Workshops & Roundtables
We are so excited to incorporate these hands-on workshops and personalized small-group discussions, lead by experts in their fields and designed to meet you where you are.
Meet Our Breakout Leaders
Friday Workshops
Click to view the descriptions of these 90-minute sessions.
Leader: Becky Kopitzke
beckykopitzke.com
About this Session: Ready to expand your reach without burning out? In this interactive workshop, you’ll discover how to create digital products that multiply your impact without requiring more of your presence. Learn how to identify the right product for your audience—one they’re already asking for that also generates sustainable income for your ministry or business. We’ll explore what makes an offer compelling and how to build it from content you’ve already created. Then we’ll demystify sales funnels in a few simple steps so you can serve more people on autopilot. Bring your ideas—we’ll be workshopping live!
About Becky: Becky Kopitzke is a four-time traditionally published author, speaker, blogger, podcaster, and perpetual encourager. She is a seasoned business coach for Christian authors and ministry leaders, specializing in digital product sales and marketing. Becky founded AuthorRise Academy with co-coach Tracie Miles, and she serves as a business coach for The Author Conservatory, a college-alternative program for aspiring Christian novelists. She is passionate about helping faith-based content creators pursue their calling and earn a God-honoring income from it.
Leader: Jonathan Ingraham
faithcoop.org
About this Session: Our views of work are driven by the stories and narratives that explicitly and implicitly shape us. What does it look like for us to see that the biblical story can shape the way we view our daily work, even in spaces that aren’t overtly faith-forward?
We’ll dig into competing narratives in our life, an overview of the biblical narrative, and encourage folks to begin imagining how their daily work can have deeper purpose and eternal significance. We will have time for discussion in the session as well as Q&A at the end.
About Jonathan: Jonathan is the Executive Director of Faith Co-op in Chattanooga, TN. He has spent most of his career as an experiential educator in high schools, colleges, and the professional sphere. Jonathan has a passion for helping people see how the Gospel impacts all aspects of life. He has a B.A. in Biblical & Theological Studies from Covenant College and an M.A. in Higher Education from Geneva College.
Leaders: Mandy Roberson & the MRM Team, Beth Hess, and Esther Littlefield
marketrefinedmedia.com
About this Session: Refined Vision is a hands-on, heart-centered session where you’ll prayerfully reflect, create a tangible vision board, and set purposeful goals in community with others who are dreaming big alongside you.
Led by our Market Refined Media & Publishing team, and joined by a few of our breakout leaders, this workshop is more than a creative session. It’s a space to name what matters, speak it out loud, and begin building toward it with practical support and spiritual alignment. Learn more and sign up here.
Friday Roundtables
Click to view the descriptions of these 60-minute sessions.
Leader: Josh Wilhelm
jwcreates.com
About this Session: Ready to start a podcast but not sure where to begin? This roundtable session goes far beyond microphones and editing software. Together, we’ll explore the real foundation every successful show needs: a clear purpose, a strong message, and realistic expectations for the early stages of growth.
Whether you want to use podcasting to market your business, build trust with your audience, or share your story in a new medium, this conversation will help you uncover your “why,” shape a framework that sets you up for long-term success, and avoid the common pitfalls that derail new podcasters.
Led by the Podnooga team, this interactive discussion will give you practical next steps, honest insight, and the confidence to take your first steps into podcasting.
About Josh: Josh is the owner and lead designer of JW Creates, where he specializes in cover art, logos, and website design. He’s also the host of Judged by the Cover, a podcast exploring cover art design and music discovery.
Since starting in podcasting in 2019, Josh has produced, recorded, and launched numerous shows from the ground up, which eventually led him to take over leadership of Podnooga. Now, he’s passionate about helping other podcasters and creators grow and thrive through community and collaboration.
Leader: Eric Clajus
anygoodstory.com
About this Session: In today’s digital world, video is no longer optional, it’s the most engaging and effective way to connect with audiences. In this roundtable, we’ll explore how thoughtful video production plays a powerful role in successful marketing strategies. We’ll discuss how story-driven visuals can elevate a brand, the kinds of videos that perform best across platforms, and how to tailor content for social media, websites, and campaigns. We’ll also talk about practical production tips, creative approaches, and the elements that make viewers stop, watch, and take action. Whether you’re a business owner, creative, or marketer, this discussion will offer real-world insights on creating compelling video that supports your overall marketing goals.
About Eric: Eric is a video editor rooted in the Apple universe with a passion for helping people tell their stories. His background in broadcast news gave him years of experience interviewing, recording, and editing stories that gave a voice to the unheard.
Today, Eric brings that same storytelling focus to podcasts, short-form narratives, and social media content. From producing podcasts to creating marketing pieces and testimonials, he helps individuals and businesses amplify their voice and make a bigger impact. Eric is also a member of the Podnooga team in Chattanooga, TN.
Leader: Floy and Karen Lewis
karenlewiscreative.com
About this Session: Streamline, Systemize, and Scale with Confidence!
Running a business means juggling a thousand moving parts — and most owners are doing it without enough time, help, or clarity. In this practical, hands-on roundtable, Karen and Floy Lewis will show you how to use AI as a tool for organization, communication, and efficiency so you can spend more time on the work that matters.
You’ll learn how it’s possible to:
- Turn repetitive tasks into simple, automated workflows
- Write professional emails, proposals, follow-ups, and onboarding materials
- Build SOPs that bring clarity to your operations
- Conduct market and competitor research quickly
- Create systems that help your business scale instead of stall
We will share tips and tricks, prompts and tools. You’ll also get a look at the custom AI assistants Karen and Floy have built—tools designed to help small businesses strengthen sales, streamline operations, improve client communication, and support team development.
Perfect for: service providers, agency owners, online entrepreneurs, ministry leaders, coaches, and small business teams who want to work smarter, not harder.
About Floy and Karen: Karen Lewis and her husband, Floy, build tools, not magic tricks. With nineteen years in web and brand design, Karen now teaches clients to integrate AI into their business while protecting the voice that sets them apart. She trains people to use artificial intelligence as a working partner that amplifies clarity, sharpens storytelling, and constructs systems built to last. The machine serves the mission—never the reverse.
Floy Lewis brings three decades of experience in business ownership, pastoral leadership, and fitness training. At Omni Scripts Lab, he architects custom AI workflow solutions and builds specialized tools for Karen’s clients. His framework is diagnostic: Which tool solves which problem? Where does human judgment remain non-negotiable? How do you build efficiency without sacrificing integrity?
Together, the Lewises teach a craft the market pretends doesn’t exist: using advanced tools while keeping your hands on the wheel. Their roundtables deliver translation, not transformation.
Attendees learn when to trust the tools and when to trust their judgment. They don’t promise disruption—they offer something better: new capabilities without losing your wisdom, computational power without losing your voice. Karen preserves voice. Floy optimizes process. The work hasn’t changed. The tools have. Build your systems. Keep your voice.
Leader: Ashley Baldwin
missionincrease.org
About this Session: Are you considering launching a nonprofit but unsure how to fund it well? This breakout session is designed for aspiring founders and nonprofit leaders seeking practical guidance for starting and sustaining a mission driven organization.
With a focus on fundraising, this session draws from real world experience to explore wise first steps such as partnering with existing organizations, working with nonprofit incubators, and building a strong funding foundation early on. Participants will also learn how to clearly communicate a compelling case for support by defining the problem or need, the solution, the impact, and the invitation for others to join the work.
Grounded in a biblical perspective on generosity, this session reframes fundraising as an opportunity to invite others into meaningful partnership. Whether you are exploring a new idea or preparing to launch, this session offers practical insight for serving well and building something sustainable.
About Ashley: For over a decade, Ashley has been leading and serving in the Chattanooga nonprofit sector with robust experience as a program manager, development director, executive director, and consultant. Equipped with a relational understanding of generosity between ministry leaders and givers, Ashley is passionate and skilled in helping people and organizations think strategically and grow sustainably.
Brock Fellow, Gotham Alumni & Ministry Venture graduate, Ashley provides the thought leadership and strategic vision to Mi Chattanooga, functioning as a teacher, coach and consultant. Ashley also loves applying the liberating message of generosity through her volunteer work through Generous Giving and The Generosity Trust.
Leader: Kim VanderPoel
freshimpactsocialmedia.com
About this Session: Social media doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. In this collaborative discussion, we’ll explore how to create a strategy rooted in purpose and aligned with the people you serve so that you can show up confidently, consistently, and without burnout. Together we’ll shape a simple, sustainable approach to content that strengthens relationships, supports your business goals, and keeps your marketing meaningful.
About Kim: Kim VanderPoel is the founder and lead strategist of Fresh Impact, a boutique social media management agency serving businesses across the U.S. For nearly 11 years, she has helped brands simplify their marketing and show up online with clarity, purpose, and confidence. Through full-service social media management, digital advertising, and hands-on strategy support, Kim has built a reputation for practical solutions rooted in relationship-driven marketing.
She is also the creator of the Get It Done Marketing Club, a coaching and accountability program that provides business owners with the tools, templates, and guidance they need to stay consistent without the overwhelm. Driven by integrity and a passion for empowering others, Kim believes that meaningful marketing isn’t about chasing algorithms; it’s about building trust, connection, and sustainable growth.
Leader: Beth Hess
keystoyourbrand.com
About this Session: Every brand has a heartbeat and a story it’s been whispering all along. In this session, we’ll slow down, peel back the noise, and listen for the moments and memories that shape who you are and why your work matters. You’ll learn how to find the words that feel honest, human, unmistakably you—and share them in a way people don’t just understand… they feel.
About Beth: Beth is The Word Girl—a messaging strategist for businesses and organizations ready to build a message that attracts aligned clients, empowers teams, and keeps every brand experience consistent from first impression to long-term trust. With a background in journalism, editing, and strategic marketing Beth helps brands uncover what’s already true, unlock the right words, unleash their message with confidence.
Leader: Jenifer Jernigan
marketrefinedmedia.com
About this Session: A well-defined purpose and mission statement for your book is essential for making focused writing decisions, connecting with your ideal readers, and effectively marketing your book once it’s published. In this interactive roundtable session, you’ll learn how to craft a clear, compelling purpose and mission statement that serves as your book’s North Star throughout the writing process. You’ll engage in hands-on exercises to identify your target audience, define the transformation your book will provide, and draft a personalized statement using a proven template. By the end of the session, you’ll leave with a practical blueprint and a preliminary purpose and mission statement that keeps you motivated and on track. Whether you’re writing fiction, memoir, or nonfiction, this session will help you clarify why your book matters and what it will accomplish for readers.
About Jenifer: Jenifer is a seasoned book and author coach and a gifted developmental editor for Market Refined Publishing. With years of hands-on experience as both a traditionally published and self-published author, she brings practical insight, deep compassion, and a keen editorial eye to every project she guides.
Jenifer is passionate about helping writers clarify their message, strengthen their structure, and shape meaningful stories that serve and encourage their readers. Whether walking an author from idea to manuscript or refining the heart of a finished draft, Jenifer leads with wisdom, authenticity, and a genuine love for empowering storytellers to share their God-given words with confidence.
Saturday Workshops
Click to view the descriptions of these 90-minute sessions.
Leaders: Christa Hutchins and Esther Littlefield
doanewthing.com
estherlittlefield.com
About this Session: Learn how to create a thriving community who wants what you have to offer without striving for followers, begging for sales, or compromising your faith or values. Cultivate Your Community teaches you how to authentically create an audience ready to buy or buy in.
About Christa and Esther: Christa Hutchins equips busy communicators and leaders with project management and problem solving skills so they can turn their big ideas into a successful ministry or business. She is passionate about teaching women to find practical application of the Bible in their personal, professional and ministry lives. Christa lives in south Louisiana with her husband in their delightfully empty nest. Connect with her as a Market Refined Media team member or at doanewthing.com.
Esther Littlefield is a writer, speaker, and marketing leader who is passionate about the importance of community and relationships, both personally and professionally. She currently serves as the Associate Director of Marketing for EntreLeadership at Ramsey Solutions, where she leads strategic marketing initiatives for their coaching programs and business events.
With a background in church leadership, entrepreneurship, and corporate marketing, Esther brings a well-rounded perspective to leadership and faith at work. She has led women’s Bible studies, missions trips, and retreats, built and led her own business, and now serves on the leadership team at Ramsey Solutions—allowing her to speak to both the spiritual and practical realities Christian women face in their work and calling.
Leader: Micah Fries
micahfries.com
About this Session: In this breakout session, Micah Fries will explore how people of faith can engage a rapidly diversifying culture with both deep conviction and genuine compassion. Together we’ll look at biblical foundations for honoring every person, practical tools for building cross-cultural relationships, and strategies for leading churches and ministries that reflect the beauty of God’s global family. Participants will leave with actionable steps for fostering unity, navigating disagreement, and bearing faithful witness in a pluralistic world.
About Micah: Micah is the Director of the Multi-Faith Neighbor’s Network and the Director of Engagement at Glocal.net. He has served as a Senior Pastor in Tennessee & Missouri, at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, TN, as a Christian minister in Burkina Faso, West Africa, and as a frequent speaker in churches and conferences.
Micah is the co-editor and author of Islam & North America: Loving our Muslim Neighbors. He has also co-authored Leveling the Church and a commentary volume on Haggai and Zephaniah in the Christ-Centered Commentary Series. He has contributed to The Handbook of Contemporary Preaching, Make Disciples of All Nations, and That Word Above All Earthly Powers.
Saturday Roundtables
Click to view the descriptions of these 60-minute sessions.
Leaders: Josh Wilhelm and Eric Clajus
jwcreates.com/podnooga
About this Session: Once your voice is out there, how do you turn your podcast into meaningful revenue? In this collaborative roundtable session, we’ll break down the real world ways creative business owners can monetize a podcast. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to expand beyond your current audience.
Together, we’ll explore multiple avenues for earning through your show: membership platforms like Patreon, merchandise, brand partnerships and sponsorships, and creative methods that go far beyond traditional ads.
Josh and Eric from the Podnooga team will guide the discussion, helping you identify which monetization paths align with your business, your capacity, and your long-term goals. You’ll walk away with practical ideas, clear next steps, and a fresh perspective on how podcasting can become an extension of your creative business.
About Josh and Eric: Josh is the owner and lead designer of JW Creates, where he specializes in cover art, logos, and website design. Since starting in podcasting in 2019, Josh has produced, recorded, and launched numerous shows from the ground up, which eventually led him to take over leadership of Podnooga. Now, he’s passionate about helping other podcasters and creators grow and thrive through community and collaboration.
Eric is a video editor rooted in the Apple universe with a passion for helping people tell their stories. His background in broadcast news gave him years of experience interviewing, recording, and editing stories that gave a voice to the unheard. Eric is also a member of the Podnooga team in Chattanooga, TN. From producing podcasts to creating marketing pieces and testimonials, he helps individuals and businesses amplify their voice and make a bigger impact.
Leader: Floy and Karen Lewis
karenlewiscreative.com
About this Session: Creatives are expected to produce more content than ever — but inspiration, time, and energy aren’t infinite. In this roundtable, Karen and Floy Lewis will guide you through using AI to support your creative process without sacrificing your unique voice or vision.
You’ll discover how to:
- Repurpose one piece of content into multiple formats (email, social, video, blog)
- Build mood boards, shot lists, and creative briefs for client work
- Transcribe and synthesize interviews or meetings into usable material
- Generate content calendars aligned with your goals
- Turn raw project notes into polished case studies, pitches, and client resources
We’ll also explore specialized tools designed for creatives, including AI assistants for writing, social media planning, proposals, client communication, and project development, as well as share tips, tricks and prompts for how to get the most out of AI.
Perfect for: photographers, writers, designers, educators, content creators, and anyone who wants to elevate their creative workflow while protecting their voice and artistry
About Floy and Karen: Karen Lewis and her husband, Floy, build tools, not magic tricks. With nineteen years in web and brand design, Karen now teaches clients to integrate AI into their business while protecting the voice that sets them apart. She trains people to use artificial intelligence as a working partner that amplifies clarity, sharpens storytelling, and constructs systems built to last. The machine serves the mission—never the reverse.
Floy Lewis brings three decades of experience in business ownership, pastoral leadership, and fitness training. At Omni Scripts Lab, he architects custom AI workflow solutions and builds specialized tools for Karen’s clients. His framework is diagnostic: Which tool solves which problem? Where does human judgment remain non-negotiable? How do you build efficiency without sacrificing integrity?
Together, the Lewises teach a craft the market pretends doesn’t exist: using advanced tools while keeping your hands on the wheel. Their roundtables deliver translation, not transformation.
Attendees learn when to trust the tools and when to trust their judgment. They don’t promise disruption—they offer something better: new capabilities without losing your wisdom, computational power without losing your voice. Karen preserves voice. Floy optimizes process. The work hasn’t changed. The tools have. Build your systems. Keep your voice.
Leader: Erika Millard
erikamillard.com
About this Session: Most business owners dream about paying themselves well, giving generously, and investing in the vision God has placed on their heart, but they haven’t mapped out the actual numbers to make those dreams a reality.
In this roundtable, we will walk step-by-step through a simple and practical framework to set a revenue goal that reflects both wise stewardship and Kingdom-sized faith. You will learn how to:
- Identify the real costs of running your business
- Clarify the investments you want to make as you grow
- Account for taxes and the paycheck you want to bring home
- Break down that revenue goal based on your current offers and pricing
- Evaluate whether your goals are realistic or if it is time to adjust your packages
You will leave with a guided workbook you can complete during or after the discussion, plus a clear next step for creating a financial plan that feels doable, aligned, and God-honoring, not confusing or overwhelming.
About Erika: Erika Millard is a Bookkeeping and QuickBooks Expert who helps business owners get their finances in order, whether they need to set it up, clean it up, or hand it off. She gives her clients confidence and peace of mind through practical, down to earth bookkeeping guidance that makes the numbers feel simple and doable. Erika is the host of the Get Comfy with Numbers podcast, ranked in the top 2.5% worldwide, where she teaches straightforward financial concepts in a friendly, approachable way. When she is not teaching or podcasting, she is a wife to a medical resident, a mom of four, and can often be found scouting out the best ice cream shops around Birmingham, Alabama.
Leader: Courtnaye Richard
courtnayerichard.com
About this Session: Your brand is the way you show up. It’s your story, your values, and your experience that you bring when you step into a room, share on a social media platform, or sit at a table. Your brand is you. If you want to learn how to take your brand to the next level in your ministry, business, or endeavors in fresh and creative ways, then grab a seat at this roundtable discussion and let’s get you ready to stand out from the crowd.
About Courtnaye: Courtnaye Richard is the founder of Inside Out Media Group, LLC – a faith-based PR, Marketing & Mentorship Agency. In her 15 years of experience, she has worked with platforms such as PBS, CBN, TCT, Yahoo, including local television and print publications. Courtnaye is also the founder of Inside Out with Courtnaye, a ministry and podcast that helps thousands of women around the world grow in Christ, while equipping them for their calling. She is an author, contributing writer for Christianity.com, iBelieve.com, and a YouVersion Bible App Partner. Her speaking appearances include She Speaks, FlourishWriters, and Entrusted Women’s Conference, just to name a few. To learn more, you can visit courtnayerichard.com.
Leader: Becky Kopitzke
beckykopitzke.com
About this Session: Your email list is your most valuable marketing asset—but are you serving it well? Join us for a candid roundtable discussion on email marketing best practices for content creators and business owners. We’ll talk about the three types of emails every creator should send, how often to show up in your subscribers’ inboxes, and why your email list is a party (which means you get to decide who’s on the guest list). We’ll also address common mistakes like inconsistent communication, boring subject lines, the fear of “bugging” your audience, and much more.
About Becky: Becky Kopitzke is a four-time traditionally published author, speaker, blogger, podcaster, and perpetual encourager. She is a seasoned business coach for Christian authors and ministry leaders, specializing in digital product sales and marketing. Becky founded AuthorRise Academy with co-coach Tracie Miles, and she serves as a business coach for The Author Conservatory, a college-alternative program for aspiring Christian novelists. She is passionate about helping faith-based content creators pursue their calling and earn a God-honoring income from it.
Leader: Jeane Burgess
mytalloak.com
About this Session: Publicity is a vital part of being an author—but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With over 25 years as a publicist and thousands of author campaigns behind her, Jeane Burgess understands the challenges writers face, especially those navigating publicity on, among with life! In this discussion, Jeane walks you through her signature PIE framework—Publicity, Innovation, and Energy—offering practical tools, faith-rooted strategies, and loads of encouragement to help you promote your book with confidence. You’ll walk away with behind-the-scenes insight, renewed excitement, and a clear plan for sharing your message with purpose and impact.
About Jeane: Jeane Burgess is the founder and president of Tall Oak Media (formerly Wynn-Wynn Media), a full-service publicity agency focused on campaign management and consulting for authors and publishers.
An industry veteran, Jeane began her career in 1989 as a sales representative for NavPress. This role, coupled with her love for books, led to a career-long passion for supporting authors, publishers, various types of media outlets, and the audiences they serve.
Jeane is a proud small-town girl who loves supporting her community in every way possible, through her involvement in school, church, local businesses, and civic groups.
Leader: Mara Eller
maraeller.com
About this Session: Sometimes the stories we tell ourselves keep us stuck. But what if God wants to help you write a new one? In this reflective session, you’ll learn how to reframe limiting narratives through a redemptive lens. With guided prompts and spiritual insight, you’ll begin to rewrite the story that’s been holding you back—so you can step into clarity, freedom, and the truth of who God says you are. No writing experience needed, just a willingness to see your story differently and reclaim your voice.
About Mara: Mara Eller is a teacher, writer, editor, and coach with a passion for transforming pain into purpose through the power of story. Her signature writing program, Unearthing Beauty, teaches students a repeatable process for unearthing a fuller picture of who they are and claiming authorship over their lives, while also producing a polished personal essay.
Refined Conference Agenda
Friday, February 6
- 9:00am-10:00am
- Registration Check-In / Mingle and Vendor Time
- 10:00am-10:30am
- Morning Worship + Event Kickoff
- 10:30am-11:30am
- General Session #1
- 11:30am-12:30pm
- Breakout Session (Roundtables)
- 12:30pm-2:00pm
- Lunch Break
- 2:00pm-3:30pm
- Breakout Session (Workshops)
- 3:30pm-3:45pm
- Afternoon Break
- 3:45pm-4:45pm
- General Session #2
- 4:45pm-5:00pm
- Day 1 Closing + Dismissal
- 5:30pm-7:00pm
- Bonus Session, Optional for Attendees
Saturday, February 7
- 9:30am-9:45am
- Welcome + Kickoff
- 9:45am-10:15am
- Morning Devotion
- 10:15am-11:15am
- General Session #3
- 11:15am-12:15pm
- Breakout Session (Roundtables)
- 12:15pm-1:45pm
- Lunch Break
- 1:45pm-3:15pm
- Breakout Session (Workshops)
- 3:15pm-3:30pm
- Afternoon Break
- 3:30pm-4:30pm
- Closing Keynote / General Session #4
- 4:30pm-5:00pm
- Worship + Day 2 Closing and Dismissal
- 5:00pm-6:00pm
- Community Time