Excellerate Central Oregon Business Forum

Navigating 2026

Leadership Strategies for Demanding Times

As business leaders we face a complex, rapidly changing and chaotic market environment. Navigating a range of political, legal, regulatory, economic and cultural forces requires great strategy and excellent execution. For the fourth year, hundreds of our region's top business leaders are gathering for Excellerate – Central Oregon’s premier business conference - to learn, share best practices, build valuable connections, and prepare to thrive in 2026.

The program will include presentations from local business leaders, and vibrant peer-peer roundtable discussions and problem solving:

o Jordan Smith - VP CMIT Solutions:

"Cyber-Security in the Age of Artificial Intelligence"

The CyberSecurity risks due to AI are extreme, and it's getting worse rapidly. This topic is critical for all small and medium sized businesses, which are the prime targets. Jordan is a well known entrepreneur in Bend whose local IT company was recently acquired by one of the largest IT firms in the country. Jordan spoke at the first Forum in 2022 and is back by request, as an audience favorite!

o Jenn Donahue - US Navy Commodore (Retired), Entrepreneur, Leadership Coach:

"Building Resilient Teams in Challenging Times"

Jenn Donahue, PhD, is a civil engineer, entrepreneur and US Navy Commodore (ret) who works on large scale, high profile geotechnical projects. https://www.jenndonahue.com Jenn's message on "Building Resilient Teams" is grounded in her 27 year military career as a combat veteran in Iraq and Afghanistan, leading organizations up to 1,800 people. Jenn has led earthquake and tsunami reconnaissance missions in places like Samoa and Japan; designed the seismic plans for a bridge over the Panama Canal; and built roads in the coldest climes of Ketchikan. Jenn built a bridge across the Euphrates river in the midst of the Iraq war, commanded a 400-personnel Battalion in Afghanistan, and constructed combat outposts in the middle of deserts filled with insurgents. In short, there's a lot we can learn from her on how to build teams in very challenging environments.

o Laurence F. Kennedy and Christie Hutcherson - National Security Strategists and Global Logistics Experts:

"Deterring the Risks You Don't See Coming."

Laurence Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy is CEO of Kennedy International Logistics and Services, among other companies. He is a nationally recognized expert in secure logistics, tactical defense and high-risk operations, with over 25 years of real-world leadership spanning warzones, global supply chains and domestic/international security infrastructures. He is a trusted voice in the private security sector and a strategic advisor to numerous U.S.-based NGOs, Law Enforcement Organizations, Department of Defense and private-sector leaders. Laurence is frequently invited to speak on:

• Counter-terrorism and soft target defense

• Tactical readiness and private sector response planning

• School and church security in the 21st century

• Domestic asymmetric threats and overwatch deployment

• The convergence of secure logistics, threat intelligence and executive protection

With commanding presence, battlefield-tested wisdom and a no-nonsense delivery style, Kennedy educates, equips and challenges audiences to rethink what security looks like in an increasingly volatile world.

Christie Hutcherson. Ms. Hutcherson is the COO of Kennedy International Logistics and Services. She is a distinguished geopolitical expert, accomplished strategist and national security advocate with over 20 years of leadership experience in defense, secure logistics, security sectors and public advocacy. She has championed initiatives addressing border security, combating human trafficking and exposing transnational criminal operations. Christie has led high-profile projects for the Department of Defense (DOD), Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), earning recognition for her ability to deliver transformative solutions in complex, high-stakes environments.

As the leader of over 100 border operations, Christie has exposed cartel tunnels, trafficking networks and drug smuggling routes, achieving a 100% detection and interdiction success rate.

In addition to her executive roles, Christie serves on the boards of the Kennedy (QRF) and Heal-Corp, where she supports disaster relief efforts & humanitarian challenges.

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Net Event Proceeds go to support three local non-profit organizations:

NEWEACHMORNING.ORG - Serving Women Graduates of Drug and Alcohol Recovery Programs. Focusing on back-end support by providing post recovery services.

COVO-US.ORG - Supporting veterans and community members in Central Oregon through outreach, housing assistance, advocacy, and essential services. Empowering individuals toward stability and independence.

STROKEAWARENESSOREGON.ORG - Raising awareness, educating the public, and supporting stroke survivors and their families across Oregon with a mission to prevent strokes and improve long-term recovery outcomes.

2025 Excellerate Central Oregon Business Forum Program

The Riverhouse Convention Center - Thursday, September 11, 2025

Agenda:

• Gather: 6:30 am (Come on time and enjoy the leadership connections).
• Breakfast catered by The Riverhouse: 6:30 - 7:15
• Networking: 6:30 - 7:15

• Jordan Smith: "Cyber-Security in the Age of Artificial Intelligence"

• Roundtable Discussion
• Jenn Donahue: "Building Resilient Teams in Challenging Times"
• Roundtable Discussion
• Laurence Kennedy & Christie Hutcherson: "Deterrring the Risks You Don't See Coming"
• Roundtable Discussion
• 10:00 - Event Conclusion
• 10:00 - 10:30 - Optional Networking