Major Kornelis “Korky” Vander Ploeg (Retired), enlisted in the New Jersey State Police in December of 1977. During his tenure with the NJSP he was assigned first as a road duty uniformed trooper serving in the rural communities of Sussex County, and then later served in a highway patrol capacity on both the busy interstate highways that connected into and out of New York City as well as toll road duty on the Garden State Parkway. Later in his career he served in the Executive Protection Bureau, providing security for three different Governors: Thomas H. Kean, James Florio and Christine Todd Whitman. After the 9-11 terrorist attacks, he was assigned to supervise the NJSP support team that assisted the Port Authority police with security at Newark/Liberty International Airport, the George Washington Bridge, and the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels. He finished his 27+ year career with the NJSP in the Administration Section rising to the rank of Major and was part of the NJSP Command Staff from where he retired in July of 2005. After his retirement, Vander Ploeg entered the corporate world, going to work for Prudential Financial where he provided security to the Chairman and CEO. He retired from Prudential as Executive Security Director in April of 2020 and continues living in northern New Jersey with his wife of 46 years. He and his wife attend Cedar Hill Christian Reformed Church in Wyckoff, N.J. where he has served as a deacon and elder and is currently part of the worship team. A graduate of Eastern Christian High School, Korky holds an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Rockland Community College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from William Paterson University.

Prior to launching his “Speaking on Joy and Happiness” venture, Geoff was the co-founder of eMarketer, a New York-based company providing data, analysis and insights on all aspects of digital marketing and ecommerce on a global scale. In serving his various roles at eMarketer for over two decades, Geoff quickly became sought-after as a dynamic motivational speaker within the digital marketing industry. Geoff is also co-author of a book, Digital Impact: The Two Secrets to Online Marketing Success (Wiley & Co.) In his former careers, he was an advertising executive for over 15 years working in New York ad agencies, as well as a professional magician performing close-up and stage magic. Geoff was not raised on religion growing up, but after having an existential crisis in his mid-twenties, he found Christ and began his spiritual journey which has led him to where he is today. Geoff lives in Allendale with his wife Kim and they have four children.

Chip Skowron’s life has spanned the heights of professional success, the depths of personal failure, and the redemptive power of a transformed heart. A physician-scientist by training, with both an M.D. and Ph.D. from Yale and surgical training at Harvard, Chip went on to a prominent career in finance as a hedge fund manager. It was at the height of his success when, in a moment, the trajectory of his life permanently changed. An investigation into a suspicious trade led to a criminal indictment and a public fall from grace. In that season of complete isolation and humiliation, Chip found the New Canaan Society. Their embrace of his broken life and extraordinary, intentional friendship began to radically reshape his heart. Sentenced to five years in federal prison, Chip discovered the power of belonging to an authentic community, a power that penetrated those walls and transformed him. Since his release, he founded NCS-Inside and led organizations devoted to second chances and restorative community. Notably as a CEO of the Prison Entrepreneurship Program and serving on the Board of Directors of Prison Fellowship. Today, Skowron carries the authority of one who has lived both sides of loss and restoration, faith and failure, and who holds an unwavering belief in the power of a loving community to set people free. Chip lives with his wife in Greenwich, Connecticut with their two dogs and has four adult children. He attends Trinity Church in Greenwich, Connecticut and is an active member of the men’s Bible Study and local prison ministry.

Dan is married to his best friend Michelle Lazor. Together they have nine children: Isabelle, Danny, Manny, Nora, Karina, Lucy, Judah, and twins Addie and Andy. The Lazor family’s most meaningful experience was spending nine years serving with an International Christian School in Seoul, South Korea – an experience that has shaped Dan’s and his family’s outlook on many aspects of life and faith. Dan is originally from Scranton, PA, but to answer your question, no, he never worked at Dunder Mifflin. He is a huge sports fan, having played on athletic teams from the age of 5 through 19, and enjoys running now. His favorite teams are the ones his kids are playing on (and of course, EC!). The Lazors attend Emergence Church. Currently Dr. Lazor serves as the principal of Eastern Christian middle school in Wyckoff New Jersey.

Mike Latona is a Vice President and Account Manager in the Global Wealth Management team at PIMCO, a global asset management firm. He advises financial professionals across New Jersey, educating them on PIMCO’s economic outlook and portfolio construction ideas. Prior to joining PIMCO in 2010, he worked as a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch and UBS Financial Services. He has 27 years of investment experience and holds an undergraduate degree in Business Management from Ramapo College of New Jersey and is a Certified Financial Planning professional. Mike is a loving husband to his wife Rose, father to Sarena, James and Sofia and grandfather to Roman. He is also a lay pastor at Bridgepoint church in Midland Park.

Pastor Anthony Fleming was born and raised Aussie, has a passion for God, people, and life. From the young age of 19, Anthony believed he was called to preach the word of God. He earned a tennis scholarship to Liberty University and represented the school during college while earning a Bachelor of Business of Science in Business Marketing. It was here that he also met his beautiful wife Miriam. They have 3 beautiful children and together they founded and currently serve as the Senior Pastors of Church Alive in northern New Jersey. From a basement with 8 people at the start of the church, Church Alive has grown to over 1300 people in attendance, and is known for its passion for God, love for people, and generosity in the community. Wanting to practically equip people to have a fresh, real, and powerful walk with God, in 2018, Anthony launched Transform. Through a dedicated focus to develop men, he continually sees to it that men find genuine faith and continue to get unstuck and flourish in all areas of life. What started as a men’s group at Church Alive grew in 2021, when Anthony Fleming released his first book, Transform. He is now the President of Transform the Movement and continues to coach leaders throughout the nation and empower men to rise up and transform their lives.

Lyman Good – UFC Fighter, Champion, and Founder of Good Theory Lyman Good, known in the fighting world as the “American Cyborg,” is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in Bellator and the UFC, holding titles such as Bellator Welterweight Champion and CFFC Welterweight Champion. Raised in East Harlem by his mother alongside two sisters, Lyman’s early years were marked by hardship and the absence of a father figure. His mother encouraged him into martial arts as a way to channel his energy, and under the guidance of his mentor, Shihan Schulmann, Lyman not only found discipline but also a purpose greater than himself—serving and mentoring others. With over a decade of teaching experience, he is committed to helping people grow stronger in body, mind, and spirit. In the gym, he brings intensity and high expectations, but always with a sense of trust and camaraderie. Outside the octagon, he founded the Good Theory movement, where he speaks vulnerably about his own battles with depression, loss, and the darkness he faced. Out of those struggles came a calling: to encourage others toward resilience, self-awareness, and hope. Today, Lyman continues to fight professionally while also investing in people as a teacher, coach, and mentor. His story points to the reality that even out of hardship and brokenness, God can bring redemption and use our lives to strengthen others.

William “Bill” Parker is an experienced CEO and board member whose leadership is shaped by both his military service and deep faith. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy and serving six years in the Navy, Bill joined CACI International (NYSE: CACI), where he rose to Executive Vice President, overseeing business development and strategy. Driven by a desire to integrate faith and business, he left CACI to become CEO of Crosswalk.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMEN). Under his leadership, Crosswalk created the first Christian lifestyle web platform and was ranked by Nielsen NetRatings as one of the world’s most highly trafficked websites. Bill went on to guide transformative strategies for multiple organizations, serving as President of Parker Strategic, LLC; President of Kforce Government Solutions; President of Karta Technologies; COO of NCI, Inc.; COO of Salient Federal Solutions; and CEO of MCR. He continues to advise companies as a board member, while also serving in his church as a Bible teacher, elder, and mentor. His new book, Business After God’s Heart, draws on more than 20 years of reflection on the Psalms of David. In it, Bill shares how these scriptures shaped his leadership through seasons of success, failure, and trial, challenging business leaders to pursue God’s heart as David did. Bill’s talk will explore Psalm 27, where David, under the stress of leading a nation, identifies the “One Thing” his heart longed for. This foundational principle from David’s life offers timeless guidance for today’s business leaders.

For the last 50 years, David Bryant has helped millions of Christians worldwide explore and experience the wonders of the supremacy of God’s Son. Formerly a pastor, minister-at-large with the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, president of Concerts of Prayer International (COPI), and chairman of America’s National Prayer Committee, today David provides leadership to Proclaim Hope! and ChristNow.com, which have the mission of fostering and serving a nationwide Christ awakening movement. For decades, David played a widely visible role in the emergence of an unprecedented, worldwide prayer movement by building on citywide mass prayer rallies; organizing national and international conferences; creating training videos, seminars, and manuals; developing leadership coalitions; mentoring younger leaders; and sharing his message through books, radio, television, and podcasts. David and his wife Robyne live in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, and are the parents of three grown children, all adopted as infants from India.

Daniel Trolaro, MS in Psychology, is the Managing Director of Education and Fair Play for C360, a global sports betting and integrity monitoring company. Dan has worked with stakeholders in over 35 states and has delivered hundreds of workshops, trainings, and keynote presentations around the county centered on prevention, education, and emerging trends in the world of sports betting, gaming and internet gambling. Having started his journey of recovery from gambling addiction on Feb. 11, 2010, Dan has shared his story on the YouTube Channel, Soft White Underbelly by Mark Laila and co-hosts a 30 minute podcast and weekly radio show across the country called, "Hello My Name Is Craig" with fellow gambler in recovery and morning National TV host on Fox Sports, Craig Carton. Dan lives in Parsippany and has 3 children with his ex-wife.

Robert Skead is a Mayflower descendant and a Son of the American Revolution. He is also the author of several popular secular and Christian children’s books. Known for stories that whisk young readers away on thrilling adventures, Skead crafts tales that resonate with readers of all ages, celebrating a love of history, sports and personal quests. Rob’s storytelling especially shines through his American Revolutionary War Adventure series that he co-wrote with his father (making them his favorite stories). The stories are designed to nurture patriotism and inspire readers to do great things. Beyond his scope as a writer, Rob is also a dedicated advocate for literacy and the importance of fostering a love for reading at a young age. Through his school visits, workshops and speaking engagements, he shares his passion for storytelling with students, inspiring them to discover their own talents for a fulfilled life. Through these events, he speaks to more than 5,000 students per year. Additionally, for 23 years, Rob served as an affiliate and part-time staff member with Athletes in Action, ten of those years as team chaplain for the players on the New York Red Bulls (Major League Soccer). In this role, he delivered weekly chapel messages, led Bible studies and organized outreaches for the players to use their platform as professional athletes to be positive role models to youth in our communities. Rob received his MA in Communications (Media Management & Film Production) from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. He is married to Susan and has three young adult children of his own and three bonus children as well. For more information, visit www.robertskead.com.

Hard work and serving others are no stranger to John, growing up in West Milford, NJ. His father instilled a passion for meeting needs in the community at a young age, waking him up every Saturday morning to do community service projects since he was 11 years old. After 6 years of flipping houses, 12 years serving as a youth pastor at Cornerstone Christian Church, and graduating college with an organizational management degree, John transitioned to a part-time pastoral role in order to step into a full-time position as Executive Director of Servant’s Heart Ministry. Since then, John’s been living out his passion for working with his hands, loving people, and seeing lives changed through the gospel. On his off hours you can find him ATVing or hiking with his wife, Tara, and four boys, Colby, Shane, Hunter, and Chase, or working on one of his many projects in his basement workshop.

Jordan Whitmer is the founder and CEO of the How to Life Movement, a global Gen Z-led Christian evangelism and missions organization. At just 16 years old, Jordan launched the first youth-led outreach event in his Arkansas hometown—an initiative that has since grown into a movement spanning 29 U.S. states and 11 countries across four continents. Now 26, Jordan continues to mobilize and equip young people to boldly share their faith, empowering them to lead outreach events and foster meaningful conversations about Christ with their peers. Under his leadership, How to Life has become a vibrant network of student-led chapters and events that are transforming communities through the power of peer-to-peer influence and the Gospel. Jordan speaks regularly around the world and collaborates with a global team of emerging leaders. He recently relocated to the New York City area to expand the organization’s impact and continues to be driven by a deep belief in the potential of Gen Z to lead their generation to Jesus.

Kelvin J. Cochran serves as senior fellow and vice president at Alliance Defending Freedom. In this role, he oversees the spiritual care of ADF team members, speaks at ADF events and conferences, and assists the ADF Church and Ministry Alliance by expanding alliances with pastors and minority faith communities. Cochran dedicated over 30 years of his life to fighting fires and protecting the communities in which he’s lived and worked. After being born into extreme poverty in Shreveport, Louisiana, he worked his way up the ranks and became Shreveport’s fire chief in 1999, where he served until he was appointed fire chief for the city of Atlanta, Georgia in 2008. His exemplary service record drew the attention of President Obama, who appointed Cochran as the administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration in 2009, the highest office in the profession. He then resumed his post as Atlanta Fire Chief in 2010. After the city of Atlanta terminated Cochran’s employment because of his Christian faith and beliefs, ADF represented him in a federal lawsuit. A federal court ruled the city of Atlanta discriminated against Cochran’s religious views and violated his First Amendment rights, and the city of Atlanta agreed to a favorable settlement. Prior to his role at ADF, Cochran served as chief operating officer of Elizabeth Baptist Church in Atlanta. He received his doctorate of education in interdisciplinary leadership from Creighton University and is the author of two books, a sought-after public speaker, and an advocate for religious liberty and unity of the body of Christ.

Faith-Driven Builder | CRE Leader | Men’s Mentor Waikiki "Kiki" Paulino blends 25+ years of commercial real estate leadership with a lifelong mission to strengthen men and communities through faith, mentorship, and healing. As Founder and CEO of CRE Construction Partners, Kiki has overseen $2.5 billion+ in projects and more than 3.5 million square feet of commercial development for family offices, institutions, and private investors across the U.S. He is a certified marketplace chaplain with Corporate Chaplains of America and a credentialed biblical counselor through the American Association of Christian Counselors. He also holds certifications in Mental Health and Behavioral Coaching, and serves as a coach and chaplain for at-risk youth and young adult men at True Warriors Boxing Club in Paterson, NJ. Kiki’s passion for helping men face real-life battles led him to launch Kings in Christ, a 501(c)(3) men’s movement dedicated to healing, accountability, and growth. His journey with New Canaan Society (NCS) began in 2008 at the NYC chapter, a fellowship that deeply shaped his spiritual walk and leadership mission. Today, he partners with NCS Bergen County, helping draw men out of isolation and into meaningful community across North Jersey. With degrees in Structural Engineering and Construction Management, Kiki has contributed to transformative projects including the Baccarat Hotel, Flatiron Building, Waldorf Astoria Renovation, and the SEC Headquarters. A devoted husband and father, Kiki is committed to building strong men, strong families, and lasting legacy—all by the grace of God.

Travis ("Pronk") Hafner played in Major League Baseball as a designated hitter and first baseman for 12 seasons. A left-handed hitter, Hafner played for the Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, and New York Yankees. His nickname, "Pronk", was given to him by former teammate Bill Selby during spring training of 2003 when people sometimes referred to him as "The Project" and other times "Donkey" for the way he looked when running the bases. With Don Mattingly he shares the MLB-record for grand slams in one season (6). Pronk was born in Jamestown, ND in 1977 and attended a small high school which did not have a baseball program. He was valedictorian of his high school class of eight students. He was drafted by the Rangers in the 31st round of the 1996 draft. In the winter of 2002, the Rangers traded Hafner to the Indians. Hafner had a breakout offensive season in 2004; as the primary DH in the Indians' line-up, he finished the season in the top ten in the league in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, doubles, extra base hits, RBIs and batting average. In 2006, Hafner hit home runs in six straight games from September 18–24, the second longest such streak in Cleveland history. After the season, the Cleveland chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America named him Indians Man of the Year and he finished fifth in the AL MVP voting. On February 1, 2013, Hafner signed with the Yankees. Despite batting 318 in April, Hafner faltered later in the season and suffered rotator cuff inflammation. Travis and his wife, Amy, have three sons and reside in Tampa, FL. He currently serves the Cleveland Indians as a special assistant.

Bob is CEO and Chief Investment Officer at Crossmark Global Investments, bringing over 40 years of investment experience to guide the investment process and serves as large cap US portfolio manager. Bob is a regular guest on multiple media outlets such as Bloomberg TV, Fox Business News, CNBC and Faith & Finance Live Radio. He has served in senior roles at Nuveen, BlackRock, Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, and Oppenheimer Funds. Bob serves as choir director at his local church and also serves on a number of boards among which include Cairn University, Christianity Today, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, Kingdom Advisors, The Lausanne Movement, Movement.org, New Cannan Society, and Word of Life Fellowship. Bob and his wife Leslie reside in Princeton, New Jersey and have three children and one grandchild.

As a result of The Lord’s continuous Favor, Steve Wolf has been fortunate to experience a track record of demonstrated, continual business success within large and small organizations in the marketing research and consulting space. Over the years, The Lord enabled Steve to excel in simultaneous, multiple roles (in the US and globally), creating/implementing vision and strategy, attracting/retaining/leading world-class talent - creating powerful teams, resulting in dynamic, sustained, and profitable growth for the businesses themselves and clients which included many of the Fortune 100 companies. He has revitalized several failing businesses, written articles and spoken at local and global conferences. On a more personal level, over the past four decades, Steve has: Co-led and mentored men in areas of character enhancement, integrity, and accountability Along with his wife Lynda, have helped young people identify their life purpose, deepen their relationship with The Lord, and learn principles upon which to base their lives Later coached some of these same individuals to discover and utilize their personal treasure trove of talent and gifts He and his wife also counsel couples in regard to biblical marriage principles Led myriad church ministries, including currently leading one of the Bethany Church Prayer Teams, teaching Youth Bible Study, mentoring men on Saturday mornings, and leading the DivorceCare Ministry As a temporary, part-time CEO for Crossroads Business Services in 2014, Steve and the Impact Paterson team helped individuals in need of a second chance, find employment. This initiative currently works with select Ministry Partners, to mentor and provide loans to individuals who need assistance "getting back on their feet" and securing better-paying jobs. He co-leads monthly meetings with these men Been on the ground in 47 countries to mentor business associates and/or for missions purposes Committed time and resources to organizations and outreaches like New Canaan Society (NCS), where he is a board member of the Bergen County Chapter and the Prayer Captain for the Paterson Chapter, where he shares personal devotions and leads prayer every Monday Presented on numerous occasions, to these and other NJ NCS chapters on the topics of disruptive discipleship, forgiveness, God’s faithfulness, obedience, and more Guest lectured at Rutgers Business School, Eli Broad Graduate School of Management, and at Michigan State University. He was also a Faculty and Client Advisor for the Masters of Marketing Research program at Eli Broad In 2014 he created Wisdom, Insight and Mojo (www.wisdominsightmojo.com) which conducts marketing research, consulting, executive coaching and career coaching. Steve has a ministry certification from Global University and is recognized by Bethany Church as a Commissioned Minister of the gospel. Steve and his wife Lynda have a blended family with four grown children, their spouses, one delightful grandson and a beautiful, sassy granddaughter.

Ron Walborn, 2025 Dr. Ron Walborn is the Executive Director of Urban Initiatives for Asbury Theological Seminary in New York City. Previously, Ron served as a Professor of Pastoral Theology, Vice President and Dean of Alliance Theological Seminary and Nyack College (Alliance University) in New York City and San Juan Puerto Rico for 24 years. He has a B.A. in History from Nyack College, an M.Div. from Alliance Theological Seminary and a DMin from Fuller Theological Seminary. Dr. Walborn has planted and pastored churches in Connecticut and California. He has authored one book and numerous articles and chapters for other publications. He has lectured and spoken at churches, conferences and other events both nationally and internationally. Dr. Walborn was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania in a ministry focused family. Ron and his wife, Dr. Wanda Walborn have been married for over 40 years and have four married adult children and six beautiful grandchildren with number 7 arriving in June 2025.

Hector currently serves as the Youth Pastor at the Montclair campus of Christ Church, where he leads and mentors the next generation of young people in their faith journey. His passion for youth ministry is driven by a commitment to fostering a dynamic spiritual environment where teens can grow in faith, resilience, and confidence. In addition to his ministry work, Hector is the 2024 World Master IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Champion and a former undefeated two-time MMA champion, achievements that showcase his discipline, perseverance, and leadership. His athletic background has shaped his approach to both ministry and personal growth, embodying a mindset of excellence and determination. Hector is also a devoted husband and father, drawing inspiration from his family as he leads and mentors the next generation.