The Collective's Fall Conference 2026: Full Schedule

Registration - $150 for Collective Members | $175 for Non-Members*

Hotel Accommodations:
A limited number of rooms are available at the Tru by Hilton in Midtown Cleveland
Room Rate: $119 - Select 1 King or 2 Doubles (includes complimentary breakfast)

Need assistance?
Email our Conference Hosts from Shoes and Clothes for Kids at [email protected]

*To become a member of the Collective & receive the lower registration rate, email Robert Moxley before completing your registration.

2026 Schedule Note: Tuesday & Wednesday are full days with a half-day on Thursday

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

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9:00am EDT

Main Session - Stay Tuned for Details

Wednesday October 21, 2026 9:00am - 11:00am EDT

Main Session

11:00am EDT

Morning Break

Wednesday October 21, 2026 11:00am - 11:15am EDT

11:15am EDT

Shifting Team Dynamics: Create a Culture of Empowerment with 3 Vital Questions

LIMITED CAPACITY

Wednesday October 21, 2026 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Learn how to transform workplace drama (be it subtle or intense) into empowerment and support your organization’s impact on all of the following:

Creating and growing an outcome-oriented culture of service, resourcefulness, resilience and innovation;

Developing empowering leaders at all levels of the organization;

Increasing employee engagement and/or;

Leading sustainable change

Releasing the time and energy bound up in drama and reinvesting it in service to all stakeholders will transform both working and personal relationships.

Speakers

Merilee Smith

Speaker; Mindset & Leadership Coach, Spark With Merilee

Merilee Smith is a high-impact speaker, mindset and leadership development coach, and founder of Spark With Merilee. With nearly 30 years of experience developing leaders across industries, she brings deep insight into how people lead, think, and navigate uncertainty — and a wake-you-up... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT

Cross-Track

11:15am EDT

Identifying Your Development Team and Diversifying Your Portfolio

Wednesday October 21, 2026 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT

Everyone involved in a nonprofit has a role in fundraising, from volunteers to board members to every person that works for the organization. We will dig into roles and responsibilities for staff and board and talk about where overlap happens and how best to collaborate. We will also look at best-practice diversity in a balanced revenue portfolio and assess where your organization is in its own maturity.

Speakers

Kelly Rudloff

Senior Consultant, Inbloom Consulting

“I love that consulting allows me to support many mission-driven organizations and make a positive impact across our community.”

What She Brings
Kelly brings more than 20 years of nonprofit experience in Greater Cleveland, having served in professional, volunteer, and board roles across a wide range of organizations. Her background spans development, programs, volunteer and board relations, and executive leadership, including... Read More →

Megan Bush Granson

Founder | Chief Executive Officer, Inbloom Consulting

“I love supporting people as they grow, discover their strengths, and make a positive impact. Great things happen when people feel comfortable sharing ideas and working toward solutions together.”

What She Brings
Megan started Inbloom in 2015 with a vision to bring the best team together to serve and move missions forward for nonprofits and purpose-led businesses.. She shines when supporting nonprofit executives, teams, boards, and volunteers on strategic growth and especially on fundraising... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT

Development

11:15am EDT

Managing High-Volume Donations

Wednesday October 21, 2026 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT

Learn how to effectively manage high volumes of donations without overwhelming your team or space. This session will cover practical strategies for intake, sorting, quality control, and storage, with real examples you can apply right away. Walk away ready to streamline your processes, improve efficiency, and ensure donations move quickly from arrival to the hands of those who need them.

Speakers

Gregory Hill

Executive Director, Empty Stocking Fund

With 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Greg is deeply committed to creating lasting, positive change for communities, particularly for children and families.

Most recently, Greg served as the founding Executive Director of Aurora Day Camp, where he established and le... Read More →

Jessica Johns

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Storehouse of Community Resources

Jessica has a background in education. She has a passion for resourcing individuals with the tools needed to be successful. She co-founded the Storehouse in 2016 with a focus on connecting resources for both nonprofits and schools. She is actively engaged in using systems-linking... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT

Operations

11:15am EDT

Scaling Programs for Greater Impact: Managing Growth and Expanding Reach

Wednesday October 21, 2026 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT

Learn how to take a strategic, big-picture approach to growing your programs and expanding your impact. This session will focus on planning for growth, aligning staffing and resources, and building the systems needed to scale effectively while maintaining quality. Walk away with a clearer framework for making strategic decisions, strengthening your programs, and expanding your reach in a sustainable way.

Wednesday October 21, 2026 11:15am - 12:45pm EDT

Programs

12:45pm EDT

Lunch

Wednesday October 21, 2026 12:45pm - 1:30pm EDT

1:30pm EDT

Say It So It Sticks: Crafting a Case for Support That Inspires Giving

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT

In this interactive session, participants will move beyond generic messaging to build a clear, compelling case for support tailored to their organization. Through guided exercises, peer feedback, and real-time drafting, attendees will leave with a working draft of their case and a set of next steps to immediately strengthen their fundraising and communications efforts.

By the end, participants will:

Clarify the core elements of a strong case for support

Draft key components they can immediately use

Identify natural opportunities to update your existing case for support.

Receive feedback from peers

Leave with 2–3 concrete next steps

Speakers

Kelly Rudloff

Senior Consultant, Inbloom Consulting

Mary Herzak

Chief Operating Officer | Chief Marketing Officer, Inbloom Consulting

“I think about my work as being a catalyst for others to do their best work, especially in times of change and growth.”

What She Brings
Mary oversees Inbloom’s internal operations and marketing discipline, ensuring the firm is aligned, scalable, and positioned for thoughtful growth. With 15+ years in healthcare technology, she brings experience spanning startups through private equity transitions, guiding organizations... Read More →

Kate Newsome

Senior Consultant, Inbloom Consulting

“I’m passionate about helping, and that means connecting the right tools, language, information, and resources to make good work even more effective.”

What She Brings
With more than a decade of nonprofit experience, Kate leads with curiosity and a deep commitment to making a positive impact. Relentlessly resourceful, she specializes in major campaigns, research, analysis, technology, and grants. Kate has a Master of Social Work and Certificate... Read More →

Steve Szucs

Consultant, Inbloom Consulting

“I believe good marketing starts with listening—everything else is just execution.”

What He Brings
A former journalist, Steve cut his marketing teeth in the franchise space, where clarity, consistency, and execution are essential to scale. That foundation shaped his approach to strategy—grounded in clear messaging, repeatable systems, and cross-team alignment. At Inbloom, he... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT

Cross-Track

1:30pm EDT

Executing Successful Fundraising Events

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT

Learn how to plan and execute fundraising events that engage supporters and drive meaningful results. This session will cover what makes an event successful, from setting clear goals and creating compelling experiences to managing logistics, sponsorships, and follow-up, with real examples and practical tips you can apply right away. Walk away ready to strengthen your next event, increase engagement, and maximize your fundraising impact.

Speakers

Sharon Somerville Boyes, CFRE

Founder, Boyes of Somer

I speak and consult at the intersection of leadership, reinvention, and organizational structure.

After 20+ years in executive leadership across mission-driven sectors, I now partner with boards, CEOs, and leadership teams to stabilize what’s underneath the noise — and to buil... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT

Development

1:30pm EDT

Building Strong, Healthy & Connected Teams

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT

Learn how to build and sustain a strong, effective team that supports your mission and drives results. This session will cover practical strategies for improving communication, strengthening team culture, and increasing engagement and accountability, with real examples you can apply right away. Walk away ready to lead with greater clarity, strengthen your team, and create a more collaborative and productive work environment.

Speakers

John Paul Stephens

Theodore M. and Catherine C. Alfred Professorship in Management, Weatherhead School of Management; Associate Professor, Case Western Reserve University

John Paul (J.P.) Stephens, PhD is the Theodore M. and Catherine C. Alfred Professor in Management, and Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, John Paul completed... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT

Leadership

1:30pm EDT

Managing Warehouse Teams: Roles, HR Considerations, and Team Dynamics

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT

Learn how to effectively manage warehouse staff in a resource center environment, including defining clear roles and responsibilities, navigating HR considerations such as employee benefits, safety, and what happens when someone gets hurt, and addressing cross-department challenges and what to do when things aren’t working. This session will offer practical strategies, peer insights, and open discussion to help you build a strong, effective warehouse team, regardless of your organization’s size.

Speakers

Dwayne Brake

Chief Logistics Officer, Greater Cleveland Food Bank

Dwayne Brake was announced Chief Logistics Officer for the Food Bank in 2023. He oversees the management of the delivery program, warehouse distribution, and facilities management. He joined the Food Bank in February 2010 to manage day-to-day inbound/outbound operation as well the... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT

Operations

1:30pm EDT

Online Shopping That Works: Launching and Managing for Impact

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT

Learn how to successfully launch and manage an online shopping experience for your resource center. This session will focus on the practical, day-to-day components, from platform selection and inventory management to order fulfillment and communication. Walk away with tools and strategies you can apply right away to expand access, improve efficiency, and create a seamless experience for the educators you serve.

Speakers

Jonathan Swiger

Associate Director of Programs, Crayons and Beyond

Raelyn Harman

President & Executive Director, Teachers' Teammates

“I believe we are all responsible for all of our children’s education. It makes no sense to me for products in good condition to be thrown away or forgotten in storage when there are so many needs in schools, especially when the disparity in resources between communities is so... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm EDT

Programs

3:00pm EDT

Afternoon Break

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:15pm EDT

3:15pm EDT

Data Aggregation Update

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:15pm - 4:30pm EDT

Last year, we built consensus around a bold idea: what could we do with a national shared data lake to drive smarter product allocation and deeper impact? This year, we're reporting back...the pilot is underway, funding is secured, and nearly two dozen cities are now contributing to a growing national data cohort. Join us for a working session focused on building a shared Impact Framework: defining what outcomes matter, agreeing on the metrics worth tracking at scale, developing a common data dictionary, and shaping the stories we want to tell together. We'll also preview what next-generation analytics dashboards could look like for centers across the network. Come ready to think, react, and build!

Speakers

Josh Whiteside

Executive Director, The Education Partnership

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:15pm - 4:30pm EDT

Cross-Track

3:15pm EDT

Keeping Donors Engaged: Stewardship That Strengthens Relationships

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:15pm - 4:30pm EDT

Learn how to build and sustain meaningful relationships with your donors through thoughtful, consistent stewardship. This session will cover what effective stewardship looks like, from timely and authentic communication to personalized engagement and follow-up, with real examples and practical strategies you can apply right away. Walk away ready to strengthen donor relationships, increase retention, and turn supporters into long-term champions of your mission.

Speakers

Joan Palumbo

Chief Advancement Officer, Cleveland Leadership Center

Joan has been the Chief Advancement Officer of the Cleveland Leadership Center since the beginning of 2025. With 30 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and organizational growth, Joan is an experienced fundraising professional known for driving impactful fundraising initiatives... Read More →

Toi D. Comer

Natalie Friedl

Executive Director, Cleveland Kids' Book Bank

Natalie leads the Kids’ Book Bank team with enthusiasm and energy. A proud mama to four sons, she loves spending time with them and watching them play sports. Her two Newfoundlands also keep her company! She is passionate about literacy, education, and health.

Her favorite child... Read More →

Betsy Wilson

Interim President & CEO, Crayons and Beyond

Multi-faceted leader with 20+ years experience in event planning, fundraising and human resources!

Specialties: Marketing, Communications, Event planning, fundraising, HR, motivational manager and much more!

Staci Lowell

Principal, Giving Insight LLC

Staci Lowell has over 20 years experience as an information professional with a JD from the Cleveland Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University and a BA in Political Science from Taylor University. Her professional background includes time at two of Cleveland Ohioʼs largest... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:15pm - 4:30pm EDT

Development

3:15pm EDT

Planning for What’s Next: Succession Strategies for Nonprofit Leaders

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:15pm - 4:30pm EDT

Learn how to proactively plan for leadership transitions to ensure continuity and long-term success. This session will cover practical approaches to identifying and developing future leaders, documenting key roles and processes, and preparing your organization for both planned and unexpected transitions. Walk away ready to strengthen your organization’s stability and confidently plan for what’s next.

Speakers

Monica Lloyd

Executive Director, Shoes and Clothes for Kids

Jane Thompson

President, A Gift for Teaching

Jane Thompson 
President, A Gift For Teaching 
 
Jane has been actively involved in the non-profit sector for the past 35 years, both as a Development Director and in an executive capacity. In April of 2004, Jane joined A Gift For Teaching as the Director of Development and after a national search, was chosen as the organization’s... Read More →

Amy Kopp

Executive Director, Crayons to Classrooms

Amy joined Crayons to Classrooms in 2020 as Fund Development Manager and was promoted to Director of Development in 2023. In 2025, she stepped into the role of Executive Director, where she now leads the organization’s mission to provide essential school supplies to teachers and... Read More →

Julie Clark

Chief Program Officer, Business Volunteers Unlimited

As Chief Program Officer, Julie is responsible for ensuring BVU’s mission is delivered through high-quality programs that drive meaningful impact for the businesses and nonprofits BVU serves. She oversees program design, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement across... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:15pm - 4:30pm EDT

Leadership

3:15pm EDT

Making Data Meaningful: Turning Insights into Clear, Compelling Visuals & Stories

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:15pm - 4:30pm EDT

Learn how to uncover meaningful stories within your data and use them to inform decisions and strengthen your impact. This interactive session will explore practical techniques for engaging teams in data conversations and identifying key insights, with opportunities to practice using sample data. Walk away with tools, resources, and increased confidence to find and use data stories and build credibility to inspire greater support.

Speakers

Stephanie Lloyd

Founder, Mosaic Eval

Stephanie Lloyd (she/her) is a seasoned consultant who has spent nearly two decades working alongside countless nonprofit organizations with a focus on uplifting unheard voices, collaborative learning and creative solutions, and data-based results. Her ambition and expertise are... Read More →

Colleen Kassouf Mackey

Evaluator, Data Shine

Colleen Kassouf Mackey (she/her) has more than 16 years of consulting experience—with a focus on program evaluation and measurement services—for local, national, and international entities across sectors. Colleen has worked in content areas including:

Civic engagement and plac... Read More →

Wednesday October 21, 2026 3:15pm - 4:30pm EDT

Marketing/Communications