Who were you created to be? What were you created to do? And how do you get there? Join the Nashville Institute for Faith and Work for a weekend seminar to help you discern who God is calling you to be, particularly in your vocation. We will also spend a portion of the weekend on job search strategies so you can see a path from calling discernment to action. Spots are limited to only 30 participants, secure yours today.
In this weekend seminar our group of expertly-trained speakers which include a theologian, a corporate executive, and a job-placement professional, will equip you with a theology of calling, help you reflect on your strengths and weaknesses, and mobilize you towards next steps in your vocational journey.
Times: Friday, September 29: 6-9 p.m. — Saturday, September 30: 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Registration Price: $75 ($50 for full-time students or full time nonprofit employees using discount code "callingstudent" or "nonprof")
Included: Friday dinner, Saturday lunch, snacks throughout and all training sessions
Location: Details will be emailed one week prior to the event
If funding for the event is prohibiting you from attending, please reach out to Gage Arnold (garnold@nifw.org) who will place you on a waitlist for scholarship slots as they become available.
Seminar Speakers
Mark Dawson
Mark Dawson pioneered Created for Good™ in 2010 with a heart for connecting people to calling. From the beginning, Mark designed a process for coaching individuals and teams that was born out of his experience as Placement Director at Covenant Theological Seminary and from training he received under the teaching and direction of Dr. Phil Douglass (Professor of Practical Theology, Covenant Theological Seminary). Through Created for Good™, Mark has developed several proprietary works that are designed to provide coaching, consulting, and training for individuals and groups. This material is the result of thousands hours of research and development. Educationally, Mark’s background is extensive. He earned a BS in Business Administration from East Carolina University and an MDiv from Covenant Theological Seminary. He is certified to facilitate both the Myers Briggs Type Instrument (MBTI) for individuals and groups, as well as Prepare & Enrich for couples. In addition, he has received communications training to better reach his audiences. Mark has served on staff with churches within The Presbyterian Church in America, as well as with Covenant Theological Seminary. He has coached individuals and teams within the North Carolina Baptist Convention, Cru (Mid-South Region), All Saints Anglican Church, and the corporate world. He has also spoken at retreats for ministry leaders and in church environments. Over the years, he has impacted many people through preaching, teaching at the seminary level, mentoring, consulting, coaching, and training.
Sven Blomberg
Sven Blomberg moved from Northern California to Nashville in 2009 to work for LifeWay Christian Resources as an Organizational Development Specialist. In his tenure with LifeWay he assisted in the business optimization efforts of their Retail division. He is currently the Training Manager at Precision Dynamics, an industry-leading, full-service training and marketing services agency supporting the automotive industry. Sven has also worked with the law enforcement community in California and spent time working in Silicon Valley. Sven holds a Master’s Degree in Instructional Technology from San Jose State University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from California State University, Sacramento.
Jim Bob Howard
"It's not what you know; it's not even WHO you know; it's… Who knows you?" Jim Bob Howard (a.k.a. Connectorman) has spent several seasons of his career in transition, but due in part to his active networking over the last 20+ years of his career, those seasons have rarely lasted more than a few weeks at a time. Jim Bob now teaches others how to make meaningful connections online and in-person to further their career. My topic is: “Know Who You Are and Share It Well.” In this interactive presentation, Jim Bob Howard will exhort you to find the right way to introduce yourself perfectly in 20 words or less; and the tips and tricks of networking so you have more people to introduce yourself to who can help you into work you love.
Kate Stuart
Mrs. Kate Stuart is the Assistant Director for Career Development within the Biomedical Research Education and Training ("BRET") office in the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. She and her team assist over 1,000 PhD graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the biomedical sciences in exploring career paths, learning professional skills, and preparing for the job search. Her current responsibilities include coaching students, conducting helpful programming, and providing resources and tools for success. She has been in this role since 2012. Prior to her time with BRET, Mrs. Stuart coordinated undergraduate student-alumni career engagement with the Vanderbilt University Alumni Association. She also provided resources for alumni in career transition, including a webinar series, a job posting site, and career seminars in different cities. Originally from a small town in Louisiana, Mrs. Stuart was brought to Nashville by way of Vanderbilt University, majoring in Human and Organizational Development. During college, she met her Savior as well as her future husband, JD. Together, they have two young girls and a baby boy on the way. She is a member of the All Saints Presbyterian Church plant in Brentwood and loves toiling (often unsuccessfully) in her garden, cooking, and watching Vanderbilt sports.