CHICAGO - September 15, 2009

Our speakers are expert guides who will equip you for your church construction expedition. They are carefully selected and then evaluated after each session. The result is an outstanding lineup of experts who effectively deliver the critical information you need -- without giving an infomercial for their companies.

	Main Session Speakers
	Will Mancini emerged from the trenches of local church leadership to found Auxano, a first-of-kind consulting ministry that focuses on vision clarity. As a “clarity evangelist,” Will has served as vision architect for hundreds of churches across the country. Will’s style blends the best of three worlds: the process thinking from the discipline of engineering, the communications savvy as an ad agency executive, and the practical theology as a pastoral leader. His education includes a ThM in Pastoral Leadership from Dallas Theological Seminary and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Penn State.  He is the author of Church Unique: How Missional Leaders Cast Vision, Capture Culture and Create Movement, a Leadership Network Publication, and of Building Leaders.
	Kevin G. Ford is the Chief Visionary Officer of TAG, a management consulting firm headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia. Kevin’s expertise extends from strategic planning and organizational development to competency-based management and leadership development. He has developed strategic plans for hundreds of organizations nationwide and has taught leadership development in numerous settings. He is also creator of the Transforming Church Index, a powerful assessment tool. Kevin’s previous years of experience in ministry combined with this extensive background in management consulting brings a powerful focus to his ongoing work to help churches become more effective in ministry.
	Allen Walworth is a stewardship consultant with Generis. Over the past decade, Allen has partnered with 90 churches, helping them raise over $260 million toward their ministry visions. Five of those campaigns raised over $10 million each, and one congregation raised over fifteen times its annual budget in a single capital campaign. Allen's passion for stewardship is fueled by a pastor's heart and a studied knowledge of scripture. Before becoming a stewardship consultant, Allen was a senior pastor for 17 years, leading congregations ranging from a small town church of 1,000 members, to a large metropolitan congregation of over 9,000 members. He is much in demand as a speaker at churches and other ministry venues across the country. Allen earned a Ph.D. in New Testament studies, and has taught at the college and seminary levels.
	Mel McGowan is one of the youngest Principals in a national Architecture / Urban Design firm. He spent a decade with the Walt Disney Company, where he transitioned from a background in film / production design towards community design (following “Walt’s footsteps” and passion trajectory from toons to EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow). Post-Disney, he co-founded Plain Joe Studios, a multi-disciplinary design studio providing strategic branding, multimedia, and environmental design. He founded Visioneering Studios in 2002. He speaks extensively on sustainable Christ-centered community and is the author of Design Intervention: Revolutionizing Sacred Space.
	Rick Thiemke is the Lead Pastor of New Life Church in Yorkville, IL and oversees the vision and direction of the church. Before coming to New Life Church, Rick was a youth pastor for nine years and an associate pastor for four years. He has worked in ministry in large church settings and is thrilled when people cross the line of faith and follow Christ. Rick came to New Life Church in August 2000 when there were just 18 members and 50 people in attendance. The church was contemplating closing. Rick’s vision is for New Life Church to have a strong presence in the community. Today, New Life Church is vibrant and experiencing dramatic growth with the majority of the congregation being new Christ followers and over 850 attending the three Sunday morning services. The church has focused heavily on children, youth, worship, small groups, and missions both locally and abroad. New Life Church has recently purchased property and is planning to relocate to a newly constructed facility.
	Evan McBroom is founder of Fishhook, a marketing communications and creative services company. He is dedicated to serving as a communications partner and resource with churches and Christ-centered organizations. He combines the passion of his faith journey with the expertise he gained during his 14-year career with one of central Indiana’s largest corporate communications and marketing companies. Through Fishhook, he now provides churches with senior-level communications consulting services. Evan is a guest lecturer, presenter, emcee and trainer for numerous organizations. He and his wife are active in adult and children’s worship arts at The Church at the Crossing in Indianapolis.
	Ed Bahler, CEO of Aspen Group – the Midwest’s premier church design and construction company, holds an engineering degree from Purdue University. His passion is to significantly impact individuals and communities by assisting churches in accomplishing their vision and mission. As CEO, Ed works closely with the Aspen Group team to develop and deliver planning, leadership, finance, architectural and construction expertise – expertise that ensures a powerful faith building experience for the church as well. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Indiana Family Institute.
	Bill Couchenour has a fervent desire to help ministries improve their effectiveness at connecting their communities with Christ. He has served as President of Cogun, a company committed exclusively to helping churches develop the right ministry space, since 1994. From 1982 to 1994 he launched the Florida District of Cogun and served as District Manager. Bill has a business degree from Youngstown State University, an MBA from The University of Tampa. He has served in various capacities for his local church and other organizations including Youth for Christ, Heartland Christian School and BeTheChangeProject. Bill is the author of the book, Churches... Before You Build. Bill is the author of the book, Churches... Before You Build.
	Breakout Session Speakers
	Steven P. Fridsma, AIA LEEDAP is an architect and serves as the Worship environments Leader at Progressive AE, an award-winning, full-service, green architecture and engineering firm in Grand Rapids, MI. He is passionate about examining cultural, technological, and spiritual forces as they relate to new models for ministry facilities for each church client’s unique ministry context. Steve has been involved in leadership at two church plants and has served four churches designing and leading worship. Steve is also a guest instructor in architectural design and theory at Calvin College. In 2007, Steve received the AIA Grand Valley chapter's “Young Architect Award".
	Mark Thomas  served as a church business administrator for almost a decade before becoming a Vice President with Bank of the West, Church Loan Division. Bank of the West has provided specialized financing services to the church community for over two decades. Mark also worked as a financing consultant with a denominational lending organization. His love for the Kingdom, understanding of the fiduciary responsibilities of church leadership teams, and passion for stewardship guide him in his practical approach to church financing.
	Jim Couchenour began his career serving churches 20 years ago as a Project Consultant with Cogun. He currently serves as Director of Marketing and Ministry Services, and has developed tools for growing churches to bridge the gap between the church and unchurched. Jim has spoken on these subjects at many conferences, and has written a number of articles on church ministry in postmodern culture that have appeared in national Christian magazines. He graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene University and received his MBA from Youngstown State University.
	Jim Smith is Regional Vice President for Aspen Group and assists and supervises a staff of architects, designers, project managers and construction personnel. He is a Registered Professional Engineer (Indiana) and a Licensed Structural Engineer (Illinois) for with over 20 years experience. He holds both a Bachelor and Master degree in Civil Engineering from Purdue University. Before joining Aspen Group, Jim gained tremendous experience by working for Eli Lilly and Company and Arsee Engineers, PC.
	Greg Snider, Aspen Group Project Developer, came to his current position with 12 years of field construction experience, six of which were spent building churches. Greg serves as a deacon and worship team leader at his church. He also served as building committee chairperson for his church, an experience that gives him insider knowledge of how to serve churches during planning and construction. In his current role as Project Developer, Greg works with dozens of churches each year, helping them translate their visions into effective designs and then finished, ministry-enhancing facilities.
	Brad Eisenmann is Vice President/General Manager of Aspen Group. He has an engineering degree from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Northern Illinois University. Since joining Aspen Group in 1994, he has served as Design/Build Manager, Director of Business Development and Vice President of Project Development before being promoted to his current role. Brad is very active in his own church. He is a lay minister and has served in several leadership roles. His knowledge of the church community and the planning, design and construction process is extensive.

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