Robert Cunningham is the COO of Stages Northwest, the region’s premier supplier for music festivals, professional sports events, corporate gatherings, and private parties. Before joining the industry, he made a career managing large commercial projects from 25-100M. He’s a published author and speaker, focusing on methodical and intentional strategies for the next generation of leaders. His book on the topic of proactive management systems is set to release in 2027.

Kerstin Motsch-Reiter is the Special Events Supervisor for the City of Hillsboro. Her experience with event building and management has ranged from international conferences to smaller community-based engagement. In her work she strives to build strong partnerships, foster teamwork, and promote equity and inclusion. Building and sustaining events that work for you and your community is her passion.

Tim and Pam Fahndrich are lifelong entrepreneurs and the co-founders of WhirLocal Media Group (pronounced "We're Local"), a community-based media and marketing company. For more than 17 years, they have helped small businesses, nonprofits, and local organizations grow through better marketing and smart technology.

Tim and Pam are active volunteers in their community and believe that local businesses, nonprofits, and events are the heart of what makes a place feel connected and alive.

Together they bring a practical and encouraging approach to navigating new technology and modern marketing, helping local leaders strengthen their impact in the communities they serve.

Bill Blair brings more than 30 years of experience in fair and event management, emergency response, and organizational leadership. He served as CEO of both the Kern County Fair and California Mid-Winter Fair and Fiesta, as well as Administrative Officer for the San Diego County Fair. Today, Bill serves on the Field Leadership Team/Incident Management Team for Team Rubicon’s West Branch, a veteran-led humanitarian organization, where he supports disaster response and field operations. His extensive experience in event operations, leadership, and incident management provides a unique perspective on preparing for and managing challenges in complex event environments.

This session will be co-facilitated by our members who work with the events industry.

The Pacific Northwest Facilitators Guild is a regional collective of independent facilitators serving Oregon and Washington. Our members have decades of experience collaborating with event planners and conference organizers to ensure participants engage in the conversations that move people and drive action after the program ends. Event professionals trust our members to design and facilitate participatory away days, retreats, small association conferences, and networking sessions inside larger conferences.

Coleen Gose is the founder of Pilina Consulting, a leadership development and organizational culture consultancy helping leaders communicate better, connect deeper, and build workplace cultures rooted in aloha. A speaker, consultant, and author, she brings more than 25 years of Fortune 500 experience in supplier relations, contract negotiation, and team leadership to her work with executives and teams. Her practice is built on the proprietary HEART Framework — Honesty, Empathy, Accountability, Respect, and Trust — a values-driven approach to strengthening trust, improving communication, and building cultures where people do their best work.

Her signature keynote, "Speak Their Language: Mastering Communication Agility Across Generations and Cultures," equips leaders to turn generational and cultural difference from a source of friction into a source of strength. Coleen's decades inside large organizations give her a practitioner's credibility that resonates with senior leaders. Her sessions blend storytelling with practical tools audiences can apply immediately, and she partners with corporations, associations, government agencies, law firms, and nonprofits nationwide. Coleen holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a BA in Law and Justice from Central Washington University. She lives in Portland, Oregon, where the trails — and her two dogs, Bugsy and Molly — keep her grounded.

Michael Jonas, JD, MBA is a licensed attorney, community advocate, and champion for equitable economic and social systems. Throughout his career, he has focused on strengthening small businesses, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations through accessible legal education, strategic guidance, and values-aligned support. Following his 2024 congressional run, Michael continued his work empowering community organizations by providing consulting, training, and legal-adjacent education rooted in clarity, practicality, and community care.