work with purpose and live on mission.
The Workmatters Institute is a transformational faith and leadership development experience for young professionals who want to integrate their faith and work. Participants will join other like-minded peers in exploring a rich theology of work, learning practical application from live executive speakers, and developing a personal and actionable Faith and Leadership Action Plan. For more than ten years Workmatters has equipped leaders to work with purpose and live on mission through this unique workplace discipleship and career development experience. It is insightful personal growth, deep spiritual growth, and effective leadership growth all in one.
You should participate in the Workmatters Institute if you are looking for a new and exciting way to grow in your faith, but also become stronger as a leader. This is an opportunity to connect with others including the facilitators who are there to help you grow in your faith and leadership journeys.
Details & Outcomes.
Your Guides and Speakers
Workmatters draws from executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders from every industry you can imagine, each with a unique faith story and calling to serve Christ in the marketplace. Here are the speakers confirmed for the 2022 Spring experience (2023 speakers to be posted soon).
Access to these world class executives is one of the benefits WMI alumni point to that has made a lasting impact on them. As a participant in the Workmatters Institute – Arkansas, you will hear from these experts in person, have the opportunity to interact with them and get their valuable input on your real-world questions. You will also be taught and led by our Workmatters Institute Director.
Shelley Simpson
President at J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.
Biography
After graduating in 1994 from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a marketing degree, Shelley Simpson began her career at J. B. Hunt. Her career has included positions across various business segments including: Director of Pricing for Truck and Intermodal, Vice President of Economic Analysis, Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration, and in 2007, President of ICS. In 2011, she assumed the sales and marketing executive responsibilities and was appointed as the company’s Chief Marketing Officer. In 2014, she also assumed the position of President of J.B. Hunt’s truck division. Shelley and her husband, David, have three children. The Simpsons are members of the Chancellor’s Society at the U of A, and Shelley is a member of the Walton College’s Dean’s Executive Advisory Board.
Donnie Smith
CEO of Foster Farms; Former CEO of Tyson Foods
Biography
Frank Scott Jr.
Mayor of Little Rock, Ark.
Biography
Little Rock voters made history on Dec. 4, 2018 when they selected Frank Scott Jr. as the City’s 73rdmayor and first elected Black chief executive. Since that day, Mayor Scott has worked to unite our diverse neighborhoods into one City and one people, cooperating to expand our economy and improve our quality of life. He brings a unique combination of skills to the job with significant experience in both the public and private sectors.
Scott began his public-service career in the office of Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe where he served for five years, first as deputy policy director and later as director of intergovernmental affairs. While on Beebe’s staff, Scott continued his education, earning a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. That degree, with a concentration in finance, complimented Scott’s undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the Fogelman College of Business at the University of Memphis.
Ed Choate
President and CEO of Delta Dental
Biography
Choate joined DDAR as president and CEO in 2000 and over his 20-year tenure has built a reputation as one of the state’s most influential and active champions for a healthier Arkansas. Choate joined Delta Dental of Arkansas as president and chief executive officer in July 2000. Prior to joining Delta Dental, he worked for 20 years in the managed healthcare industry in leadership roles at NovaSys Health, HealthScope Benefits, and Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield. Choate’s work as president and CEO also focused on creating and growing the company’s philanthropic arm, the DDAR Foundation. As the leading foundation in Arkansas focused on improving the oral health of all Arkansans, the DDAR Foundation has invested more than $25 million back into the State through its various grant programs. The DDAR Foundation provided funds for the dental clinics at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, UAMS, and CARTI.
Choate earned his B.B.A. in business management in 1975 and his B.S.E. in business education in 1977. While attending SAU, Choate was a member of the SAU football team and was chosen to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All America Team in 1974.
He was chosen the 2006 Arkansas Business Executive of the Year, was a 2007 SAU Distinguished Alumni selection, 2008 SAU Executive in Residence, and the 2010 Rotarian of the Year in Little Rock. He and his wife, Marilyn (a 1975 SAU graduate), live in Conway.
Sheerah Davis
Global Human Resources Lead at dentsu Sports International
Biography
Sheerah is an experienced HR leader with an interest in helping businesses succeed by tying business strategy with results through the effective management of people and processes.
She has over 20 years of experience across various industries including PR, advertising and marketing, healthcare, and distribution. Sheerah enjoys solving problems, building long-lasting relationships and strengthening fun and positive workplace cultures.
Sheerah is passionate about investing in young leaders and is also a Workmatters Institute mentor.
Dawn Prasifka
President & Chief Executive Officer at Girl Scouts Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas
Biography
Previously, Dawn was the Executive Director of The Centers for Youth and Families Foundation and the Director of Operations at Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation. As Arkansas Hospice, Volunteer Manager Dawn helped implement the first inpatient hospice facility. Dawn started her professional career as an elementary school teacher.
Besides her skills of public speaking, Dawn is very strategic and analytical minded. Dawn has created and implemented gift processing procedures, moves management and stewardship tracking, and was instrumental in managing the conversion of a donor database with over 200,000 constituents. She has experience designing and presenting in-service training programs.
Dawn’s desire to make the world a better place is demonstrated in her mentorship of young people. She has been a panelist and mentor for Arkansas Leadership Forum since 2016 and Workmatters. She believes in working from peoples strengths and bringing emotional intelligence into the workplace to maximize relationships resulting in a more positive work environment and outcomes.
She is passionate about what she does to make an impact in other peoples lives.
Darrel Harvey
Director, Workmatters Institute
Biography
Darrel Harvey has directed the Workmatters Institute since 2019. Building off of a rich background in church leadership, pastoral ministry, and small business, Darrel is an expert spiritual guide and loves walking with young leaders as they navigate calling and career.
Ben Kirksey
COO, Workmatters; Co-Founder of Workmatters Institute
Biography
Ben helped found the Workmatters Institute in 2010 and joined the Workmatters team in 2013 to fully run and grow the program. Today he serves as COO, leading all daily operations of the ministry. He is passionate about helping people develop and flourish, discovering the good works that God has prepared for them (Eph. 2:10).
Executive Mentorship
Mentoring is key element of the 12-month Workmatters Institute experience. Over the course of nine months participants will poured into by a seasoned executive who has a wealth of leadership experience and spiritual wisdom. These small groups (3-4 participants per executive mentor) are focused on contextualization, application and implimentation of what you learned in class.
What You’ll Learn
Every session in the 12-week class portion of the Workmatters Institute-Arkansas experience features live facilitation and teaching from our expert Workmatters staff, live executive speakers, and group discussion with like-minded peer community. See below a more detailed outline of what you’ll learn and experience, and feel free to reach out to Darrel Harvey, Workmatters Institute Director, for more information (dharvey@workmatters.org).
Week 1: THE FULL STORY OF GOD
Key questions to answer in this session:
- Why are stories important?
- What are the components of a full story?
- Why is it crucial that we work with the full story of God?
Class Flow
- Mindfulness
- Small group discussion on articles provided
- Teaching
- Group Processing
- Teaching
- Personal Reflection
- Wrap-up
Assignment
- The Prayer of Examen is outlined in the Workmatters Institute Guide. Choose at least two days to incorporate this practice into your devotional routine.
- Read the article on pages 30-33 of your Workmatters Institute Guide, “God’s Story and My Work,” and be prepared to discuss.
- Do the reflection questions on pages 34-35 in your the Workmatters Institute Guide.
Practical Application
Our lives are often driven by half stories – narratives that we are not even aware of. Half stories also leave room for other competing half stories that fall short of God’s glorious full story.
The Examen is organized to slow us down and in the presence of the Holy Spirit, probe the stories and modes that sit beneath the surface. It helps cultivate a posture that says, “Open my eyes. Show me what you see and do in me what you want to do.”
Week 2: GOD'S STORY AND YOUR WORK
Key questions to answer in this session:
- What is God’s intent for my work?
- What is currently misaligned with the Kingdom of God?
- How does the gospel address the fallen nature of work?
Class Flow
- Mindfulness
- Small group discussion of the article provided and reflection quesions
- Teaching
- Group processing
- Teaching
- Small group application conversation
- Teaching
- Personal reflection
- Wrap-up
Assignment
- Read the article on pages 42-44 of the Workmatters Institute Guide, and be prepared to discuss.
- Respond to the reflection questions on page 46 of the Workmatters Institute Guide.
- Practice your Daily Liturgy paying attention to your experience and noting what changes you may need to make.
Practical Application
God has purpose for your work.
The virtues of work that we see in the Garden of Eden are present in your work.
The fall has misaligned our work with the Kingdom of God.
Week 3: GOD'S STORY AND THE MARKETPLACE
- How should the Lord’s Prayer be answered (“thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”) through your industry?
- Which half stories are shaping your industry and workplace?
- How can I develop a vision for how my industry will function in Jesus intent to renew all things?
Class Flow
- Mindfulness
- Small group discussion of the article provided and reflection questions
- Teaching
- Group processing
- Teaching
- Large group discussion
- Teaching
- Personal reflection
- Wrap-up
Assignment
- Continue to practice your daily liturgy.
- Pay attention to the level of connection to God that you experience throughout the day.
- Prepare a response to this statement: I would be more effective, and the organization would be more successful if there was more or less of ___________.
Practical Application
God has ordained seven spheres of culture, each with its own unique and distinct responsibility toward human flourishing.
Just as individuals are drawn to half stories, so are industries.
It is critical that we understand where the culture – and our industry – aligns with God’s story and where it breaks.
Week 4: IDENTIFYING BROKENNESS IN & AROUND ME
Key questions to answer in this session:
- Where do I have an opportunity to make a difference?
- What is keeping me from doing that?
- What will I commit to doing?
Class Flow
- Mindfulness
- Small group discussion
- The impact of our instincts
- From complaint to commitment
- Partner processing
- Crafting an empowerment and value statement
- Partner processing
- Getting to root causes
- Identifying competing commitments
- Group processing
- Completing our Faith & Leadership Roadmap
Assignment
- Read the article provided in the Workmatters Intitute Guide and be prepared to discuss.
- Do the devotionals and reflection questions for next week’s topics.
- Get to know our Executive Speaker for next week and prepare 2-3 questions to ask.
Practical Application
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Week 5: EXECUTIVE SPEAKER
One of the great values of the Wormatters Institute is having access to world class leaders. These leaders share their personal faith stories, give us insight on their vocational journey, address one of the 7 Pillars of Faith & Work, and they field questions with wisdom and transparency.
Class Flow
- Mindfulness
- Small group discussion
- Executive Speaker Presentation
- Q & A
Assignment
- Read the article provided in the Workmatters Intitute Guide and be prepared to discuss.
- Do the devotionals and reflection questions for next week’s topics.
- Get to know our Executive Speaker for next week and prepare 2-3 questions to ask.
Week 6: EXECUTIVE SPEAKER
One of the great values of the Wormatters Institute is having access to world class leaders. These leaders share their personal faith stories, give us insight on their vocational journey, address one of the 7 Pillars of Faith & Work, and they field questions with wisdom and transparency.
Class Flow
- Mindfulness
- Small group discussion
- Executive Speaker Presentation
- Q & A
Assignment
- Read the article provided in the Workmatters Intitute Guide and be prepared to discuss.
- Do the devotionals and reflection questions for next week’s topics.
- Get to know our Executive Speaker for next week and prepare 2-3 questions to ask.
Week 7: EXECUTIVE SPEAKER
One of the great values of the Wormatters Institute is having access to world class leaders. These leaders share their personal faith stories, give us insight on their vocational journey, address one of the 7 Pillars of Faith & Work, and they field questions with wisdom and transparency.
Class Flow
- Mindfulness
- Small group discussion
- Executive Speaker Presentation
- Q & A
Assignment
- Read the article provided in the Workmatters Intitute Guide and be prepared to discuss.
- Do the devotionals and reflection questions for next week’s topics.
- Get to know our Executive Speaker for next week and prepare 2-3 questions to ask.
Week 8: EXECUTIVE SPEAKER
One of the great values of the Wormatters Institute is having access to world class leaders. These leaders share their personal faith stories, give us insight on their vocational journey, address one of the 7 Pillars of Faith & Work, and they field questions with wisdom and transparency.
Class Flow
- Mindfulness
- Small group discussion
- Executive Speaker Presentation
- Q & A
Assignment
- Read the article provided in the Workmatters Intitute Guide and be prepared to discuss.
- Do the devotionals and reflection questions for next week’s topics.
- Get to know our Executive Speaker for next week and prepare 2-3 questions to ask.
Week 9: EXECUTIVE SPEAKER
One of the great values of the Wormatters Institute is having access to world class leaders. These leaders share their personal faith stories, give us insight on their vocational journey, address one of the 7 Pillars of Faith & Work, and they field questions with wisdom and transparency.
Class Flow
- Mindfulness
- Small group discussion
- Executive Speaker Presentation
- Q & A
Assignment
- Read the article provided in the Workmatters Intitute Guide and be prepared to discuss.
- Do the devotionals and reflection questions for next week’s topics.
- Get to know our Executive Speaker for next week and prepare 2-3 questions to ask.
Week 10: EXECUTIVE SPEAKER
One of the great values of the Wormatters Institute is having access to world class leaders. These leaders share their personal faith stories, give us insight on their vocational journey, address one of the 7 Pillars of Faith & Work, and they field questions with wisdom and transparency.
Class Flow
- Mindfulness
- Small group discussion
- Executive Speaker Presentation
- Q & A
Assignment
- Read the article provided in the Workmatters Intitute Guide and be prepared to discuss.
- Do the devotionals and reflection questions for next week’s topics.
- Get to know our Executive Speaker for next week and prepare 2-3 questions to ask.
Week 11: Processing Night
One of the great values of the Wormatters Institute is having access to world class leaders. These leaders share their personal faith stories, give us insight on their vocational journey, address one of the 7 Pillars of Faith & Work, and they field questions with wisdom and transparency.
Class Flow
- Mindfulness
- Small group discussion
- Theology review
- Large group processing
- 7 Pillars revisted
- Individual work on Faith & Leadership Action Plan Presentations
Assignment
Prepare for your Faith & Leadership Action Plan Presentation.
- Create your presentation in Power Point. This will keep you on topic and on time.
- The Workmatters Institute Director is available if you would like to walk through your presentation before next week.
Week 12: FAITH & LEADERSHIP ACTION PLAN PRESENTATIONS
Tonight is the highlight of our time together. Each participant is given 5-7 minutes to present their Faith & Leadership Action Plan:
- Define the brokenness you feel called to address.
- Reimagine what it looks like for this brokenness to be renewed in God’s Kingdom.
- Plan for action – What steps are necessary to carry out your plan?
- What personal habits and practices will you have to commit to in order to pursue your plan?
Watch a Sneak Peek
- Faith & Leadership Action Plan Presentations – 2021 Spring Class
What Participants Are Saying
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