The 2024 CEO Summit on Sept. 23-25 provided opportunities for C-Suite executives and national leaders to network and share insights and global opportunities with fellow Christian leaders.
Guest speakers focused on a variety of topics, such as national defense and emerging threats, corporate America, law and policy, healthcare, finance, technology and artificial intelligence, workforce challenges, entertainment, finance, global competition and foreign policy with China, criminal justice, the financial markets, the electricity crisis, and more. Among the distinguished speakers were Samaritan’s Purse Chief Operating Officer Edward Graham, COO of Toyota North America Jack Hollis, and former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii).
Students heard from several high-ranking business and government leaders during the Future CEO Dinner on the first night of the summit, featuring Hobby Lobby President and Museum of the Bible Chairman of the Board Steve Green, former U.S. Representative and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, and Chris Carneal, CEO of Booster Enterprises, a leading school fundraising company.
From left, Senior Vice President of Communications and Public Engagement Ryan Helfenbein, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, The Olu of Warri Kingdom; Her Majesty Olori Atuwatse III, Queen Consort of Warri Kingdom
Michele Bachmann, dean of Robertson School of Government at Regent University and former U.S. representative from Minnesota, gave the keynote address at the Women’s Leadership Forum. A panel included CEO of World Help Noel Yeatts (’93); Mayor of Lynchburg Stephanie Reed; T’Neil Walea, Microsoft’s director for strategic missions and technologies; Solmaz Chadwell, wife of Liberty Head Football Coach Jamey Chadwell; and Shari Falwell, wife of Liberty Chancellor Jonathan Falwell.
Liberty School of Law held a panel discussion, “Navigating the Legal Landscape,” with panelists Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court Tom Parker, former U.S. Representative and David Horowitz Freedom Center Senior Fellow Louie Gohmert, Of Counsel Matt Krause (’07) of the First Liberty Institute, and McGuireWoods, LLP Partner Abram Pafford.
Samaritan’s Purse Chief Operating Officer Edward Graham
A Dialogue with the World panel featured ambassadors, diplomats, and trade representatives from across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, The Olu of Warri Kingdom (in South Nigeria), and Her Majesty Olori Atuwatse III, Queen Consort of Warri Kingdom, participated in the Africa We See panel discussion.
As part of the summit, David Malpass, the 13th president of the World Bank (2019-23), was the main speaker at Convocation.
On the last night, Dave Jaworski, principal product manager at Microsoft Teams, and Walea joined Liberty Senior Vice President of Business Relations Dr. Dave Brat to discuss incorporating one’s faith into a secular workforce. Dave Rivers, head of Enthusiast Brand Management at Ford Motor Company, shared his personal testimony of coming to Christ and reuniting with his family and friends after developing an unhealthy drive for success at his job. Andy Puzder, former CEO of CKE Restaurants, the parent company of Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr., spoke on the current dangers threatening America in the form of stakeholder capitalism.
Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii)
