Keynote Speakers

Breakfast Plenary
Monday, May 24

The Honorable George K. Heartwell Mayor City of Grand Rapids

Rev. Heartwell is Director of the Community Leadership Institute at Aquinas College. He is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and served for 14 years as pastor of Heartside Ministry, a program serving the homeless community of Grand Rapids. Pastor Heartwell has had extensive involvement with campus-community partnerships fostering student service-learning.

Susan J. Ellis President Energize, Inc.

Energize, Inc. is a training, consulting and publishing firm that specializes in volunteerism. Ms. Ellis is co-author of eleven books, including From the Top Down: The Executive Role in Volunteer Program Success, The Virtual Volunteering Guidebook and The Volunteer Recruitment Book. She has been editor of The Journal of Volunteer Administration and has written over 90 articles on volunteer program management. Her firm’s web site: www.energizeinc.com is a resource with a wide variety of material on volunteer program administration.

Luncheon Plenary
Monday, May 24

Greg Smith Founder and President International Youth Advocates

Mr. Smith graduated in 2003, at age 13, with a degree in Mathematics from Randolph-Macon College. He is now pursuing a master's degree. International Youth Advocates collects and distributes educational supplies, clothing and toys and works with nongovernmental organizations, governments and business leaders to enhance and protect the rights and well-being of children. He is the Youth Spokesperson for World Centers for Compassion for Children, a nonprofit organization founded by Nobel Laureate Betty Williams, to create a strong political voice for children in areas of stress due to war, hunger, or upheaval and to respond to their needs. His work has resulted in his being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

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Breakfast Plenary
Tuesday, May 25

David Eisner Chief Executive Officer The Corporation for National and Community Service

Mr. Eisner is a former executive at AOL Time Warner and a nationally recognized expert on nonprofit capacity building and organizational effectiveness. As head of the Corporation for National and Community Service, he oversees the effective delivery of a wide gamut of national community involvement programs including: AmeriCorps; Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP); Foster Grandparents; Senior Companions; and Learn and Serve America.

Luncheon Plenary
Tuesday, May 25

Arianna Huffington Syndicated Columnist, Author and Political Commentator

Ms. Huffington is an impassioned, independent and intrepid advocate for political reform and social awareness. Her syndicated column appears in many newspapers, including the Boston Herald, Los Angeles Times and New York Daily News. Her books include: Pigs at the Trough; The Fourth Instinct: the Call of the Soul; and How to Overthrow the Government. Her forthcoming book is Fanatics and Fools: The Game Plan for Winning Back America. The title of her address to the conference is “The Call to Leadership”.