2009 Risk Management and Finance Summit for Nonprofits

Sunday to Tuesday, September 20–22, 2009
AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center at the University of Texas at Austin • Austin, TX
 

8/12/2009 - Summit Approved for MCLE Accreditation by State Bar of Texas

To reserve your accommodations at the discounted group rate of $149 call 1-877-744-8822. Mention your participation in the 2009 Summit to secure the group rate.

Main Register Program Location

The 2009 Risk Management and Finance Summit is an educational event that draws nonprofit leaders from across the country, as well as professional advisors (lawyers, CPAs, and insurance professionals) who assist and support nonprofits. The Summit offers a time and place for nonprofit executives, managers and other leaders to network and discuss hot topics and trends that affect the governance and operations of their organizations. At the Summit a spotlight is focused on the topics of risk management, finance and human resources—three disciplines that play a significant role in creating and sustaining a firm foundation on which an effective nonprofit organization can deliver its mission. All three topics are addressed in various aspects of the conference, from inspiring keynote presentations to informative workshops and networking opportunities. Covering a broad spectrum of emerging issues in the field, the Summit is a not to-be-missed event for those who want to strengthen the foundations of their organizations, fine tune risk management practices, and thereby enable greater focus and resources to be devoted to mission fulfillment. The 2009 Summit will be held September 20-22 at the brand-new AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center at the University of Texas in Austin, TX.

Download a PDF of the brochure here. (13MB)

Who Should Attend?

  • Nonprofit staff, board members and other volunteers
  • CEOs, Presidents, executive directors and founders
  • CFOs, CFOs, Directors of Human Resources, Volunteer Coordinators, Senior Program Staff
  • Professional Risk Managers from the nonprofit and public sectors
  • New and veteran board members, including your Chair, Chair-Elect, Treasurer and Secretary
  • Senior staff from foundations and grantmaking nonprofits
  • Local and State Government officials who work with nonprofits
  • Aspiring nonprofit CEOs
  • Professional advisors and consultants serving nonprofits

Long-time nonprofit professionals, as well as those new to their positions or the sector, will feel at home at this challenging, information-packed event.

About the Format

The Summit offers two days of plenary sessions and workshops to help you focus more deeply on topics that are core to high-performing nonprofits. One of the brand-new features of this year’s SUMMIT is our “Curbside Consultants” program. This program offers the opportunity to meet one-on-one with experienced consultants and nonprofit practitioners who volunteer their time and expertise to you during confidential, one-on-one consultations. Topics you may want to explore with a “Curbside Consultant” include effective and legal employment practices, creating a risk-aware culture, to managing the risks of fundraising, putting your insurance program out to bid, and more.

Corporate Sponsors

The following companies have signed on as Corporate Sponsors of the 2009 Summit. Thank you!

Keynote Speakers

Monday, September 21 —9:00 am

PLENARY SESSION: The School of Rough Waters: Managing Risk at Sea and at Home

The Nonprofit Risk Management Center is pleased to announce that Tori Murden McClure will deliver the keynote address at the opening plenary session of the 2009 Risk Management and Finance Summit Nonprofit. Tori is no stranger to the nonprofit world and the discipline of risk management and brings a unique perspective on risk-taking and risk management to this year’s conference. Professionally, Tori has worked as Chaplain at Boston City Hospital, executive director of a shelter for homeless women, and with Muhammad Ali to assist with early efforts to create the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville.

Tori is best known as the first woman and first American to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She was also the first woman and first American to travel over land to the geographic South Pole, skiing 750 miles from the ice shelf to the pole. An avid mountaineer, Tori has climbed on several continents and she was the first woman to climb the Lewis Nunatuck summit in Antarctica. Tori’s accomplishments have been chronicled in ten books, 30 major magazines and an award-winning documentary.

Tori earned her A.B. from Smith College, a Masters in Divinity from Harvard University, a Juris Doctor from the University of Louisville School of Law, and a Masters of Fine Arts in Writing from Spalding University. She was admitted to the practice of law in 1995 and is a lawyer in good standing with the Kentucky Bar Association. She currently serves as Vice President for External Relations, Enrollment Management, and Student Affairs at Spalding University.

Tori is the author of A Pearl in the Storm: How I Found My Heart in the Middle of the Ocean, a new book that chronicles Tori’s two attempts (the second, successful) to row across the Atlantic in a handcrafted boat called “American Pearl.” These ocean trips became extraordinary, life-changing “voyages of self-discovery.” During her Summit appearance Tori will share some of the most important lessons from her life as a risk-taker.

Tuesday, September 22 – 9:00 am

PLENARY SESSION: Life is a Verb! — Six Practices for More Mindful Living (and working)

In October 2003, Patti Digh’s stepfather was diagnosed was lung cancer. He died just 37 days later, a time frame that shocked and scared her. She started asking herself one question every morning, a question that changed her life: “What would you be doing today if you only had 37 days to live?”

Patti will share what she has learned in the six years since that fateful day in this lively keynote filled with stories and learning and laughter—and questions for you to ponder.

Her stories of subtle and shocking change, jarring recognitions, discoveries in everyday routine, and the insights of knowing adults and wise children will touch your heart and mind. Explore with her the six practices she discovered that help us live a fuller, more meaningful life at home and work. You’ll leave refreshed and with new ways to find joy and deeper meaning in the very simple moments of your days.

Patti Digh is the author of Life is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally, a finalist for both the 2008 Books for a Better Life Award and Southern Independent Booksellers Association book of the year, as well as the award-winning blog, 37days. Her first book, Global Literacies, was named a Fortune Magazine "best business book" for the year 2000. Patti is a writer, blogger, speaker, social justice activist, and—most importantly—a mom.

Workshop Speakers

The following professionals have graciously agreed to serve as workshop speakers at the 2009 Risk Management and Finance Summit for Nonprofits.

Bob Bambino

Bob is Vice President, Risk Management for Wright Risk Management Company, LLC. (WRM).  He is responsible for coordinating risk management projects for all WRM clients and various other insurance and self-funded programs involving public and private sector clients. He is an instructor at Hofstra University where he teaches insurance and risk management courses in the Center for Continuing Education and Professional Advancement (CCEPA). He is also the coordinator of the CPCU program at CCEPA. Bob has published articles on risk management, and he has spoken before numerous groups across the county on risk management and insurance related topics. (Got Risk? A Closer Look at Effective Risk Sharing and Transfer)

Arthur F. Blinci

As vice president of Adventist Risk Management, Inc., Arthur Blinci is responsible for Field Services, Corporate Communication and client education. He is a member of the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) and the University Risk and Insurance Management Association (URIMA). Arthur has served as a board member and past president of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center in Washington, D. C. In 1999, he had the privilege to testify on behalf of nonprofit sector before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations and Emergency Management. (Mission Driven Risk Management)

Katherine H. Campbell

Katie Campbell has worked in the field of nonprofit and volunteer management for 30 years as practitioner, author, trainer and leader. Since 2003 Katie has worked as an independent consultant in nonprofit and volunteer resources management. In this capacity, she assists public and private nonprofit organizations in accomplishing their mission through effective and efficient management of people and resources. She also works as Executive Director of the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration. Katie has authored and co-authored several articles and publications on the subject of volunteerism and teaches as adjunct faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University and University of Virginia. (Ethics and Volunteers: What’s the Big Deal?)

Jeffery I. Chasen

Jeff Chasen serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of The AGOS Group, LLC. AGOS is a risk management consulting practice, working with thousands of educational and religious organizations, public entities, and other private and public nonprofit organizations across the United States and abroad. As part of his role, Jeff assists organizations in developing preventative programs, including online, hotline, and live training components. Previously, he served as Senior Counsel to School, College and University Underwriters Ltd.; before that, he was a trial lawyer in private practice. He received his B.A. and J.D. degrees from George Washington University. (Hot Topics in Employment Law for Churches and Religious Nonprofits)

Mark E. Chopko, Esq.

Mark E. Chopko, Esq.,is a Partner and Chair of the Nonprofit & Religious Institutions practice group of Stradley, Ronon, Stevens & Young, LLP, in its Washington, D.C. office. He represents religious and nonprofit institutions from across the US and from Europe on structural, risk management and risk avoidance issues and defending them in complex liability and constitutional litigation in various parts of the United States. In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Chopko is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University where he co-teaches a seminar on Church-State Law.  He also serves as an Advisor to a project of the American Law Institute writing a single volume treatise on the principles of the law of nonprofit institutions. Mr. Chopko graduated with a B.S. (summa cum laude and with Honors in Chemistry), from the University of Scranton (Pennsylvania); and a J.D. (cum laude), from the Cornell Law School (Ithaca, New York). (Legal Developments and Rulings Impacting Churches and Religious Nonprofits)

Tim Delaney

Tim Delaney serves as President & CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, the network that links more than 20,000 nonprofit members through state nonprofit associations. Tim brings unique insights from a career that included service as a partner at a large law firm, next as the Solicitor General and then Chief Deputy Attorney General for his state, and then as founder of the nonprofit Center for Leadership, Ethics & Public Service. Through those positions Tim helped impeach a Governor, won cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, prosecuted the removal of elective officials for breaching the public trust, protected half a million citizens whose voting rights had been stripped, worked with more than 22,000 people across the country championing positive ethics, advancing civic engagement, and promoting democracy, and helped nonprofits as an attorney, author, board chair, CEO, consultant, founder, incubator, lobbyist, teacher, trainer, and volunteer. Since becoming head of the National Council of Nonprofits in July 2008, Tim has applied insights from those experiences to serve nonprofits across America. (Best Practices in Nonprofit Governance and the Legal Duties of Nonprofit Boards)

Karla Grossenbacher

Ms. Grossenbacher is a partner in Seyfarth Shaw’s Washington D.C. office concentrating in labor and employment law. She is Chair of the Washington D.C. labor and employment practice and serves on the firm’s national Labor and Employment Steering Committee. Karla has extensive experience representing employers in employment-related litigation on federal, state and local levels before courts, arbitration tribunals and administrative agencies, regarding claims concerning discrimination, wage and hour violations (including collective actions), ERISA, enforceability of arbitration agreements in the employment context and covenants not to compete. In addition, Karla regularly provides counseling to employers on matters of employee discipline, enforcement and implementation of employment policies, workplace investigations and reductions in force. She has also provided training on a variety of issues, such as administering discipline, conducting performance appraisals, managing in a union environment, electronic privacy issues and sexual harassment. (Taking the High Road: Compassionate and Risk-Savvy HR Practices)

Mike Gurtler

Mike Gurtler is a risk management professional who enjoyed 25 years as a YMCA professional before forming Safe-Wise Consulting in 2007. Safe-Wise works with nonprofits all over the US helping to nurture sound safety and risk management practices. Mike takes a broad but practical approach to risk management and tries to avoid being type-cast as an expert who tells people what they cannot do. According to Mike, “I think the challenge for insightful risk consulting is being able to say “Yes” in a responsible way that is acceptable to the organization and its mission.” (Risk Management 101: Practical Ways to Manage Risk in a Changing World)

Melanie Lockwood Herman

Melanie serves as Executive Director of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center and has spent her entire career in the nonprofit sector and has authored. She is the author or co-author of more than 15 books covering a wide spectrum of nonprofit management issues. Each year she delivers numerous workshops, seminars and keynote presentations on nonprofit management topics. Her most recent books are Exposed: A Legal Field Guide for Nonprofit Executives (2009), Ready…or Not: A Risk Management Guide for Nonprofit Executives (2009), Financial Risk Management: A Guide for Nonprofit Executives (2008), and Coverage, Claims & Consequences: An Insurance Handbook for Nonprofits-2nd Edition (2008). In August 2007 Melanie was named to the 10th annual NonProfit Times Power & Influence Top 50, a list of "executives and thinkers ... selected for the impact they have now and for the innovative plans they are putting in place to evolve the charitable sector." In August 2008 Melanie was again recognized and is among those on The NPT Power & Influence Top 50, Class of 2008. Melanie is a graduate of American University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Affairs. She earned her J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. (Culture Change and Risk Communication)

Marcus Horton

Marcus Horton has worked as an internal auditor for the past 11 years with the University of Texas at Austin and currently Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Austin, Texas. Besides senior-level audit services, he was integrally involved in the implementation of a highly-successful enterprise risk management program at the University of Texas. He has been credentialed as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and Certification in Control Self-Assessment (CCSA).  He has been involved in fraud prevention outreach and investigation with his employers as well as independently as a consultant.  His consultation services also include enterprise risk management and risk & control self-assessment facilitation. (Managing Fraud Risk: Practical Tools to Safeguard Your Assets & Project Risk Assessment)

Stacy M. Kniffen, J.D.

Stacy serves as an Assistant Vice President and Management Liability Product Manager for OneBeacon Professional Partners in New York, NY. She specializes in the product development and underwriting of Directors & Officers, Employment Practices Liability and Fiduciary Liability Insurance for Non-Profit Organizations. Prior to joining OneBeacon, Stacy worked in product management for the Non-Profit Management Liability Division of AIG Executive Liability. Stacy started her career as an attorney in private practices specializing in insurance coverage litigation. She earned her J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law and her B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (Implications of Directors’ and Officers’ Fiduciary Failures in Non-Profit Organizations)

Colleen Lazanich

Colleen Lazanich is currently the Vice President, Western Region for Riverport Insurance Company, a Berkley Company. Colleen oversees the California branch office of Riverport which handles the underwriting, claims and loss control for the Human Services program in seven western states. She earned her Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation from the National Institute in 2001 and her Certified Risk Manager (CRM) designation in 2007. Colleen is excited that her first trip to Texas is to teach at the 2009 Risk Management & Finance Summit for Nonprofits! (Insurance Boot Camp)

Edward M. Mulherin

Ed has over 25 years of experience providing tax, accounting and business consulting services to a varied group of clients and businesses. In 2001, Ed conceived and founded eCratchit, a revolutionary concept for web based bookkeeping and accounting services. eCratchit developed a proprietary web-portal software that allows eCratchit the ability to perform the daily bookkeeping functions for their clients and allows their clients complete access to accounting records and software on-line.

Ed has provided a diverse range of services to the firm’s clients, which includes a large number of nonprofit organizations. (Advanced Financial Management)

Joe Risser

Joe Risser is a risk management consultant who presents and writes on risk management topics in the areas of special events, student interns, camps, contracts, insurance requirements and waivers. Joe's practice, Risk Management Design, is based on the California Central Coast. Joe's professional metamorphosis from camp director to a public entity risk manager is fitting for a former Boy Scout who loves to keep people safe. Joe’s learned that applying the basic tools and lessons of risk management can often keep the bad thing from happening—or at least lessen the negative impact. (Managing Special Event Risks)

H. Robert Showers, Jr.

Robert Showers formed Simms Showers LLP, originally a Baltimore, Md.-based law firm, in 2002 as a principal partner and heads up the Northern Virginia/Metropolitan D.C. office. His practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation and nonprofit, tax exempt and business law. Before going into private practice in 1989, Rob acted as Deputy Assistant Attorney General and served as Executive Director of the National Obscenity Enforcement Unit (NOEU), later called the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), within the U.S. Department of Justice. Rob has started and run a couple of nonprofits including National Law Center for Children and Families and NonprofitChurchlaw.org and has lectured extensively nationwide and written articles on church and nonprofit law, sexual misconduct, and child sexual exploitation. He is the co-author of Legal Hotspots in the Church and Nonprofits(2003); a series of Child Protection and Risk Management memos for churches and nonprofits and numerous law review articles including Church Law in Virginia (to be published in 2009). Rob graduated cum laude from Wake Forest University with honors in History and a graduate of Wake Forest University School of Law where he served with distinction on the Law Review and Moot Court Board. (COMMON GROUND: Recent Legal Developments and Rulings Impacting Churches and Religious Nonprofits)

Robert B. Smith

Bob leads the Non-profit Organizations practice group at Nelson Kinder Mosseau & Saturley in Boston, MA and Manchester, NH. He specializes in the defense of claims and counsels nonprofits and charitable institutions and organizations concerning the vast array of complex issues including governance; regulatory compliance and ethics issues. Bob has decades of experience, including fourteen years as Associate General Counsel for Boston University, the nation’s fourth largest independent university. Bob frequently presents at national and regional education and law conferences, been the guest presenter for national webcasts and contributed articles to various publications on issues in higher education, risk management and trial strategy. Bob received his J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law where he was on the staff of the Law Review; a member of the National Moot Court Team and an instructor in Legal Research and Writing. (Implications of Directors’ and Officers’ Fiduciary Failures in Non-Profit Organizations)

Jeffrey S. Tenenbaum

Jeffrey S. Tenenbaum is a partner with and head of the Nonprofit Organizations Practice Group of Venable LLP. Jeff concentrates his practice exclusively on nonprofit law, counseling his clients on a broad array of legal issues and representing them before numerous federal and state agencies and on Capitol Hill and serves as special counsel to ASAE & The Center. He is the author of the book Association Tax Compliance Guide, published by ASAE, and is a contributor to numerous ASAE & The Center books and other publications. Jeff is a frequent lecturer, author and commentator on nonprofit legal issues for the major industry organizations and publications, as well as for mainstream media such as the New York Times and The Washington Post, and served as a “professor” for the ASAE Virtual Law School. He is an active participant in the nonprofit community and serves on several industry boards and committees. (The 10 Biggest Legal Traps Nonprofits CEOs Should Avoid)

Anne-Marie Vercruysse Welch

Anne-Marie Vercruysse Welchis an attorney at the Clark Hill law firm’s Detroit office. Her areas of practice focus primarily on employment litigation, counseling and investigations, labor law, and nonprofit risk management. She is experienced in defending against discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge, and related tort claims, as well as in pursuing and defending claims pertaining to non-competition agreements, pension benefits, and unemployment insurance. Anne-Marie is a contributor to legal and professional publications and serves as a speaker for various business, professional, and trade organizations on topics such as volunteer liability, employee misuse of the Internet, legal hiring and termination practices, privacy rights in the workplace, and employers' methods to reduce healthcare costs. She earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from the Michigan State University College of Law, where she received a full academic scholarship and had the privilege of serving as an editor of the Michigan State Law Review and as an intern to the Honorable Avern L. Cohn of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. As an active citizen in the Detroit Metropolitan community, Ms. Welch serves on the board of directors for the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Barristers, the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit’s Camping Services, and The Birmingham Community House Uptown Group. (Volunteer Liability: What You Don’t Know About ”Free“ Workers Could Cost You)

Chris Youngberg

Three years ago Chris Youngberg was named Director of Account Education for the Non Profit Insurance Program (NPIP). As head of Account Education Chris designs, creates and oversees the delivery of NPIP’s training curriculum. Over 1,000 trainings are conducted each year on a wide variety of topics aimed at assisting organizations with reducing their exposure to risk. Chris has also developed and organized the Northwest’s preeminent conference specifically intended to address issues impacting nonprofits. The annual conference is sponsored by NPIP in conjunction with the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. Chris earned her Master’s in Education from Central Washington University. She would go on to teach music for 18 years and during that time received numerous honors and recognitions including being awarded Jazz Educator of the year. Recently Chris completed a training course on Effective Risk Communication at the Harvard School of Public Health. (Culture Change and Risk Communication)

Hosts

TANO — The Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations (TANO) is the statewide association reflecting and promoting Texas’ growing nonprofit community in all its diversity. Envisioning a Texas Nonprofit Sector that works together to be among the healthiest and most vibrant in the nation, TANO’s concern and focus is every nonprofit entity within our state no matter size or budget. Its mission is to connect, strengthen, and support the nonprofit community for the public good of Texas. TANO is the Texas affiliate of the National Council of Nonprofits and is a satellite affiliate of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center.

Texas Municipal League — The Texas Municipal League exists solely to provide services to Texas cities. Since its formation in 1913, the League's mission has remained the same: to serve the needs and advocate the interests of its members.

The TML constitution states that the purpose of the League is to "render services which individual cities have neither time, money nor strength to do alone."

Austin Community Foundation — The Austin Community Foundation is the heart of philanthropic giving in Central Texas. Created in 1977 with a $30,000 gift from Fanny Gray Leo, the Foundation has grown over the past 30 years to more than $100 million in assets. The Austin Community Foundation is a unique, not-for-profit connection between donors from all walks of life and the broad spectrum of efforts that improve our evolving community. The Foundation brings an efficiency of scale to donors, allowing charitable dollars to go as far as possible toward improving life for all Central Texans.


Texas Economic Development Council — The Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) is an Austin-based, statewide, non-profit professional association dedicated to the development of economic and employment opportunities in Texas. The TEDC is the largest state association of economic development professionals, volunteers, and elected officials. The organization provides information, educational and legislative services to nearly 900 members.

The TEDC is a one-stop shop for ideas, information, and influence. Our objective is to support the economic growth of Texas and develop strategies that promote a positive business climate in our state.

Nonprofit Austin / Center for Community-Based & Nonprofit Organizations at Austin Community College — The Center exists to promote, leverage and facilitate community collaborations and partnerships that broaden the horizons and possibilities for the Central Texas Nonprofit Sector. These collaborations reflect the Center's ability to bring business, government and nonprofit sectors together around common goals.

Scholarships

To apply for a scholarship, click here.

Corporate Sponsors

To inquire about enrolling as a Corporate Sponsor of the 2009 Risk Management and Finance Summit for Nonprofits, contact Melanie Herman at (202) 785-3891 or via email.

Recent Summit

To read more about the Summit held in 2008, click here.

A wonderful and comprehensive 'introduction' to all aspects of risk management.

Beth Pratt, Vice President/CFO, Yosemite Association, El Portal, CA

I will use much of what I learned!

Andrea Zeller, Executive Director, Mission Community Services Corp, San Luis Obispo, CA

As a new Executive Director, I was able to get good information from many experts. Thank you for the comprehensive program, good resource book, and great food. My 'to do' list has just gotten longer.

Rona Renner, RN, Executive Director, Childhood Matters, Inc., Berkeley, CA

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Questions?

Contact Melanie Herman at the Nonprofit Risk Management Center via e-mail or by phone at (202) 785-3891.

This conference is a must, and always the first item I put in the budget. I have been a regular participant since 1997 and learn many new things each year. It's really nice to attend a conference focused on nonprofits.

Karen L. Geney, SPHR, VP, Human Resources, Hemophilia of Georgia, Inc.

As a risk manager, I find the annual conference to be a terrific source for up-to-date information and valuable peer networking.

William G. Chapin, Director, Facilities & Risk Management, Diocese of Rockville Centre, NY

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