Convention Registration Now Open

 9:00 am–1:00 pm                  RCC Full Board Meeting

1:00 pm                                  Check in

1:30 pm                                  Welcome and Opening

2:00 pm                                  Keynote

3:00 pm                                  Break

3:15 pm                                  Media Panel

4:45 pm                                  Closing of Day 1

5:00 pm                                  Break

6:00 pm                                  DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards Banquet

8:00 am                               Business Meeting / Light Breakfast

9:15 am                                  Welcome, Day 2 Opening

9:30 am                                  Interfaith Panel

10:45 am                                Break

11:00 am                                Media Training Workshop

12:15 pm                                Break

12:30 pm                                Lunch and Artificial Intelligence Panel

2:00 pm                                  Break

2:15 pm                                  Plenary Speaker

2:45 pm                                    Service Project

4:15 pm                                   Instructions for Wilbur Awards Banquet

4:30 pm                                  Break                              

6:30 pm                                  Wilbur Awards Pre-Dinner Reception

7:00 pm                                  Wilbur Awards Banquet

9:00 am                                  Light Breakfast (fruit, bagels, etc.)

9:30 am                                  Welcome, Day 3 Opening

9:45 am                                  Faith in the Paris Olympics Panel

11:00 am                                Faith-based Podcasting Workshop

12:15 pm                                Break

12:30 pm                                Lunch / Faith and Entertainment Panel

2:00 pm                                  Break

2:15 pm                                  Telling Powerful Stories of Faith

3:15 pm                                  Closing Remarks

3:00 pm                                  Adjournment

Mayor Erin Mendenhall – Welcome Opening, 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 24
Mayor of Salt Lake City

Erin J. Mendenhall is the 36th mayor of Salt Lake City.

Erin came to Salt Lake with her family when she was 7 years old, and after losing her father to cancer at age 13, Erin graduated from Alta High School and enrolled at the University of Utah. It was there that her interest in the intersection of science and public policy took shape, leading to a career focused on improving Utah’s air quality and protecting our environment.

Just weeks after the birth of her first son, Erin learned the air quality in Salt Lake City had become so bad that it could take two years off his life. She decided to stay and fight rather than walk away, becoming an activist and joining Utah Moms for Clean Air in 2008. Determined to bring scientific understanding to air-quality discussions in

the state legislature, our schools, and our community, Erin co-founded a new non-profit organization, Breathe Utah, in 2010, and was appointed to Utah’s Air Quality Board in 2014. She has since twice been elected as its chair.

Wanting to advance air-quality policy inside the city government and serve Salt Lake City on a wider range of issues, Erin was elected to represent District 5 on the City Council in 2013. During her six years on the Council, including one year as its chair, Erin worked for equitable progress across the city, driving road repairs and infrastructure maintenance, expanding access to transit and affordable housing, and making the city more equitable for women and girls. She is the first mayor in Salt Lake City history to have been publicly elected from the city council.

As mayor, Erin is working hard to make Salt Lake City more environmentally and economically resilient, and to take advantage of the region’s historic period of economic opportunity. She is determined to ensure every Salt Laker — no matter their neighborhood, economic or housing status, faith, race, or sexual or gender identity — can access all the city has to offer. Erin’s love for the extraordinary people of Salt Lake City drives an unrelenting commitment to bringing people from different walks of life together in pursuit of results for the entire city.

Erin was elected the 36th mayor of Salt Lake City on November 5, 2019 and took the oath of office on the steps of City Hall on January 6, 2020.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in gender studies and a master’s degree in science and technology, both from the University of Utah. Erin and her husband, Kyle LaMalfa, a data scientist at a local financial technology company, are the proud parents of three children, Cash, Everett, and Milå.

Matthew Holland – Welcome Opening, 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 24
Elder, LDS Church

Matthew Scott Holland has been a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since April 2020.

In April 2020, Holland was sustained as an LDS Church general authority. He had been assigned tot he church’s North Carolina Raleigh Mission, serving as a mission president for the LDS Church since June 2018.

He previously served as the 6th president of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah and its first president after UVU was granted university status. Holland was selected as UVU’s sixth president by the Utah State Board of Regents in the spring of 2009 and officially began his tenure on June 1 of that year. Following the transition from a state college to a university in the summer of 2008, Holland became the first president of the university. Prior to joining UVU, Holland was an associate professor in the political science department at Brighamd Young University in Provo. Holland was valedictorian of BYU’s political science department when he completed undergraduate work there in 1991. He studied early American political thought at Duke University where he earned a docortate degree in political science in 2000. Holland also received an academic fellowship to study at Princeton University as a James Madison Fellow, and at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem  as a Raoul Wallenberg Scholar.

Holland was a special assistant to former Utah Governor Mike Leavitt, and he was chief of staff for the top executive of the international consulting firm Monitor Group. As a faculty member at BYU, his emphasis on applied learning concepts led to his selection as the institution’s “Civically Engaged Scholar of the Year” by Utah Campus Compact. Previous to service at UVU, Holland was on the board of the National Organization for Marriage.

He is a member of the American Political Science Association and the American Historical Association. He also serves on several boards, including the Deseret News Editorial Advisory Board, Utah Technology Council, and the Salt Lake Chamber.

Tami Pyfer – “The Dignity Index,” Thursday, April 24 at 2:15 p.m.
The Dignity Index

Chief External Relations Officer and Co-Creator of the Dignity Index
Tami Pyfer is the Chief External Affairs Officer for UNITE and co-creator of the Dignity Index. Tami leads the Dignity Index government and corporate partnerships. Before joining UNITE Tami served as Education Policy Advisor to former Utah Governor Gary Herbert, where she was involved in state level policy development, coalition building, and stakeholder engagement. She held local and state elected offices for 12 years including 4 years on the Utah State Board of Education. Tami’s professional training is in Special Education and before her appointment to serve on the Governor’s executive team she taught at Utah State University in the Special Education teacher preparation program. Tami and her husband Aaron are the parents of 5 children, grandparents of 16. They live in Salt Lake City. 

The Dignity Index is designed to prevent violence, ease divisions, and solve problems. The Dignity Index scores distinct phrases along an eight-point scale from contempt to dignity. Lower scores (1-4) reflect divisive language while higher scores (5-8) reflect language grounded in dignity. In its pilot season, a trained group of students supported by the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and the Hinckley Institute of Politics scored selections from candidate speeches, debates, fundraising outreach, social media posts, and campaign ads in Utah’s federal congressional races. By focusing on the speech and not the speaker, the Dignity Index is designed to draw our attention away from the biases of partisan politics and toward the power we each have to heal our country and each other.

Rev. Dr. Marian Edmonds-Allen – moderator, Interfaith Panel, Friday, April 25 at 9:30 a.m.
Executive Director of Parity

Rev. Dr. Marian Edmonds-Allen is the executive director of Parity, an NYC-based international nonprofit that works at the intersection of faith and LGBT concerns. She is also a Research and Teaching Associate of the Neurospirituality Lab at Harvard Medical School, Director of Blessed by Difference and Holy Dialogues, co-chair of the International LGBT-FoRB Roundtable and member of The Coalition for Faith & Media. 

Her work includes the human-centered and ethical uses of AI and technology, religious liberty, covenantal pluralism, and values-based collaborative problem solving. She is the author of Covenantal Pluralism, Religious Freedom and Mission: Evidence for Healing the LGBT and Faith Divide.  Marian attended Western Theological Seminary and Eden Theological Seminary and has served in many pastoral capacities, including church planting, parish ministry, and chaplaincy.  Previous positions include Executive Director of OUTreach Resource Centers, the National Program Director of the Family Acceptance Project, Executive Director of the Utah Pride Center, and Justice Ministry Supervisor at Auburn Seminary.

Marian has worked with youth and families in various denominations and settings throughout the country for more than 20 years, focusing on strengths-based interventions and supports to affirm beliefs and faith practices for LGBT persons. In 2013, Marian was named Person of the Year by Q Salt Lake for her visionary leadership, and in 2015 was named a Petra Fellow for her work with LGBT homeless youth.

Iman Yasir Butt; Father John Evans; and Rabbi Sam Spector – Interfaith Panel, Friday, April 25 at 9:30 a.m.

Imam Yasir; the Masjid Al-Noor Mosque and The Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake
Imam Yasir is an American Islamic scholar. From a young age he has been involved in Islamic knowledge and preaching, interfaith, and more. He is also a pharmaceutical director by profession, believing in the importance of Islamic practice and spirituality while also excelling in the dunya. He has studied with scholars from around the world: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq, USA, UK, Egypt, and more.

Imam Yasir has multiple ijazat (degrees) in alimiyyah (Islamic scholarship) and in numerous books of Ahaadith through the chains of some of the most eminent scholars worldwide. He is also currently in spiritual training with a Shaykh and continues to learn. The Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering spiritual growth, education, and community service. We work closely with organizations dedicated to social justice and civil liberties, and are well represented in multiple interfaith organizations, NAACP, ACLU, and the Governor’s Council on ethnic and minority affairs. We also maintain close professional ties with various law enforcement agencies.

Rabbi Samuel L. Spector; Congregation Kol Ami
Rabbi Samuel L. Spector has been the rabbi of Congregation Kol Ami since 2018. He was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. He attended the University of California, San Diego, where he was an active brother of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity. Rabbi Spector graduated with Cum Laude honors with a B.A. in Judaic Studies and was elected Phi Beta Kappa. He received his Masters in Hebrew Letters and Rabbinic Ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles.

While in rabbinical school, Rabbi Spector served as the student rabbi of Congregation Etz Chaim in Merced, California and as a member of the Chaplain Candidate Program for the United States Navy. Prior to coming to Congregation Kol Ami, Rabbi Spector served as the Associate Rabbi of Temple Judea in Tarzana, California. He is currently a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and serves on the advisory board for the Salt Lake Chamber and the Christian Center of Park City.

He is an avid fan of baseball, Jewish history, and traveling, having been to over 60 countries. He is conversational in Hebrew and Spanish. In his free time, you can find Rabbi Spector playing with Nezek, his Brittany Spaniel, and Walter, his chocolate Lab. Rabbi Spector is married to Jill, an Idaho-native, who works in hospitality; they are proud parents of their daughters, Miriam, Esti, and Noa, and host parents of Yasamin, a high school student from Afghanistan.

Very Reverend John S. Evans; Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia 

The Vicar General is appointed to participate in the executive (administrative) governance of the diocese with executive jurisdiction as a deputy of the diocesan bishop. In the Diocese of Salt Lake City, the Vicar General also serves as Vicar for Clergy and Moderator of the Curia.

The Vicar General is appointed to participate in the executive (administrative) governance of the diocese with executive jurisdiction as a deputy of the diocesan bishop. In the Diocese of Salt Lake City, the Vicar General also serves as Vicar for Clergy and Moderator of the Curia.

Aaron Sherinian – Interfaith panel 9:30 a.m. and “Faith and Media Trends” workshop, 11 a.m., both Friday, April 25
Managing Director of the Church Communication Department for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

For two years, Aaron managed the Global Reach portfolio for the Deseret Management Corporation, as part of the organization’s senior executive team. Reporting to the CEO, Aaron helped this diverse portfolio of media companies, communications firms and financial organizations to build and grow relationships and reach for its brands. His assignment included groundbreaking work on bridging gaps of trust between the faith and media sectors.

He previously managed global communications transformation as Vice President at Philip Morris International. This unique role placed him at the intersection of communications transformation for one of the largest corporations in the world as it makes the historic pivot to a smoke-free future. A self-proclaimed “never smoker,” his perspective helped the company drive positive change for the organization.

From 2017 until 2018,. Aaron served as global communications director for the Aga Khan Development Network. During this time he led the organization’s global communications functions into new areas of expertise and reach. This period included the global Jubilee celebrations of His Highness the Aga Khan. From 2011-2017, he served as Chief Communications and Marketing Officer for the United Nations Foundation. He helped build some of the most talked about milestones in global engagement and cause marketing including the Social Good Summit, #GivingTuesday, and Global Bureau Coalition. This work won three consecutive honors by PRNews as “Public Affairs Team of the Year.” Aaron was named by PRWeek as 2016’s “Global Communications Professional of the Year.”

AI Panel – Luncheon and panel presentation,  Friday, April 25 at 12:30 p.m.
Bennett B. Borden, Clarion AI Partners; Dr. Nancy Fulda, BYU’s DRAGN Lab; Dr. Zachary Boyd, Utah Office of AI Policy; and William Jones, Future of Life Institute

Bennett B. Borden

 Bennett Borden is a globally recognized expert on AI governance, algorithmic bias, and the intersection of technology, law, and ethics. As the Founder and CEO of Clarion AI Partners, he has advised major organizations on the responsible development and deployment of AI. With a background in law, data science, and AI ethics, Bennett brings a unique perspective on how emerging technologies can shape not only industries but also fundamental aspects of human experience, including faith and morality. His work has influenced AI policy and regulation worldwide, and his commitment to AI for Good and AI for All helps ensure that these technologies are accessible, ethical, and aligned with societal values.

Dr. Nancy Fulda

Nancy Fulda is the director of BYU’s DRAGN Lab, a research group that studies machine learning, knowledge representation, and societal impacts of generative AI. Working alongside student researchers, she seeks to make AI systems more resilient and emotionally responsive, with downstream applications including AI-augmented education and low-power machine learning. She was a team lead in Amazon’s inaugural $250,000 Alex Prize Competition, a member of the 2025 Emerging Leaders in Data Summit, and a two-time winner of the IEEE-CIG Text-based Adventure Game Competition. In 2024 she was named one of Utah’s top 100 AI professionals.

Dr. Fulda is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the mother of six children, and an irrepressible optimist. In addition to her academic work, she adores science fiction and has been nominated for both the Hugo and Nebula Awards. Perhaps unsurprisingly, some of her earliest publications explore questions surrounding computation, AI, and agency.

Dr. Zach Boyd

Dr. Boyd is the Director of the Office of Artificial Intelligence for the State of Utah, where he leads out on developing AI regulatory policy and clearing paths for novel business applications of AI.  He is on long-term leave from his role as a professor at BYU where he teaches applied and computational mathematics. Dr. Boyd’s research lab focuses on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and mathematical modeling in social science applications, such as psychology, economics, and social networks. Before working at BYU, Dr. Boyd was a postdoctoral research associate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an NDSEG Fellow at UCLA, a research associate at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and a Presidential Scholar at BYU.

 William Jones

 William Jones is an Associate of the Futures Program at the Future of Life Institute (FLI), an organisation founded in 2014 with the mission of steering artificial intelligence towards benefits and away from risks. Working alongside FLI’s policy and communications teams, FLI’s Futures Program aims to guide humanity towards the positive futures made possible by transformative technologies. Jones leads FLI’s engagement with religious leaders, amplifying religious perspectives on AI issues and opportunities, and supporting religious initiatives confronting the challenges of AI from the richness of their faith traditions and communities. Jones attained a 1st Class Honours in English from the University of Cambridge.

Sharon Eubank plenary speaker – Friday, April 25, 2:15 pm
Plenary speaker and tour of the Bishop’s Central Storehouse

Sharon is the president and CEO of Latter-day Saint Charities, the humanitarian organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since 1998 she has been employed by the Church’s Welfare Department, helping establish Church employment offices in Africa and Europe before directing the Latter-day Saint Charities wheelchair initiative. In 2008, she was also asked to oversee humanitarian work in the Middle East as the regional director of Latter-day Saint Charities. In 2011 she was named the director of Latter-day Saint Charities worldwide.  She believes serving others is “the very DNA of being a member of Christ’s Church” and the heart and soul of Relief Society.

Faith and the Olympics plenary panel – Saturday, April 26, 9:45 a.m.

Kenneth Rooks, Conner Mantz, Clayton Young, Whittni Morgan and James Corrigan

Kenneth Rooks is an American track and field athlete who specializes in the 3000 meter steeplechase. Originally from College Place, Washington, Rooks competed in college for the Brigham Young University  Cougars, where he was the national champion in the steeplechase at the 2023 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Rooks signed a professional contract with Nike in 2024. He won a silver medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the 3000 meter steeplechase.

Conner Mantz is an American long-distance runner, who specializes in the marathon. He ran collegiately for Brigham Young University and won the 2020 and 2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship. Mantz was the winner of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. At the 2025 Houston Half Marathon, Mantz set a new American record time of 59:17, besting the previous record of 59:43 set by Ryan Hall in 2007. He has competed professionally for Nike since 2021.

Clayton Young is an American long-distance runner, who competes for Asics. He ran collegiately for Brigham Young University, and won the 10,000 meters at the 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.  He set a personal best of 2:08:00 at the 2023 Chicago Marathon, finishing seventh. Young finished second at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, qualifying him for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Whittni Morgan is an American middle distance runner. Originally from Panguitch, Utah, , Morgan represents Adidas and debuted at the 2022 Millrose Games 3000 meters. She competed for Team USA in the 5000 m at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Prior to going pro, Morgan competed for the BYU Cougars. There she earned 10 All-American awards, won the 2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship individual title, and led the school to a 2nd-place team finish ― the highest in school history.  In high school, Morgan was Utah’s 2016 Female Athlete of the Year, winning four Utah High School Activities Association 1A individual cross country state championships, in addition to three basketball state championships and two volleyball state championships.

James Corrigan is an American runner, who attends Brigham Young University. He finished third at the 2024 United States Olympic trials in the in the 300 meter steeplechase.  He won the 3000 meters steeplechase in 8:29.24 at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships in May 2024.  He ran 8:28.84 to qualify for the final of the NCAA Division 1 Outdoors Championship in Eugene, Oregon. He finished in ninth place in the final.

Steven Kapp Perry and Sam Payne – Saturday, April 26 at 11 a.m.
Podcasting workshop

Steven Kapp Perry is the creator, Executive Producer, and host of the “In Good Faith” podcast at BYUradio.org since late 2017 (on Apple, Spotify, etc). The tagline for the show reads, “On ‘In Good Faith,’ we believe that all faith traditions have something to teach us about how God is working in the world and in our lives. Join us as we listen and learn.”

Each week on the podcast it’s our privilege to hear stories and accounts from believers, told in their own words. Our hope is to listen with an open heart, celebrating the power of faith and belief, and what those stories mean to the ones who tell them.

Steve studied English and music at BYU and spent the first 15 years of his career as a songwriter and studio producer of inspirational music and stage musicals. He spent the next decade at FM100 in Salt Lake City, hosting an inspirational music program that was Utah’s highest-rated radio program for years. He now announces daily on Classical 89, and hosts and produces “In Good Faith” for BYU Radio along with overseeing several other faith-related podcasts.

He and his wife Johanne are parents of four and grandparents of three.

Sam Payne is the General Manager of BYUradio, and host of the long-running podcast and radio show “The Apple Seed,” encouraging family storytelling through sharing great stories told by great storytellers. He also hosts “Kaboom,” the podcast filled with immersive audio adventures for families.

Angela Nielsen Redding – moderator for the “Faith and Entertainment” panel, Saturday, April 26, 12:30 p.m.

Angela Nielsen Redding is a seasoned strategic leader with a robust background in building businesses, forging partnerships, and developing innovative strategies across the corporate, philanthropic, nonprofit, and media sectors. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director at Radiant Foundation, where she champions efforts to promote more accurate, balanced, and positive portrayals of all religions. Through Radiant Foundation, she fosters interfaith collaboration and cultivates opportunities for individuals to connect with a higher power, with a special emphasis on representation in news, entertainment and the exploding creator economy.

Before joining Radiant Foundation, Angela spearheaded innovation and partnerships for a Ford Motor Company technology subsidiary. Earlier in her career, she founded and led a media innovation trade association, overseeing investments in media companies at both multi-million and billion-dollar levels.

Angela’s career also spans a decade in nonprofit management and business consulting, where she worked with some of the world’s most impactful corporations, nonprofits, and startups.

In her personal life, Angela is deeply involved in her community. She has led church youth groups in Northern California and Northern Utah, and taught gospel study courses. Above all, she enjoys spending quality time adventuring with her husband and young daughters.

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Chet Thomas and Darin Fletcher – luncheon “faith and entertainment” speaker, 12:30 p.m., Saturday, April 26
Producers, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”

Chet Thomas  is a seasoned producer and director with over 30 years of experience in the film industry. Through his company, FletChet Entertainment, and in partnership with Darrin Fletcher (Fletch), Chet has developed a diverse slate of projects in various stages of production. He currently has two series greenlit by a major streaming service, both of which he will direct and produce alongside Fletch. The first, Quitters, is a drama-comedy set in the world of addiction recovery, while the second, Beyond The Medal—a “Band of Brothers”-style series-is a collaboration with Gary Sinise. In addition to these projects, Chet has directed and produced more than 10 documentaries throughout his career.

Chet just recently produced the box-office theatrical hit, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever which is being heralded by critics as “an instant Christmas classic”. Beforebecoming a producing partner with Gerald Molen (Schindler’s List) on Christmas
Pageant, Chet worked with Gerald on Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report. Prior to that, he worked at DreamWorks for several years, where he first served in the story department, collaborating on such projects as Saving Private Ryan, Amistad, Deep Impact among others. He quickly moved to feature development, where he played a creative active role with Jason Hoffs (Edge of Tomorrow) in the development of Meet the Parents, Mouse Hunt, Road to Perdition, Small Soldiers and The Terminal.

Chet produced the acclaimed film Take, starring Academy Award®-nominated actors Jeremy Renner and Minnie Driver, which garnered multiple “Best of” awards at film festivals around the world. In his documentary work, Chet most recently produced the 18-time award-winning film Waterman, narrated by Jason Momoa. Waterman completed a successful U.S. theatrical run and is now streaming in the US and is being distributed internationally. A highlight of the film for Chet is the partnership he forged with the Hawaii Department of Education, ensuring that Waterman is shown annually to over 10,000 seventh graders in Hawaii in perpetuity on Duke Kahanamoku’s birthday. As part of his commitment to giving back, Chet co-founded with Fletch the online film school, Sneak On The Lot. The program collaborates with high school teachers and students across the country, encouraging young people to express themselves creatively rather than through violence. Additionally, Chet is the founder of the nonprofit HaitiStrong.org, through which he conducts humanitarian work in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. His efforts focus on eliminating the root causes of child trafficking
by empowering communities and local leaders to combat trafficking from within.

Darrin Fletcher “Fletch” began his film career in high school as a layout artist for XAM Animation Studio, working on layouts for iconic television series like Spider-Man and The Transformers. This experience honed his skills in storyboarding and visual storytelling. Despite being offered a position at Walt Disney Animation Studios, he chose to pursue his dream of live-action filmmaking. Since then, Fletch has built an impressive career as a storyboard artist, contributing to over 65 feature films, including The World’s Fastest Indian, The Sandlot, High School Musical 3, and A Life Less Ordinary. His portfolio also includes hundreds of international commercials, such as the widely acclaimed Foundation for a Better Life campaigns. In addition to his work in commercials and feature films, Fletch has gained extensive experience with large-format IMAX® productions like Mysteries of Egypt, Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure, and The Witness. His talents have also been instrumental in television, where he has visualized and storyboarded numerous pilots and series, including Charmed, Touched by an Angel, 7 Days, Extreme Rescue, Crossroads, and Everwood.

Currently, Fletch is dedicated to empowering the next generation of filmmakers. In 1999, he partnered with Chet Thomas to create SneakOnTheLot.com, an innovative online educational tool that teaches young people how to make movies. The program has since expanded to over 150 schools across the United States, providing students with hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of the filmmaking process. Beyond filmmaking, Fletch is also committed to making a difference in the world. Together withChet Thomas, he co-founded Haiti Strong (haitistrong.org), a nonprofit organization focused on addressing the root causes of human trafficking in Haiti. Through education, community development, and sustainable solutions, Haiti Strong works to empower vulnerable populations and create opportunities for a brighter future.

Fletch’s extensive career spans over 30 years in the film industry. Through his company, FletChet Entertainment, and in partnership with Chet Thomas, he has developed a diverse slate of projects in various stages of production. Currently, he is collaborating with Angel Studios, where he has two series greenlit. Both series will be directed and produced by Fletch, alongside Chet, further showcasing their dedication to creating impactful, high-quality content. Fletch’s passion for storytelling, education, and humanitarian efforts continues to inspire and impact countless lives.

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Kerry Troup, Tim Schultz and Ryan Burge – “Telling Powerful Stories of Faith,” Saturday, April 26 at 2:15 p.m.
Faith Counts and 1st Amendment Partnership

Kerry Troup – Director for Faith Counts and Communications Director for 1st Amendment Partnership

Kerry oversees all communications for the 1st Amendment Partnership. Since its launch in 2014, she has run Faith Counts, a multifaith platform that promotes the value of faith in America.  In 2023, she and the Faith Counts team and faith partners launched a program called Faith Facts, that leverages data, experts and stories to showcase the tangible contributions of religious faith.

Faith Counts is a multi-faith organization with a simple mission—to promote the value of faith. Millions of Americans of every religion are motivated by their faith to go and serve the most vulnerable among us. Their good works can be seen in soup kitchens, hospitals, schools, homeless shelters and many other humanitarian causes. The centerpiece of Faith Counts is a collaborative social media effort that tells powerful stories about how faith counts—how it inspires, empowers, motivates and comforts billions of people around the world.

Tim Schultz – President of the 1st Amendment Partnership

As President of the 1st Amendment Partnership (1AP), Tim works with faith groups to ensure that religious freedom is fully protected in the law. He chairs a broad and diverse religious coalition aimed at influencing federal policy and public opinion about the value of faith to the common good.

Under his leadership, 1AP has played a central role in the passage of more than 20 state religious freedom laws, and Tim has worked on the ground in more than 30 state capitols. He regularly counsels with lawmakers in both parties, and he is a frequently quoted by national media sources. He is a graduate of Kansas State University and Georgetown University School of Law. He has been married for 14 years to Rev. Lisa Wink Schultz and they live in suburban Washington, D.C. with their two sons. He is a youth baseball coach and an active member of Church of the Advent, a parish in the Anglican Church in North America.

The mission of the 1st Amendment Partnership is to promote and protect religious freedom for people of all faiths. We represent the common voice of our partnering faith communities that encompass millions of Americans. We focus on public policies and education that recognize the profound contribution of faith and religious freedom to the common good.

Ryan Burge – Research Director for Faith Counts

Ryan Burge is an associate professor (beginning in August 2023) of political science at Eastern Illinois University, where he also serves as the graduate coordinator. He has authored over 30 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters alongside four books about religion and politics in the United States. He has written for the New York Times, POLITICO, and the Wall Street Journal. He has also appeared in an NBC Documentary, on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, as well as 60 Minutes which called him, “one of the country’s leading data analysts on religion and politics.”

He currently serves as Research Director for Faith Counts. He served as a pastor in the American Baptist Church for more than twenty years, leading First Baptist Church of Mount Vernon, IL for 17.5 years until its closure in July 2024.