2022 Speakers

For over 30 years Laurel Bunker has been a leader in fields of non-profit management, higher education, church and para church ministry.  Laurel’s mission is to impact the lives of men and women through empowered teaching, training, mentoring and leadership development that builds character and advances organizational change.

Laurel has held key positions in national organizations including Young Life, the YMCA, the Jeremiah Program, PULSE and the Council on Christian Colleges and Universities. She spent 14 years as a campus pastor and university administrator, until 2021, when she left to pursue and launch her LLC, The Boncouer Collaborative. 

Laurel is a sought-after conference speaker, writer and preacher, teaching extensively at colleges, universities, conferences and organizations at the national and international level

Laurel and her husband Joshua, make their home in the Twin Cities with their two college-aged daughters, Naomi and Camile.

With infectious warmth and wit, Deb Burma speaks with authenticity and passion. Faithful to God‘s Word, she shares His extravagant grace in Christ as she touches the hearts of women, meeting them in the moments of their everyday lives. (Visit Deb at her website, Extravagant Grace: www.debburma.com.)

Author of bestsellers, JOY: A Study of Philippians, and Living a Chocolate Life, Deb has penned an assortment of Christian-living books, Bible studies, retreat kits, and devotionals, including Sip, Savor, and Drink Deeply, Stepping Out, and her 2021 release, Be Still & Know, all published by Concordia Publishing House (CPH). Her work has appeared in several periodicals, including Today’s Christian Living.  

Deb earned a degree in Economics and Finance, then followed the Lord’s lead to direct women’s and family ministries while raising a family and pursuing additional training in writing, speaking, and theology under the direction of noted authors, editors, and theologians.

Deb has spoken at national and regional conferences across the country, as well as retreats and ministry events. She has led workshops and sectionals for the Best Practices for Ministry (BPM) Conferences, the Women’s Leadership Institute’s National Conferences, and more. Her ministry travels have taken her to 27 states and Canada, aboard a Caribbean cruise ship, and continue to lead her down the street to her home church.

Raised on a ranch in South Dakota, Deb and her family shared adventures residing in five different states before calling Nebraska home. Deb is a follower of Jesus, a pastor’s wife, and the proud mother of three amazing young adults. She’s a blogger, a women’s ministry leader, and a self-proclaimed coffee/chocolate connoisseur. (She never travels without chocolate in one hand and a flavored hot latte in the other!) Above all, Deb is a grace-filled woman of God.

Raised in Appleton, Wisconsin Donna Johnson is one of the leading professionals in Network Marketing.  For 34 years, she has built one of the largest global organizations in the world with her Independent Arbonne business.  Donna received the Lifetime Achievement Award in her Profession in 2019, only the 7^th to receive, and the 2^nd woman behind Mary Kay Ash.  She sits on the Ethics committee for her industry and is sought after for leadership with integrity & wisdom.

Donna is a speaker and author of the soon to be released book ‘My Mentor Walks On Water’.

Donna is married with 5 adult children and 8 grandchildren. She and her husband Thomas reside between Wisconsin, Arizona and Sweden. Their charity “Spirit Wings Kids” funds 3 orphanages in India & Uganda.

Nicole Soto is a published author and speaker who recently relocated from the Detroit Metro Area. She has a Bachelors of Science in Marketing from Oakland University and currently works as a Project Manager for a non-profit. Nicole loves to travel, cook, entertain and learn as much about history as she possibly can. Nicole and her husband Blake reside in the Fox Valley and are privileged to serve on the ministry team at their church Apostolic Truth Church (ATC) in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Coming at y’all from San Antonio, TX, Beckie cannot wait to share her heart with you. Hang on tight, it’s crazy, messy, funny, emotional, but this mama’s heart has a BIG story to share. God’s plan is so much different (and so much better) than what she could have ever imagined for herself, but watching Him write her story has been the single most incredible experience of her life. Beckie is married to Jake, a God-fearing, bearded, tattooed teddy bear and has two awesome kiddos; Maggie is 7 and Charlie will be 2 in January.  

Having navigated my fair share of life’s curve balls (cancer survivor, infertility, widow, single mom), I’m not here to sell you sunshine and rainbows. However, I am here to say I see you, I understand you but most importantly, it won’t always feel like this.

I am taco obsessed and a creative thinker with a constant drive to improve. Lover of the beach, a good meme and all things enneagram. Chances are you can find me dancing in the kitchen with my two kiddos, Dawson and Lainey, or soaking up some quiet time in the corner of a coffee shop.

Krista is the founder and executive director for Redeem and Restore Center. RRC’s mission is coming alongside women escaping sex trafficking and helps them build a foundation of healing- ultimately through a restorative care home. She is inspired by the courage and resiliency of women survivors, and believes that together with God’s help, we can restore women to a life of freedom! Fueled with compassion, Krista’s desire to help hurting women stems from being a survivor of child sexual abuse and abandonment. She knows God’s great love, power and justice in her life. With that, she perseveres in honesty, vulnerability, integrity, and strength as a passionate speaker, chaplain, crisis intervention specialist, and trauma care certified. She is also an alumna of the FBI Citizens Academy and Waukesha County Sheriffs Citizens Academy. 

She is married, and a mother to two young adults. In her free time, Krista enjoys her personal water garden retreat or on an adventure in the outdoors!

Tera stepped into full-time ministry ten years ago after working professionally in the Marketing and Business field. She continued her education by earning her master’s degree at Moody Theological Seminary in 2016. Tera is relatable and is known for her ability to warm up a crowd and make them feel welcome and encouraged along with making them laugh. Because of her broken past, she has a heart of empathy and grace for people in all different seasons of life. She believes that being authentic and vulnerable are key to building relationships of trust, especially in hard topics within the church. When it’s warm outside, you will find Tera sneaking away from her office or trying to convince co-workers to meet outside. She is married to Trevor, her red-bearded husband. The two are foster parents who do respite care for kids in crisis. Together they enjoy acting like big kids and differing on what is the right temperature to set their home thermostat.  

Ashlee Hiles is a southern girl living in the frozen tundra of Wisconsin. Recently married, she lives with her husband, Micah, and their two cats, Oliver and Maggie. Her passion is to share with others about Jesus’ role in her life with chronic illness, especially how He has helped – and is helping – her choose joy in spite of hard circumstances.

Suzan Myhre is a happy grandmother to Maya -2 years old. Maya has taught Suzan that life in the slow lane is where its at. Suzan is married to Chris for 37 years. She has three adult children, two girls who are married and a son. It has been a joy for Suzan to be called by God to do counseling for over 30 years. She specializes in couples counseling, and trauma work. Suzan is trained in EMDR and Brainspotting, two very effective therapeutic methods for getting “unstuck”. She currently works part time as a therapist, and is home part time learning from Maya and just having fun. She loves to bake banana bread, go for long walks in the woods at a snails pace and laughing with anyone who is willing. 

Amanda Popp is a lover of Jesus. Wife to her high school sweetheart Shaun.

Homeschool momma to seven alphabetically named kids earthside and three babies awaiting her heaven side. She loves to read, craft, travel, and serve Haiti through Voice of Compassion. Amanda’s heart is to share vulnerably what God is doing (and working on) in her life and prays it encourages others to do the same.

She lives with her family in the house and farm her husband (and his dad) grew up on with some crazy chickens and a lazy dog.

Ginny Olson has been involved in ministry for several decades on various levels: speaker, writer, youth pastor, and professor. She is the author of Teenage Girls and the co-author of Youth Ministry Management Tools 2.0. Whether through speaking, writing, or coaching, Ginny is committed to seeing women grow in their faith and leadership. Currently, she is the Director of Youth Ministry for the Northwest Conference, a regional office of the Evangelical Covenant denomination.

Darcy Paape has 20 years of experience working with emerging young adult leaders in high school, church, and university settings.  She is passionate about creating programming that is practical, interactive, and cross-generational and using it to support emerging leaders in the church and workplace.  Currently, she serves at Concordia University Wisconsin as Director of the Women’s Leadership Institute, Adjunct Interpersonal Communication Instructor, and member of the Campus Ministry Team.   As Director she oversees a variety of volunteer work teams to fulfill the institute’s mission to educate, encourage, and embolden women in exemplary Christian leadership.   The Women’s Leadership Institute provides in-person events, leadership articles, an online academy, and a speaker’s bureau.   

In her campus ministry role, Darcy serves as a mentor and advisor for a variety of student ministry groups and works very closely with the young women’s ministry on Concordia Wisconsin’s campus.  Darcy lives in Grafton, Wisconsin with her husband Adam, two daughters, and one delightful full-size doodle. 

Sarah Schultz is a Middle School Math Teacher and an avid Kingdom worker for Jesus. She speaks, trains and presents for Dignity Revolution, a social-emotional and mental health and wellness curriculum that empowers and educates students to “stand up for the value and worth of every person.” She is passionate about connecting through authentic relationships, cultivating the potential in others and exhorting others to live in relationship with God. She is an avid Green Bay Packers fan, adores her role as “auntie,” cherishes her Bernese Mountain Dog Berkeley and thrives in sharing and showing  Jesus to as many people as possible.

Beth Macco holds her Masters of Divinity, spent 11 years working in the local church, has been married 18 years, and has 4 children. She homeschools, enjoys baking (and eating) fresh bread, loves teaching God’s Word, and needs fresh air and time-outs regularly.

Christi Frazer loves Jesus, coffee (or maybe just creamer) and to encourage women. She is divorced, has lived through shattered dreams, and is breaking away from legalism to true freedom in Christ. Christi blinked and her kids are now 19, 17 and 13 and make life entertaining and yes, she dyes her hair!

Ellen is a wife, mother of three and one of ten children. Jesus, her husband, children, siblings and parents are her nearest and dearest. Spending time with the people closest to her is what she cherishes the most. Although, a book in hand and peace and quiet sounds heavenly too. Ellen enjoys boating, walking, writing, reading, thrifting and retail shopping. Ellen has always had a passion for style and never stopped spinning in the mirror. Ellen is a natural “sharer” which has lead her to start a style meets encouragement through faith Instagram account for all to see. Most recently she launched a blog, Madenewstyle.com, encouraging women as a sister does a sister.    

Andrea Van Ye is a wife and mother of 5 children, and a Bible study speaker whose focus is to encourage women through God’s Word, with a sensitivity to the brokenness that abounds around us. She is a recent empty-nester, involved in women’s ministry at her local church, was previously a physician assistant, and currently returned to graduate school with an emphasis in grief counseling. She desires to hold on to the hope of who God is, trying to remember that nothing slips through His hand. Ever. She loves being outside and spending any time she can with her now grown family.

She believes in the good, thrives on learning from others through simple recognition, challenges herself to “make right cool” and strives to live within the pace of grace. Her dedication to family is a strength and the love she has for Jesus cannot be denied. She’s proud of where she came from, values the life she has been given and recognizes the experiences that have shaped who she is. She is a sister and friend who is loyal and fierce.  She lives big, loves words, cries through competition, is passionate to extreme, wears her emotions on her sleeve and greets the challenge of embracing T.O.D.A.Y.

Heather Voss is a daughter first, wife and mother to 3, all of which fill her soul.  She lives in Menasha, WI with her feet on the ground, heart in her home, hands in the community, head in the clouds and soul preparing for heaven.

Emily has a passion for using her God-given abilities to inspire genuine, and vulnerable worship in the souls of those she’s put in front of. She is 20 years old and works as the Assistant Worship Leader for Pathways Church in Appleton, WI. She has a heart for youth and also works in student ministry at Pathways, and is currently a virtual student at Regent University pursuing a Bachelors in Ministry.

Eliza Leavins is an extroverted, talented, high-energy, 17 year old girl who loves to serve others. She is the second eldest child in a family of six. Eliza loves anything that relates to art. She enjoys spending her time dancing, painting, singing, playing her violin and guitar, as well as writing songs. Eliza has always been homeschooled and is a senior in high school. She is excited about what she will learn during this school year. She is currently a worship leader in her youth group at Calvary Bible Church. She attends Christ the Rock church and is a part of the worship team there as well. Eliza tries everyday with the help of the Lord to pursue him in everything she does. Eliza has a loving heart for serving others and wants to become  a nurse. She desires a strong relationship with the Lord and desires that for others as well.  

Ayiesha Woods-Hillery is a Grammy nominated singer, songwriter, musician and now wife and mother. Ayiesha is a multi-talented artist who has certainly made her mark in Christian music and ministry.

Ayiesha and her husband, Joseph Sr. currently live in Central Florida with their 4 boys: Joseph II, Benjamin & Asher, and Gad born July 2020. Their family motto is “Love God, Love People. Serve God, Serve People.”

Joseph – MD & Drummer, David Pearson – Bassist and Deborah Pearson (David’s Mother) – Vocals. They serve on our worship team at church.