BCA 2018 - Washington, DC

Bill Bangham is a photojournalist, writer and editor living near Richmond, Va. He served at the International Mission Board for 20 years as editor-in-chief for theCOMMISSION and CommissionStories and as founder of The Academy, an institute for advanced communication learning. Previously he was editor of World Mission Journal and associate editor of MissionsUSA. Now retired, he is teaching, speaking, taking assignments, and enjoying personal projects. Throughout his career, Bangham has been recognized with major awards in both secular and religious journalistic competitions.

Adelle M. Banks joined the staff of Religion News Service (RNS) in 1995. She now serves as RNS production editor and national reporter, reporting on topics such as Christianity, religion and race. She previously was religion reporter at the Orlando Sentinel and a reporter at The Providence Journal and newspapers in upstate New York communities. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass., she has earned many awards from professional religious communications associations.

Marc Hooks serves as associate director of missions/director of communication for the CBA Church Network, a Southern Baptist association in northeast Dallas. A graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University, Hooks previously served as an International Mission Board (IMB) missionary and photojournalist. Hooks’ multi-faceted career, spanning nearly 30 years, includes experience in photography, radio, television, newspaper, video and multimedia production. He and his wife, Kellye, reside in McKinney, Texas, with their teenage son. They also have two adult daughters.

D.J. Jordan is communications director for Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla. Jordan previously worked in broadcast journalism at CNN and Fox News. He obtained a bachelor’s degree from Liberty University and a master’s degree from The Johns Hopkins University. In 2016, he completed a four-year term on Virginia’s State Board of Social Services, which oversees Virginia’s foster care system and welfare programs. He and his wife, Glorya, have four children and have fostered/adopted from foster care.

Cabot Phillips is media director for Campus Reform. Prior to joining Campus Reform, he spent time working on numerous campaigns—most recently as the digital grassroots director for Marco Rubio’s presidential bid. Phillips is also a YouTube Partner, creating and starring in numerous videos which have amassed more than 100 million views across varying online platforms. In 2016, Phillips was named to Red Alert Politics’ “30 Under 30” list of the nation’s most influential young conservatives.

Amira Rasayon, graphics technician at Museum of the Bible, designs graphics for in-house special exhibits, manages in-house production projects, and designs museum signage. Rasayon received a bachelor’s degree from Maryland Institute College of Art. Recently, she worked as exhibits specialist at Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. She has produced advertisements featured in the Washington City Paper and The Express, and she has designed event graphics and signage for the National Museum of American History.

Justin Rossbacher is a commercial and film director who co-founded the production company Abandon Films in 2007. His heartbeat is to create vulnerable, authentic, emotional connection, personally and professionally. His experience includes TV commercials, vision videos, short films and feature films. He and his company have won more than 100 Ad Federation, Telly, Richmond Show, Film Festival and BCA awards. Justin believes that we are changed when we experience honest stories, brokenness, grace and redemption.

Dustin Slightham is founder and CEO of 434 Marketing, a company dedicated to partnering with organizations throughout the entire marketing process, including research, strategy, execution and analysis. In 2011 Slightham, a Liberty University graduate, left a lucrative career to start his first app venture. In just a few years, Slightham’s company grew exponentially, moved from a kitchen table to a downtown loft and changed its name; yet, it kept its laser focus on high-quality branding and responsive, custom web designs.

Jennifer Slightham is web account manager for 434 Marketing in Lynchburg, Va. With more than a dozen years of management experience and a career in customer service, along with a combined college degree in business marketing and merchandising, Slightham has a goals-driven mindset with a strong desire to see projects from the view of her clients, ensuring their success. She is passionate about execution and delivering results.

Over the last 30+ years as a video and film editor, Jim Vaile has been a part of The Martin Agency, a very creative ad agency with a good regional presence telling different kinds of stories. The agency, which has grown from a regional shop to a national powerhouse, has included clients like GEICO, Walmart, Oreo, Hanes, Discover Card, Purina, Subway, Pizza Hut, Timberland, Colonial Williamsburg, Xfinity, ESPN, Expedia, United Way, UPS and many others. A graduate of the VCU School of Broadcast Journalism, Vaile firmly believes nothing is impossible, unless of course the stupid client kills it because they are an idiot, or there’s no budget, or someone wants to teach a pig to sing - that’s a waste of time, and it annoys the pig.

Dr. Brian Autry serves as executive director of the SBC of Virginia, a partnership of more than 700 Southern Baptist churches. He previously served as senior pastor of Parkway Baptist Church in Mosely, Va., a church he started, which grew from 13 founding families to more than 1,000 people in attendance. Autry received his bachelor’s degree from James Madison University, his Master of Divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and his Doctor of Ministry degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, in a suburb of Richmond, Va. They have three children, Melissa, Mark, and Jenna.

Dr. Kevin Smith is the executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. He has experience as a pastor, chaplain, church planter, conference speaker, and short-term missionary. He has studied at Hampton University, the Church of God Theological Seminary, and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, subsequently serving on Southern’s faculty for over a decade. In 2015, while serving the Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., he was elected president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Smith and his wife, Patricia, have three adult children and two great-nephews. His hobbies include whatever sports his kids were playing and riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. His ministry is animated by Jesus’ prayer for the unity of His followers in John 17.