MEDA convention to explore issues around international development, business and faith

Taking the Leap: MEDA convention to explore issues around international development, business, and faith

Taking the Leap is the theme of MEDA’s annual Business as a Calling convention, to be held Oct. 31- Nov. 3 in Tucson, Arizona.

Tim Dearborn, a professor, coach, pastor, mission executive and author of more than a dozen books, (see excerpt, page 14), will deliver the opening plenary on Thursday evening. Dearborn has served with World Vision and several universities. Among other convention highlights: • A Friday lunch plenary will feature MEDA clients from Ukraine, Ethiopia and Myanmar. Nataliya Sudarkina, co-founder of Agro-Patriot, will talk about her 11-year-old Ukrainian garlic firm, which now exports to five other countries. Metasebia Asfaw, whose Ethiopian gemstone business was profiled in the May issue of The Marketplace magazine, will discuss plans to expand his business. Mr. Nyan Linn, owner of Shan Maw Myae, will relate the story of his firm, which supplies agriculture and livestock products in Myanmar. • A Friday afternoon MEDA pitch competition. Young entrepreneurs will compete for a grand prize of $10,000, with $5,000 going to the runner-up. • Saturday’s night plenary will feature Angie Bastian, the co-founder of BOOMCHICKAPOP, a natural popcorn brand. Angie and her husband, Dan, founded the kettle corn company in their garage to build their children’s college fund. The business grew across the US and international markets. BOOMCHICKAPOP was acquired by Conagra Brands in late 2017. • Carol Rose, co-pastor of Shalom Mennonite — a progressive, multi-cultural Anabaptist church in Tucson, will deliver Sunday morning’s message. Tucson is Arizona’s secondlargest city, and perhaps the oldest continually inhabited settlement in North America. It has a population of more than 900,000 and is home to the University of Arizona.

The city enjoys more than 350 days of sunshine each year and offers numerous outdoor attractions.

World famous for its restaurants, Tucson is designated a City of Gastronomy by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), one of only US cities and 26 worldwide with this designation. Attendees will have several opportunities to experience some of Tucson’s best restaurants. A Thursday excursion to visit the Sonoran Desert Museum and a Tucson-area business will include lunch at El Charro Cafe, the nation’s oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family.

Friday evening there will be a dine-around where people can choose from a range of area restaurants. A Taste of Tucson will be a Saturday tour option, with visits to several local restaurants.

Other Saturday excursions include a jeep tour of a ranch to learn about desert flora and fauna with trained guides.

Stargazing near the resort Friday evening will be another highlight. Arizona Star Tours will bring their mobile observatory. Attendees can view the night sky through several telescopes or watch green lasers that guide Benjamin Loker will use to point out constellations and stars.

As always, seminars will cover a wide range of topics related to faith, business and international development. Among the sessions are: • Talks by international field staff and clients, including the three members of Friday’s plenary panel; • MEDA’s Jennifer Denomy on the (Ghana) GROW learning series and Linda Jones discussing her new book on women’s empowerment. • Ed Zuercher, chief administrative officer of Phoenix, Arizona, will discuss keys to high performance leadership. In 2017, Phoenix was recognized by Governing Magazine and Living Cities as the top city in their inaugural Equipt to Innovate survey, which recognizes Phoenix’s capacity and compliance in high-performing governance. • a charitable giving seminar led by staff from Everence and Abundance Canada; • a discussion of impact investing; • an exploration of issues related to migrant labor; • Consultant Rebecca Sutherns discussing five recent, relevant books that she has read so you don’t have to. ◆

The Westin La Paloma in Tucson, Arizona will be the site of MEDA’s annual Business as a Calling convention Oct. 31 to Nov. 3.