This track is generously sponsored by Crowded

 Click on speakers names below to learn more about them.

Copyrights, Trademarks... and Protecting your "Secret Sauce"

Are your organizaiton's ideas protected? In this workshop an attorney with 35+ years of experience helping nonprofits protect their intellectual property will review how copyrights and trademarks work, including what type of information can be protected and what the process entails. Discussion will also include the limits and options for protecting confidential information. This workshop will be particularly pertinent for arts organizations looking to protect artistic work, though other nonprofits looking to protect logos, slogans and more.

Gary Schuster

Partner, J&G Law, LLP

Evaluating Risk: A Team Approach for Changing Times

As time changes, so do risks. Risk management is a cross functional effort that requires an action plan to mitigate known risk. We will discuss the team approach that is necessary to address current and changing risk issues, effective risk assessment considerations and proactive immediate steps to risk mitigation, and what the future will bring to our risk environment, including Enterprise Risk Management.

David M. Rottkamp, CPA

Partner and Nonprofit Practice Leader, Grassi

Vanessa M. Gordon, CPA

Principal and Nonprofit Practice, Grassi

Benefits Administration Explained

Offering employee benefits is an important part of attracting and retaining staff. Nonprofit capacity and HR turnover can create gaps, resulting in inconsistent administration of your organization’s benefit plans. This workshop will explain the basics of what is needed to ensure proper benefits administration. Topics such as eligibility, staff classing, qualifying events, open enrollment, how/when to enroll/term staff as well as setting up payroll deductions and billing will be covered. Whether you are new to your role as a benefits administrator or are a season admin veteran, attendees will be given practical explanations and tips to help them in their roles.

Peter Andrew, CPIA

President and CEO, Council Services Plus

Eric Laughlin, CPIA

Manager, Broker Services, Council Services Plus

2025 Finance Hiring and Compensation Trends

To remain competitive and drive innovation, businesses must be able to recruit professionals with specialized skills. Staying current on labor market movements helps accomplish that. This presentation, based on our 2025 Salary Guide, reveals finance and accounting starting salary and hiring trends, in-demand jobs, and many other market insights that can help inform recruiting and business strategies in a complex employment landscape. Our proprietary data helps hiring managers and professionals engage in more informed and productive salary discussions.

Mary Christman

Talent Manager, Robert Half

Bri Zakala

Client Solutions Director, Robert Half