Read about your fellow attendees below:
Director of Missionary Department
Aaron Hall is passionate about fostering open conversations about faith, creating projects that help people realize God's love and the relevance of Christ in their lives. He thrives at the intersection of seemingly unlikely pairings, such as global policy and family dynamics, faith and mass media, and humanitarian aid and influencers. Aaron believes these intersections spark meaningful conversations and drive action. While he plans to enjoy all the snacks, he also has a deep appreciation for smart people, inspired ideas, and the role of love in communications.
Managing Director, Church Communication Department
Bio
Identity Strategy Senior Manager
Amanda Hansen has played a vital role in projects like Publish Glad Tidings, the Global Initiative for Women and Children, and the Church Communication Guide. She is passionate about building meaningful relationships, understanding audience needs, and strengthening brand identity to help more people receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. Amanda's expertise includes leading cross-functional teams to solve complex problems, as well as skills in marketing and brand strategy, internal and external communications, relationship management, and public relations.
President
Andrew Bagley has worked with top brands like Nike, PetSmart, Kroger, and the Smithsonian, and contributed to impactful campaigns like Light the World and I'm a Mormon. Passionate about behavioral psychology, mountain biking, wake surfing, skiing, and making pizza, he brings expertise in strategy, behavioral psychology, and creative leadership
Director of Strategic Messaging
Bio
Sr. Global Product Marketing Insights Manager
Bruno Delfino is the founder of Desígnio, an online school teaching soft skills to teens in Brazil. Before joining Wellhub, he worked on global marketing campaigns for Walt Disney World and led brand storytelling at Google. With experience as a strategist at R/GA and ad agencies in Brazil, Bruno is passionate about creativity, technology, and education. He holds a master’s degree in Instructional Technology and brings expertise in brand marketing, storytelling, data insights, and education.
Publisher
Burke Olsen is a news media executive with expertise in rebrands, product launches, and ongoing operations for Deseret News, Church News, and Utah Business. A board member of the Pew Research Center, he's passionate about promoting a balanced media diet, reading great books, and exploring the intersection of faith and pop culture, especially in relation to the Church.
Vice President of Client Strategy
Christopher Carlson has been with Boncom for a decade, overseeing all Church clients and contributing to notable campaigns such as Light the World, Easter, 99+1, Give Thanks, and the ongoing Missionary Campaign. Before joining Boncom, he served as Director of User Experience at the Library of Congress. Passionate about the Great Salt Lake, he has a book on the lake coming out in 2025. His expertise is cross-disciplinary, spanning Strategy, Creative, Media, and Analytics, with a focus on Advertising.
Founder & Head of Content
Christine Baird has spent a decade in podcast production, working on key projects such as The School of Greatness, Proclaim Peace, and podcasts for numerous high-profile personal brands in self-development and entrepreneurship. Passionate about self-worth, sustainable media, art, design, and wellness, she brings expertise in content strategy, YouTube chat shows, and event programming to the summit.
Creative Principal
David Mooring is the creator of the He Gets Us campaign, aimed at freeing the name of Jesus from divisive uses. He has written and produced over 20 national TV commercials for the campaign, including 4 Super Bowl ads, and oversees national creative work for Hobby Lobby and The Salvation Army. David has also led campaigns for brands like Dodge, Alfa Romeo, Doritos, and Orkin. A passionate writer, photographer, and traveler, his work has been featured in publications like Overland Journal and Alpinist magazine.
Director of Reputation Management
Derek Westera has worked for the Church for 15 years, focusing on large campaigns and the Church's brand and reputation. His key projects include Social Listening, SEO, I’m a Mormon, Light the World, and Advocate Strategy. Recently, he’s been passionate about ensuring fair and accurate portrayals of the Church in TV, film, and media. A proud girl dad, Derek enjoys building with his wife Danielle, playing guitar, piano, and pickleball, as well as trail-running and watching The Great British Baking Show.
Executive Producer
Erik Christensen has served as Executive Producer at BYUtv since 2019, contributing to all new original programming, including favorites like Relative Race and Studio C, as well as new series such as Ruby and the Well, Dwight in Shining Armor, How I Got Here, and The Wizard of Paws. With 20 years of experience in unscripted and documentary television, Erik is passionate about discovering new ideas and creating content that uplifts, inspires, and organically represents faith in exciting ways.
Vice President, Executive Creative Director
With over a decade of experience, Jeff has played a key role in the Church’s Easter and Christmas campaigns, collaborating closely with President Nelson and senior Church leaders. Recently, he helped the Utah Olympic Bid Committee secure the 2034 Games and worked with Governor Cox on the Disagree Better initiative. Jeff is passionate about his kids, grandson, golf handicap, and the incredible creative team at Boncom. His expertise spans creative problem solving, video production, copywriting, interviewing, and directing, making him a dynamic leader and storyteller.
Executive Director
Josh Coates has contributed to projects like Canvas LMS, ldsbot.com, mormonr.org, the 2024 CFLDS national survey, and a mormom memes. A passionate software engineer, amateur astronomer, welder, machinist, and sociologist, Josh brings 20 years of experience running highly successful tech startups (except one that went really badly) to the summit.
Producer
Katie Schwarz has spent the last 15 years working in film, from feature films to successful social media and YouTube campaigns. At BonCom, she’s helped produce projects, including the last two Easter campaigns. Passionate about telling stories that challenge perspectives and spark meaningful conversations, Katie is aware of her position as a woman in film and the biases that come with it. She brings expertise in media production, advertising campaigns, creative direction, and team building.
Actor
Kirby Heyborne, an actor with over 20 years of experience in TV, film, audio, and commercials, is known for his work on Making Good and films like Saints and Soldiers and Three Stooges. He’s narrated popular audiobooks, including Saints and the Dragonwatch series, and contributed to campaigns like Light the World. Passionate about sharing the light of Christ and spreading joy, Kirby brings his extensive expertise in storytelling and media to the summit
Senior Strategist
Born in Northern California to Ghanaian immigrants, Kofi’s journey into advertising has been shaped by his diverse cultural background and religious upbringing. His "outsider" perspective fosters openness and understanding, which propelled him into the Multicultural Advertising Internship Program and the Most Promising Multicultural Students Program. After graduating from BYU’s Advertising Program, Kofi worked at Johannes Leonardo and The Martin Agency with brands like Instagram, AXE, and OREO. Outside of work, he enjoys soccer, film, and exploring NYC.
Writer / Executive Producer
LeeAnne H. Adams & Brian J. Adams are a writing and producing duo best known for creating and showrunning DWIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR, a family adventure/comedy series that aired for five seasons on BYUtv and is now in 45 countries. Their feature SAVING ZOE premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and received a special screening at the UN. They have worked with top studios like Netflix, Hallmark, and Disney, and are passionate about creating family co-viewing content that brings families together.
Marketing Specialist
Marinda McKenzie-Cummings has worked with clients like Google, Ford, Sherwin-Williams, and United Rentals, contributing to initiatives such as web and app consumer experiences, trade show execution, PR, and B2B campaign strategies. Passionate about representation, she is pursuing a master's in social work to advocate for marginalized voices. With expertise in market insights and strategy, Marinda also serves as Associate Director of Communications, Media Relations in her stake, covering a major metro area.
Executive Strategy Director
Richard Call has collaborated with brands such as Target, Walmart, Levi's, Nike, and LG. Over the past decade, he has focused on purpose-driven organizations, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The UN Foundation, and Intermountain Healthcare. His expertise lies in Branding and Communications Strategy, Experience Strategy, and Human-Centered Design Research. Personally, Richard enjoys people-watching, audiobooks, movies, TV, cycling, and brainstorming new hobbies.
Vice President of Marketing
Roger Pimentel has worked on Missionary Department initiatives to help missionaries find people to teach and previously worked at Amazon. Passionate about making room for everyone in the Church, he writes about it on his website. In his free time, he enjoys baking, yo-yos, and music. Roger brings expertise in full-funnel marketing management, product management, and business operations to the summit.
Copywriter
Stephanie Blackham is a creative professional with a passion for making a positive impact through collaboration and connection. She has contributed to key projects for clients like The City of Miami Beach (including Spring Breakup), GMCVB, Fabuloso, Colgate, and BIC. Stephanie specializes in campaign ideation, social-first concepts, storytelling, and productions. Outside of work, she enjoys film photography, reading, and spending time with her dog.
Chief Creative Officer
Steve started in advertising 20 years ago as a part-timer in a Salt Lake City agency's mailroom. That role soon turned into a creative career, leading him to create campaigns for brands like Volkswagen, Best Buy, American Express, Activision, and Domino’s. He’s held positions at major agencies, including VaynerMedia as its first Chief Creative Officer. Recognized by Forbes’ “30 Most Creative People in Social Media,” Steve is also a father of three, a public speaker, content creator, and woodworke
Senior Creative Strategist
Tessa Thorne brings expertise in customer journey mapping, problem definition, and product strategy. She has contributed to key initiatives, including customer experience strategies for Ford and Google at VML, and web product strategies for Rhode Island School of Design, Truth Initiative, and Penn State University at Mediacurrent. Tessa is passionate about solving problems without business jargon and, in her personal life, enjoys re-growing her yard and watching sci-fi shows with her husband.
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