope Ignites St. Louis
Fair Mercantile Building