2025 CONFERENCE SPEAKERS
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Travis Williams
CEO, ODC Network
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Patti VanDort
CEO, Holland Hospital
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Joe Dyer
President, DISHER
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Virgil Gulker
Founder, Kids Hope USA, Love INC
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Trent Walker
Lead Pastor, Community Reformed Church
Travis Williams
CEO, ODC Network
Travis Williams has served for 25 years as the CEO of ODC Network. He holds a biology degree from Hope College and an MBA in strategic management from Davenport University. ODC Network is a nonprofit education and conservation organization comprised of 10 distinct business divisions that facilitate its mission of Advancing Outdoor Education and Conservation in West Michigan.
Travis has worked in the field of environmental education and resource management since 1997 including serving as the Animal Care Manager for Hope College, Naturalist for DeGraaf Nature Center, Aquatic Toxicology Technician for Environmental Resource Management, and a High School biology teacher. He has led ODC Network since its founding in 2000 and has been instrumental in developing the nonprofit education and conservation organization into the regional entity it is today.
During Travis’ 25 years as a nonprofit business leader, he has developed a diverse portfolio of successful experiences in business development, nonprofit management, strategic planning, and mergers and partnerships. Some of his many accomplishments include developing two greenway projects, launching Project Clarity, establishing five nature-based preschools, launching a corporate childcare program, and developing an eco-tourism business.
Travis’ biggest accomplishment has been leading ODC Network, which has grown from an idea on paper to a regional resource with nearly 200 employees serving over 200,000 people annually.
Travis serves as an advisor and board member for numerous local and national organizations where he is asked to share his knowledge and experience with business development and organizational leadership, most recently in his role as acting director of the Lakeshore Leadership Council.
Over the years, Travis has received several honors and awards including being named the 2009 National Association for Interpretation Master Interpretive Manager and the 2011 Michigan Science Teachers Association Informal Educator of the Year. He and the ODC Network were also named the 2014 MiBiz Best Managed Nonprofit and were inducted into the Michigan Environmental Hall of Fame in 2018 for their work with Project Clarity. In 2023 Travis was the inaugural recipient of the Michigan West Coast Chamber’s Icon Award given to an individual who is creating pathways for a bold future in our community. And in 2024, the ODC Network and the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District received the inaugural Lakeshore Advantage Strategic Partner Award for their trailblazing efforts in affordable & accessible childcare in the West MI region.
Travis is an avid traveler, fisherman, and wildlife photographer. When he is not working for the ODC you will find him enjoying one of his kid’s sporting events, fishing, or photographing the natural world.
Travis has been married for 26 years to his wife Stephanie. They have three children: Joshua, Megan and Cora. Travis and his family reside in Hamilton, Michigan.
Patti VanDort
CEO, Holland Hospital
Patti has worked at Holland Hospital since 1987, beginning as a staff nurse and then in various nursing leadership positions until joining the executive team in 2001, first as the Vice President for Nursing and Chief Nurse Officer and then in 2018 as Senior Vice President of Hospital Operations. She is currently serving as Hospital CEO.
During her tenure, the hospital and its’ medical group have experienced tremendous growth in the services provided to the community. Among those are the addition of a Special Care Nursery, emergence as a market leader in Robotic Surgery and the development of a nationally recognized Total Joint Replacement Program. Additionally, exceptional quality and patient satisfaction metrics have been achieved resulting in numerous state and national recognitions. Under her leadership the hospital achieved the Magnet Designation for excellence in nursing practice.
She has served in a variety of leadership positions in both professional organizations and in the community. Among those are Board member of the West Coast Chamber of Commerce, Hospice of Holland and the Holland Community Health Center as well as a member of the Advisory Councils for the Department of Nursing at both Hope College and the Kirkof College of Nursing at Grand Valley State University. She has also served as the President of the Michigan Organization of Nurse Executives (MONE). For her work with MONE, she was given the Michigan Nurse Leader of the Year Award. Patti recently received recognition as “A Woman of Influence” from Crains Business Journal.
Patti completed both her Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Grand Valley State University where she has since received the Kirkhof School of Nursing Outstanding Alumni Award.
Patti lives in Holland, Michigan. She has two sons and two daughters-in-law and two grandchildren.
Joe Dyer
President, DISHER
Joe Dyer is a purpose-driven leader passionate about people, innovation, and making a positive difference. As President of DISHER, a nationally recognized engineering, manufacturing, talent, and consulting firm headquartered in Zeeland, Michigan, Joe guides the organization with a culture-centric approach that balances mission, profit, and growth.
Joe's journey with DISHER began in 2013 as a Manufacturing and Quality Engineer, where he contributed to manufacturing projects, process development, project management, automation, design, and quality. His leadership gifts led to him becoming a Team Lead for Manufacturing Tech Solutions. In 2019, Joe briefly stepped away to serve as a full time Executive Pastor at his church, deepening his commitment to servant leadership. He returned to DISHER as President-Select in 2021 and assumed the role of President in January 2022.
Under Joe's leadership, DISHER has achieved record growth, profitability, and community impact. Notably, in 2023, DISHER acquired Leading by DESIGN, a leader-development organization, expanding its offerings in leadership training and development.
Joe holds a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from Western Michigan University, graduating first in his class in 2008. He also earned a Master of Ministry degree from Kuyper College, focusing on Leadership Development and Faith at Work.
Beyond these endeavors, Joe is actively involved in community initiatives. Joe serves on the Right Place Manufacturer’s Executive council, serves with various ministries, and enjoys speaking on engineering, faith, and business in many settings including schools and economic groups. He recently participated in the Economic Inclusion Summit, sharing insights on DISHER's Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) journey and strategies for driving economic inclusion in West Michigan.
Joe and his wife, Stefanie, have been married since 2008 and reside in Byron Center, Michigan, with their two school-aged sons. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, working around the house, being active with his family, and traveling.
Virgil Gulker
Founder, Kids Hope USA, Love INC
Virgil has been called a serial social entrepreneur and a disruptor. He lives in the tension—he calls it a “delicious” tension--between what is and what could and/or should be. God has given him multiple opportunities to create and test innovative service systems for at-risk populations in diverse settings.
Virgil worked with prisoners in three states to develop unique reading and learning experiences in jails and prisons. His team was privileged to offer the nation’s first two-year college degree program for maximum security prisoners at the Attica Correctional Facility in New York.
He has dedicated his life to creating faith-based systems to help churches engage their members in the lives of at-risk children and families. God has used his passion to launch various ministries, including the following:
Love INC programs in numerous countries, including Kenya, have mobilized churches from over 50 denominations to transform lives and communities.
KIDS HOPE USA trains churches in the United States and Australia to engage their members in Jesus-with-skin-on mentoring relationships with thousands of at-risk children.
Generation Spark was launched when Hope College students demonstrated how intergenerational relationships could reduce the number of youth (1.2 million) who exit the church each year in this country.
Virgil wants most to be known as an encourager. Motivated by his theme text (Is. 50:4), he begins his days with this simple prayer: “Lord, please use me today to encourage and affirm one person in your name.”
P.S. Virgil’s wife, two daughters, and 5 grandchildren will tell you he is actually a frustrated stand-up comedian. Humor him, if you will, when he tries to be funny.
Trent Walker
Lead Pastor, Community Reformed Church
Trent has been the Lead Pastor at Community since January 2013. Prior to that, he served Harderwyk Christian Reformed Church for 21 years (7 as a Youth Pastor, 7 as a Church Planter and 7 as the Lead Pastor). He holds Psychology and Religion degrees from Hope College, a Master of Divinity Degree from Western Theological Seminary, has authored a book and is working on another. In 2022, he was tasked with founding and developing The Michigan Catalyst Network for the Alliance of Reformed Churches. He currently serves several teams for the Alliance, including the Global Ordination Team.
Trent is the husband to Lyn, father to Elise Sizemore and Cameron Walker and has two grandchildren and seeks to be a devoted follower of Christ.
Through the years in ministry and leadership Trent has become passionate about and developed acumen in several areas. He is passionate about evangelism, spiritual growth and developing both seasoned and up and coming leaders. He enjoys studying the narrative of our culture and finding new ways to communicate the Gospel in an ever-changing landscape.
Day to day though, Trent spends much of his time developing and maintaining a healthy environment for the staff and leadership in his church. Leading a large staff comes with difficulties, especially if one wants each leader be both productive and healthy. In a recent conference presentation at a denominational gathering Trent was quoted as saying: “The primary obstacle you have to developing leaders within your organization is either your ego or your pain, and for some of you those are the same thing.” He has also been known known to say, “The best idea wins, even if it comes from the person you like the least.”
Trent is an avid bass fisherman, fishing tournaments each summer and has recently taken up the old-man hobby of building his own fishing rods.
