Keynote Speakers and Special Guests

Elder Nathan D. Pace & Sister Margaret Pace

Prior to his call as an Area Authority Seventy, Elder Pace served as President of the Buffalo New York Stake, as a Bishop and as a Bishop’s Counselor. He and his wife Margaret live in Medina, New York. They have six children.

Melissa Dalton-Bradford

Melissa Dalton-Bradford is an award-winning author, noted public speaker, co-founder of two non-profits, global nomad, wife, mother of four (three living), and disciple of Christ. She holds two degrees from BYU, (B.A. German Language and Literature; M.A. Comparative Literature) and was the recipient of the university’s Alumni Association’s Service to Family Award. Her first book, Global Mom: A Memoir, won the Association of Mormon Letter’s award for Best Memoir.

Melissa and her husband, Randall, are both former German-speaking missionaries, former MTC and BYU language instructors, and have resided in Germany (the eighth country and fourth language in over 30 years) since 2014. There, Melissa has taught German to Middle Eastern, African, and Ukrainian refugees seeking shelter in and near Frankfurt. Recent empty-nesters, Melissa and Randall love traveling across their “now-native” Europe, hiking and biking in their local forests, and learning alongside youth and young adults both inside and outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Workshop Facilitators

David & KAthLEEN Cook

David and Kathleen Cook currently serve as Service Mission Leaders in the Upstate New York area. They presided over the Chile Santiago South Mission from 2013-2016. David’s prior service includes Area Seventy and Stake President. Kathleen’s prior service includes Relief Society President, Young Women President, and Public Affairs Director for New York. They are the parents of four children and seven grandchildren.

The Cooks will share insights on the importance and value of service missions and teaching missions, and they will offer suggestions for how to overcome the cultural hurdles that prevent us from viewing both types of missions as equally vital ways to bring people to the Savior and help them follow His example.

ASHLEY Dyer

Ashley Dyer is a Christian (Latter-day Saint) nurse, life coach, writer, blogger, speaker, and social media influencer. She is a spiritual mentor and a big advocate for mental and spiritual health as she shares uplifting messages for women of faith on Instagram (@ashley.c.dyer).

A frequently invited public speaker, she has given numerous devotionals on topics ranging from scripture study and faith crises, to Christian dating and embracing God’s plan during times of uncertainty.

Some of her favorite roles include best friend and cheerleader, and she loves giving pep talks and finding ways to lift where she stands in her community.

Her first book “Women at the Well: Mini Devotionals to Help Women of Faith” is a collection of devotionals to help women recognize their worth, become best friends with God, and hold onto hope through life’s challenges and will be released in August 2023 and is now out on Amazon for pre-order.

Allyson baker

Allyson is a native Californian, raised in Utah, and a New York transplant. A lover of all things family, faith, French, nature, food, art and travel, she enjoys creating in the kitchen; volunteering as a docent at Munson; and teaching piano lessons. Allyson practices yoga and meditation daily and is a certified Creation Coach.

After hitting rock bottom with baby #3 she realized the necessity of self-care and now loves helping others heal and connect to their own body, mind and spirit, so they can learn to love their whole being.

Allyson guides listeners through her podcast A Sensational Life; offers online courses through sensationalcreator.com; and works with both men and women through private and group coaching. You can follow her coaching profile @sensation_ally on Instagram.

Mara Haws

Mara Haws (she/her) lives in Ithaca with her husband of three years and their adorable cat, Matilda. Mara is a Licensed Master Social Worker in the state of New York. She enjoys working with children and youth as a therapist in a day treatment program for young students with behavioral challenges and trauma.

Understanding the impact mental health has on our lives, Mara is committed to helping others build themselves a foundation of effective skills to promote mental wellness.

She believes firmly that a large purpose of our lives is to understand ourselves better and to learn to love ourselves and others the way our Heavenly Parents do. Mara serves as a counselor in the Relief Society in the branch she attends and loves it. A transplant to the Northeast, she has fallen in love with the greenery and humidity. Mara’s favorite compliment is that she is creative. She enjoys crocheting to the sounds of birds out her window.

Edmund Nabrotzky

Edmund Nabrotzky was born in Canada and grew up in the small town of Parry Sound, Ontario.  As a youth he captained several sports teams, played trombone in a jazz band and practiced competitive chess.  Like many in this area of the world, he grew up an avid outdoorsman enjoying hunting, fishing, hiking and cross-country running.  He became certified as a lifeguard, canoe trip guide and instructor and spent more than 20 years serving as a leader and trainer in the Boy Scouts organization.

He earned a Computer Science degree from the University of Western Ontario and an MBA from the Ivey Business School.  He holds additional executive education designations in leadership from the Center for Creative Leadership, technical product development from MIT, negotiation from the Harvard Business School and is currently completing his doctoral dissertation in Technology Management at Indiana State University.  He has worked as an executive in companies both large and small and has taught Entrepreneurship as adjunct faculty at the University of Rochester.  

President Nabrotzky served a two year mission in Scotland and has served in many callings in the Church, most often working with youth.  He and his wife Claire have raised 6 children and are grandparents to 5 (so far).   He currently serves as President of the Palmyra New York Stake. 

Chelle Jenkins

Chelle Jenkins has lived in the Albany, New York area since 1988 — the longest she’s ever stayed anywhere. Before that, she lived in Oregon, California, Westchester County (NY), Utah, Michigan, and New York City.

She graduated from BYU and then from Columbia University.

She is an associate at the architectural firm John G. Waite Associates, Architects PLLC. She contributes research, writing, design and illustration to the firm’s work in historic preservation.

She volunteers with a local community board and is currently president of her ward Relief Society. Despite all that, she’s best at frivolous things: creating pretty stuff, doodling, knitting, sewing and reading. She’s also quite fond of teaching from the scriptures.

Brian R. Surprenant

Brian was born in Cohoes, NY (just north of Albany) and moved to Rochester in 1998.  After completing a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Uganda and Kenya, he returned to Rochester for higher education.  Not sure what he wanted to do in life, he wandered into an Accounting 101 class and fell in love!  He completed a Bachelors of Science in Accounting from SUNY Empire State College and an MBA from St. John Fisher University.  Deciding to focus on the retirement sector and wanting to work with businesses as they build and maintain this benefit for their employees' futures, he obtained additional certifications as a Qualified 401(k) Administrator, Qualified Pension Administrator, and a Certified Pension Consultant with the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries. 

In his personal life, Brian still resides in Rochester with his wife, Andréa, and three children.  He enjoys hiking, reading, and if things slow down enough, laying in his backyard hammock.  He is always ready to enjoy Star Wars or Star Trek media and discussions.  While summer is his favorite season, it is always a welcome return to hockey in the fall and his family enjoys following the Buffalo Sabres and their affiliate team, the local Rochester Americans.  He is currently serving as Bishop of the Rochester 4th Ward in the Rochester, NY Stake. 

AMY JO BUGENHAGEN

Amy Jo Bugenhagen has over 20 years experience in team, gym and individual  training. Well versed in developing and implementing programs, facility management and  promoting overall wellness. A love for health and fitness started in high school as a cross country runner who ranked 14th in the state of FL, and a Rowing National Champion. As a Division 1 athlete at the University of Central Florida in Rowing, she won 2 National Championships and went on to Coach a Junior team for 3 years, and then a Masters team for 2 years.

Fast forward 10 years, with a family including a set of twins, she began her Group Fitness journey with a certification in Les Mills Body Pump. Since then her family has expanded and her love for the industry continued. She has coached not only Body Pump but Pilxoing, Les Mills Grit, Hiit classes, Rowing classes (Rowfit), Kettlebell classes and Indoor Cycling. Crossfit became a passion along the way, and she Coached for 6 years, and started and coachec a Teen and Kids Crossfit in her local affiliate.

In 2022 the YMCA of Greater Rochester hired Amy Jo as the Health and Wellness Director of the New Sands Family Ymca, scheduled to open in October of 2023. Leading a team of over 100 employees including GroupX instructors, Personal Trainers and Wellness Coaches she continues to make health a priority and spread her passion for health.

"My philosophy has changed over the years, but one that sticks and everyone can buy into: Move well, Feel good, Have Fun while doing it. I firmly believe fitness and health is not exclusive and it's never too late to start. "

"Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, but what you do consistently. Walk, Run, Lift, Swim, Golf, Row, Hike;  Whatever you choose, just do it consistently.  Movement is medicine.  Motion is Lotion.  We have one body, let's take care of it the best we can.”