Keynote Presenters
Meet Our 2026 Conference Keynote Speakers
Questions?
Contact the Conference Education Co-Chairs:
or, NATA Staff:
Get ready to be inspired, challenged, and equipped with practical strategies you can bring back to your congregation.
At The One for Synagogue Executives, our opening and closing keynote presentations will explore the power of human connection—from creating authentic relationships to establishing boundaries that help those relationships thrive.
Opening Keynote Speaker
Rob Lawless
Human-Connection Advocate · Creator of Rob's 10k Friends
Discover the Untapped Value of Human Connection
Every human interaction, no matter how brief, holds the potential to change your life. With our communities already full of unique individuals and valuable perspectives, sometimes this change comes from a simple conversation, getting to know each other on a deeper level.
This keynote session blends storytelling with practice. You will learn what's possible, from fresh outlooks to new opportunities, when you become more intentional about connection. You'll also learn and implement the FRIEND framework, a practical blueprint for creating authentic connection, through 1:1 breakouts with fellow attendees. Afterwards, you'll feel a renewed optimism and curiosity in those around you from the conference to your congregations and beyond!
About Rob
Rob Lawless is a human-connection advocate known for his mission to meet 10,000 strangers for one hour each. He began his journey in 2015 and has since met 7,400+ people across 90+ countries and has been featured by media like The TODAY Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show and On Air with Ryan Seacrest. Drawing from these experiences, Rob delivers dynamic keynotes for organizations like FOX Sports, KPMG, and SHRM, equipping leaders with his FRIEND Framework, a practical blueprint for building authentic, transformative relationships. Rob believes every interaction holds the potential to change your life, potential you can begin capturing today!
Closing Keynote Speaker
Sheri Jacobs
Leadership & Innovation Keynote Speaker | Bestselling Author
The Unexpected Power of Boundaries: Building Deeper Connections
We're told that strong relationships require open doors and endless availability, but what if that mindset is actually working against us?
In this highly engaging keynote, bestselling author on innovation and membership and award-winning Arctic wildlife photographer challenges conventional wisdom by showing why our most meaningful connections thrive not in unlimited openness, but within clear boundaries. Through original research, real-world examples from organizations working to engage today's members, and stunning images and stories from travels across all seven continents, this session reveals how the right constraints strengthen trust, deepen friendships, and create the conditions for authentic community. From photographing polar bears in the Arctic to studying what draws people together in our everyday lives, the parallels are surprising and powerful.
You'll walk away with practical strategies to build stronger, more meaningful connections with today's congregants, and your colleagues.
About Sheri
Sheri Jacobs is the bestselling author of The Unexpected Power of Boundaries and Founder & CEO of Avenue M Group. A researcher and globally sought-after keynote speaker, she challenges the myth that innovation requires unlimited freedom—showing instead that clear boundaries spark smarter risks, faster momentum, and better ideas. Sheri has surveyed more than 500,000 people and partnered with 300+ organizations to turn data into practical frameworks that build cultures of bold experimentation. A former ASAE and ASAE Foundation board member, she also brings an award-winning wildlife photographer's lens to her work: when you understand the edges, you see further.
Experience the Full Conference
Join synagogue executives and senior administrative professionals from across North America for four days of meaningful learning, practical tools, professional nourishment, and authentic connection.
The One for Synagogue Executives
- October 26–29, 2026
- New Brunswick, New Jersey