Conference Workshops

The Confidence Catalyst: How to Hold the Room Without Holding the Mic

Kat Steiner, CFRE, Chief Development Officer, YWCA Greater Cincinnati

Some of the most powerful leaders don’t hold the mic—they hold the room. This interactive session introduces the Confidence Catalyst framework: five traits that help you lead with influence, clarity, and calm from any role. Designed for nonprofit professionals who support executive leaders or work behind the scenes, this session will help you strengthen trust, steady teams under pressure, and lead with intention—without needing the spotlight. Walk away with practical tools to boost executive presence, improve communication, and embrace quiet power.

When stakes are high, leaders need more than vision—they need someone who brings clarity, steadiness, and truth. This session is for those who lead quietly but critically, shaping outcomes from behind the scenes. Learn how to become the trusted presence your organization can’t function without.

Kat Steiner

Kat is a nationally recognized fundraising leader with 20+ years of experience across nonprofits and higher education. A strategic visionary and YWCA Rising Star, she has raised millions and drives change through mission alignment, integrity, and equity. She is a sought-after speaker and thought leader with the belief that philanthropy must be rooted in partnership and transparency.

Audience: Mid- to senior-level in behind the scenes or in supporting roles

From Crisis to Possibility: Reframing Uncertainty with Curiosity

Ramsey Ford, Co-Director, XPLANE at Tier1

In times of uncertainty, our instinct is to react—to freeze, fight, or flee. But what if we could pause, hold space, and choose curiosity instead? In this interactive session, leaders will use a simple design thinking tool to reframe crisis as a space for possibility. Participants will name the forces impacting their work, explore “what if?” questions to unlock new paths forward, and leave with a practical framework for courageous, curiosity-driven leadership. This session will help you lead with clarity and creativity as you navigate the disruption we are all experiencing. 

Curiosity is a powerful alternative to fear. Learn how to reframe crisis as a space for bold possibility. Walk away with a mindset shift, a practical tool, and the confidence to lead with curiosity—even when the path ahead is uncertain. 

Ramsey Ford

Ramsey Ford co-founded and led Design Impact—a non-profit innovation and strategy firm—for 13 years. He is currently board president of the Kennedy Heights Art Center and is leading XPLANE at Tier1, where he supports leaders in designing human-centered organizations. He has a wealth of experience leading, and working with, leaders facing complex problems.

Audience: People Leaders: Executives, senior staff, and board leaders

Turning Toward Hope: How Grief Builds Nonprofit Resilience

Rosie Santos and Lindsay Way, Co-Founders, Perspective Guides

Nonprofit leaders often carry enormous grief—for the communities they serve, the problems that persist, and the gap between their vision and current reality. This workshop, adapted from “The Work That Reconnects” methodology, creates a container for leaders to honor their grief as a source of strength rather than overwhelm. Participants will discover how turning toward pain (rather than away from it) builds the resilience needed to sustain mission-driven work over time. Through guided practice, they’ll learn to transform their grief into fuel for hope and action.

Permission to feel everything and practical tools to transform those feelings into fuel for long-term mission impact—learn why the pain you feel about your community’s challenges isn’t something to overcome—it’s your superpower for sustainable impact.

Rosie Santos and Lindsay Way

Rosie (she/they) is a community planner, coach, and consultant with over a decade of experience in academia, government, and nonprofit sectors. Rosie has worked with some of the most prominent agencies in Greater Cincinnati. Calling on experience as a facilitator and community organizer, Rosie is oriented towards holding change with curiosity, tenderness, and integrity to uncover new possibilities.

Lindsay (she/her) is a facilitator and strategic planner. Her approach is rooted in the belief that the most transformative work happens when group members are grounded in their truths, brave enough to share their stories, and invested in each other’s success. She uses qualitative research and writing methods to guide individuals and teams as they dream big, build consensus, and implement systems to reach their goals. 

Audience: Executive directors, senior-level staff

Positive Leadership: How Positivity Can Transform Leaders and Elevate Teams

Jesiah Brock, Chief Program Officer, CityLink Center

In this presentation, Jesiah discusses the concept of ‘Leadership’ and its evolution over time. He will introduce a growing leadership theory called ‘Positive Leadership’ and discuss its ability to help individuals and teams flourish and achieve their highest potential. Attendees will learn four positive leadership strategies and develop a ‘Best Self Portrait’, an action plan for increasing their future potential.

Positive Leadership promotes learning about and driving strengths while managing weaknesses. As a result, positive leadership practices promote greater profitability, production, quality, innovation, customer satisfaction, and employee retention. All living things move toward what is life-giving and away from what is life-depleting. Let’s learn about how positive leadership can transform your leadership and elevate your team.

Jesiah Brock

Jesiah Asa Brock is a visionary leader, community builder, and faith-driven strategist who serves as Chief Program Officer at CityLink Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. In this role, he oversees the design and execution of integrated services that empower individuals to overcome barriers and pursue holistic life transformation. Jesiah leads a multidisciplinary team, guiding innovative approaches that connect clients to purpose, stability, and opportunity through strong community partnerships.

Audience: All leaders

Belonging at Every Level: Resetting Culture and Fundraising Through Connection

Alison Hansen, CFRE, Senior Consultant, DBD Group

In a time of uncertainty, donor fatigue, and staff burnout, nonprofits need more than new strategies—they need stronger connections. This session explores how a culture of belonging can re-energize teams, re-engage boards, and deepen donor relationships. Through practical tools and real-world examples, you’ll learn how to rebuild trust, shift from transactional to relational practices, and reconnect your people to your mission—inside and out.

When people feel like they belong, they give more, stay longer, and lead better. This session shows how belonging isn’t just a culture strategy—it’s a fundraising one, too.

Alison Hansen

Alison Hansen is a nonprofit consultant and coach with 20 years of experience in fundraising, strategy, and leadership development. She equips organizations to strengthen donor and board engagement, align teams, and lead with clarity. Her work blends practical tools with a deep understanding of mission-driven culture and connection.

Audience: CEO/EDs, Fundraisers, Seasoned Nonprofit Leaders, New to Sector

Keep Calm and Fundraise On: What Brave Fundraisers Know and Do

Scott Provancher, CEO, Ignite Philanthropy

In uncertain times, fundraising can feel like navigating a storm without a map—or an umbrella. This session is for nonprofit leaders who are ready to lead with courage, clarity, and connection. We’ll explore what the most resilient fundraisers do differently, how they maintain donor trust during tough seasons, and what it takes to keep the mission moving when resources feel scarce. Walk away with real-world strategies, a renewed sense of confidence, and maybe even a little peace of mind.

The most successful fundraisers aren’t fearless—they’re brave. They know how to lead through uncertainty, connect deeply, and keep moving forward when others freeze.

Scott Provancher

Scott brings over 25 years of nonprofit management and fundraising experience to his role as CEO of Ignite Philanthropy. Scott launched Ignite in 2013 when asked to lead the fundraising for what ultimately became the Save Our Icons campaign, raising over $80 million towards the renovation of Music Hall and Union Terminal. Prior to Ignite, Scott was the CEO of the Arts & Science Council, Vice President for ArtsWave, and Executive Director of the Louisville Orchestra and Rockford Symphony.

Audience: Nonprofit CEO/EDs, fundraisers, board members

Make it Your Culture, Not a Crisis: Embedding Succession Planning into Practice

Michele Plessinger, Partner/Executive Search Consultant, Gilman Partners

Succession planning is no longer optional for nonprofits. With an aging executive workforce, increasing burnout, and a rising generation of mission-driven talent, nonprofits face both a challenge and an opportunity: to build leadership pipelines that are proactive, inclusive, and strengths-based.

We’ll unpack three bold moves to make succession planning part of your culture. Drawing on Gilman Partners’ dual expertise in executive search and leadership development, this session offers a strengths-based approach nonprofit leaders can begin implementing right away regardless of size or resources. Leave with actionable tools, fresh insights, and next steps to grow internal talent and leadership continuity.

Succession planning builds more than leadership continuity, it shapes the future of your organization and your community. In this fast-paced session, explore three bold moves to embed succession into your strategy and culture. Leave with a strengths-based approach to grow internal talent and elevate the leadership bench across our region.

Michele Plessinger

Michele co-leads the Nonprofit Leadership Practice. With deep expertise in C-suite searches and professional services, she leads executive placements for top regional nonprofits. A former Deloitte HR leader, Michele is a Leadership Cincinnati alum and holds a business degree from Penn State University.

The presentation will also include Barry Elkus, Partner/Executive Search Consultant; Amber Brown, Director, Talent & Education; Megan Meyer, Executive Search Consultant, and Ben Smock, Search Consultant.

Audience: Nonprofit CEO/Executive Directors, board members, HR leaders, development professionals, and program managers

Growing Stronger Together: Collaborative Partnership & Mergers

Lisa Nolan, Founder, Collab Consulting LLC

Have you thought about collaborative partnerships or even merger as a way to increase impact or build sustainability for your organization? Should you? Hear from a panel of nonprofit leaders who share their experiences of joining with other organizations, in a variety of ways—including joint programs, shared services and mergers. We will discuss when it may be the right time to think about different options and what are some of the key elements for success.

Lisa Nolan

With background as an attorney and nonprofit leader, Lisa Nolan brings a powerful combination of experience to support mergers and collaborative partnerships. Most recently, prior to founding Collab, Lisa served as President & CEO of Dress for Success Cincinnati and its earned income venture subsidiary, Portaluca.

Audience: CEO/EDs & board members