PRESENTERS
![DSM-LI [Half Shield].png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/080827_bd1515fe4366456594c5c78f6f6c284a~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_71,h_117,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/DSM-LI%20%5BHalf%20Shield%5D.png)
DEREK DEPREY is a leadership coach, author, and keynote speaker dedicated to helping individuals become leaders they'd want to follow. He previously led employee success and leadership development at ETE REMAN, teaching over 100 managers core leadership principles. Before that, he spent 12 years at the Wisconsin Athletic Club, where he held various leadership roles and became a certified coach with the John Maxwell Team. In 2017, he published SHIFT: Move from Frustrated to Fulfilled and in 2024, Everyday Leaders: Small Actions, Big Results. Derek also spent eight years as an adjunct professor of leadership and has diverse experience in the NBA and NCAA. Outside of work, he's a husband, father, and youth basketball coach.
JARED OLDENBURG serves as the Lead Pastor at 922 Ministries in Appleton, Wisconsin leading a team of six pastors and the primary preacher at the St. Peter campus. He is the founding pastor of Eternal Rock Lutheran Church in Castle Rock, Colorado, where he served for 15 years. Jared also established the WELS Church Planting Intensive and coaching program, mentoring new church planters. He holds a Master of Divinity degree and has been published in several Christian publications. Jared and his wife, Aimee, now make their home in Appleton, Wisconsin.
TOM PLATH joined International Paper in 1991 as a human resources associate at the Thilmany Mill in Kaukauna, Wisconsin. After progressing through HR roles, he became director of HR for International Paper Europe in 1997 and director of strategic planning in 2000. Between 2001 and 2010, he served in operations, marketing, and management roles within xpedx, the company’s distribution business, eventually becoming vice president of HR for xpedx.
In 2010, Plath was named director of HR for manufacturing and became a company officer in 2013. He advanced to senior vice president of HR and global citizenship in 2017, later adding Corporate Affairs to his role in 2023, overseeing HR, Aviation, Real Estate, and more. Plath serves on the boards of the Health Transformation Alliance and Reading is Fundamental. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Martin Luther College and an MBA from Vanderbilt.
LUKE THOMPSON taught philosophy courses at Wisconsin Lutheran College and Bethany Lutheran College before becoming a pastor in WELS. He served eight years in Ottawa, ON, Canada, at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran, where he ministered to government workers, South Sudanese immigrants and university students His most recent divine call is to Martin Luther College, where he teaches theology, history, and philosophy. For the past ten years, he has worked closely with Rick Loewen and CrossTrain Ministries, and is co-writing with Rick a book on spiritual care.
DR. RHODA WOLLE serves as the Vice President of Culture and Engagement at Wisconsin Lutheran College. She is an educational psychologist who has spent most of her life supporting young people as they thrive. She has written a couple of books and a school curriculum, hosts a podcast, and has spoken on five continents on the topic of Thriving. Her goal each day is to celebrate what Jesus has done while she encourages those around her to use their gifts in service to God and all He has created! When she is not doing that, she loves traveling, reading, music, golf, walks, and especially time with her dog. You can find more information at: www.rhodawolle.com
RANDY NIEMANN is an accomplished senior executive with wide-ranging experience across industries and organizations of all sizes. From large corporate settings to fast-growing small businesses and non-profits, he has built strategic plans, guided expansion into new markets, and strengthened teams through clear metrics and intentional leadership. His career path has included work in accounting and finance, business strategy, sales and marketing, mergers and acquisitions, and customer service—giving him a rare ability to see both the numbers and the people behind them.
Beyond his professional expertise, Randy has a passion for creating positive, thriving cultures where people feel valued and aligned around a shared purpose. This focus has consistently led to growth in revenue, employee engagement, and client satisfaction throughout his leadership journey. He also serves on the Executive Board of The Lutheran Home Association, where he brings his skills and heart for ministry together to support meaningful impact. Randy and his family make their home in Castle Rock, Colorado.
MARK PAUSTIAN graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1988. His first assignment was an exploratory mission in Rockford, Illinois. He gathered and named the congregation New Life Lutheran Church and served there through the building of their sanctuary in 2000. He has been teaching at Martin Luther College since 2001, specializing in communication and biblical Hebrew. He also teaches a course that introduces pastor-track students to homiletics and Christian apologetics. Since coming to Martin Luther College, Mark gained a second Master’s Degree from Minnesota State University and a Ph.D. from Regent University. Both degrees are in communication.
Dr. Paustian has served the synod in a variety of ways, including as chairman of a small church task force, as district chairman for the WELS Commission on Evangelism, and as liaison to mission work in Russia on the World Mission Board. He has been blessed to play a temporary role in WELS mission work all around the world, including Cameroon, Antigua, and Thailand. He occasionally writes for Forward in Christ magazine and other publications. He is a frequent conference presenter on a wide range of topics including communication, narrative witnessing, Christian apologetics, marriage enrichment, and ministry encouragement.
Paustian and his wife, Constance, have two married daughters: Abby and Hannah.