Speakers

Learning Session Presenters

Patrick Larkin, CSR (Consulting, Solutions, Results)

Manuel Ochoa, Principal and Founder of the Ochoa Urban Collaborative

You Don't Have Time Not to Plan: Strategic Decision-Making in Uncertain Times

Many nonprofit leaders feel trapped in survival mode—responding to funding cuts, policy shifts, staffing challenges, and growing demand with little time or space to think ahead. This session reframes strategic planning not as a luxury for stable times, but as a critical resilience tool during moments of disruption.

Drawing on real-world experience from nonprofit and government partners across the country, this interactive session will help leaders understand when, why, and how to plan in uncertain conditions—what level of planning makes sense right now, what outcomes to consider, and how strategic clarity can open new paths forward, including collaboration or restructuring when appropriate.

Patrick Larkin is dedicated to excellence in leadership and operations within the nonprofit community. Prior to joining the CSR team and founding PSL Consultants, Patrick worked in nonprofit organizations, in particular with cultural organizations. In his more than 25 years crisscrossing the country in leadership roles at varied institutions, he has learned the myriad ways diverse institutions can serve the needs of the public in balance with their unique missions. Known as a creator and implementer of solutions, he has delighted in the opportunity to learn about the challenges each institution faces and work collaboratively with the board, staff, volunteers, and community to develop and implement strategic and operational plans to further realize its potential. In this time, he developed expertise in fundraising, board development, program creation, and organizational change. He has served on the board of directors for the American Public Gardens Association and is a Peer Reviewer for the Accreditation Program for the American Alliance of Museums, and is a Certified BoardSource Consultant and a Certified Working Genius Consultant.

Manuel Ochoa is a consultant with CSR and Principal and Founder of the Ochoa Urban Collaborative, a planning, community and economic development firm with an equity lens that provides strategy, policy, and implementation services to help people, neighborhoods, and communities revitalize and thrive. Manuel has worked around the country including Seattle, Miami, and Puerto Rico. He has also served in leadership roles in local and national non-profits and most recently in projects with the Purple Line Corridor Coalition, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. With over 30 years of experience, Manuel brings a unique mix of experience in federal and local government as well as national non-profits. Previously, Manuel served in senior leadership positions at National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB), Enterprise Community Partners, and as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Grant Programs at the US Department of Housing and Community Development. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, is fluent in Spanish, and lives in a walkable community with his family in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Justin Pollock, OrgForward

Staying True Under Pressure: Mission-Aligned Strategy & Decision-Making

What does it take to ensure strategy and decision-making are aligned with your values and mission? Getting everyone on the same page when it comes to strategy and mission outcomes can be a challenge, especially in times of crisis and external uncertainty. This session introduces The Integrity Profile as a tool for developing a shared understanding of an organization's critical decision and strategy criteria AND then capturing those ideas in a clear and accessible resources for everyone involved with the organization to use in developing strategy and assessing organizational effectiveness.

Justin Pollock, founder of Orgforward, a consultancy that partners with community benefit agents and capacity builders to develop leadership and strategies that create communities where equity, dignity, engagement, and a healthy environment exist for everyone.

Justin Volman, Volman HR Strategy LLC

Tools to Attract, Hire, and Retain Your Talent in 2026: Adapting to 2025's Changes and an Evolving Multi-Generational Workforce

Learn how to take care of your organization’s most valuable resource: its people, through attracting, hiring, and retaining talent more efficiently and effectively. In this engaging session with Justin Volman, CEO of Volman HR Strategy LLC, you’ll learn innovative and cutting-edge HR strategies that improve candidate and employee experiences, and increase retention and revenue.

Justin Volman is a 3rd Generation Entrepreneur, 2x Startup Founder, and 4x Award-Winning HR Strategy Expert and Company Builder with over 1000 people hired across 7 countries in less than 10 years. With years of diverse HR experience across small to large-sized start-ups, corporate, and non-profit organizations. Justin has expertise in HR Strategy, talent acquisition, talent management, and compliance, with a passion for enhancing employee engagement and retention. Justin has a proven track record in developing innovative and cutting-edge HR strategies that improve candidate and employee experiences, which increase retention and revenue.

Wendie Veloz, Social Impact Strategist

Strengthening Your Fundraising Machine: Diversifying Revenue & Maintaining What Matters

Fundraising resilience doesn’t come from chasing every opportunity. It comes from building a strong, well-maintained and aligned system that you can adapt over time. In this workshop, nonprofit leaders will explore fundraising as a machine made up of interconnected parts that require ongoing care, investment, and adjustment. Participants will focus on diversifying funding streams, identifying which parts of their fundraising machine are working well (and which are not), and learning how organizations successfully strengthen weak areas..

Wendie Veloz is a social impact strategist, coach, and consultant with over a decade of experience in the field. She has a passion for helping organizations and individuals make a positive impact in their communities and the world. Wendie brings a unique perspective to her work with a background in government funding, nonprofit management, and social entrepreneurship. Wendie’s expertise helps small business and nonprofit clients develop and implement sustainable strategies for social change.

Wendie also uses her skills as a reiki and sound healer to help social entrepreneurs break mindset barriers and change the world. Wendie is the creator and co-host of the Social Impact Level Up podcast building synergy and impact between nonprofits, businesses, and communities.

Wendie holds a Master's Degree in Social Work Policy from Columbia University and a Bachelor's of Psychology from the University of California, Irvine.

Michael Tinati, Kinetics MarCom

Marketing & Communication for Non-Profits in 2026: Becoming Turnaround Specialists

This is a practical, interactive workshop that helps nonprofit leaders move from a reactive crisis mindset to a proactive, strategic approach to change. Participants will examine their mission, reassess their relevance in a shifting nonprofit landscape, and learn how to rebuild marketing and communication plans with a future-focused perspective. Through guided discussion and hands-on exercises, attendees will leave with clear insights, a draft one-page marketing plan, and actionable next steps to strengthen sustainability and impact in 2026 and beyond.

Michael Tinati, a seasoned marketing professional with over 35 years of experience, has driven successful product and service launches and led impactful rebranding initiatives. Recognized as acatalyst for change, he has collaborated with renowned organizations like Procter & Gamble, Citibank, GE, and Sprint. Under his leadership at Kinetics, Michael has crafted strategic marketing plans and guided the rebranding of numerous organizations, including educational institutions, nonprofits, and government programs. After founding Kinetics, he has spent the past 22 years collaborating with major organizations across the region, such as the USDA, HHS, Maryland Department of Health, Montgomery County Office of Communication, Baltimore County Department of Social Services, and organizations like MedChi, The Maryland Medical Society, The Primary Care Coalition, My Family Place, World Wide Fund for Nature, the United Way and the Southern Maryland Association of Realtors®.

Jim Kucher, Associate Professor at the University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies

Unlocking Financial Sustainability for Nonprofits

The concept of earned value is reshaping the nonprofit landscape. By emphasizing measurable outcomes, organizations can demonstrate their impact in tangible ways that attract financial support. This workshop provides participants with strategies to unlock and leverage the value of their efforts, ensuring a balance between social mission and financial viability.

J. Howard "Jim" Kucher, DPA, MBA is an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies, where he directs the Graduate Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship . An award-winning teacher and internationally recognized thought leader, he is the author of over a dozen books and articles on Social Entrepreneurship and has assisted over 100 area nonprofits and social enterprises in developing new models for meeting the needs of their constituents while increasing the sustainability of their organizations. Kucher earned a Doctorate in Public Administration with a concentration in Social Entrepreneurship, as well as an MBA with a Marketing & Entrepreneurship specialization from The University of Baltimore. He holds a B.A. from Kean University and has also earned certification as a project management professional and a new product development professional. He has been recognized as a Baltimore Renaissance Seed Scholar, an Unsung Hero of Small Business, and a Fulbright Specialist Scholar in Social Entrepreneurship. His current research explores the field of Economic Theology and its practical application in faith based social enterprise.

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