Speakers

Alex Weber

With his contagious positive energy, Alex Weber immediately impacts audiences and ignites record-breaking achievements! Alex is an International Keynote Speaker, Award-Winning Host for NBC, and competitor on American Ninja Warrior. Alex is also the only person ever to Host and Compete on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior. Alex helps Leaders, Individuals, and Organizations be relentless, gain their competitive edge, and unlock new levels of achievement!

Alex connects so well with audiences because of his genuine openness about the challenges, self-doubt, and uncertainty that we all face - and how you can overcome it! As a professional entertainer, US Lacrosse Coach of the Year, and acclaimed Author, Alex is highly sought after for his unique ability to engage, transform, and empower audiences. Alex has positively inspired over 3.5 million people worldwide, and worked with major companies like ABC, Xerox, Apple, Amazon, Under Armor, LinkedIn, The Los Angeles Lakers, Stanford Business and many more. Alex is also the only person ever to Host and Compete on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior.

With his riveting storytelling, uplifting humor, and captivating energy, Alex empowers you to be a positive leader, propel past challenges, and accomplish your highest goals in your career, your relationships, and your life!

Kristina Rose

Kristina Rose is the Director of the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), where she oversees programs and services that support crime victims and survivors. Ms. Rose was appointed to this position by President Joe Biden and sworn in on July 12, 2021. At OVC, she oversees nearly $9 billion in grant funding to provide vital compensation and assistance to persons impacted by crime. OVC also invests in new and innovative approaches to improving the criminal justice and community response to crime victimization and raises awareness of crime victim rights.

Prior to her OVC appointment, Ms. Rose was selected to serve on the Department of Defense Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military, where she led the Victim Care and Support line of effort.

Ms. Rose spent nearly 20 years at DOJ serving in numerous roles including as Deputy Director at OVC, as Acting Director and Deputy Director for the National Institute of Justice, and as the Chief of Staff for the Office on Violence Against Women. In 2016, Ms. Rose had the distinct privilege of working at the White House on detail as a Senior Policy Advisor on violence against women in the Office of Vice President Joe Biden. As Senior Policy Advisor, she provided expert advice and guidance on domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In 2013, Ms. Rose spent 8 months as a victim advocate in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., working hands-on with victims of all violent crimes.

At DOJ, Ms. Rose spearheaded many large-scale Federal projects including the first national survey to measure the crime of stalking in the United States; an action research project on untested sexual assault kits that produced national models for jurisdictions around the country; and a virtual training on sexual assault forensic exams with Dartmouth Medical School. Ms. Rose also led the development of the first National Sexual Assault TeleNursing Center, which provides virtual guidance to medical personnel conducting sexual assault forensic exams in rural and isolated areas.

In between her periods of Federal service, Ms. Rose served in the non-profit sector as the Director of Strategic Partnerships for Healing Justice and as the Executive Director for End Violence Against Women International.

She holds an M.S. in criminal justice from Northeastern University and a B.A. in sociology from George Mason University.

William Pawlucy

William Pawlucy, CAE, MPA, IOM, fell into this wonderful world of nonprofits like most of us probably have. He fell into it and never left with three decades and work across continents including the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia. He has had some really interesting and unique opportunities such as the development of a post-conflict plan for Syria and setting accreditation standards in Georgia. He has collaborated with nonprofit organizations like the American Dental Association Foundation, National Association of REALTORS®, and many state and local state associations and chambers of commerce.

His book, "The Essential Handbook for Nonprofit Leadership," or The Handbook is a best-selling book and recently designated the core text for the University of Louisville's Master's in Social Work program, offers invaluable practical solutions and tips. Through his newly launched YouTube channel, "The NonProfit Life," he extends his commitment to knowledge-sharing, providing accessible guidance to a wide audience.

Before he fell into the world of nonprofits and Association Options, his career traversed various leadership roles in multiple industries globally, including serving as a national examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Award.

Residing in the charming city of Charleston, South Carolina, William balances his professional life with a warm and bustling family life, sharing his home with his wife, four children, three cats named Lulu, Salsa, and Smudge, and a dog named Rocky.

Tracey Madigan

Tracey Madigan is Director of the 15 Minutes Group. She is a veteran news producer and journalist who has worked in television, radio and online news. Tracey takes complicated issues and makes them concise and enlightening for a wide audience. She was Executive Producer at SiriusXM and ABC7 in Washington, DC, where she has been based for 17 years. Tracey studied journalism in her native Canada and worked for ten years with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She speaks English and French. In addition to presentation and media training for executives, scholars and authors, she has helped launch several successful podcasts.

Carmalita March-Harris

Carmalita March-Harris is a third-generation funeral director and embalmer with March Funeral Homes in Reisterstown, MD which her grandparents founded 60 years ago in their East Baltimore row home. The business has seven funeral homes serving Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, and March-Harris is general manager and supervising mortician at three of the seven funeral homes.

Leili McMurrough

Leili McMurrough is the president and program director for Worsham College of Mortuary Science and serves as the Chair of the Committee on Accreditation for the American Board of Funeral Service Education. In my capacity as an instructor, program administrator, and instructional designer, I have had the privilege of witnessing her outstanding leadership and dedication to the advancement of the funeral service profession.

Leili brings a unique blend of expertise to her role, being not only a licensed funeral director and embalmer but also a licensed attorney. This multifaceted background allows her to navigate the intricate legal landscape surrounding the funeral service industry with exceptional skill and insight.

As president of Worsham, she has exhibited exemplary leadership, steering the institution towards innovation and excellence. She has helped expand the program offering to include an online Associate of Science degree, more than tripling enrollments. Her commitment to fostering a supportive, holistic learning environment has greatly contributed to the success of students under her guidance. The programs initiated under her leadership have not only met but exceeded quality standards in funeral service education and higher education outside of mortuary science.

In her role as Chair of the American Board of Funeral Service Education, Leili has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of funeral service education in the United States. Her approach to curriculum improvements and tireless advocacy for the profession have earned her the respect of peers and colleagues across the nation.

Jake Johnson

Jake Johnson is President & CEO at Johnson Consulting, Jake provides strategic direction and marketing innovations that laid the groundwork for the company’s rapid growth, gaining recognition as the premiere total solutions provider within the funeral industry.

He is known as an innovator, change agent and thought leader. His strong foundation in accounting, financial analysis and technological expertise gives him the unique ability to identify simple solutions to complex business problems and the skill to communicate these solutions across all levels of the organization.

Chris Cruger

Chris Cruger is the Chief Executive Officer of the Foresight Companies, but his passion and desire for the development of the funeral and cemetery profession come through in everything that he does.

Chris’ experience in the funeral and cemetery profession began over 25 years ago and spans throughout North America, across five continents and 25 countries. Throughout his career, he has analyzed several thousand funeral homes and cemeteries and has a unique depth of perspective in this space. He regularly consults with members of the financial community on matters related to funeral service and has strong relationships in capital markets.

Andrew Allman

Andrew Allman is the Executive Director of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association bringing with him nearly 20 years of experience in the association world. Through his public accounting experiences, he developed expertise in the not-for-profit sector and in 2013, transitioned to his role as finance and operations director for the Ohio AgriBusiness Association leading to his executive director role of the Nutrient Stewardship Council. Andrew joined OFDA in 2022 and thoroughly enjoys representing funeral professionals. Andrew enjoys outdoor sports and recreation with his wife and two daughters..

Douglas R. “Dutch” Nie, II

Dutch Nie is a 2023-24 president of the National Funeral Directors Association. He is a second-generation funeral director who grew up in the residence above his family’s funeral home, Nie Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and has worked every position in the funeral home – car washer, lawn mower, manager – and now is the owner of the family multi-location funeral business.

Dutch is a dedicated member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association serving on many committees as well as all of the offices from district officer to state president. He is very proud of his tenure with the MFDA board, especially his role in establishing a leadership model during his presidency that increased membership, reduced member apathy and boosted member engagement.

On a national level, Dutch has previously served on the NFDA Board of Directors as an at-large representative, secretary, treasurer and president-elect. He has also served NFDA as a member of the Disaster Preparedness Task Force, Convention Education Task Force, Advocacy Committee, Audit Task Force, Budget Task Force and Spokesperson Team.

Lesley Witter

Lesley Witter, MPA, CAE, is NFDA’s Senior Vice President, Advocacy. In her role as NFDA’s federal lobbyist, she directs all government relations efforts including all legislative and regulatory programs and political activities. Lesley works closely with the nation’s legislators, regulators, and their staff to highlight the importance of the funeral profession and to advance funeral service legislative and regulatory initiatives on Capitol Hill and with federal agencies. Lesley is a Certified Association Executive and has a bachelor’s degree in government and international relations and a master’s degree in public administration from George Mason University. She has been with NFDA since 2007.