2026 Conference Speakers
October 14-15, 2026
Chris Brown
Senior Pastor | North Coast Church
Chris Brown
Chris Brown has served as a Senior Pastor and Teaching Pastor at North Coast Church since 2004. Prior to that, he was the Campus Pastor at Azusa Pacific University, and then a Youth Pastor in the LA area.
As a gifted storyteller and Bible teacher he loves to use his sense of humor and motivational style to help people truly experience all the grace and mercy that they have been given in order to fall more in love with Jesus. His life work and ambition is to use his unique gifts and personality to equip people to follow Jesus while building healthy and highly productive teams that serve the local church.
Chris lives in Oceanside with his wife Amy and their three children, and tries to fish as much as his schedule will allow.
William Vanderbloemen
Author & Speaker | William Vanderbloemen
William Vanderbloemen
William Vanderbloemen, founder and CEO of Vanderbloemen Search Group, is a renowned speaker, author and expert on leadership, workplace culture and staffing issues.
When William combined his ministry experience as a Senior Pastor with the best practices of executive search, he created a brand new industry: executive search for faith-based organizations. A firm believer in data, William has discovered trends and traits common to the best leaders through more than 3,000 executive searches and 30,000 interviews.
Kadi Cole
Author & Leadership Coach | Kadi Cole & Co
Kadi Cole
Kadi Cole is a leadership consultant, organizational strategist, and author with a mission to empower leaders to unlock their potential and drive meaningful change. With a strong educational background, extensive professional experience, and a heart for developing others, she has become a trusted advisor to leaders across various industries, from fast-growing tech companies to global nonprofits.
Kadi's extensive experience and commitment to leadership development makes her a valuable resource for anyone looking to grow as a leader or transform their organization. As a prolific author, Kadi has written several influential books and curricula that address key aspects of leadership and personal development.
Larry Osborne
Founding Leader | North Coast Training
Larry Osborne
Larry Osborne is a pastor, author, mentor, and leadership consultant who has trained and coached thousands of top-level leaders in both the non-profit and profit sectors. Recognized as one of America's most influential pastors due to his pioneering work with concepts like sermon-based small groups, pastoral teaching teams, video venues, and multisite churches, his fingerprints are found on ministries and churches throughout the world.
Steve Cuss
Author & Speaker | Steve Cuss
Steve Cuss
Steve Cuss is the founder of Capable Life, where he serves as an author, speaker, and leadership coach, helping leaders navigate anxiety, build healthy teams, and experience God's grace in the midst of leadership. He previously served as Lead Pastor of Discovery Christian Church in Broomfield, Colorado.
Originally from Perth, Western Australia, Steve came to the United States to study theology and earned a Master of Divinity from Emmanuel Christian Seminary. His ministry experience includes serving at a megachurch in Las Vegas, as a chaplain at a level-one trauma hospital, on a ranch for struggling teens, and as a youth minister in the Appalachian region.
Steve is passionate about helping leaders move through the pressures and anxieties of leadership while cultivating healthy team cultures. He and his wife, Lisa, have two sons and a daughter. When he's not working, you'll likely find him with his family, knee-deep in a trout stream, or trying out a guitar he can't afford.
Dave Dummitt
Lead Pastor | Eastside Christian Church
Dave Dummitt
Dave Dummitt is an executive coach, strategic advisor, and former Senior Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church. Before serving at Willow, he founded and led 2|42 Community Church, growing it from a 40-person launch team to a thriving multisite church of more than 10,000 people across seven campuses.
With decades of experience in church leadership, Dave has helped churches navigate growth, leadership development, generosity, and missional strategy. He has also served as the North American Regional Director for NewThing, where he helped plant more than 30 churches, and has extensive experience coaching pastors, leadership teams, and boards.
Dave holds a BA in Bible and Theology from Wheaton College. He and his wife, Rachel, live in Crystal Lake, Illinois, and have four children.
Jodi Hickerson
Teaching Pastor | Mission Church
Jodi Hickerson
Jodi, is a teaching pastor, speaker, and leader with a passion for helping people experience the transforming grace of Jesus. For more than 25 years, she has been teaching God's Word with authenticity, warmth, and biblical depth, helping people navigate the realities of life through the lens of Scripture.
In 2011, Jodi and her husband, Mike, helped plant Mission Church in Ventura, California, where she now serves as a teaching pastor. She also speaks at churches and conferences across the country and serves on the boards of Orchard Group and Exponential, championing the multiplication of healthy, life-giving churches.
Jodi and Mike have been married for 25 years and are the proud parents of three daughters and a son-in-law. A Kentucky native, she's a devoted University of Kentucky basketball fan and loves spending time with family and friends by the beach or around a backyard fire pit.
Pre Conferences
Enhance your conference experience with in depth and exclusive content for your team.
Schedule
From the pre-conferences and Women's Gathering on Tuesday, to our closing session on Thursday.
About Us and Traveling
Located in Vista, California and home to North Coast Church, North Coast Leadership Conference and North Coast Training. We currently host weekend services at 10 campuses in San Diego County and Sacramento.
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Deepen your team's knowledge with our day one breakout sessions.
Topics range from how to develop and maintain an online presence with our very own Trent Jenkins, to how to train and keep your small group volunteers for life, and a how to care for your church members through the this difficult season.