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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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

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

“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 →

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

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