7:00 am

Registration opens

Breakfast

8:00 am

Welcome

Jeff Crosby, ECPA President

8:15 am

Being Good Samaritan Neighbors through Christian Publishing

Dr. Emily Smith, Associate Professor at Duke Global Health Institute, author of “The Science of the Good Samaritan” (Zondervan, 2024)

Drawing from her work in The Science of the Good Samaritan: Thinking Bigger about Loving our Neighbors, Dr. Emily Smith of the Duke Global Health Institute in Durham, North Carolina will share fascinating stories and practical insights about how we Christian publishers can reimagine and help create a better world – and it all starts with authentically loving our neighbors.

9:15 am

Keeping Stress from Making a Mess of Your Leadership and Relationships

Barb Roose, agent for Book & Such, speaker & leadership coach, author of “Stronger Than Stress” (Revell, 2024)

Leaders often feel the weight of too much to do and not enough time to do it. Rather than regret a sharp word or stuffing stress, Barb Roose invites you into a conversation about to manage stress and overwhelm with scripture principles and practical tools. Learn how to keep stress from making a mess of your relationships and your leadership effectiveness.

10:15 am

Break

10:45 am

The Past, Present and Future of Publishing

George Walkley, AI Media & Publishing Consultant; Chair of Midas Communications

U.K.-based former publishing executive, consultant and thought leader in the AI space George Walkley will offer a historical survey of the past and present state of publishing and cast a vision for its future in this plenary session borne out of significant study, reading and speaking on the cross currents of the industry we are all a part of.

11:45 am

Lunch

1:30 pm

Guardians of Meaning: Publishing as Soul Work in a Machine Age

Bob Hutchins, Executive AI Consultant

In this session delivered by a noted thought leader in the AI space, we’ll explore:

• How tools of every era, from the printing press to generative AI, don’t just shape distribution, but reshape imagination, attention, and even inner life.
• How the publishing world has always lived at the hinge of technology and soul: think of the Reformation, the rise of mass literacy, or the paperback revolution.
• How the present moment calls for publishers not only to manage disruption but to shepherd meaning, care for their own inner lives, and protect the imaginative space of readers.

2:30 pm

The Future of Christian Publishing in an AI Age: A Panel Discussion

Joe Wikert, Industry Tech consultant | MODERATOR
Brooke Dobson, Co-founder & Chief Commercial Officer of Shimmr AI
Bob Hutchins, Executive AI Consultant
Thomas Minkus, Co-founder of Veristage
George Walkley, AI Media & Publishing consultant

This session features a panel of leaders in the AI sector and will discuss where this important technology is today, where it's likely to be in the next 12-plus months, and how publishers should be experimenting now so they're best prepared for tomorrow.

3:30 pm

Break

4:00 pm

Reaching a Changing Culture with Meaningful Content

Stacey Altamari, Senior Director of Consumer Insights, HarperCollins Christian Publishing
JJ O’Malley, Senior Manager of Trends and Analytics, HarperCollins

In a time where cultural identities and spiritual interests continue to shift, our strength as Christian publishers lies in assisting people's search for meaning, stability, and hope. This presentation offers a high-level overview of key trends and of the ways Scripture-centered content is resonating across diverse groups. Its aim is to spark fresh thinking to meet audiences where they are and support meaningful engagement by aligning our content with book buyer needs in an evolving cultural landscape.

5:00 pm

Networking Mixer

6:30 pm

ECPA Awards Celebration & Dinner

8:30 pm

Informal Conversations