Breakout session descriptions (Last updated June 17, 2010)
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Breakout Session #1 - 2:00-3:30 p.m. (October 15)


Friday, October 15, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Getting Social with Podcasting
Presenter: Rob Conway, founder/president, myChurchCast.org
Description: Why podcast? Here, you’ll understand the principles behind podcasting and why it’s the new broadcasting. Rob Conway, a 13-year radio veteran and founder and president of myChurchCast.org which provides podcasting to churches, will help you learn the basics on how to create your won podcast and how to use them strategically, including use on social sites, so your organization won’t just be seen, but heard.
 

Rob Conway is a 13-year radio veteran, serving as Production & Imaging Director and Music Director for WGTS 91.9 Washington, DC one of the most successful Christian radio stations in the country. He has had the privilege of working and learning from some of the top radio consultants like Alan Mason and John Frost of GoodRatings, Inc. and Tommy Kramer (Texas Broadcasters Hall of Fame).

In 2007, he founded Word Of Mouth Productions, LLC to provide basic voice-over and production services to radio. However, he noticed many churches having difficulty keeping up with evolving technologies, especially on the web. So a year later, he formed myChurchCast.org to provide professionally produced podcasts for churches. Several churches have jumped on board, including one that has turned into a fully-produced radio program that now airs on WFMD-AM Frederick, Maryland. As a result of his passion for helping churches use technology and media in creating stronger relationships with their communities, he has recently joined the staff of Sligo Church in Takoma Park, Maryland as the Director of Media Ministries.



Friday, October 15, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
The Blinding Pace of Change in Publishing
Presenter: Jerry D. Thomas, vice-president, product development, Pacific Press Publishing Association
Description: The digital revolution has caught up with publishing and the business casualties are piling up on both sides of the information superhighway. Print newspapers and magazines are struggling to adapt to a world where people can get their news and commentary instantly delivered to their computers. Book publishers are facing a new model of both acquisitions and distribution as “print-on-demand” technology, Kindles, Nooks, Readers, and iPads redefine both their author and their customer relationships. Inside a church that was built on publishing—and printing—these changes along with changes in how conference bookstores are administered, how conferences handle camp meetings, and how conferences relate to published materials are all impacting church-owned publishing houses. What does this mean for the future of our magazines, books, and sharing programs?
Jerry D. Thomas is vice-president for product development at Pacific Press. He is the author of more than 30 books including Blessings, Messiah, and Detective Zack and has written hundreds of stories and articles for church magazines. He has worked as a pastor and teacher and has been an editor of books and magazines for over 20 years.



Friday, October 15, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
How to Create Buzz
Presenter: Rajkumar Dixit, DMin., president, Dixit Media Group
Description: Buzz is getting people talking about your product or organization. Hopefully, you are gaining positive attention. In this workshop, you will learn how to generate buzz without paying of it. It requires careful planning and more importantly, how to manage it to benefit your desired outcome. Learn how to build a reputation without pouring advertising dollars into traditional methods.
Rajkumar Dixit (also known by “Kumar”) has been involved in non-profit leadership and Christian development for over ten years. In 2003 he began serving at New Hope Adventist Church in Fulton, Maryland at an associate pastor. He oversees the administration, community development, and mission emphasis. He is active in Howard County and spends a considerable amount of time forging relationships with civic and community leaders.

As a professor of religion and communication, Dr. Dixit has been interested in forging these two areas. Dixit teaches courses in Public Relations, Advertising, World Religions, and Theology at Washington Adventist University and Griggs University. He has been a guest lecturer and speaker at various educational institutions, including John’s Hopkins University.
Dixit frequently speaks and lectures on a wide range of topics related to leadership, church administration, worship, and branding. He earned his doctoral degree from Wesley Theological Seminary, in Washington, D.C. with a concentration in leadership. He wrote his dissertation on branding in religious and non-profit communities.

Pastor Dixit is married to Rajinie S. Dixit, a speech-language pathologist. He is a proud father of Jaelin, Elijah, and Wilomina. In his spare time he enjoys reading, writing, and traveling with his family.



Friday, October 15, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
God's Fingerprints: Harnessing the Power of Video to Shift Corporate Culture
Presenters: Dr. Paul Crampton, assistant vice president of mission and spiritual care, Adventist Health
Jason Satterlund, owner, Big Puddle Films
Rita Waterman, assistant vice president of corporate communication, Adventist Health
Description: Learn how Adventist Health, a health system with 18,000+ employees, harnessed the power of stories to preserve its distinctive mission and culture. Hear from the client and filmmaker how they collaborated to create a video that captures powerful stories that form the bedrock of a mission education initiative.
  Paul Crampton, Ph.D., assistant vice president for Mission and Spiritual Care assumed his position in March 2010. Previously, Crampton was president and CEO of Dimensions, LLC, a business he founded that provided spiritual education and curriculum building for health care entities and providers. In that business, he focused on training physicians and other health care providers about the importance of incorporating spirituality into the health care process.

Highly experienced at engaging a workforce, Crampton served as the director of Chaplaincy Services at White Memorial Medical Center from 1994 to 2006 and was known for his dedication to the company’s mission and also was prominently featured in the system’s Hands of Hope video, a key tool in Adventist Health’s mission education curriculum. Concurrently, Crampton was the facility’s director of Education and Training as well as Director of Leadership Development from 2001 to 2006.  In that role, he was responsible for leadership growth and competency at the Los Angeles-based hospital.

Crampton holds a bachelor’s degree in Theology and a master’s degree in Education with a specialty in Administration from the University of Montemorelos in Mexico. He also holds a Clinical Pastoral Education credential from Loma Linda University, and a Ph.D. in Education Psychology from the University of California Los Angeles.

In addition to his many academic achievements, the bilingual Crampton has a breadth of experience in public speaking and curriculum facilitation. He has served as a professor for Pacific Union College, where he taught classes on Spirituality in Nursing Care and Christian Ethics in Health Care. He also was a member of the Los Angeles Medical Speakers Network.

Crampton and his wife, Tania, have two adult children, Joshua and Elijah.
   
Jason Satterlund is the award winning producer/director of Big Puddle Films, a full service film production company established in 2001.

Satterlund has been writing and working on films for over 25 years. He has extensive experience in all areas of production including writing, directing, producing, cinematography, editing, computer animation, and photography. He currently resides in the Pacific Northwest, where he produces commercials, documentaries, music videos, and feature films. He has a firm niche as an adventure filmmaker and travels the world to shoot in challenging conditions.

Satterlund has done extensive work for clients such as Adventist Health, The National Republican Party, CNN, Montel Williams, Rotary Club, O’Charley’s, Shoney’s Restaurants, YMCA, The Oak Ridge Boys, Word Records, Hallmark Entertainment, and the country of Jordan.

His latest feature film, The Human Trace, is currently on the film festival circuit and winner of the Golden Eddy Award for best feature film, at the Cedar Rapids Film Festival.
   
Rita J. Waterman is assistant vice president, corporate communication, for Adventist Health. Headquartered in Roseville, California, Adventist Health is a faith-based, not-for-profit organization that operates 17 hospitals and more than 170 other business units in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.

Waterman has 30-plus years of communication and marketing experience and has worked in a variety of health care settings—community hospital, tertiary care medical center, the for-profit behavioral health sector and system-level, multi-business unit enterprise. Since 1989, she has been responsible for Corporate Communication for Adventist Health,progressing through a series of positions to the role she holds today.

A native Midwesterner, Waterman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Communication from Andrews University in Michigan and later earned a Masters of Business Administration with an emphasis in marketing from California State University/San Bernardino.

A well-kept secret is that after earning her MBA, Waterman lived in Europe for three years. While making Germany her home base, she taught a variety of college courses and professional development seminars in a business management program at many military installations on the continent and North Africa. In addition, she has operated a freelance business, offering a spectrum of services for a diverse clientele both stateside and abroad.

Waterman has been active in several professional organizations, including IABC (from which she won a Gold Quill) and is a past president of the Society of Adventist Communicators.



Breakout Session #2 - 4:00-5:30 p.m. (October 15)



Friday, October 15, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Social media tactics to help your ministry
Presenter: Robert L. Henley Jr.
Description: TBD
 

Robert L. Henley Jr. is director of communication, technology and interactive ministries for the Southeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. An ordained church elder, Robert received a B.S. degree from Oakwood University and an M.A. degree from Andrews University. He has also completed graduate work at La Sierra and the University of Central Florida in the areas of Instructional Technology. In addition to his academic pursuits, he has a number of professional technology certifications which include: Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), Security+, A+ and Network+.

In 2005 Robert received the first ever North American Division Technology Ministries award for his work in developing technology ministries. In 2007 Robert was selected as a finalist in the Society of Adventist Communicators Award of Excellence for his development of Sketches Interactive, a multi-faceted conference news delivery vehicle.

It is Robert’s desire to see the church embrace current and emerging technologies, mass communication techniques, and interaction and instructional design theories that will enable the church to effectively communicate the gospel in the 21st Century.



Friday, October 15, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Finding Your Voice:
How to make your writing sound like you
Presenter: Jerry D. Thomas
Description: What makes your writing unique? Does any of your personality come through? Does “professional” writing mean “generic” writing? Many of us have learned how to write correctly, but we haven’t learned now to free our “inner voice.” This seminar is about making your writing sound like you.
Jerry D. Thomas is vice-president for product development at Pacific Press. He is the author of more than 30 books including Blessings, Messiah, and Detective Zack and has written hundreds of stories and articles for church magazines. He has worked as a pastor and teacher and has been an editor of books and magazines for over 20 years.



Friday, October 15, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Marketing / Advertising – Giving Life to a Brand
Presenter: Tony Romeo, creative director, REACH-NYC
Description: Bringing solutions and thinking to a brand is beyond important it is vital, especially in a world where some of the “salespeople” keep killing it by saying the wrong things over and over again. Combining 30 years of knowledge in the creative end of the advertising business and 30 years as a pastor in various church groups, the presentation will focus on what great advertising looks like and how to improve the communication vehicles that can make or break a brand. Relevant for communicators in church, hospital, and school settings and anyone interested in making the best possible communication efforts for their group. It will also be a no holds barred presentation on what is killing the Seventh-day Adventist “brand” overall. You will get mad in this presentation. You will laugh. You may just cry. You will have fun.
 

Pastor Tony Romeo is a native New Yorker born in Manhattan and acquainted with all the twists and turns that make it hard for an individual to find a meaningful relationship with God. Tony is a first generation Italian-American. He loves life, people from all backgrounds, and finds sharing Christ's love a meaningful way to enjoy life.

He has pastored many churches in NYC including Greenwich Village, Yonkers and most recently, Church of the Advent Hope in New York City.

"My favorite stories in the Bible are based on the consistent love Jesus always showed to individuals rejected by society and those in position of religious power."

Tony is married to Marlene, a Christian Educator, and they both have two adult children.

His background includes teaching and a long career in the field of advertising working in conceptual television production and print media.



Friday, October 15, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Building an Effective Media Ministries Team for Your Organization
Presenter: Gary Saunders
Description: With this ever-changing climate and the new forms of technology available for communicating to your audience, it is important to have an effective media ministries team. In this seminar, we will explore what it takes to build an effective media ministry team. We will learn the basics of staffing a department, how the departments cooperate under a single banner, and what kind of equipment is needed for such areas as live streaming and television production.

Gary Saunders is the founder and CEO of Praizevision.com, an online portal that provides a 24-hour video streaming of live and archived church services, concerts, events, as well as 24-hour radio stations. In addition, Gary is also responsible for the development of video production departments for many Adventist churches across the North American Division.

Prior to Praizevision, Gary was a network engineer for Dexter Systems contracted to work for Verizon. With more than 10 years of experience as a network engineer, Gary's responsibilities included supporting more than 200 machines across four states, maintaining the infrastructure for the company's website presence. Simultaneously, Gary founded GS Web Media, the network that provides live streaming for Praizevision.com.

A native of Jamaica, West Indies, and raised in New York City, Gary attended New York Institute of Technology. As an esteemed media technology professional, Gary led Mount Vernon Seventh-day Adventist Church's media communications department-taking them to new heights. Recognized for his commitment to communication within the Adventist community, Gary was featured in the February 25, 2010, edition of the Adventist Review, a worldwide publication for the Seventh-day Adventist community.

Truly a "Jack of all Trades," in his spare time, Gary has served as a gospel choir director, enjoys playing basketball and spending time with family and friends. Gary and his wife, Keisha (Anderson) reside in New York City. He credits God for all of his many blessings.


 * CEU credits can be applied to obtaining the Seventh-day Adventist Church's Communication Certification. Click here for more information.