SpEAKERS
SAlt 2025
MAINSTAGE SPEAKERS
Rick Dempsey
FMR. SR. VP at Disney | President of Snocone Productions
Rick Dempsey and his wife, Kari, are active members of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA. Their family includes five children, 4 of whom are married, and are blessed with 11 grandchildren.
Over the past 35 years, Rick has worked for The Walt Disney Company. As a founding member and Sr. Vice President – Creative at Disney Character Voices, domestic and international, he played a pivotal role in directing some of Hollywood’s most prominent talent in their character portrayals. Additionally, he oversaw the creation of all Disney, Pixar, Lucas and Marvel projects in as many as 65 languages worldwide. In 2017 he received an Emmy for his contributions to the industry in international localization. He was also a key figure in bringing The Chronicles of Narnia franchise to the Disney Studios.
Presently, Rick serves as the President of SnoCone Productions, a venture he established to continue his endeavors in family entertainment. The Chosen TV series relies on Rick and SnoCone Productions to achieve a groundbreaking feat: delivering The Chosen in 100 dubbed and 600 subtitled languages, marking a milestone in media.
Natalie Runion
Best Selling Author | Raised to Stay
Natalie Runion is the USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and ECPA bestselling author of Raised to Stay: Persevering in Ministry When You Have a Million Reasons to Walk Away and The House That Jesus Built: Leading Our Churches Back to God’s Original Blueprint (September 2024). She is also the founder of Raised to Stay, an online community nearly 200,000 “Stayers” who are honest in their wrestling about their relationship with Jesus and His Church.
A pastor’s daughter from Cincinnati, Ohio, Natalie graduated from Miami University with a degree in education and has served as a pastor in the local church for over twenty years. She is a songwriter, worship leader, podcaster, and sought-after speaker at churches and conferences around the world.
Natalie lives in Kentucky with her husband, Tony, and their two daughters. Natalie and Tony work together to provide training and education to pastors and leaders in pursuit of a healthy and reconciled church.
Sojo
SALT HOST
Joseph Sojourner (aka Sojo) has emerged as a refreshing voice of creativity and leadership for this generation, harnessing the power of story to connect people to purpose. Sojo is owner of Two Cents Creative Thinkers, an Atlanta-based creative agency, as well as creative consultant for Trilith Studios, where he lives. Sojo is a trusted voice on next generation business leaders for many events throughout the world, has been featured on NBC’s Your Move in candid conversations with leadership guru Andy Stanley, and inspires schools, universities, churches, and teams alongside Orange and Growing Leaders. In 2022, Sojo launched The Moonwalkers Podcast, a place for the doers to uncover the steps needed for true success and the dreamers to discuss the leaps needed for the betterment of mankind.
Siran stacey
Fmr. Alabama Tail back | NFL Europe MVP
Siran Stacy was born and raised in Southeast Alabama. His accomplishments include exploits such as Hall of fame running back inductee at Coffeyville Junior College in Coffeyville, KS (1987-1988), a 2nd team All-American tail back at The University of Alabama (1989-1991) and 2nd round draft choice by The Philadelphia eagles in the spring of 1992. In 1995 he was drafted into The World Football League/ NFL Europe with The Scottish Claymores and became league MVP and All-time leading rusher. During this time he lived in Edinburgh and Glasgow Scotland and traveled throughout Europe playing football. Upon leaving the sports world, he started working in the corporate field with mortgage companies such as Home Town Lenders, Countrywide Home Loans, Wells Fargo Home Banking and Coastal Community Bank. Along with working, he had a passion for ministry. Stacy worked 5 years with Bill Glass Prison Ministry which positively impacts the prison system worldwide, he also spoke with multiple FCA groups as well as speaking at small churches and youth rallies. November 19, 2007 brought about tragic life changing circumstances that propelled Stacy in June of 2008 into full-time Ministry. In 2009, with the call of God on his life, Siran was ordained into ministry by Sr. Pastor Steve Vaggalis of Destiny Worship Center in Miramar Beach, FL. He has been in full time ministry for 15 years. Stacy’s Ministry has had a profound impact for God’s Kingdom throughout the United States and 5 continents. Everywhere God takes him people are inspired and lives are changed by the power of Jesus Christ.
Workshop Speakers
Brian Taylor
Coach | VP Slingshot Group
Brian Taylor has served and equipped the local church for over 20 years. His background spans various denominations, cultures, and settings as he has led worship ministries in churches of a few hundred to over 30,000 across multiple locations. As a worship and creative pastor, he loves creating worship environments that are transformational and engaging. As a member of senior leadership teams, his mission has been to help clarify vision and strategy, cultivate healthy team culture, and develop strong leaders. As an executive coach and speaker, he is passionate about helping high-performing leaders ditch discontent, maximize potential, and align their performance with their purpose.
Brian and his wife, Lauren, live just north of Dallas, Texas, where they live with their two beautiful kids (five, if you count their two dogs and one cat, as Brian does). They’ve had the opportunity to lead worship and invest in teams together across the country. Brian also serves as Vice President of Slingshot Group’s Worship & Creative Arts division, leading a stellar team helping churches build healthy teams across the country in Worship, Production, and Digital/Communications.
Wade Joye
Fmr Worship Leader | Elevation
Wade Joye is a speaker and leadership coach, author of “This Dream Is Not For You,” and host of the “Dreamers and Disciples” podcast.
Wade served as the Worship Pastor at Elevation Church for over 14 years until transitioning off of staff in late 2021 to serve churches across the country through his teaching and coaching ministry.
During his time at Elevation, Wade oversaw the development of worship culture and staffing for over 20 locations, and spearheaded the growth and pastoring of Elevation Worship. In addition to building worship culture across all Elevation locations, Wade was instrumental in creating the systems that allowed Elevation Worship songs to go around the world as he led the record label and touring teams. Wade was also a songwriter on several of the earlier Elevation Worship songs, being part of the writing team for songs like O Come To The Altar, Resurrecting and many more sung in churches all over the country. Serving on the overall leadership team at Elevation, Wade also led the teams that executed the weekend worship experience, and oversaw service programming and coached campus pastors on their stage hosting and preaching. Having preached on the main stage at Elevation on a regular basis, Wade’s greatest passion is to teach and coach people to develop and maintain consistent spiritual rhythms and disciplines that cultivate a heart that is grounded in a personal devotion to Jesus.
Wade and his wife, Ferris, have 3 daughters they adore and are learning to navigate ministry and faith as they raise children with special needs like Cystic Fibrosis and Cerebral Palsy.
Passion Creative Team
Passion city | Passion conference
The creative team behind the Passion City Church, Passion Conference, and Lift Conference. This team sets the bar for creativity in the church every year and now you get to learn from them.
Brady Sticker
Founder | Church candy Marketing
Brady Sticker is a passionate digital marketer, speaker, and author committed to helping churches fulfill their mission of spreading the Gospel. After years of managing over $6 million in Facebook ad campaigns and working with 1,000+ businesses, Brady shifted his focus to ministry, helping his own church, Vibrant Church, grow exponentially through social media.
The overwhelming success at Vibrant Church sparked the birth of ChurchCandy Marketing, a “done-for-you” social media advertising agency for churches. Today, Brady and his team have helped hundreds of churches across the country welcome thousands of new guests every Sunday.
As the host of the ChurchCandy Podcast, Brady interviews influential pastors and faith leaders, sharing insights and strategies to empower churches. He also travels across the nation speaking at conferences, masterminds, and podcasts, educating pastors and church leaders on how digital marketing can transform their outreach efforts.
Brady’s book, Plan Your Visit Playbook, provides a step-by-step guide to using Facebook™ ads to attract 20-50+ new church guests every month. This actionable guide is rooted in proven strategies and years of experience, helping churches grow and make a greater impact in their communities
When he’s not working with the ChurchCandy team or speaking at events, Brady enjoys spending quality time with his family and spreading his vision for a digitally connected, thriving church community.
Brad Zimmerman
Pro-presenter guy | Founder of church media drop
Brad is the Creative Director of Watermark Church in West Michigan where he designs and creates gatherings & spaces for people to encounter Jesus. He is passionate about resourcing churches to share the gospel, so he created ChurchMediaDrop.com, a free media-sharing site. He also hosts the official ProPresenter training videos. Brad loves playing music, building Legos, and trying new and creative things.
Jessical Bealer
Director of Family Ministry Services at Generis | Coach
Bio coming soon.
Dennis Choy
Production Manager | Shoreline Church
Building teams, especially for behind-the-scenes ministries, is what Dennis Choy has done for over 30 years. He oversaw the production teams at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California for many years before becoming PM at Shoreline. Before joining the Saddleback team, Dennis was the executive pastor and production pastor for 25 years at North Coast Church in San Diego. Creating and developing production, creative and communications teams are his favorite ways to lead and serve, and he lends real-life perspective on how things really work in the church world. Having taught classes at NAB, INFOCOMM, SALT, NAMM and other conferences around the country, he is excited to share his experiences—good and bad—with anyone who wants to hear. Dennis resides in Oceanside, California, with his wife, Michelle, and their three children.
Phil Bowdle
Author | Coach
For 18+ years, Phil has been serving in the trenches of creative ministry. Most recently, Phil served at West Ridge Church in NW Atlanta as the Creative Arts Pastor overseeing worship, production, video, and communications teams. Phil released a best-selling book “Rethink Communication: A Playbook to Clarify and Communicate Everything In Your Church” that has helped shape the communication strategy for churches all over the world. Through is work coaching church leaders and as VP of Marketing at Slingshot Group, Phil’s passion is to find clarity in the chaos of ministry and to equip church leaders to put Jesus on display.
Jeremy VanValkenburg
Live experience pastor | Crosspoint.tv
BIO COMING SOON.
Stephen brewster
Owner of Harmony Group | Creative Coach
Stephen helps Churches overcome being overwhelmed.
His unique path has allowed him to lead as an Executive and Creative Pastor in several local churches as well as an executive in the music business. Today, he helps churches create and release original music. Additionally, Stephen coaches Pastors, Executive leaders, and creatives on leadership and creative processes.
Stephen lives with his amazing wife, Jackie, and four awesome kids just outside of Nashville, TN.
becca bogardus
Comms Director | Long Hollow Church
BIO COMING SOON
Mark macdonald
Author | be known for something
For 30+ years Mark’s worked in Branding, Advertising, and Communication. Now focusing on helping churches communicate effectively as a brand strategist, bestselling author, engaging speaker, and a (heart of a teacher) consultant with his agency, Be Known for Something. He also serves as Executive Director of Center for Church Communication.
He’s sought for his church branding, marketing communication, and business insights, on-the-spot website assessments, and practical storytelling.
Dustin Pead
coach
After 20 years of full-time creative ministry, Dustin Pead now seeks to help other creatives through coaching, consulting, and fractional services. He resides in Atlanta, GA with his wife Sarah, and their two children, Ethan and Aubrey. Dustin’s mission is to help creatives know themselves, their process, and their teams so they can create greater things together.
Darrel Girardier
Comms Director | Brentwood Baptist
Stephen helps Churches overcome being overwhelmed.
His unique path has allowed him to lead as an Executive and Creative Pastor in several local churches as well as an executive in the music business. Today, he helps churches create and release original music. Additionally, Stephen coaches Pastors, Executive leaders, and creatives on leadership and creative processes.
Stephen lives with his amazing wife, Jackie, and four awesome kids just outside of Nashville, TN.
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