Russ
Shumaker

Russ grew up in a blue collar world where you pulled yourself up by your own bootstraps, and if you didn’t have bootstraps, you made some. That mindset shaped him early — both the grit and the isolation that often comes with it.

After a B.A. in Greek and Hebrew, he did a graduate fellowship studying the intersection of faith and work. Finishing during the Great Recession, no one was hiring, so he started a residential painting business. The business grew, he learned sales, customer service, and how to build a strong employee culture. But when he and his wife moved across the country for graduate school, he didn’t realize selling the business was an option. He simply stopped replying to referrals and new leads and shut the business down. That lesson — about blind spots and the cost of going it alone — stayed with him.

Russ did a Masters degree in theology, then an MBA. He worked in a media agency, started a digital marketing company and a consulting firm, then joined World Vision, where he leads strategy and marketing for a $300M business unit working with executives, leading out on AI initiatives, and building systems that scale.

His leadership philosophy is shaped by experience: clarity creates courage. CEOs don’t need more noise — they need a confidential space to think clearly, speak honestly, and wrestle with the real issues beneath the surface. Faith, for Russ, isn’t about slogans or performance. It’s about integrity under pressure, humility in leadership, and the discipline to grow.

As a Convene Chair, he brings executive rigor and theological depth to the same table — helping serious business owners build strong companies without sacrificing their families, their character, or their sense of calling.

Russ is one of the best in the business. He knows all the questions to ask and is very responsive. I wouldn’t want to work with anyone else. Thanks so much! Truly Amazing!

Russ is a marketing genius who brings amazing energy, enthusiasm and experience to any innovation project he works on. Russ is strategic, thoughtful, and “gets” digital. He’s a remarkable relationship builder and has some serious intellectual horsepower wrapped in creative, hilarious, banter.

Russ is a creative professional and a pleasure to work with. His infectious can do attitude is invaluable when the pressure is on and time is limited. Russ has a strong entrepreneurial spirit and innovative approach to challenges. It has been a pleasure to work on team projects with Russ. I highly recommend him for any work requiring a creative approach, positive attitude, and inspirational leadership.

Russ has definitely exceeded our expectations. It has been worth every penny. Russ is a great listener, top-shelf strategist, and excellent communicator. He is one of those guys that you say, “Wow, I wish I had found him earlier!” We hired him as a marketing consultant. Before long, we saw the value in having him speak to our five year plan. He let us work at our own pace and the result was an organizational vision that excites us beyond belief AND improved marketing. Now we’re also excited to be using his coaching services.

Russ leads with authenticity and positivity. He is extremely well-versed and articulate in his subject matter and his business acumen. He listens to feedback and has the confidence to act on what he believes to be most beneficial for his projects. In addition, Russ is both strategic in his execution and caring as he brings out the best in his teams. His marketing projects yield tens, if not hundreds, of millions in annual revenue.