Cultivating Entrepreneurial & Innovative Mindsets in Nonprofits & the Arts
See the recording of this event.
Friday | February 6, 2026 | 9:00 am – 6:00 pm | Bucknell University
9:00 am | Registration | Rooke Recital Hall* Lobby
9:30 am | Welcome Remarks from Campus Partners | From Theory to Practice: How Campus Partners Create Meaningful Student Experiences | Presenters: Melissa Intandola, Lynn Pierson, Rick Rinehart, Joe Scapalleto
10:00 am | Session 1 | Leadership in Arts Organizations | Panelists: Margaret Graham, Laura Knorr, Emily Reed | Moderator: Emily Martin
11:00 am | Session 2 | Finding Your Path to Purposeful Leadership and Impact | Amy Sutton, CEO CrossRoads4Hope
*All sessions except lunch and the afternoon reception will be held in the Rooke Recital Hall, located in the Sigfried Weis Music Building | Campus Map
noon | Lunch & Remarks by Kathryn Maguet, Robyn Eversole and Margo Bigue | Atrium, Weis Center for the Performing Arts
1:00 pm | Keynote | Innovation in the Nonprofit Sector Public Media, Arts, Entertainment, Information & Entrepreneurship | Steve Bass, former President & CEO of Oregon Public Media
2:00 pm | Session 3 | Nonprofit Governance | Panelists: Emily Conners Henry, Paul Muir, Barbara O’Connor and Jennifer Wilson | Moderator: Kahla DeSmit
3:00 pm | Session 4 | Nonprofit Founders’ Stories | Panelists: Judy Grisel, Abby Gulden-Luthi, Charles Kim, Kathy Vizas | Moderator: Erin Jablonski
4:00 pm | Closing Remarks* & Cocktail Reception | Campus Theatre (413 Market St.)
*Remarks from Kendy Alvarez, Laura Knorr, Charles Mitchell, Cindy Peltier
Student Speakers: Lauren Anderson, Lindsay Beier, Omuhle Ndhlovu, Rose Nyounway, Katie Schadler, Luke Spumberg, Marie Victoire Alexis
Join us for a conference exploring the intersection of creativity, social impact, innovation and entrepreneurship. This event will bring together visionary leaders, seasoned practitioners and changemakers to share strategies for building sustainable organizations and careers that serve community needs, turn vision into action and solve real-world problems.
Our day features breakout sessions and speakers exploring the formation of nonprofits, development of collaborative partnerships, and the integration of entrepreneurial strategies and experiences into nonprofit and arts ventures.
Participants will engage with each other to discuss how to tackle the emergent challenges facing nonprofits and the arts today, from starting a new nonprofit to learning how to “sell” oneself in these complex times.
Registration includes all workshop materials, a networking lunch, and a reception that invites exploration of downtown Lewisburg’s nonprofit and arts organizations.
About our Speakers
Keynote Speaker Steve Bass ’79 served as president and chief executive officer of Oregon Public Broadcasting from 2006 to September 2024. During his tenure, he led OPB’s transformation into a journalism-focused organization, growing OPB’s news staffing, support from members (from 105,000 to 150,000 donors), and endowment from $14 million to $95 million. His public media service spans 45 years beginning in 1980 at WHA, the public television service of the University of Wisconsin- Madison. He served in management and executive roles at PBS, WGBH/Boston, WGBY/Springfield, MA, and Nashville Public Television. He served as chairman of the board of the Association of Public Television Stations, chair of the board of Greater Public (a public media service organization) and on the board of directors of NPR. He currently serves as vice chair of the board of PRX, a public media podcasting and technology organization.
In 2025, he formed Lakeland Consulting to continue his work in consulting and advising. Under contract with the Station Resource Group (a public radio service organization) he created a series of scenarios for CPB funding. He served as a lead consultant with BIA Advisory Services to develop collaboration models for two public media organization in the Midwest. He serves as an advisor to public media leaders, philanthropies that focus on media investments and considered a thought leader about the future of public media. Other consulting engagements included a strategic review of WMOT, the public radio arm of Middle Tennessee State University, that led to the launch of a vibrant new music service and an evaluation of the State of New Jersey’s public television and radio operations.
Steve is also an active professional clarinetist with the Vancouver Symphony, the Oregon East Symphony, the Colorado MahlerFest Orchestra and other groups. He has recorded with the Portland band, Pink Martini, appearing on two of their albums.
He is a graduate of Bucknell University and the University of Wisconsin’s Graduate School of Business.
Guest Speaker Amy Sutton is CEO of Crossroads4Hope. Since assuming this role in 2012, her focus has been on transforming the organization through innovative approaches that update traditional models of psychosocial support for the realities of today’s complex and costly cancer journey. Her passion for the mission comes from professional and personal experiences seeing the challenges facing patients, caregivers and family members coping with a health crisis. Ms. Sutton has over 25 years of leadership positions within for-profit and not-for-profit organizations and has worked across healthcare, human services, and manufacturing industries. She has participated on international and national committees taking on large-scale change and health initiatives. Her entrepreneurial approach has helped to create dynamic environments focused on empowering individuals to achieve exceptional results. (Source)
Guest Moderator Kahla DeSmit is Executive Director of the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums and the former Executive Director of the Lewisburg Children’s Museum. Previously she worked as the Interim Visitor Services Manager at Gracie Mansion in New York City. DeSmit holds a B.A. degree from Susquehanna University and an M.A. degree from the SUNY Oneonta Cooperstown Graduate Program. She is a passionate life-long learner and advocate of the special place museums can and should have in our communities. (Source)
Guest Panelists
Bucknell Faculty and Staff Presenters
Bucknell Student Presenters
Remarks from our Community