CFO-HR Gathering
Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids, MI
Overview
This gathering will give provide a time for strategy focused discussion, networking, and fellowship. The gathering will take place at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI, an intimate setting that allows for candid discussion on the opportunities and challenges of CFOs and HR Directors at CCCU schools.
Agenda
Monday June 5, 2023
11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Registration/On Campus Housing Check-In Open
Faber Lobby
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch
Gainey Cafeteria
Sponsored by Pioneer College Caterers
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
Plenary Session 1: Cornerstone University Welcome & Presidential Address
Scott Stewart, CFO & Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño, President
Gainey Cafeteria
Vice President for Finance and Operations at Cornerstone University, Scott Stewart, will welcome the group to campus and provide logistical details for the next three days.
CCCU schools are facing headwinds of the temptation of mission drift on top of vicious market competition, a disenchanted and shrinking client segment, and a stagnated economy. Dr. Moreno-Riaño, President of Cornerstone University, will discuss how CFOs play an essential role in helping their institutions to navigate these difficult times through transforming these headwinds into tailwinds to advance the flourishing of their institutions.
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Plenary Session 2: Innovation
Bill Verhelle, CEO of QuickFi
Faber 115
3:30 PM – 3:45 PM
Refreshment Break
Bolthouse/Faber Lobby
Sponsored by Cornerstone Management
3:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Breakout Sessions
- CFO Roundtable; Bolthouse 131
- HR Roundtable; Bolthouse 132
In this breakout session, attendees will gather with their peers to discuss the information shared in the previous plenary session, and address challenges and opportunities in their position at their respective institutions.
(Closed Sessions)
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Tour of Cornerstone University
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Off-Site Dinner
Calvin University Prince Conference Center
Transportation will be provided
Sponsored by Creative Dining Services
Tuesday June 6, 2023
7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Registration Desk & Exhibit Hall Open
Bolthouse Lobby
7:00 AM – 7:45 AM
Breakfast
Gainey Cafeteria
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM
Worship & Devotion
Christ Chapel
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Plenary Session 3: Religious Freedom in Higher Ed
Faber 115
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Refreshment Break
Bolthouse/Faber Lobby
Sponsored by Slingshot
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Breakout Sessions
- CFO: CCCU Financial Aid Survey Results; Dan Nelson & Jeff Olsen, Bethel University – MN; Bolthouse 131
- For the twenty-fourth year, Jeff Olson and Dan Nelson (Bethel – MN) have surveyed financial aid directors at CCCU institutions. This wide-ranging session will share the survey results and trends in pricing, discount rates, student debt, and family wealth. Current hot topics including packaging, timing of awards, staffing, and student pay rates, will be addressed. Finally, Jeff and Dan will take a deep dive into trends in affordability and institutional financial health, including identification of factors that led to improving net tuition revenue over the past five years.
- HR: Follow Up Q&A Time; Bolthouse 132
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Lunch
Gainey Cafeteria
Sponsored by GuideStone
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Breakout Sessions
- CFO: Cyber Security; Allison Davis, CapinCrouse; Bolthouse 131
- The deadline for compliance with the updates to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) is here and the due date for full compliance is June 9, 2023. In this presentation, we will review why GLBA is important for all business leaders and why it is more than just a compliance issue for the IT department. We will discuss what GLBA compliance can look like in your institution, highlighting several of the critical changes from the recent update.
- Sponsored by CapinCrouse
- HR: Title IX Regulations; Kathryn Nash, Lathrop GPM; Bolthouse 132
- While higher education institutions await final amendments to the Title IX regulations from the Biden Administration, many are still wrestling with how best to implement the current regulations. Presenter Kathryn Nash, a higher education attorney specializing in Title IX compliance, will discuss trends and best practices for complying with the complex requirements of the current Title IX regulations. The session will also provide a high-level overview of the Department of Education’s proposed regulations or an in-depth review of the final regulations, depending on whether the final rule is published before the presentation.
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
Refreshment Break
Bolthouse/Faber Lobby
Sponsored by Ziegler
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Combined Breakout Session
CFO/HR Combined: Insourcing vs Outsourcing Panel Discussion
(Closed Session)
This session will allow for an informal discussion revolving around opportunities to outsource various services at our institutions. What has worked? What hasn’t worked?
Faber 115
4:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Shuttle Transfer from Cornerstone University to Meijer Gardens
(Shuttle will depart from Faber Halls’ parking lot)
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Off-Campus Dinner & Outing: Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Sponsored by Sovereign Insurance and Campus Works
Wednesday June 7, 2023
7:00 AM – 7:45 AM
Breakfast
Gainey Cafeteria
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM
Worship & Devotion
Christ Chapel
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Plenary Session 4
Ken Johnson, CFO of Grand Legacy Corporation and Spring Arbor group will discuss how his innovations in the toy industry achieved worldwide success. Then he will discuss Spring Arbor Group’s approach to funding Christian higher education through donor investments in one of its Freedom Partner Funds; and how this unique process allows for the sharing of profits from these investments with the partnering Christian institutions. Through this Private Equity approach, Spring Arbor Group is driving more funding to Christian institutions that benefits both student and kingdom interest.
Faber 115
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Refreshment Break
Bolthouse/Faber Lobby
Sponsored by Ronald Blue Trust
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Combined Breakout Session
CFO/HR Combined Roundtable Discussion
During this final combined session, we will discuss what we learned over the past three days and address other remaining topics of interest from the group.
(Closed Session)
Faber 115
12:00 PM
Grab and Go Lunch
Bolthouse Lobby
Plenary Speakers
Ken Johnson
Ken Johnson
In 1979, as a teenager, he started a game publishing company in his parent’s basement, producing games he invented.
In 1987 he licensed the manufacturing and distribution rights of all his products. His most successful game is the worldwide bestseller “Phase 10” Card Game. It is available at every game retailer in the country. He has maintained IP (ownership) rights and he receives royalties on the worldwide sales. Currently his licensees include, Mattel, the maker of Barbie and Hot Wheels.
In 2020, Ken is the CEO & co-founded Spring Arbor Group, LLC. SAG is the only mission-driven Private Equity firm. It provides Christian institutions a share of the profits produced by companies in it’s portfolio.
Ken has been married to his wife, Valerie, for 27 years. They have a 16-year-old son, Christian. They live in Franklin, Michigan.
Gerson Moreno-Riaño
Gerson Moreno-Riaño
Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño, president of Cornerstone University, has served in Christian higher education for over two decades. Committed to shepherding students to love God with all their minds and hearts, Moreno-Riaño’s expertise includes the history of political philosophy with an emphasis in early modern political ideas, democratic theory and political theology and ethics. He has published six books and 25 scholarly articles and book chapters, in addition to numerous interviews and publications featured in such outlets as The Washington Post, The Washington Examiner, CBN News, Fox News, Inside Higher Education, Virginia Business, Voice of America Radio and American Family Radio.
Scott Stewart
Scott Stewart
Scott Stewart has served at Cornerstone University for over 35 years. He graduated from Cornerstone University (CU) in 1987 and earned his MBA degree from Grand Valley State University in 1992. After having served at CU in several roles, including Dir. of Human Resources and Controller & Compliance Coordinator, he was promoted to Vice President & CFO in June of 2019. In January of 2022, Scott assumed his current position as VP for Finance & Business Operations. In his current role, Scott oversees accounting & finance, student financial services, facilities, IT, campus safety, and food service.
Bill Verhelle
Bill Verhelle
Bill is the Founder of Innovation Finance and First American Commercial Bancorp, Inc.
While a student at Cornell Law School in 1996, Bill founded First American. Bill served as the CEO of First American (from its launch in 1996 until 2015). Today, First American serves as Royal Bank of Canada’s U.S. equipment finance business, with several billion dollars in annual loan originations (faef.com).
Bill has J.D. from Cornell Law School (’98), an MBA from the Anderson Business School at UCLA (’92) and a Bachelor of General Studies degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (’88).
In 2009 Bill served as the Chairman of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, serving the $1 trillion per year U.S. industry in Washington DC.
REGISTRATION
On-Campus Housing: If you’ve selected a registration option that includes housing, you will be housed in a two-bedroom, suite style dorm. Each registrant will have their own bedroom, but will share a two-sink bathroom. Linen packages are included (you will not need to bring your own sheets, towels, or pillows). Toiletries are not included.
Registration Eligibility and Process:
CCCU conferences and events are a benefit to faculty, staff, and administrators at our CCCU institutions, so they are typically closed to non-member individuals and institutions unless they are sponsors or speakers. There are some exceptions to this rule, so if you are a non-member interested in attending, please send your request to conferences@cccu.org
All registrations are reviewed to ensure they meet the CCCU eligibility policies. The CCCU reserves the right to refuse or cancel all ineligible registrations at any time and shall not be held accountable for any outside fees associated with this cancellation.
To register for the conference, click the Register button and sign in to your CCCU account. If you have any issues or if you forgot your log-in information, please call our office at (202) 546-8713 for assistance.
By registering for the conference, you are providing permission to receive emails, mailings, and faxes related to the conference. If you would like to opt-out from receiving the e-Advance Newsletter or if you wish to no longer receive emails from the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, updates your preferences by logging into your MY CCCU account.
Full payment must accompany your registration. Please call the CCCU office at (202) 546-8713 if you need to make payment by check.
Cancellation Policy
You may cancel your registration at any time prior to the start of the program. If you must cancel, please email conferences@cccu.org. Refunds for cancellations received through Wednesday, May 17, 2023 will be issued. No refunds will be issued for cancellations received after Wednesday, May 17. No-shows are not refundable. Registration transfers will be honored at any time.
COVID-19 Protocols
Testing/Vaccination Policy
The CCCU is constantly monitoring CDC guidelines. We are living in a new reality, and we think we can navigate that reality together.
Currently, the CCCU is requesting that attendees at the Institute be fully vaccinated or have a negative COVID test 1-3 business days prior to arrival. This policy is subject to change. An individual can be considered fully vaccinated 14 days after completion of a COVID-19 vaccination series (after the second dose of a 2-dose series, or after one dose of a single-dose vaccine).
Conference Rates
Early Bird
Regular
Late
Hotel & Travel Information
Hotel Options
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Grand Rapids East
Fixed Cornerstone price of $139/night; 1.4 miles from campus
3251 Deposit Dr NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Hilton Garden Inn Grand Rapids East
$185/night; 4.2 miles from campus
2321 E Beltline Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Hampton Inn & Suites Grand Rapids Downtown
$199/night; 4.7 miles from campus
433 Dudley Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Delta Hotels Grand Rapids Airport
$155/night; 4.8 miles from campus
3333 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512
Travel
The closest airport to Cornerstone University is Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) which is located 12 miles and approximately 20 minutes from campus.
Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
