Kristen Belanger is joined by Topher Lovell and Robin Kuehn of the Wolf Conservation Center to discuss their experiences at bbcon, the practical ideas and connections they have brought back to their organization, and their advice for first-time attendees looking to make the most of the conference.
Listen Now:
Guest Spotlight
Topher Lovell — Director of Technology and Innovation at the Wolf Conservation Center, where he enables technology that helps staff advance the organization’s education, advocacy, and research work.
Robin Kuehn — Database and Technology Senior Associate at the Wolf Conservation Center, where she administers Raiser’s Edge and supports the technology systems that help the organization make effective use of donor data.
Key Talking Points
bbcon offers practical learning for users at every experience level: Topher and Robin describe how sessions, peer conversations, and expert guidance helped them discover everyday efficiencies, rethink database practices, and identify new possibilities for their organization.
Community can be found in both structured and informal moments: Ask a Super User sessions, shared lunch tables, and conversations with organizations facing similar challenges helped the guests connect with peers and learn from perspectives beyond their own.
Conference ideas can lead to meaningful operational improvements: Topher shares how an informal conversation introduced him to the Power Automate community and helped the Wolf Conservation Center bring more automation into its systems.
Questioning established processes can improve data quality: Robin explains why teams should look beyond “we have always done it that way” and consider whether their database practices support donor stewardship and make important information easier to use.
Direct access to experts creates lasting value: Roundtables and one-on-one conversations gave Topher and Robin opportunities to ask specific product questions, provide feedback, and build relationships with Blackbaud team members that continued after the event.
Sending colleagues with different roles helps teams cover more ground: Because Topher focuses on project management while Robin works more closely with day-to-day database needs, attending together allows them to explore different sessions and return with a broader set of insights.
Newer users can bring back especially valuable discoveries: Robin encourages organizations to consider sending employees who are still building their product knowledge, since they may encounter ideas and questions that more experienced users would not think to explore.
Brain Dates can fill gaps in the formal agenda: Attendees can organize focused conversations around niche challenges or shared interests, creating a flexible way to exchange ideas and meet peers from similar organizations.
A short pause can make post-conference follow-through more strategic: Topher recommends setting notes aside for a few weeks, then revisiting them with fresh eyes to identify which ideas meet immediate organizational needs and which can be pursued later.
Guest Quotes
“One of the best things you’re going to get from bbcon is the thing you didn’t know you needed until you got there.”
— Topher Lovell
“When you attend with a colleague who approaches the work differently, you can cover more ground and bring back a wider range of ideas.”
— Robin Kuehn
“Don’t dismiss the smaller conversations—sometimes a lunch-table connection or a question for a super user becomes the most useful part of the conference.”
— Topher Lovell
Join us at bbcon
It’s not too late to join us at bbcon 2026! Register now to connect with other social impact experts, discover practical ideas, and make the most of the conference experience.
