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Impact Conference 2025 Empowers Marketplace Leaders

by Jordan Foley, Student Public Relations Writer – October 2, 2025

With the theme “Leading for Christ in the Marketplace,” the Impact 2025 business conference, hosted by the Robert W. Plaster School of Business at Cedarville University, will integrate Christian values with professional vision, redefining leadership in the workplace in the process.

CEDARVILLE, OHIO – In a culture that is often at odds with Christian values, today’s marketplace is in urgent need of professionals who boldly lead by faith.  

Cedarville University will host its annual Impact Conference on October 22-23, focusing on equipping professionals to boldly lead in today's world. The event will take place in the Scharnberg Business and Communication Center on Cedarville’s campus, with Masterpiece Cakeshop-owner Jack Phillips — who was at the center of a key religious rights Supreme Court ruling — as the keynote speaker.  

In 2012, Phillips declined designing a custom wedding cake for a same-sex couple, citing his religious beliefs. The couple filed a complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, arguing that Phillips violated the state's anti-discrimination law, which prohibits businesses from denying service based on sexual orientation. The commission sided with the couple, ordering Phillips to provide cakes for same-sex weddings and to implement anti-discrimination training for his staff. 

When Phillips declined the order based on it violating his First Amendment rights — both of free speech and free exercise of religion — the matter was elevated to the United States Supreme Court. Six years later, in 2018, the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 in favor of Phillips. The Court held that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission had shown hostility toward Phillips' religious beliefs during the proceedings, violating the requirement of government neutrality toward religion. 

Also headlining with Phillips at the two-day conference — held in partnership with the Christian Business Fellowship — are Samuel Green, founder of Reason for Life and former litigator for the sanctity of life at Alliance Defending Freedom, and Deborah Dishong, chief financial officer of Vinmar Group, a global plastics and chemical distribution company with $4 billion in annual revenue. With more than 25 years of experience in financial leadership, Dishong is known for her values-driven approach and commitment to leading for Christ in the marketplace. 

Impact 2025 aims to inspire attendees to lead with purpose, steward their business platforms for God’s glory and make a lasting difference as servant-leaders.  

“We are striving for Impact 2025 to be a conference that encourages business professionals and equips leaders to serve more effectively in the marketplace,” said Dr. Jeff Haymond, dean of the Robert W. Plaster School of Business.  “I hope attendees are reaffirmed in knowing their business vocation has eternal significance in God’s economy and are empowered by a network of life-minded believers,” said Haymond.   

Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences, and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it ranks among Ohio's largest private universities and is recognized by The Wall Street Journal as being among the nation’s top three evangelical universities. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics, and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.