2026 CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Debbie Cover is a licensed mental health counselor. A minister’s wife for 46 years, Debbie also has taught Sunday School at a number of Presbyterian churches and earned the certificate in Spiritual Formation from Columbia Theological Seminary.

Jeff Cover was a PC(USA) pastor for 41 years in small towns and medium and large cities. In each context he strived to help congregations discover and live out their ministry to their communities. His book, “Going Public: How Biblical People Help Us Find Our Voice for Public Life,” is the culmination of what he has learned from Bible characters who were called by God from private life to public responsibilities. Most of them did not respond willingly! He lives with his wife, Debbie, in Jeffersonville, IN, where they are seeking to discern and live out their own callings in retirement.

Shelley Craig is the program director for Faith & Grief, a multi-faith nonprofit that provides online and in-person grief support programs. She is an ordained Elder in the PCUSA, a certified grief educator, and holds a master’s in Education. She believes our suffering needs to be witnessed and that sharing our stories with others is essential to our grieving process. As a former ministry professional, she understands how personal and community grief over tragedies can impact our congregations and individuals.

Rev. Sharan Knoell has been the pastor of Valley United Presbyterian Church since they merged three PC(USA) churches across state and denominational lines in 2014. She is Tioga County, NY’s representative for the New York State Office of Faith and Nonprofit Development Services and has also been active in establishing a Food Council in her county. She holds a Bachelor’s from St. Joseph’s University, an MS from Eastern University, and an MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary. Sharan serves on the board of POAMN as their Connectivity co-lead and is pursuing a certificate in Older Adult Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary.

Suzie Lane is the resource director for GenOn Ministries, where she designs and edits intergenerational resources. She has served as Christian Education director for several churches in middle Tennessee. Suzie is a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville.

Joyce MacKichan Walker served Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, New Jersey, as director of Christian Education and then, following ordination to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament, as minister of Education and Mission until her retirement in 2018. She is a graduate of the Presbyterian School of Christian Education (now Union Presbyterian Seminary) in Richmond, Virginia. She developed the Teaching for Transformation course for the certificate in older adult ministry, a partnership between POAMN and Columbia Theological Seminary’s Center for Lifelong Learning, and has updated and taught it continuously since that time.

As a Commissioned Ruling Elder at First Presbyterian in San Luis Obispo, California, Jen Rabenaldt is deeply committed to fostering a safe, loving, and nurturing environment for all ages. She is passionate about lifelong faith formation and affirms that Christian education is central to discipleship at every stage of life—from nursery through older adulthood. Jen believes that education and faith formation are foundational to our life in Christ and embraces it as a lifelong calling—guiding others to grow in knowledge, deepen their relationships with God, and live out their faith in the world.

Paul Rader is the pastor of Northside Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He has served congregations in Kentucky and West Virginia, as well as Tennessee, and was the coordinator for mission for the Coalition for Appalachia Ministry. He is the author of two books on pastoral care: Do Not Cast Me Away: Dementia in the Congregation, and Do Not Forsake Me: Support for Dementia Caregivers. He is a board member of the Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network, and is well on his way to becoming an older adult himself!

John Rivas joined ENCORE Ministry in 2023 as executive director. Previously he served as senior donor legacy planning advisor at The Gideons International, where he assisted individuals and families navigate legacy and philanthropic decisions through their wills, trusts, and estates. John earned master’s degrees in philanthropy and development from LaGrange College and in religious education from Nazarene Theological Seminary after receiving a bachelor’s degree from Southern Nazarene University.

Barak Strickland is the founder of Refire Nation and a speaker dedicated to helping others rediscover purpose in the “third third” of life. A veteran with 40 years of service in the U.S. Air Force–spanning both active duty and civil service–he spent decades leading complex projects. What he didn’t anticipate was that his most important work would come after he retired. In 2025, following a period of profound isolation and a mental health crisis, Barak chose to reach out for help. That single decision changed everything, transforming a place of no hope into a life of purpose and meaning. Today, he inspires others navigating retirement to move from floundering to flourishing, proving it’s never too late to “refire” and finish well.

Dr. Renee Sunday is a physician with over 26 years of experience in high-pressure clinical environments and a Certified AI Consultant, Certified Behavioral Specialist, international speaker, and licensed minister. Dr. Renee focuses on helping leaders, caregivers, and organizations maintain clarity, performance, and well-being while navigating the demands of service. She is the creator of the REST Framework, a structured approach developed through both personal experience and professional practice, designed to help individuals continue serving effectively without losing their capacity to lead and care.

Rev. Cheryl Swing is an award-winning writer and author of Soul Purpose: My Spiritual Path to Wholeness and a Board-Certified Chaplain. She is ordained in the United Church of Christ and serves as Director of Spiritual Life at Frasier Meadows, a Life Plan Community in Boulder, Colorado. Cheryl’s chaplaincy training includes three (3) units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) with The College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy; a Residency at Littleton Adventist Hospital through the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education; an ACPE Trauma Fellowship at St. Anthony’s Hospital, a Level I Regional Trauma Center in Denver; and a certificate in Moral Injury (MICP) through the Shay Moral Injury Center at Volunteers of America. Cheryl specializes in trauma-informed spiritual and emotional support, generational trauma, and all things End of Life. Her ministry is grounded in philanthropy, storytelling, and radical hospitality.