Shineforth Speaker Series
At Shineforth, Activate Curiosity; Embrace Perspectives isn’t just a core value — it’s how we live and lead. The Shineforth Speaker Series is designed to bring this to life by hosting innovative, inspiring individuals who spark conversations that matter.
Shineforth Speaker Series
At Shineforth, Activate Curiosity; Embrace Perspectives isn’t just a core value — it’s how we live and lead. The Shineforth Speaker Series is designed to bring this to life by hosting innovative, inspiring individuals who spark conversations that matter.
About the Speaker Series
At Shineforth, Activate Curiosity; Embrace Perspectives isn’t just a core value — it’s how we live and lead. The Shineforth Speaker Series is designed to bring this to life by hosting innovative, inspiring individuals who spark conversations that matter. These events aren’t just about listening; they’re about learning, connecting, and growing together. We aim to attract new supporters, engage our existing donors, and deepen relationships with our community partners and staff. It’s about sharing our mission in a way that sticks — making sure UMFS isn’t just known but known for good.
The goal of the Speaker Series is to create a platform for learning and connection that reflects our mission of supporting children and families. We envision Shineforth as a recognized destination for thoughtful dialogue and community engagement—a place where people come together to inspire and be inspired, contributing to positive change both within and beyond our walls.
Our Speaker Series features thought leaders who cover a range of topics with broad appeal. Each event is designed to engage donors, community leaders, staff, volunteers, foster families, and referral sources. Whether it’s a nationally recognized figure or a local change-maker, our speakers inspire fresh thinking, meaningful connections, and action.
Past Speakers
Jen Psaki
Jen Psaki is the New York Times Bestselling author of “Say More: Lessons from Work, the White House, and the World” and the host of Inside with Jen Psaki on MSNBC. She served as the thirty-fourth White House Press Secretary under President Biden until May 2022.
She has also served as White House Communications Director under President Obama, the spokesperson for the State Department under then Secretary of State John Kerry and worked on three presidential campaigns.
Delegate David Reid
David is a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 32nd district. David grew up in Rockbridge County, Virginia. In 1972, he moved to Shineforth, which was then known as the Virginia Methodist Children’s Home. He left Shineforth six years later, moving to Oklahoma with his foster parents. David became the first person in his family to graduate from college and went on to serve as a Naval Intelligence Officer for 23 years in the US Navy Reserve. In 2014, David founded Rockbridge Consulting. In his first year as a delegate, David sponsored HB1219, legislation which allows foster children ages 14 years and up to request that their birth parents regain custody. Delegate Reid invited Governor Northam to the Shineforth Richmond campus to sign the bill into law in May 2018.
Chris Heeter
Featured on National Geographic Today and recognized with national speaking awards, Chris also shares a team of 26 Alaskan Huskies with her mushing partner. With stories from 30+ years of wilderness leadership experience and 20+ years of speaking all across North America, the abundant parallels between these adventures and the world of work make up the core of her presentations. Chris brings Wild to the workplace to help free us from the trappings of ‘how we’ve always done it, and to support organizations, leaders, and teams in pulling to their potential.
Questions?
If you have any questions at all, please reach out to Kate Ockerman, Director of Philanthropy & Volunteerism at kockerman@Shineforth.org or 804.353.4461.