2025 Ignite Conference Seminars
2025 ignite conference keynote
“Leadership and Life Lessons from the Rodeo Arena and Hockey Rink”
Leadership isn’t about a title—it’s about how you rise to the occasion. In this engaging and interactive keynote, a cowboy from the West and a city boy from the East come together to share powerful lessons from their 75+ years of combined experience. Drawing from the grit of the rodeo arena and the fast-paced intensity of the hockey rink, they’ll reveal how leadership opportunities appear in unexpected places—and how to seize them with confidence, resilience and adaptability. Get ready for a dynamic session filled with real-world wisdom, humor and actionable takeaways!
2025 Ignite conference
Session I
[E] = Executive Track
Beyond Ratings and Raises [E]
Learn how to create and deliver performance evaluations that are meaningful, not just the typical form and formality. Leaders, whether new or experienced, will receive practical, applicable tips to ensure performance reviews are worth the time and effort for both manager and employee.
Ten More Good Rules for Leaders
Building on his popular “Ten Good Rules for Leaders,” Stu McRae returns with ten additional, game-changing principles designed to help leaders enhance their communication, maximize efficiency and avoid burnout. Attendees will gain valuable strategies to navigate the complexities of leadership with confidence and clarity.
Beyond Grants: Cultivating Sustainable Funding Through Collaboration
This session explores innovative funding strategies for nonprofits and organizations, moving beyond traditional grant reliance. Learn how to leverage the power of networking and collaboration to build strong cohorts and open doors to diversified funding options. Participants will leave this session with actionable strategies to expand their funding portfolio and create a more sustainable future for their organization.
The Website Wrecking Ball: How to Avoid Demolishing Your Online Presence
Your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business — don’t let simple mistakes tear it down. Erik will share practical tips for building a strong, user-friendly and search-optimized online presence and help you avoid design pitfalls and SEO missteps.
2025 ignite conference
Session II
[E] = Executive Track
Unlock Employee Engagement by Meeting Nine Core Needs [E]
We know employee engagement is key to our success, but what can we do when our employees seem to need different things? This session will explore the nine core needs of our employees and discuss how to nurture them on an ongoing basis, igniting engagement and excellence.
Seamless Switch: Navigating Your Move from QuickBooks Desktop to Online
Businesses are increasingly turning to cloud-based solutions like QuickBooks Online for enhanced accessibility, collaboration, and automation. This session provides a clear roadmap for a smooth and efficient transition. Learn what you need to know before you switch, how to navigate the data migration, and a clear understanding of what to expect in the new software. We’ll equip you with the knowledge to make the switch like a pro and start enjoying the benefits of QuickBooks Online.
Value Added Sales
Increase sales revenue by helping leadership, sales and customer service representatives understand how value added selling works and how to fully embrace the value added philosophy. Learn how to develop and communicate your value added selling points and your value proposition to your customers.
Combining Media in Today’s Business World
In this session, the presenters will share how and when to use various types of media, including digital, social media, videos, radio, print, television and billboards. Participants will also learn how to define their unique business qualities and how to reach potential customers needing their product or service.
2025 Ignite conference
Session III
[E] = Executive Track
Made to Move: Creating Strategic Plans that Build Momentum [E]
Not all strategic plans are created equal. Discover what keeps a strategic plan from gathering dust on a shelf and instead propels an organization and its team toward its initiatives and goals. Camden will share how solid strategic planning provides organizational clarity and team unity, a foundation for the process of effective strategic planning and insights on how to keep strategic plans visible and progressing.
A Guide to Tradeshow and Event Marketing for Small Businesses and Nonprofits
Discover how to elevate your tradeshow and event marketing strategies to achieve remarkable results. Whether you’re aiming for lead generation or fundraising, this seminar provides business owners and nonprofit leaders with practical insights into planning, executing and following up on event engagements. This session will equip you with tools to captivate your audience, maximize interactions and drive success at any event.
Busting Cybersecurity Myths: 4 Easy Steps to Protect Your Small Business
No business is too small to be a target for hackers and scammers, and there are very simple steps you can take to make your online activities safer and more secure. P.J. will debunk commonly held myths about small businesses and cybersecurity and provide some simple safeguards against cyber attacks that cost little or no money.
Seize the Moment: How to Make the Most of Public Speaking Opportunities
Palms are sweaty. Knees weak. Arms are heavy. Many of us have experienced that sense of dread when asked to speak publicly, but telling your story doesn’t have to come with a side of mom’s spaghetti. Learn the tricks to delivering an effective public presentation so that even if you’re nervous, on the surface you’re calm and ready.
2025 ignite conference
Session IV
[E] = Executive Session
Make Your Company a Magnet for A-Players [E]
Learn how to turn your business into an “A-player” magnet so top talent wants in and stays in with a hard-hitting system you can put to work immediately. This session takes a deeper dive into the tools discussed during Ryan’s presentation at last year’s Ignite Conference and provides new tools that can change your company tomorrow.
Building a Marketing Plan for 2025
Whether you’re a startup or an established business looking to refine your approach, this session will offer step-by-step guidance for developing a marketing strategy that aligns with your business goals. Learn how to create a targeted, results-driven plan to help you attract customers, boost engagement and maximize ROI in 2025.
Smart Solutions: Leveraging AI for Daily Operations in Nonprofits and Small Business
This session will explore practical applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in the daily operations of nonprofits and small businesses. Learn how to leverage AI to enhance productivity, make data-driven decisions and achieve greater impact with limited resources.
The Art of Managing through Others
Easier said than done, delegation is challenging for many leaders. In this session, Camden will teach both new and seasoned managers strategies and skills for lightening their workloads while alleviating their concerns and giving others meaningful opportunities for growth.
2025 ignite conference
Session V
[E] = Executive Track
Intense Innovation [E]
Business profitability and sustainability can be dramatically improved through innovation. This class helps individuals identify and develop innovation skills, create new ideas for products and processes, explore the “Plan Do Study Act” cycle and develop an action plan for moving forward.
Developing Emotional Intelligence for Team Success
Wouldn’t it be great if we were able to respond calmly to difficult situations and influence others to do the same? Emotional Intelligence is the ability to understand and manage our emotions, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of those around you. Discover how growing your Emotional Intelligence can help build stronger relationships and achieve personal, professional and team goals.
Social Media Done Right: The Actionable Guide for Business Owners
Struggling to make social media work for your business? This practical, no-fluff course is designed to help business owners cut through the noise and implement real, results-driven strategies…starting today. Walk away with a clear action plan to optimize your social media, increase engagement and drive more business, without feeling overwhelmed.
How to Recruit and Keep Your Best People
Losing some of your best people? Need to get your people more engaged at work? Having problems attracting strong candidates to hire? Learn the four main reasons people leave organizations and what you need to do to keep them engaged and from looking for another job. Using the key principles taught by John Maxwell, Jim will guide you through the action steps to take to keep your best people and attract quality candidates.
BONUS WRAP-UP SESSION
JEN CROUSE
When Opportunity Knocks: Do I Open the Door?
Life is full of leadership opportunities, but how do we know when to open the door and step forward? More importantly, how do we prepare ourselves so that when the right opportunity comes, we are ready to embrace it with confidence? Join Jen Crouse for an engaging and interactive session that will challenge you to reflect on your purpose, recognize the work it takes to create leadership opportunities and overcome fears that hold you back. Through inspiring stories, real-life examples and reflective exercises, Jen will guide you in evaluating these opportunities – not just based on money or title, but on what truly aligns with your passions and values.