At Innovate:NOW! – Leadership Pipeline on August 17th, experts and church leaders will share key elements of successful leadership development, as well as challenging issues that they are currently navigating. Through our innovation process, we will help you evaluate your current model, explore new ideas, collaborate with other churches and discover the best next steps for your church. Meet the thought leaders who will join us for this exciting and productive one-day gathering.

Jon Ferguson Designing a Pipeline to Engage, Invite and Equip Leaders Author & Pastor - Community Christian Church, Chicago

Jon is the co-founding pastor of Community Christian Church in Chicagoland where he provides leadership in new ventures. Community has grown from a handful of people to a church with hundreds of leaders and thousands of people celebrating at locations throughout Chicagoland. He also leads the team of staff champions for adult, student, children’s, creative arts, and restore ministries across all Community locations.  Jon is also one of Community’s Lead Teaching Pastors.  He has co-authored  Finding Your Way Back to God, The Big Idea: Aligning the Ministries of Your Church Through Creative Collaboration and Exponential: How You and Your Friends Can Start a Missional Church Movement.  Jon holds a BA in Christian Education from Lincoln Christian University and an MA in Spiritual Formation at Wheaton College Graduate School where he is an adjunct professor. He also serves on the Exponential Conference and Thrivent Financials boards.  He resides in the Lincoln Park Community of Chicago with his wife, Lisa, and their two children, Graham and Chloe. 

Julie Pierce The Valley Creek Leadership Development Model

Director of Leadership Development - Valley Creek Church, Denton

As Director of Leadership Development, Julie has helped guide the creation of a 4 week leadership class, a leadership conference and their one year Leadership Academy with a second year program currently in development. For almost a decade, She served pastors and teams at Irving Bible Church. Much of that time she served as the Communications Pastor leading the team responsible for shaping the message and culture of IBC. For eight years, she led the ministry to women at IBC helping build on the foundation of leadership, excellence and empowerment for women there and beyond.  Julie perviously led communications and marketing efforts for Insight for Living, Prestonwood Baptist Church and Nokia Mobile Phones. 

Julie currently serves as an advisory board member and contributing writer for both Gifted for Leadership and Today’s Christian Woman Magazine. 

Brent Dolfo Elements of  a successful Leadership Development Culture

Director of HUB:Leadership Development - Leadership Network

Brent Dolfo has more than 30 years of experience in senior ministry leadership and has consulted worldwide with movements such as Alpha as well as with churches in the US, Canada and Europe.  Brent served with Campus Crusade for Christ of Canada as the Chief Operating Officer and overseeing its National Ministries.

Brent gives oversight to HUB: Leadership Development where he leads a cohort of churches on a one year journey of learning and collaborating together to build their leadership development models.  He also serves as a facilitator to various Leadership Network gatherings in the US.

Brent is married to Diana and they have three high children—Braedon, Keynan and Tanika. In his spare time, Brent is the President of the Langley Mustangs Track and Field Club, in Langley British Columbia.

Kadi Cole Creating a Multi-Generational Development Strategy Director of HUB:Multisite - Leadership Network Kadi has been involved in local church ministry for almost 30 years including 15 years in full-time ministry at Christ Fellowship Church (South Florida) in a variety of roles including the Creator/Director of their School of Leadership and the first Executive Director of Multis...