Board Leadership | June 2025 | Smithville, MO

Erik Twist is the Principal Partner and President of Arcadia Education. From 2008 to 2022, Erik helped build Great Hearts Academies into the largest network of classical schools in the country. He served as president of Great Hearts Arizona from 2017 to 2022. Erik was a member of the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools from 2016 to 2021, as well as a member of the Arizona Charter Schools Association. Erik holds degrees from Trinity University, where he studied political science, and Oxford University, where he studied theology and philosophy. Erik has been married for 20 years to Allison, and they have six children.

• 4:30 - 7:15 PM, Jun 8, 2025 Ambassador Hotel | 1111 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64106

  Event Begins: Opening Sessions

• 4:30 - 7:15 PM, Jun 8, 2025 Ambassador Hotel | 1111 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64106

  Event Begins: Opening Sessions

Cecelia Diem

American Philanthropic

Cecilia Diem is a Managing Consultant at American Philanthropic. Previously, she held positions at The Philanthropy Roundtable, Americans for Prosperity and Americans for Prosperity Foundation, and the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Her experience spans foundations and major gifts fundraising, development operations, membership, and team and transition management. Over the past decade, she has built, directed, and expanded multiple grants and foundation fundraising programs; planned, funded, and executed high-level donor events; successfully engaged in competitive major gifts fundraising, and streamlined development operations. Cecilia is a graduate of Mary Baldwin Women’s College in Staunton, Virginia, where she studied Art Management and Painting. She currently lives in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.

• 4:30 - 7:15 PM, Jun 8, 2025 Ambassador Hotel | 1111 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64106

  Event Begins: Opening Sessions

Sadie Elliott

Training Director

Herzog Foundation

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Curating human experiences that drive learning and growth as Training Director at the Herzog Foundation. Traveler, auntie, daughter of the King.

Sadie is passionate about developing leaders who steward both people and operational excellence well. After beginning her career in non-profit management, she developed a passion for organizational effectiveness and went on to pursue an MBA in International Management from ESCP Europe. As Training Director at the Herzog Foundation, she now has the privilege of leading a team to produce the Foundation’s leadership development efforts.

As a proud alumna of The King’s College in New York City, Sadie possess a Bachelor of Arts in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics with a minor in International Development. While living in New York City, Sadie led the college’s City Engagement efforts to partner with non-profit ministries across NYC in serving local communities. Directly out of college Sadie catalyzed The Global Orphan Project’s grants efforts as a subset of their Development Team. Working on a small team with limited resources, she and the team set a goal of generating $1 million within the first year of developing foundation relations. Together, they reached $1.3 million of grant funding within 13 months for educational projects in Haiti, agricultural programs in Africa, technology initiatives in the US, and refugee care in the Middle East.

Sadie later went onto lead marketing and development efforts for her alma mater, Northland Christian Education System where her love and appreciation for Christian education grew. She went on to complete her MBA at ESCP Europe where she lived and worked in London, England, and Paris, France. After completing her MBA, she was recruited by the Stanley M. Herzog Charitable Foundation to help launch their charitable initiatives. The Herzog Foundation’s mission is to catalyze and accelerate the development of quality Christ-centered education so that families and culture flourish. Sadie has had the privilege of assisting in the launch of the Foundation’s grant making program, school startup program, and leadership development program.

As Training Director, she has the privilege to combine her experience in Christian education and the broader non-profit sector with her passion for savvy business acumen and strong leadership. She facilitates experts and practitioners to create best in class adult learning experiences on Donor Development, Marketing and Enrollment, Strategic Planning, Culture Building and People Management, Succession Planning, and Board Leadership.

• 4:30 - 7:15 PM, Jun 8, 2025 Ambassador Hotel | 1111 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64106

  Event Begins: Opening Sessions

Tammy McIlvoy

Head of School

After beginning her career as an instructor at a public high school, Tammy McIlvoy became interested in education alternatives. She left public school and taught briefly in a traditional private school before learning about University-Model® schooling where she has served since 2000.

Within the University-Model® School, Tammy has been a classroom instructor, served as a co-teacher, founded a school, served on a local school board, and served various roles within school administration. She currently serves as head of school for Logos Preparatory Academy and secretary of the NAUMS (National Association of University Model® School) Board of Directors.

Tammy is a regular presenter at the UMSI (University Model® Schools International) Summit and enjoys investing in the development of both schools and individuals. She has also served on a number of NAUMS school certification and AdvancED accreditation teams.

She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in radio, television, film from Sam Houston State University and later returned to Lamar University in order to complete her education courses. She is married to Randy and has two grown daughters, Courtney and Keely, and a son-in-love, Noah. Tammy is an avid reader, dedicated educator, and devoted daughter of the King.

• 4:30 - 7:15 PM, Jun 8, 2025 Ambassador Hotel | 1111 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64106

  Event Begins: Opening Sessions

Matt Skinner

President

Heritage Preparatory School

Matt Skinner is the President of Heritage Preparatory School, a position he assumed in June 2016. He has been in Christian education for the past 27 years leading PK-12 traditional and classical Christian schools with enrollments ranging from 150 to 850 students. Prior to leading Heritage Preparatory School, Matt served as Headmaster of Heritage School in Fredericksburg, Texas, Hilton Head Christian Academy in Hilton Head, South Carolina, Landmark Christian School in Fairburn, Georgia and Bracken Christian School in Bulverde, Texas. Prior to his calling into Christian education, Matt spent ten years as a Certified Public Accountant working with a variety of corporate and private clients throughout the southwest. He is also an ordained minister and served as the first Executive Pastor of Braelinn Church in Peachtree City, Georgia (now Dogwood Church). 
  
Matt holds a BBA from the University of Texas-Arlington (1986) and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Covenant College (2002). 
 
Matt has been married for thirty-seven years to Tracy and they have three children.

• 4:30 - 7:15 PM, Jun 8, 2025 Ambassador Hotel | 1111 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64106

  Event Begins: Opening Sessions

Mark Wilson

Administrator

Head of School at Santa Clarita Christian School

• 4:30 - 7:15 PM, Jun 8, 2025 Ambassador Hotel | 1111 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64106

  Event Begins: Opening Sessions