What a joy to introduce the SDB Summit Keynote Speaker, Dave Hataj! This is on more reason to encourage the SDB ministry leaders serving in your congregation, or those sensing a call to serve, to attend this gathering. Read on to learn more about Dave and the upcoming Summit for SDB ministry leaders.
About the Summit
The Summit 2026, a SDB leaders conference, will take place April 24–26, 2026, in Orlando, Florida. Dave Hataj will open the event on Friday the 24th, and an optional coaching seminar will be offered on April 27, led by Pastor Nate Crandall. This year’s theme is A 7 Day Leader, focusing on faithful, whole-life leadership shaped by discipleship that extends beyond Sabbath worship. The Summit is open to serving or retired pastors, elders, church planters, chaplains, preacher-type leaders, those training for or discerning a call to church leadership, and their spouses.
Registration is open–but you need to register soon! For details, registration, and payment information, visit:
https://www.seventhdaybaptist.org/thesummit
About Dave
Dave is a second-generation owner of Edgerton Gear, Inc., a custom gear manufacturer in Wisconsin. By age 21, he had become a journeyman machinist. He left the family business to seek greener pastures, only to return 7 years later, realizing home wasn’t so bad! Now equipped with life experiences and degrees from UC Irvine and Regent College, he sought to understand if the teachings of Jesus are relevant in a blue-collar machine shop. Twenty years later, while still leading the company, he completed a Doctorate in Transformational Leadership from Bakke Graduate University, where he developed the foundation for Craftsman with Character. Known for his humble, servant-leader approach, Dave believes that character is more foundational than raw skill. In 2013, he partnered with his local high school to launch the Craftsman with Character® course, designed to expose students to manufacturing while building the soft skills that support long-term success in work and life. As a result, Edgerton Gear is fully staffed, experiences near zero turnover, and has an average employee age in the low 30s.
Today, growing Craftsman with Character® has become Dave’s life mission. What began in one high school classroom is now expanding across multiple states and numerous communities, where we see students who realize they are needed, employees who take ownership of their work, and organizations where pride replaces disengagement.
Questions?
If you have questions about logistics and registration, please contact Patty: ppetersen@seventhdaybaptist.org. If you have questions about the theme or program, please contact Carl: cgreene@seventhdaybaptist.org.
