Hope Ignites Leadership Gathering 2026

Arrival & Check-in

Guest arrivals at Residence Inn – Clayton

Affinity Group Connections

Location: [TBD]

Boards, Development & Marketing, and Program teams meet for conversation and brainstorming

Welcome Reception

Location: Hope Ignites St. Louis

Transportation by bus will be provided from the Residence Inn – Clayton

Hosted at Hope Ignites St. Louis with food, cocktails, and networking

Breakfast

Complimentary hot breakfast served at the Residence Inn – Clayton

Leading the Next Chapter Together

Location: Clayton Ballroom

State of the organization + panel led by Hope Ignites President & CEO Kristin Ostby

Panelists:

Joe Koenig, President, World Wide Technology

Program Innovation and Impact

Location: Clayton Ballroom

Interactive session on program pillars, vision, and affiliate showcases

Lunch

Location: Discovery Ballroom

Group lunch

Leading Excellent Teams in a Shifting Landscape

Location: Clayton Ballroom

Leadership session led by Colette Kopon (Network Board Member, Attorney)

Learning from Our Peers: Affiliate Best Practices

Program Teams: Clayton Ballroom

[ADD DESCRIPTION HERE]

Development & Marketing Teams: Discovery Ballroom

[ADD DESCRIPTION HERE]

Excellence Awards

Location: D'Amici Room at the Fair Mercantile Building

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

Breakfast

Complimentary hot breakfast served at the Residence Inn – Clayton

Prompt, Play, Reflect: Operationalizing AI in Our Daily Work

Location: Clayton Ballroom

Led by Peter Schweiss, Hope Ignites Director of Technology Services

A hands on session exploring practical methods of operationalizing AI in daily work.

The Future of Work and Our Mission

Location: Clayton Ballroom

A panel discussion on the trends, skills, and implications for scholars and the network

Panelists:

Misty Jones, President & CEO, Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley

Bob Olwig, VP, Global Partner Alliances at World Wide Technology, Inc.

Julie Bugala, Principal, Talent Acquisition Edward Jones

Jonathan Solomon, Partnership Director, Mainstay

Hope Ignites Alumni Panel

Location: Clayton Ballroom

Alumni share experiences and insights on evolving workforce challenges

Panelists:

[ADD PANELIST NAMES AND AFFILIATIONS HERE]

Lunch & Departures

Location: Clayton Ballroom

Grab-and-go lunch; conference concludes