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 – Clayton
Boards, Development & Marketing, and Program teams meet for conversation and brainstorming
Transportation by bus will be provided from the Residence Inn – Clayton
Hosted at Hope Ignites St. Louis with food, cocktails, and networking
Complimentary hot breakfast served at the Residence Inn – Clayton
State of the organization + panel led by Hope Ignites President & CEO Kristin Ostby
Led by Lauren Schwartz 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)
Two concurrent breakout sessions focusing on either programming or development and marketing.
Preparing Scholars for Post-secondary Success led by James Williams and the Mission Effectiveness Team
Keep, Grow, Reconnect: Mastering Donor Retention & Mid-Level Strategy led by Bill Fronczak, Dana Nichols and Jenny Starkey
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 – Clayton
View Awards Details & Recipients →DJ spinning tunes while folks celebrate the evening's achievements
Complimentary hot breakfast served at the Residence Inn – Clayton
Led by Peter Schweiss, Hope Ignites Director of Technology Services
A hands on session exploring practical methods of operationalizing AI in daily work.
Hands On Materials →A panel discussion on the trends, skills, and implications for scholars and the network
Moderator:Laura Stevents, 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.
Alumni share experiences and insights on evolving workforce challenges
Panelists:
Serena Cooper, Hope Ignites Baltimore
Grab-and-go lunch; conference concludes
NEED BIO FOR HERE
View LinkedIn Profile
NEED BIO FOR HERE
View LinkedIn Profile
NEED BIO FOR HERE
View LinkedIn Profile
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
Dates: 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 – Clayton
Hope Ignites St. Louis
Fair Mercantile Building
