Current Wedding MBA Speakers

Troy Adams

A sought-after DJ, speaker & coach, Troy Adams was named one of the 500 Most Influential Event Pros by BizBash in 2021. He’s also an elite WeddingPro educator and owns Carolina DJ Professionals, one of the most accomplished DJ companies in the US. Founder of the “Make Your Business Dance” development platform, Troy draws from his experience in multiple high-performance industries to fuel the F.I.R.E. of colleagues, clients & guests.

Charanna Alexander

Charanna Alexander (pronounced Sha-Anna) is a distinguished New York-based journalist renowned for her expertise in wedding, love, and lifestyle reporting. With a fervent passion for storytelling and a deep understanding of relationships, she has carved a remarkable niche in the media industry, accumulating over 15 years of invaluable experience. Currently serving as the Senior Staff Editor in the Styles department, where she runs the weddings desk at The New York Times, her commitment to storytelling and capturing the essence of love has made her a trusted authority in the ever-evolving landscape of media. A native of Los Angeles, Charanna's formative years were shaped in the vibrant city of New York, where her diverse background and experiences became foundational to her work. Her academic journey led her to Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she studied broadcast journalism. Subsequently, she earned a master's degree in digital media from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York. Charanna's ambition as a writer and storyteller is evident in her multifaceted career, where she seamlessly blends traditional journalism with the digital age. Her insights into the intricacies of love, relationships, and lifestyle have positioned her as a sought-after speaker in various forums. With a compelling blend of academic rigor, professional experience, and a genuine passion for her craft, Charanna is a captivating speaker who illuminates the dynamics of modern relationships, offering unique perspectives that resonate with diverse audiences. Her career journey, rising from a news clerk at The New York Times to senior editor running the weddings desk, coupled with her academic achievements, underscores her commitment to excellence and innovation in the field of media.

Maryam Attia

Before Gigi’s Bridal became the high vibe bridal boutique in Fort Lauderdale you see today, Maryam planted seeds for five years to sprout Gigi’s Bridal when the time was right. The journey of Gigi’s Bridal is a story of growth through the dearest motherly love and perseverance of creating Gigi’s Bridal through uncertain years. After eight years of corporate sales experience where she gained expertise in cold calling, unique positioning, and strategic direction, Maryam applied her transferable skills including her keen understanding of the customer voice to initiate her journey into bridal. The experience at Gigi’s Bridal is about far more than the dress itself. Gigi’s Bridal challenges the look and feel of traditional bridal boutiques by infusing unique boutique design while guiding brides to their iconic “yes!” to the dress moment. As showcased on social media, the design on Gigi's Bridal is intentionally designed to captivate brides and convey a can't miss experience. Maryam’s selling strategy of establishing common ground to organically unearth pain points has led brides needing to look no further than off-the-rack gowns at Gigi’s Bridal. The realness Maryam delivers to her brides is reflected in her no-fluff delivery and untraditional presentation where the audience is enabled and empowered to rethink traditional industry practices.

Darin Bahl

Darin Bahl is more than a wedding florist; he is the visionary behind the Tailored Twig brand. Sought after by clients and planners alike, Darin has become known for his unique approach to bespoke event design. Introduced to the hospitality industry as a young boy, Darin began his journey of developing the art of ‘honoring the guest’, a mantra that is the solid foundation on which he has built his career. This voyage has taken him to all corners of the globe and given him a lifetime of experiences from which he continues to draw inspiration. From customized dinner parties to curated welcoming packages for house guests, the thoughtful nature of his handwritten, hand-picked, guest-centered components set Darin apart from the rest. From an exquisitely personal wedding at an exclusive estate on Maroma Beach, Mexico, to an elegant union in the French Alps, the driving force behind Darin’s enthusiasm consistently comes back to the privilege and responsibility of honoring his treasured guests.

Broc Barton

Broc Barton, above all, has a heart for connecting with others. What started as an international DJ career quickly developed into The Elevate Collective: 7 brands working together to create impactful event experiences worldwide. Broc attributes The Collective’s rapid growth to a program he developed called Lifestyle Leadership. He maintains that The Elevate Collective brands are more than entertainment companies; they are leadership development programs teaching individuals to express themselves through what sets their souls on fire. We are a leadership company focusing on the people. There is this intrinsic reward of seeing somebody grow. We share that with the rest of the world through the art of entertainment, through the art of bringing people to life in a consolidated moment. Wherever we go there are opportunities to pour into the world around us to grow and make an impact in what we do. After 17 years of DJing and multiple award-winnings, Broc is now teaching Lifestyle Leadership on a larger scale, empowering leaders in every industry.

Doug Bates

Doug Bates is the owner and lead designer for Designs By Vogt’s in Sturgis, MI. Doug has received numerous awards in the floral industry, including the Michigan Designer of the Year 2012, Young Person of the Year 2013 and multiple Design Academy wins. He enjoys sharing his experience and talents in workshops and stage presentations for local and regional floral events.

Reuben Bell

Co-Founder of Blue Elephant Events and Catering, Reuben began his career in event management in the museum and publishing worlds in Philadelphia before returning to Maine to open Blue Elephant in 2007. He enjoys guiding his clients through the event planning process and helping create unique experiences for their guests. Reuben is a past chair of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce and the Marketing Director of the Maine chapter of NACE and a board member of the Institute for Family Run Business. He is also the Editor of Real Maine Weddings magazine.

Lauren Bercier

Lauren is the Co-founder and CEO of Something Borrowed Blooms, the leading silk floral rental company serving over 50,000 weddings to date. With a focus on affordability, convenience, and sustainability, she's built a widely recognized brand that ships luxury floral collections nationwide. A visionary entrepreneur, Lauren is passionate about innovation, customer experience, and challenging industry norms. Her brand has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, and CBS Mornings, and she is a sought-after speaker on business growth and industry innovation.

Alan Berg

Alan has been called “The Leading International Speaker and Expert on the Business of Weddings & Events.” He’s one of only 39 Global Speaking Fellows in the World, a Certified Speaking Professional and the author of 6 books on sales and the business of weddings. He’s presented in 14 countries, in 3 languages (English, Spanish and French). He does sales training, consulting, website reviews and speaking for businesses and associations like yours.

Jennifer Bernal

Jennifer Bernal is a pioneering first-generation immigrant whose journey intertwines a rich background in public service with a blossoming passion for floral design. Armed with a Master's in Public Administration and a decade-long commitment to social and public service, Jennifer's pivot towards floral artistry emerged during the pandemic. Fueled by a lifelong affection for flowers, inspired by her mother's tradition of adorning special moments with lavish blooms, Jennifer unearthed a newfound calling in the world of floral design. Starting her floral venture from the ground up, she transitioned from retail to specializing in crafting breathtaking floral experiences for weddings and events. For almost two years, Jennifer's artistic touch has graced numerous weddings, weaving her unique designs and personalized charm into each celebration.

Ace Berry

As the co-owner of Fulshear Floral Design, Ace Berry has devoted his life to floral design by fulfilling orders with his labradoodle, Gus, teaching seminars across the U.S. and becoming the 2019 Texas Floral Designer of the Year.

Kristin Binford

Kristin Binford is recognized as a go-to expert for wedding venue owners across North America. Since entering the wedding industry, Kristin started one of the most sought-after, 5 star rated wedding venues in her market, Haue Valley, which has consistently sold out dates for the last 10 years. Her venue now hosts over 100 weddings per year, and is a recent winner of A-List Magazine’s Award for “Best Wedding Venue.” As an industry thought leader, Kristin speaks regularly on future trends in the industry, and on building and running a profitable wedding venue without burnout. She’s built an online community of over 5,000 current and future wedding venue owners and has served as a business coach to over 500 venue owners throughout North America. Through a combination of her online community, live events, and coaching programs, Kristin and her team are helping venue owners attract more of their ideal couples, book more weddings, and stop working 80-hour weeks so they can spend more time with their family.

Nadine Bozeman

Nadine Bozeman is the host of Secrets of a Bridal Seamstress Podcast & Business Membership, a resource for independent seamstresses who serve the modern bride. After teaching middle school for 9 years, Nadine left the classroom to pursue her bridal sewing business full time. Sweet Francis Sewing Co was established in the PNW, and soon became a thriving 6-figure bridal alterations boutique. Secrets of a Bridal Seamstress Business Membership provides strategies for business development, 1:1 coaching, and peer support among an incredible community of bridal alteration specialists. Through the SBS Signature 6-Figure Method, members are empowered to establish a business that best represents their values, reflects their artistry, and supports a balanced lifestyle.

Bobbi Brinkman

Storytelling wedding photographer, motivational speaker and business coach for wedding industry go getters. Bobbi Brinkman has spent the last 40 years capturing authentic moments for fabbo couples wherever their love story is being told and is equally passionate about working with creative entrepreneurs empowering them to shift their mindset, step into their purpose and build a profitable, purposeful, and inclusive business they deserve while living their fullest authentic life. Whether it’s motivating audiences on a stage or 1:1 Coaching Fabbo-Chats, Bobbi's "you were meant for this" approach inspires wedding pros to serve with intention, build a CEO mindset and crush their business fears + goals and gain confidence in themselves and their business! Bobbi also hosts the Be Fabbo Podcast—episodes full of motivation and candid conversations with creatives sharing their stories that speak to truth of both struggles and wins in building a wedding career. Her mantra in business and in life is to BE FABBO, means using your purpose and gift to serve others with confidence. Believing you can make an impact in your biz, in your life, and knowing the world (and our industry) needs you just as you are. Always lead with kindness, and with your heart forward and encompasses her overall BE MORE philosophy …be more curious, adventurous, creative, caring, braver than you think and open to the possibilities of what being more can bring. She believes every wedding pro deserves a seat at the table for who they are what they bring to it. Our industry needs us all and we all have what to takes to make an impact in our industry and life by embracing what makes them fabbo. When she’s not mentoring wedding pros or documenting weddings, Bobbi enjoys spending time with her wife Tina, their Sassy Shorkiepoo Ellie Joy, and of course with a Diet Mountain Dew in hand.

Tirzah Caffee

Tirzah Caffee is a 30-year veteran in the wedding industry, whose family has owned 5 venues across the nation. Tirzah currently owns and operates a multiple 7-figure full-service venue and planning team in Charlotte, NC. For the past 8 years, Tirzah has helped hundreds of ordinary venue owners across the nation have extraordinary success! From teaching her sales strategies for consistently booking over 100 events a year, to helping venues create efficient systems, and even how to increase revenue with added income streams. You can work 1-on-1 with Tirzah at multiple different entry points from a 1-hour “pick my brain” zoom session to 6 months of personal coaching. Stay in touch with her @Tirzah_thevenuecoach or www.tirzahcaffee.com.

Laura Cannon

Rev. Laura C. Cannon is the President of the International Association of Professional Wedding Officiants (IAPWO). She has been a professional wedding officiant since 2003 and has performed thousands of weddings. She runs two successful wedding officiant companies that serve the Mid-Atlantic region of the US: Ceremony Officiants and DC Elopements. Laura is the author of The Conscious Entrepreneur; and when she is not officiating you will likely find her teaching meditation and conscious entrepreneurship through her consulting/coaching practice.

Colleen Carswell

With 17 years in the wedding industry, Colleen Carswell began her career as an onboard wedding coordinator for Royal Caribbean. She has since worked in leadership capacities in resorts, hotels, conference centers, and country clubs, focusing on weddings, events, and catering sales. Colleen is the founder of Structured to Scale and is a sought-after speaker and business integrator. As a former director of sales, she specializes in operations, team user experience, and employee retention, advocating "systems before sales" and "team service before customer service." She transforms internal infrastructure with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), technology, processes, and automation to boost employee satisfaction, maximizing profit margins and driving business growth from the inside out.

Jenae Cartwright

As the founder and owner of Cake & Crumble since 2016, based in the shadows of Seattle and Mt. Rainier, Jenae is known for perfecting the art of *Secretly Gluten Free* baking. With her unique expertise of flying wedding cakes across the country, Jenae ensures couples in every market have access to a luxurious, allergen-friendly cake that tastes excellent and looks even better. Having a daughter with Celiac Disease, Jenae understands that couples need to feel safe and confident when bringing their vision to life. As such, she has taken extensive high-level, hands-on training from industry leaders such as Maggie Austin, Jasmine Rae, and Sinclair and Moore, in order to master her craft—with celebrity clients such as NBA and MLB players, and a network television owner. On an international stage, she has been featured by Washington Wedding Day, as well as British wedding phenom Becca Pountney’s podcast, and seen competing on, and winning The Food Network’s The Big Bake, as well as competing on Fox’s Season 2 of Crime Scene Kitchen. Her love for jovial competition, and the thrill of pushing oneself to the limits of show-stopping work, has propelled her to enter the world of Wedding Industry Education. Jenae brings her wit, passion for baking, and strength for developing others to the stage in a way that audiences find engaging, memorable, and valuable for their own success.

Mark Chapman

Mark and his team are the wedding industry's authority on advertising. His previous career experience as a wedding photographer (and his success advertising his own business) gave him the insight & launching pad needed to help thousands of other wedding pros have success in advertising too. His passion is creating powerful ad campaigns ensuring you reach and convert your ideal couples at scale.

Mayra Chavez

Mayra Chavez is the Digital Content Manager at CV Linens.

Tom Chelednik

A proven Advertising Sales Director and Training Director in the Print and Internet media. Training, coaching, setting and following up on expectations is the key to my success. I have been responsible for $20 + million in revenue and up to 35 Account Executives and eight Administrative staff. I am passionate about the success of the company and its employees. I think out of the box to help achieve goals and I am not afraid to swing the bat to try for the home run.

Tim Chi

Tim Chi is the Chief Executive Officer of The Knot Worldwide. After getting married in 2005, Tim set out to make wedding planning less stressful and frustrating. Together with his co-founders Jeff, Lee and Sonny, they threw four desks into his empty living room in Chevy Chase, Maryland and created WeddingWire, which became a leading global vendor marketplace serving the wedding industry, helping millions of engaged couples plan, execute and celebrate the most important day of their lives. WeddingWire grew to 1,000 employees worldwide and owned leading wedding brands in North America, Europe, South America and India.

Nina Cornelison

Nina is an expert photo editor and professional retouch artist with nearly two decades of experience. Throughout her career she mastered color correction, exposure balancing and countless other digital adjustments for both screen and print for numerous global brands. In an effort to pursue her dream of entrepreneurship, Nina created an editing business of her own with a brand ethos dedicated to exceptional skill and personal service. She collaborates closely with leading photographers, providing a custom editing experience tailored to their unique preferences. Determined to share her knowledge and experience was Nina’s next great passion and contribution to the photography industry. As an educator, mentor and coach, she teaches fellow editors and photographers how to refine their skills to increase efficiency, improve quality and elevate their brand reputation. When not focusing on all things color, she’s walking her rescue husky Rue at the beach, shopping local or spending time with her supportive husband and creative son.

Katie Cotton

Katie Cotton is the owner and principal makeup artist of the makeup and hair team, Cotton Rouge and Company. Working as a professional makeup artist in Los Angeles first, she moved to South Carolina after the birth of her first child in 2006. She fell in love with making “everyday client” feel special like the Hollywood stars she worked with before. She quickly found the best way to do this was working with Bridal clients! She absolutely adored making them feel like the best version of themselves for their wedding but also like the superstar they should feel like on their big day! Her favorite quote and personal motto is a quote by Marilyn Monroe, “Everyone is a star and deserves the right to twinkle”. Through working with venues and vendors she loved, she quickly found that she couldn’t be everywhere at once, and began to build a team of fabulous artists that had the same passion as she did. Her team has now grown to 25 women that help make a brides day perfect in the beauty department! Collectively they serve over 600 brides a year! With her production background and a severe passion to make everything run smoothly for the bridal party, she and her entire team strive to work efficiently but in a relaxed and stress free environment truly making the bride feel like the Belle of the Ball! Her passion for timelines and efficiency has lead her to be a guest of The Wedding Insider podcast and also a mentor/workshop leader at her Alma Mater, Ball State University. She has also been asked to be an adjudicator for the America College Theatre Festival and herself plus her company won the title of Makeup Artist of the Year from the National Association of Catered Events, Appalachian Chapter.

Renée Dalo

Renee has over thirteen years of experience in the wedding industry and eight years running her boutique Wedding Planning company, Moxie Bright Events. In 2018, Renée turned her knowledge towards the advancement of the industry as a whole and launched her top-notch educational resources for event pros. In addition to her self-guided Wedding Management e-course, Wedding Management 101, Renée is also the founder and host of the popular B2B podcast, Talk with Renee Dalo. In 2020, Renee launched the Profitable Pro Bundle, an educational resource that brought 30+ educators together to support Wedding Pros with online education during the pandemic. Renée is recognized across the industry, having earned a coveted spot on Honeybook’s 20 On The Rise list, and was recently named one of the Top 500 Most Influential Wedding Pros in the United States by Biz Bash. She currently serves as the President of WIPA Southern California.

Susan Davis

I have been designing wedding and event flowers for almost 30 years. I started in 1988 designing faux flowers arrangements for the sets of QVC. After being approached by a major event company I started creating fresh flowers for large events in Philadelphia. My first fresh flower job was for President Jimmy Carter when he visited Philly and crossed my fingers that the 100 plus centerpieces would live through the night. I have created for thousands of brides since then and wedding and event design still makes my heart skip a beat!

David DiCicco

David DiCicco has been a leading force in the Boston event industry since 2013. After several years in the financial world, he transitioned into event design and production to combine his corporate experience with his creative passions. DiCicco Design is a luxury event design and production company creating epic experiences through celebratory design for weddings, events, entertaining and living. We’re here to curate the look and feel of your affair as a true reflection of you. Each event is considered as its own unique, creative challenge and is tailored to the client. Our role is to expand on your dream, turning it into a reality while leaving you and your guests with unforgettable memories. We don’t just design the party, we become the party. The design goes beyond the static elements. It’s about the movement and the vibe people feel immersed in the experience we’ve designed together. And with the goal of personalization for every event, versatility is key. It’s a simple motto of reinvention that is paramount to our approach. Collaboration is as equally important to the DiCicco Design approach. Carefully curating product and people means partnering with the right creatives to support each vision and help flawlessly execute the client experience. Part of the production process is synchronizing lighting installations with entertainment to choreograph and control the energy of a party. Sourcing the perfect flowers, textiles, and custom candles (to name a few) comes from having a worldwide network of resources at our fingertips. With a team of designers and producers from all walks of life, David’s fostered his in-house talent by understanding that each person’s background and life experience is what shapes their creative ideas. Take him, for example, a longtime lover of nature and details, David incorporates a foraged element into every design he implements. If he isn’t utilizing locally grown flowers, you can find him cutting down tree branches (or even entire trees) using nature as a means for originality in his work.

Twah Dougherty

Known for her highly personalized approach and eye for style, Twah Dougherty is an internationally recognized boutique wedding photographer and fashion influencer based in New York and California. Specializing in private estate and destination weddings worldwide, Twah balances a technical expertise in film and digital photography with her playful direction to posing (and an uncanny ability to find everyone’s best angles). Socialites, NFL players, and private high-net-worth entrepreneurs appreciate Twah’s customized client experience. Her prestigious clients are loyal, returning for her personalized experiences and deeply balanced black and white imageries. In addition to being recognized as a Top Photographer by the leading wedding publication Over The Moon, Twah's timelessly chic work has been featured in Brides, Martha Stewart, Vogue, Huffington Post, Boston Globe and more.

Braden Drake

Braden is a California licensed attorney and tax professional, podcaster, educator, and author. Braden works primarily with service-based, creative small business owners through his signature program Profit Rx.

Sara Dunn

Sara Dunn is a Wedding SEO Specialist for wedding planners, photographers, venues, and other wedding professionals who want their websites to rank higher on Google. With a knack for making SEO easy to understand, she’s created a unique Wedding SEO Framework that simplifies what it takes to get your wedding business in front of your dream clients. Sara has been featured by Honeybook, Special Events, and NACE. She was named a WeddingPro educator for 2023 and has presented to audiences including WeddingPro, WIPA, Wedding MBA, and Two Bright Lights. If you’re ready to reach rockstar status on Google, Sara’s ready to be your geeky best friend that shows you how it’s done. Go to SaraDoesSEO.com to learn more.

Michelle Ellis

Though Michelle Ellis has always loved weddings, she never dreamed she’d be the owner of one of Virginia Peninsula’s leading bridal gown shops, McEllis Brides Design Studio. She started out renting pre-owned wedding gowns in 2013. It wasn’t long before Michelle’s business grew and she was fielding requests for custom wedding gowns. Michelle rose to the challenge by pivoting her small rental business into McEllis Brides Design Studio to offer a full suite of custom wedding dress services. Michelle is also a proud wife and mother. Her loving husband Quitin, serves in the United States Navy. Together they have built a family with 3 beautiful children, Gabriel, Melanie and Penelope. Every day that Michelle arrives at her studio, she is fueled by a passion for helping every bride become the best version of herself on her wedding day. She loves what she does and it shows in her award-winning custom bridal gown work.

Meghan Ely

Meghan is a sought after speaker on wedding marketing and wedding PR topics, and recently presented at The NACE Experience 2013, The Special Event 2013, The Business of Weddings Ireland and the Association of European Wedding Professional's inaugural wedding conference. She is an adjunct professor in the Mass Communication department at Virginia Commonwealth University, specializing in Public Relations Writing and Branding.

Andrea Eppolito

Armed with nearly two decades of event planning experience, numerous awards (including a Special Events Gala Award and Las Vegas Wedding Professional of the Year) and backed with a degree from the highly respected University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Andrea Eppolito's work has been featured nationwide in The New York Times, The LA Times, Style Me Pretty, Grace Ormonde Wedding Style, Glamor Magazine and more. Renowned for designing weddings with soul, and called "vibrant, chic, and impeccably organized" by Junebug Weddings, Andrea prides herself on being an advocate for her clients. Her tireless dedication is a testament to her love of weddings, allowing her to bridge the gap between wedding planner and friend. Las Vegas Wedding Planner Andrea Eppolito was born in New York, and lived bi-coastally between New York and LA, before relocating to Las Vegas in 1994. After 20 years she considers herself "nearly a native" of the city she now resides in with her husband and children. Andrea Eppolito Events LLC is based in Las Vegas, and operates world wide.

Chris J. Evans

Chris J. Evans is a luxury destination wedding photographer who creates photographs you not only see but truly feel. His images transports his clients back to the very instant they were created. Chris has photographed weddings in Spain, Italy, Santa Barbara, Laguna Beach, Hawaii, Aspen, NYC and Mexico with features in The New York Times, Brides, Martha Stewart, The Knot, Destination Ido and Wedluxe. His clients weddings will be told through style, grace and gratitude.

Elizabeth Fisher

Lizzie is the inspiring leader of Lizzie Bee's Flower Shoppe - we call her the Queen Bee. She's been in the floral industry since 2005, and founded Lizzie Bee's in 2011. Since launching, she has been featured in the national magazine Florist Review as one of the top 35 Florists Under 35, and has had her work published in magazines across the US. When she isn't designing wild installations or crunching the numbers, you can find her hosting educational workshops and investing into her community, volunteering her time with local nonprofits such as WiNGS, which exists to empower and provide resources for women in business.

Donna Forsythe

With 30 years of experience as an educator, Donna spent her career teaching in inner-city classrooms, as well as developing and implementing high-standards of curricula. Donna took a sabbatical in 2014 to earn her Masters in Leadership and Administration. That same year, Marriage Equality passed in her state of Pennsylvania. Within days of the lifting of the same-sex marriage ban, Donna officiated her first wedding, marrying two men in their 70’s. This prompted her to go through the Humanist Society to become endorsed as a Humanist Celebrant. That decision proved to be a life-changing event, leading Donna to retire from education to pursue her Humanist Celebrant business full-time. Donna has since officiated hundreds of ceremonies and built a full-time Celebrant business, Lehigh Valley Celebrants. Under her leadership, the business has grown to include six other working, Humanist Celebrants. Through mentorship-style learning, Donna and her team have become highly sought-after Celebrants in the region and are hired to reside over numerous life celebrations each year. Celebrant Academy is Donna's newest venture, and allows her to share her dedication to continuous learning with the skills that have made her a marketable Celebrant, such as her background in theater, public speaking, storytelling, marketing and writing. Through this six - eight month program of studies, she and the other award-winning instructors at Celebrant Academy, help others learn the art of Celebrancy so they graduate with all they need to be at the top of their field. Earnest and innovative, Donna keeps her finger on the pulse of wedding industry trends and collaborates with important creatives and thought leaders. She currently is Vice President of the Board of the Humanist Society and takes an active role with providing training opportunities for Humanist Celebrants nationwide.

Margaux Fraise

Margaux Fraise is the owner + creative director of Harmony Creative Studio, an award-winning boutique wedding firm in Los Angeles, CA. Since moving from retail consulting to events in 2011, her goal has been to design weddings with intention, infusing celebrations with her signature organic and minimal style yet still tailored to each couple. A Stage IV breast cancer survivor, she has a unique perspective on what is truly valuable in love, life and weddings – and brings that viewpoint to help her clients hone in on what matters to them. As a result, her work has been featured in numerous publications, including Style Me Pretty, Brides, and Green Wedding Shoes, among others. Margaux serves as a wedding business educator, frequent podcast guest and motivational speaker. Her meticulous onboarding, planning, design and execution procedures have also caught the attention of her peers, and she shares insight regularly on efficient systems for creatives. Margaux has also launched multiple educational courses for wedding pros and hosts the twice-yearly premiere online summit for wedding pros: the Wedding Summit Series

Steve Fredlund

Steve Fredlund is an award-winning international keynote speaker and author of the best-selling book Do the Unright Thing: Memoir of a People Pleaser. He is a part-time officiant who was featured on Season 8 of Netflix' Love is Blind that just aired this past March. He spent three decades as an actuary, nonprofit founder, entrepreneur, and leader of African safaris. Today, he translates his hard-earned insights into empowering talks that inspire audiences to Expect the Extraordinary™, so they can experience breakthrough after breakthrough. Steve brings a level of enthusiasm and humor to every stage. His ability to transform complex challenges into actionable insights is a superpower that connects the dots for audiences, time after time. By sharing how audiences can rethink their approach to life, work, and leadership, he equips them to untap their potential, spark better ideas, and drive unprecedented personal and professional growth.

Brian Green

Brian is an award-winning event planner with over sixteen years of experience in the international events' industry. He is the Chief Event Architect and Creative Planning Visionary of By BrianGreen LLC based in Atlanta and Crown Events Inc in Barbados creating breathtaking events all across the globe. He is also a former Diplomat for the country of Barbados and in 2017, he was the featured guest expert on The Steve Harvey Show for their annual Wedding Hour to give great tips and advice on how to host the best wedding while avoiding the usual pitfalls (S5, Ep 168). Brian is a dynamic and engaging speaker who infuses his personal and professional experiences into his presentations, from working in a corporate environment to becoming an entrepreneur.

Mark Allan Groleau

Mark Allan Groleau is the founder of Unboring!Wedding. He officiates weddings, and he’s helped thousands of emerging wedding officiants and celebrants all over the world craft ceremonies and launch businesses to rave reviews through his courses, coaching, videos, and writing.

Bron Hansboro

Fondly referred to as The Flower Guy, Bron Hansboro is the lead creative and floral designer at The Flower Guy Bron. A leader in his market, Bron provides bespoke design and styling experiences for weddings and events of all types. His famous motto, "We don't sell flowers, we sell experiences" describes the boutique business approach that is paradigm to his brand.

David Hanscom

David Hanscom is a legend in the entertainment and event production space. A longtime DJ and event producer, David has shaped the industry for over 25 years and, in 2025, was inducted into the DJ Hall of Fame, a testament to his influence and expertise. As COO of HIVE Interactive, he brings his deep knowledge of live events, audience engagement, and the evolving role of technology in entertainment. He is also the Chapter President of the North East Florida MPI. David has produced thousands of live events, from high-energy weddings to corporate productions, and knows firsthand what it takes to create unforgettable moments. Now, he’s leading the charge in helping DJs, wedding professionals, and event producers integrate AI into their workflows, without sacrificing creativity or authenticity.

DJ Hapa

DJ HAPA is considered one of the best guides you could have on the musical journey he creates every night. Describing his sound as “#FeelGoodSound”, he is known for playing a multitude of genres and blending it all together to create a unique soundtrack. His list of accolades and clients includes such top brands as Ducati, Ferrari, Formula1, Microsoft, ESPN, Lululenon and The Grammys, just to name a few. He has shared the stage with artists as diverse as his musical selection: Michael Jackson, Earth Wind & Fire, and Drake to Bruno Mars, Marshmello, and Chromeo. In 2016, Hapa created a new group called Phil N Good, where he is executive producing remixes and original tracks accompanied by live instruments. HAPA has a unique gift of being able to connect with people through a variety of forms. He is as comfortable in front of the camera, hosting live events or in a boardroom as he is in the DJ booth. This versatility has helped land him some pretty unique opportunities including being the first resident DJ on the Emmy award winning KTLA Morning Show in Los Angeles, a feature on The Ellen Show and the turntablist in the 10 piece Miles Electric Band.

Will Hegarty

Will Hegarty is Chancellor and CEO of Wedding MBA. He oversees the operations of the conference and leads the team that produces the Wedding MBA. Will lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife, Patti.

Ingrid Heilke

Ingrid Heilke brings a unique blend of expertise to the bridal industry. With two decades of experience in finance and decision science, she co-founded BridalVision Financial to empower independent bridal shops by enhancing their financial health through expert accounting and business coaching. Ingrid is passionate about helping store owners thrive by making the financial side of their business accessible, intuitive, and straightforward.

Julia Henning

Julia Henning is the Vice President of Sales for Wedgewood Weddings, a nationwide wedding venue company specializing in all-inclusive wedding packages. It is her job to direct, coach, and inspire Wedgewood Weddings’ team of over 250 sales people. She got her start in the event industry in 2006 in kitchens, working as a cook for several off-site catering companies. In 2010 she graduated with a Masters of Management in Hospitality from Cornell University’s prestigious School of Hotel Administration and began working for Wedgewood Weddings. During her time with Wedgewood Weddings, the company has gone through substantial growth, going from 10 to 55 wedding venues and expanding from California to 7 different states. Julia’s interests are music, comedy, food, data, and excel spreadsheets.

Tayler Cusick Hollman

A marketing consultant and small-business builder, Tayler is the Founder of Enji—though you might recognize her from one of her other companies: TAYLRD Media and Designs and Sourced Co. In her newest endeavor, Tayler is taking everything she has learned over nearly a decade of helping small businesses with marketing to design and build a suite of online marketing tools that fit your lifestyle and make sense for you. Because, while you didn’t sign up to be Chief Marketing Officer of your business, at Enji, we believe becoming one doesn’t have to be so daunting—and our goal is to empower you with the tools and solutions you need to make more informed decisions, use your resources more effectively, get creative with how you connect with customers, and ultimately grow.

Instagram @enji_co

Facebook @enjimarketing

Website www.enji.co

Clint Hufft

Clint is a well–known and respected personality in the Wedding Industry. He has officiated the wedding ceremonies for Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Bachelorette Trista & Ryan, and many other high-profile celebrities and professional athletes. Clint is also the podcast host for the Wedding MBA Podcast, Candid Conversations by Catersource, and the Spiritual Cake Podcast. His career includes being a corporate Entertainment Coordinator and Video Director and he has a Degree in Radio and Television Broadcasting.

Vanessa Joy

Vanessa Joy has been an influential wedding photographer in the photography community for years. Starting her photographic journey in 1998, she has since earned 5 college degrees, started her own business in 2008, and began teaching around the world in 2009. Vanessa has spoken at almost every major convention and platform in the industry such as CreativeLIVE, Clickin' Moms, WPPI, ShutterFest, Imaging USA Trade Show, PPA related conventions, in addition to hosting personal workshops and numerous small business and photography conventions around the globe. Recognized for her talent and more so her business sense, her clients love working with her and industry peers love to learn from her generous, informative and open-book style of teaching.

Dana Kadwell

Hustle + Gather is a training and consulting firm that is on a mission to inspire others to take big leaps, dream big dreams, and create amazing teams that grow profits and enjoyable (but productive) culture within business. They specialize in the hospitality industry and have coached and trained businesses to increase their profitability all while creating a kick-ass team. Over the past 15 years, Dana has built and operated four successful businesses in the Raleigh NC area with her business partner, and sister, Courtney. Starting off from ordinary, they paved their way by sheer grit and tenacity splashed with some therapy and coffee along the way. With a passion for venues, Dana spends her time working with venues from all over the country and has started The Venue Masterclass – a community of venue owners and managers where they can learn, collaborate, and inspire one another. Dana currently sits on the NACE National board and is also an adjunct professor at a local college - inspiring the next generation of hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs.

Mickey King

Mickey King isn't your average entrepreneur. He's a visionary leader, a travel maven, and an event architect who weaves dreams into unforgettable experiences. As the owner of "Like a King Events," Mickey isn't just building a business; he's building a legacy of creating moments that touch hearts and leave a lasting impression. His discerning eye for detail ensures every element, from breathtaking destinations to seamless logistics, is meticulously crafted. But Mickey's true magic lies in event planning. As the parent company of Jericho Terrace, a stunning venue, and Antun's, a brand synonymous with exceptional service, Mickey offers a holistic event experience. He understands the power of a perfectly orchestrated celebration, be it a lavish wedding, a milestone birthday, or a high-powered conference. With his infectious enthusiasm and meticulous planning, Mickey transforms events into occasions that transcend the ordinary. Beyond the glitz and glamour, Mickey is an inspirational leader who fosters a team that shares his passion for excellence. He believes that success is a collective journey, and his dedication to his staff fuels their commitment to exceeding expectations. He will ensure the guest experience is, quite simply, treated "Like a King."

Nayri

Nayri is the Wedding Fashion Expert. Given today’s dynamic world, Nayri beautifully leverages technology to create a uniquely unforgettable customer experience. Her strategies have turned Lovella Bridal into the successful bridal brand it is today. From being a best selling author to styling celebrity brides, coaching and educating, Nayri specializes in creating a unique customer experience. This includes creating and overseeing the overall business strategy. From team building to implementing sales and marketing initiatives, her innovative strategies make her an industry leader and pioneer. She also advises world renowned designers, helping them refine and edit their collections. She has been featured on Good Morning America, Mario Lopez & Courtney’s Wedding Fiesta, DC Cupcakes on TLC, Season 5 of David Tutera’s My Fair Wedding on WE Network, People.com styling Robert Herjavec’s wife Kym Johnson from DWTS and more! Nayri has styled celebrity brides including Ashley Iaconetti from The Bachelor, Zena Foster Babbs who married R&B Singer Tank and Jazmyn Simon from Ballers on HBO. Her best selling book, "I'm Getting Married & Have Nothing to Wear" is the ultimate guide to helping brides find their perfect wedding dress. It also serves as a training tool for store owners and bridal stylists. Most recently, Nayri released “Bridal Store Blueprint” an online course created based on industry feedback from her YouTube channel and Podcast. Designed for store owners, her online course shares a proven and tested business formula. When implemented, bridal salons can scale and thrive. Her favorite pastime includes enjoying quality time with family and traveling the world. She also enjoys competing and training with her Arabian horse named Time To Tango! It is rare to see Nayri without her French bulldog Nuff; at times he assists in styling brides as well!

Cassie LaMere

Blending a lifelong passion for exceptional event curation with a keen eye for detail, Cassie LaMere stands as a paragon in luxury event planning. As the Founder and Creative Director of Cassie LaMere Events, she has redefined the art of creating memorable experiences, merging meticulous design with a flair for the extraordinary. From her early days, Cassie was destined to dazzle. Her innate desire to transform every occasion into a cherished memory has been the cornerstone of her 15-year career. This journey has seen her evolve from a zealous entertainer into a venerated architect of bespoke events, celebrated for her commitment to excellence and innovation. The philosophy of personalization and authenticity is at the heart of Cassie LaMere Events. Each event is a tapestry of unique experiences woven with the threads of Cassie's diverse expertise across various sectors. This holistic approach ensures that every aspect of the event, from conception to execution, resonates with the client's vision and exceeds their expectations.

Anthony Lambatos

Anthony Lambatos grew up in the catering business working for his father and founder of Footers Catering in Denver, Colorado. Anthony and his wife, April, purchased the business in 2010 and have successfully made the transition to a second-generation family business. With a focus on creating a great place to work, they have reduced turnover, increased profitability, gone through two physical moves, and revenue has quadrupled since the purchase of the business. They currently operate out of a 40,000 square foot building that also includes their event venue, Social Capitol. As a sought-after speaker nationally within the hospitality industry, Anthony is passionate about helping leaders create a culture that allows their businesses to thrive. Anthony and April launched their sister company, MIBE - an acronym that stands for “Make It Better Everyday”. MIBE focuses on education around heart leadership and intentional culture building for the hospitality industry.

Mindi Linscombe

Mindi Linscombe is the Founder and Owner of Something New: Bridal & Formalwear, the most reviewed bridal shop in the world, and the visionary behind Bridal Owner Success Solutions (BOSS), Something New Boutique, and Something New Foundation. With 17 years of industry expertise, Mindi has served over 15,000 brides, including high-profile clients like Kari Jobe, Trey and Katie Kennedy, and Jimmy Darts & Maria Darts. Her store’s lifetime sales have exceeded $40 million, reflecting her commitment to excellence in the bridal industry. As an industry thought leader, Mindi has coached and mentored over 1,000 bridal shop owners worldwide, helping her 90+ active coaching clients collectively generate over $97 million annually. Her program has delivered transformative results, including six-figure debt elimination, an 8% average profit margin increase, building ownership milestones, and record-breaking revenue for stores in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, Scotland, and the UK. Mindi is also the author of Secrets of Wedding Dress Shopping: An Insider’s Guide to Saying Yes to Your Dress and the host of two popular podcasts: The Something New Show and BOSS – Bridal Owner Success Stories. A sought-after speaker, Mindi has been featured in People Magazine, Fox News, and Vows: The Business of Bridal. Her expertise focuses on empowering bridal shop owners to increase profitability, build exceptional teams, optimize operations, and design the future they envision.

Tanisha Lee

I absolutely adore weddings! Everything about them makes my heart flutter with excitement. My journey began in 2010 when a friend of mine asked me to serve as a Hostess for her wedding. She joked that I was the only person she could think of to rally everyone together and help keep the peace at the wedding. From that moment on I knew I'd be a planner. It was so much fun and I felt like part of the family. I was born in Miami, Florida and have lived in Virginia, Texas, North and South Carolina. Whew, that's a lot, but thankfully I've been blessed to reside in the good 'ole southern state of Georgia with my loving family. My love of weddings is coupled with charity work, scouring thrift stores for treasure, not so extreme couponing and planning family reunions (like my Granny used to do)!

Jenny Lewis

Jenny Lewis is the Chief Marketing Officer of The Knot Worldwide and President of The Bump and The Bash. In her role as CMO, Jenny leads all Marketing, Insights, and Editorial initiatives for the company and its 19 global brands across 16 countries. As President of The Bump and The Bash, Jenny leads Sales, Marketing, Product, Engineering, and CX. In her first 18 months, Jenny launched a new global company purpose, rolled out a radically new rebrand for The Knot and launched the company’s largest marketing campaign to date resulting in the highest-ever aided and unaided awareness among the pre-engaged audience, the highest awareness of its Vendor Marketplace among engaged couples and a 20% increase in Vendor Marketplace sessions year-over-year. She also introduced the company’s first-ever Marketing Mix Model and completely reoriented the team structure. With expertise in scaling two-sided marketplaces and growing and advancing the visibility and impact of well-known brands, Jenny was the Head of US and Canada Marketing for Uber and UberEats prior to joining The Knot Worldwide. As one of Uber’s earliest marketing hires, she helped transform the start-up into an iconic household name, and was the driving force behind a number of product and brand-defining initiatives, including UberPOOL and the brand’s COVID-19 response campaign. Before Uber, Jenny worked at Undertone Advertising and Fox Networks Group (FX, National Geographic Channel, Fox Sports), where she developed co-marketing strategies with Fortune 500 brands such as MillerCoors and Volkswagen. Jenny has been featured as a marketing expert by top-tier media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and Adweek. She was named among Business Insider’s 2023 CMOs to Watch, Brand Innovators 40 Under 40, the Forbes 2024 Entrepreneurial CMO 50 and Ad Age Leading Women. She is a graduate of George Washington University and currently resides in Boston with her family.

Shan-Lyn Ma

Shan-Lyn Ma is Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Zola, the wedding company reinventing the wedding planning experience by combining compassionate customer service with smart tools and technology. Since launching in 2013, Zola has supported over 1 million couples on their journey from engagement to wedding and newlywed life. Zola has been named one of the Wall Street Journal’s Top 25 Tech Companies to Watch, and one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies. In 2020, Shan and the Zola team launched Zola’s vendor marketplace, with the goal of tackling common frustrations for both couples and vendors, and creating an inclusive community of professionals that are dedicated to providing exceptional service. Today, over 40,000 vendors come to Zola to get discovered by couples, connect with high-quality leads, and grow their business.

Don Mamone

Don Mamone is a speaker, identity coach & consultant teaching audiences and clients how to reach their maximum potential & impact by discovering & embracing their true identity and supporting companies dedicated to safe spaces that support unapologetic authenticity.

Elizabeth Marberry

Elizabeth Marberry is a visibility and marketing expert with a heart for authenticity and FUN. Elizabeth launched her thriving Wedding Dance Coach Business in 2010 and grew it to a multi-six figure brand. After 14+ years as a Wedding Industry Leader, Elizabeth has also grown her social media influence to over 120K combined account followers, while mentoring her expanding list of private clients to the same social media success. She is the host of Strut It: Bold Visibility Through Instagram Marketing, a podcast that blends her passion and energy with simple yet proven marketing strategies that Wedding Pros can easily understand and implement. Now, through keynote speaking and education, she coaches other Wedding Pros on the exact steps she took to get where she is today. Elizabeth’s message? “Learn how to make Instagram work FOR your business and I promise, this gets to be FUN!”

Sara Margulis

Sara Margulis is an enthusiastic champion of love and travel. As co-founder and CEO of the popular honeymoon registry Honeyfund, she is focused on a singular mission: helping all couples make their honeymoon happen. This is simply because research shows that couples who start their marriage with a honeymoon are more likely to be happily married 11+ years later. Ms. Margulis is sought as an expert on a variety of topics including weddings, honeymoons, marketing, entrepreneurship, and women in business.

Terry Matthews

Chef Terry Matthews, better known as The BBQ Daddy, is a renowned pitmaster, entrepreneur, and mentor with over 13 years of full-time experience in the catering industry. His expertise in barbecue has led to the creation of a highly successful brand known for its bold flavors, exceptional quality, and top-tier service. A Food Network competition veteran, Chef Terry has worked alongside celebrity chef Bobby Flay and emerged as the winner of “Cutthroat Kitchen” and “Camp Cutthroat.” Most recently, he showcased his skills on BBQ Brawl, Season. His television appearances highlight both his culinary talent and competitive spirit, further solidifying his reputation in the BBQ world. Beyond running a thriving catering business, Terry is dedicated to helping fellow caterers grow and succeed. Through live training and mentorship programs, he provides essential tools and strategies for business expansion, operational efficiency, and brand development. His deep knowledge of pricing, event execution, customer service, and marketing has made him a go-to expert in the industry. Driven by a passion for authentic barbecue and business excellence, Terry Matthews continues to inspire and empower the next generation of caterers. Whether through his award-winning food, business coaching, or hands-on training, The BBQ Daddy is setting the standard for success in the catering industry.

Marc McIntosh

Marc McIntosh is the co-founder of Team Wedding Marketing, a cutting-edge marketing agency that exclusively serves the wedding industry. He is also CEO of Wedding Experience, producers of several of the country’s largest wedding shows. Marc is a professional speaker, writer, sales trainer, and business consultant that has shared the keys of successful marketing with thousands of wedding professionals throughout the U.S. and Canada. Marc has spent his entire career in the wedding industry, starting as the owner of an entertainment business and then as a wedding show producer. This experience provided him the unique perspective of not only understanding the process of marketing to engaged couples, but the myriad of struggles that wedding professionals incur while trying to balance the many hats of business ownership.

Jessica McKelvey

Jess McKelvey owns and operates DJ Jess McKelvey LLC, an entertainment and bespoke experience company based out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jess’s passion for music, culture, + education drive her to travel the country, seeking ways to innovate and hone her creativity as a business owner and DJ. From Vegas to Baltimore, Oklahoma City to Cape Cod, Jess thrives on authentic connection with whatever she surrounds herself with and has worked with Facebook, The XFC, and The American Heart Association, to name a few. Her obsession with Instagram aesthetics and marketing began during lock down. Since then, she has dove deeper into education through classes, workshops, and expert one-on-ones. With a Masters in teaching that she thought she’d never use, it was a relief when life came full circle and Jess took the stage to teach. Her signature “Meal Plan Your Instagram” series has been presented at DJ conferences like The Atlantic City Expo, Midwest DJ’s Live, and The Harvest of Sound. She’s also shared her expertise on podcasts including The Crate Hackers, DJ Life, and is an educator for The DJ’s Vault. Jess is beyond honored and grateful to teach you about the magic that Instagram has for DJs to showcase their value.

Mitch Mitchem

Mitch Mitchem is the CEO of HIVE Interactive and a globally recognized keynote speaker, thought leader, and tech realist. His journey spans from the entertainment world as an alum of SecondCity, former emcee and producer for the Universal Studios show, Comedy You Can Dance To, all the way to human development, where he has spent over 15 years training thousands of professionals in behavior change, leadership, and cutting-edge technology. As the creator of a dating app that skyrocketed to 300,000 users in just 11 months, Mitch understands what truly drives human engagement in the digital age. Mitch has spoken at over 2,800 conferences and HIVE have trained over 28,000 people on AI’s real-world applications. HIVE cuts through the hype and delivers practical, hands-on strategies for using AI to revolutionize industries without losing the human touch. His groundbreaking TED Talk explores how over-customized technology threatens authentic human connection, reinforcing his mission: AI should enhance, not replace, what makes us uniquely human.

Leah Nadu

Leah is a corporate gal & MBA grad turned wedding pro as the Founder & Owner of Historic Ashland. Ashland is an award-winning, modern private estate wedding venue located in South Central, PA. Since 2018, Leah has grown Ashland's revenue over 500% by focusing on cultivating a stress-free wedding experience for couples. Leah's positive energy, youthful spirit and hardworking "can do" attitude has enabled couples to truly let go and let her and her team fully execute the wedding day. Couples have mentioned that Leah's ability to relate to them as a 20 (now 30)-something is one of the reasons they choose Ashland for their wedding venue. Leah is honored and excited to share with fellow wedding owners how she turned a $665 investment into $34K of profit by adding in-house, sunk cost wedding upgrades and extras! Fun Fact!: Leah is planning her own wedding at Ashland for 2025!

Instagram: @historicashland

Facebook: Historic Ashland

Tik Tok: @historicashland

Bethel Nathan

Successful business owner and award-winning officiant, Bethel Nathan of Ceremonies by Bethel, knows how to build and run a successful wedding industry business. After more than nine years and almost 900 weddings – and becoming known locally as a specialist on marriage equality – Bethel now also enjoys helping other wedding industry businesses grow and prosper as a business coach and industry speaker. Combining her background in both small companies and very large companies – including at two global investment banks, living overseas for both – Bethel found the right way to build a business that fit her. She focused on not only being really great at what she did for her clients, but also knowing her ideal client, developing relationships locally to support her and her business, and on finding the right marketing tools and methods to attract her ideal client, as well as honing in on the right systems, processes, and customer journey to best service them. This has all resulted in over 300 5-star reviews and a full wedding calendar for the past six years. Bethel now enjoys helping others to do the same. Bethel has an undergraduate degree in political science and Japanese from UC Berkeley, and an MBA in International Business and Japanese from Thunderbird. Her former chapters in life allowed her to live in Japan three times in addition to living in London, and to travel extensively globally. She is a former board member of the San Diego Women’s Foundation and the San Diego affiliate for Komen for the Cure. She now lives in San Diego with her husband, Jason, and they enjoy traveling and scuba diving in exotic places whenever possible.

Nicole Nell

Nicole Nell, better known as DJ Nicki Nell, is a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry. Not only does she rock crowds as a professional performance DJ, but she also leads an award-winning multi-operation production company, Visual Sound Productions, Inc. VSP operates under four expert divisions, catering to full-service weddings, high-quality multimedia creation, audio-visual production, and talent representation across the country. Nicole's diverse experience across private and club events has honed her into a seasoned professional and sought-after educator. She's shared her knowledge on platforms like Crate Hackers, DJ's Vault, Disc Jockey News, and the Women's Business Owner Alliance to name a few. And when she's not "being boss lady," you can find her commanding the dance floor as the resident DJ for prestigious venues like MGM Springfield, Foxwoods Resort Casino, and even the Miami HEAT NBA Basketball Team. She's collaborated with platinum recording artists like Sage the Gemini and her mixes have aired on platforms like Sirius XM Pitbull's Globalization. Driven by a passion to elevate industry standards, Nicole is eager to share her wealth of knowledge and empower others. Dive into her world and discover how she can help you take your performance or production to the next level.

Ryan O'Neil

Ryan O'Neil, PFCI, is a thought leader in the floral industry and is keen to share all the potholes he hit along the way of building his companies. Ryan and his wonderfully-creative wife, Rachael, were the founders of Twisted Willow Design in St. Louis, Missouri as a wedding-focused floral company. From that experience, Ryan created Curate, a florist software that automates the entire “wedding folder.” Ryan has personally spoken with thousands of florists since starting Curate and is a constant source of candid advice about the industry. He’s the lead contributor to The Business Of Events blog that shares all the details of how he and his wife started a floral shop and grew it into a successful lifestyle business.

Christie Osborne

Christie Osborne, proud data nerd, is the owner and founder of Mountainside Media, a consulting firm devoted to using market research, data, and analytics to support event professionals as they develop scalable marketing strategies to grow their business. Christie is dedicated to guiding the industry in a direction that ditches tired, old sales pitches and turns its focus on what really matters: turning data into dollars. Her penchant for all-things-digital and a knack for critical thinking have made Christie into the analytics master that she is today, always prepared to dig into web metrics and refine a marketing strategy based on its ROI. Her approach marries website stats with social media data for an effective one-two punch of real, concrete analytics that are invaluable to her clients. Beyond data-driven marketing analysis, Christie frequents the national speaker circuit where she shares her expertise onstage for organizations like NACE, Catersource, WIPA, and ABC. She is also a regular contributor to industry publications, including Special Events, Catersource, Sage Wedding Pros, and Wedding Business Magazine.

Loni Peterson, MLS

As a full time professor at CU Boulder in the Advertising, PR, and Design Department and business owner, Loni brings her expertise and passion for teaching to the stage as a keynote speaker, panel moderator, and workshop leader. She has recently enjoyed speaking for the Wedding Industry Professionals Association, PartySlate, Boulder Wedding Showcase, the International Wedding Summit in Rome, and Promessi Spossi Wedding Expo in Puglia, Italy!

Fausto Pifferrer

Co-Founder of Blue Elephant and Catering, BASH Wedding Marketplace, LA Blue Wedding Brokers, and Co-owner of Real Maine Weddings Magazine, Fausto began his career in catering and event planning 35 years ago in Philadelphia. He has an eye for detail and production and is passionate about creating high-quality memorable events for his wedding and corporate clients. Fausto was the 2019/2020 President of and currently sits on the board of the Biddeford-Saco Rotary Club and is a member of the board of directors of the International Caterers Association and and a member of the Leading Caterers of America.

Becca Pountney

Becca Pountney is the UK’s leading wedding industry marketing expert. Using her experience from owning her own wedding business combined with her previous career in media working for Endemol, BBC and Heart Radio, Becca now teaches business owners how to go from feeling invisible to totally irresistible and fully booked in their wedding business in her clear, down to earth, practical style. Becca is no stranger to the events industry having built an award winning wedding blog and consultancy business from the ground up in 2016. Becca is known for transforming the fortunes of businesses within the highly competitive wedding and events sector and has worked with over 1000 businesses through her courses, membership and speaking. Becca’s mission is to inspire wedding professionals that it is possible to turn their passion into a profitable business doing what they love. Instagram Website Facebook LinkedIn

Matt Radicelli

Matt is an Executive Coach, Serial Entrepreneur, Presenter, and Event Pro. Matt recently sold his largest event based businesses and founded Mentor Pods Group Coaching. With a 50/50 split for creative and analytical skills and an expert level understanding of all business disciplines, his passion is ‘leveling up’ business owners and executives.

Ian José Ramirez

Ian Ramirez is an internationally trained opera singer who has sung across the globe from Portland, Oregon to Stuttgart, Germany. From opera to operations, Mr. Ramirez serves as the Co-Owner and Venue Director of Madera Estates, an award-winning Spanish and European inspired luxury wedding and event venue located in Conroe, TX. The architecturally stunning and beauty that is Madera Estates, takes inspiration and visions from the historic town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, an artist’s haven and UNESCO World Heritage Site. An oasis of lush landscaping, guests are immediately transported from the piney woods of Southeastern Texas to the breathtaking and luscious highlands of Central Mexico. As a leader in his community, he operates a private voice studio, and serves on the boards of Interfaith Young Professionals and the International Live Events Association Houston Chapter, as well as the leadership team for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man & Woman of the Year Campaign in Montgomery County, TX. He has received awards from the National Opera Association and a Career Opportunity Grant from the Oregon Arts Commission. In 2018, Ian was named the Man of the Year through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man & Woman of the Year campaign, as well as PR Luxury Media’s Do-Gooder of the Year. Most recently, he was named Houston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.

Joe Rare

Joe Rare is an entrepreneur through and through. An investor, a marketer, and most importantly, a father and a husband. Currently Joe owns four internet-based companies and 5 wedding venues with nearly $42M in annual revenue. Joe's journey in the wedding industry began nearly a decade ago by helping one wedding venue more than double bookings from 56 weddings per year to 114 in just 12 months. That one venue has grown into serving nearly 1,000 venues across 11 countries (plus over 300 vendors). Joe's company Wedding Booking System has pioneered the use of marketing and sales automation in the wedding industry. Today, it’s no different, he’s providing the latest cutting edge technology and most unknown marketing and sales strategies helping venues create Predictable Profits even in down economies. Joe's no-nonsense speaking and consulting approach is one you won't want to miss. Be sure to join his talks and visit his booth at Wedding MBA

Liza Roeser

Meet “The Flower CEO.” Liza Roeser disrupted the flower industry after completing a Peace Corps assignment in Ecuador—one of the world’s largest exporters of cut flowers—in the 1990s. She saw and seized the opportunity to export directly from farm to consumer and founded Farm Exports in 1998 and FiftyFlowers in 2003. More recently she launched FlowerFix, an online flower subscription delivery service. Today, Liza is an active champion of the flower industry and is a member of the board of The Society of American Florists, the Association for Wedding Professionals International, and NorCal Flower Association. Liza advocates for the industry on Capitol Hill annually as a lobbyist for the flower industry, working with lawmakers to make sure the voices of her peers are heard. She also serves on the Board of Entrepreneurs Organization and takes pride in mentoring budding entrepreneurs. Liza speaks at conferences and on stages around the world, sharing her knowledge and passion for flower sourcing, entrepreneurship, and women’s empowerment in business. She has been nominated as Idaho Business Review Woman of the Year (2019) and has been featured in Inc.com, Idaho Business Review, BRIDES, as the feature cover story of Greenbelt Magazine, and interviewed on many media outlets. Follow Liza on Instagram @TheFlowerCEO.

Maria Romano

Meet Maria Romano, the visionary behind True Love Knots! Her journey took an exciting turn when she embarked on her career in her 50s, discovering a newfound passion that ignited her spirit. With a remarkable background as the former President of Advantage Rent a Car in Las Vegas, she masterminded the transformation of the company's revenue to an impressive 17 million dollars annually. Maria's mission now revolves around crafting beautiful wedding ceremonies, baptisms, and end-of-life celebrations. Her ultimate aim is to etch unforgettable memories in the hearts of the couples she unites in matrimony. But her venture's inception wasn't all rosy; navigating challenges and obstacles paved the way for her collaboration with those seeking to diversify their income streams, have a blast, and touch lives through her signature course, "How to Become a Rockstar Officiant." With over 6000 wedding ceremonies she has performed, each one is always an honor. In 2012, fate dealt Maria a poignant card – the passing of her husband, Frank. Suddenly thrust into singlehood, Maria confronted this new chapter with grace. Her journey serves as a beacon of hope for others, as she imparts invaluable insights on rekindling love after loss. The marriage of Maria's affinity for weddings and her passion for aiding individuals in re-entering the dating scene inspired her to share "The Power of Loving Your Way to the Top." These principles encapsulate the transformation of corporate cultures to embrace love, empathy, and compassion within the workspace, fostering a more nurturing environment. Beyond her entrepreneurial pursuits, Maria holds a position at St. Viators Parish and actively contributes to her Parish, and she has mediated at the Clark County Neighborhood Justice Center. Maria's guiding mantra is eloquently simple yet profoundly impactful: "LIVE AND LOVE WITH PURPOSE."

Andrea Shah

Andrea Shah is a copywriter and marketing consultant for wedding pros who want to spotlight their artistry and client experience. She has over a decade of experience working on websites and brand voice for Fortune 500 companies and luxury brands alike. She teaches wedding professionals how to use psychology, storytelling, and market research to make ideal clients feel deeply seen and heard. Andrea lives in South Florida with her family. When she’s not sitting in front of her computer, you’ll find her reading, baking banana bread, planning her next trip, or trying her hand at embroidery. Instagram: @andreashahcopy Website: andreashah.com

Elizabeth Sheils

An award -winning planner and manager of the Seattle branch of Bridal Bliss, Elizabeth is a data-driven force in the industry with a wealth of knowledge about business development and growth from over a decade of on-the-ground work. While working with sister-in-law, Nora, at Bridal Bliss, she saw a gap in the industry for a digital solution that would make the contract and invoice process more efficient and collaborative for a couple and their event team. In 2018, Elizabeth and Nora came together to launch Rock Paper Coin, the very solution they had been seeking for years at Bridal Bliss. Since then, she has been committed to supporting and educating industry professionals through thought leadership in regards to sales, organization, budgeting, market growth, and enhancing the client experience. Her bubbly personality and unmatched smile have won over audiences throughout the Pacific Northwest and helps to create close and meaningful relationships with those around her. Fun fact: Elizabeth was once set up on a blind date by Nora — it just so happened to be her own brother-in-law, which led then-friends to become sisters! Nowadays, Elizabeth spends her free time with her family (including a new baby boy!), hiking through the best trails and parks the Pacific Northwest has to offer. She has also been actively involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program for the past 11 years.

Nora Sheils

With over 18 years running award-winning planning firm, Bridal Bliss, founder Nora Sheils possesses an intimate grasp on the ins and outs of the wedding industry. In her time working with countless couples and leading a team of 30+ women, she recognized a need for a more effective, streamlined approach to the often-daunting contract and invoice process. Thus, in 2018, Rock Paper Coin was born in partnership with her sister-in-law, Elizabeth, and the two have been committed to bringing together event professionals and couples ever since. Nora’s industry experience has led her to become a thought leader in the way of project management, operational efficiency, business expansion, and team dynamics. Her expertise extends to event professionals who discover increased productivity through Rock Paper Coin, as well as those who hear her speak onstage. As a well-known and sought-after speaker in her local speaker circuit, including with associations like ILEA Portland and Seattle Business Babes, Nora is always prepared to share her favorite strategies for simplifying, refining, and refreshing business workflows. In her spare time, Nora can be found spending quality time with her family, often over a long family-style spread of food and a glass of great sparkling wine. She also appreciate the chance to explore the vibrant culture and food scene of the Pacific Northwest, particularly in her beloved hometown of Portland.

Chris Shelley

Chris Shelley is a wedding celebrant, speaker and author of the book Best Ceremony Ever (WW. Norton). Through his company Illuminating Ceremonies, he's written and performed personalized, unique and hilarious wedding ceremonies all over the US. Trained as a Celebrant at the Celebrant Foundation and Institute, Chris co-chairs the New York Chapter of Celebrants. On TV, he's appeared on The Rachael Ray Show several times, and he's emceed a memorial service for Joan Rivers dog on the late comedienne's show Joan and Melissa: Joan Knows Best? Chris takes his presentation 'Best Ceremony Ever: Live!' to various DJ conferences and masterminds, spreading the art of personalizing the experience for couples at all stages of the wedding event. Chris' passion and enthusiasm for unique wedding ceremonies is unmatched.

Amanda Shuman

As the Founder and CEO of Carrylove Designs, Amanda Shuman leads a powerhouse branding and digital marketing agency specializing in B2C companies in luxury services, boutique products, and hospitality. With more than a decade of experience and 200+ success stories, Amanda knows what it takes to transform a brand from just another name into an unforgettable force. Amanda’s strategy-first approach has earned her a seat at the table with industry leaders, from podcast interviews to keynote stages nationwide. Her expertise blends striking aesthetics with razor-sharp strategy, helping businesses connect with their ideal clients, build loyalty, and expand their influence in bold, measurable ways.

Inbal Sivan

Inbal Sivan is a photographer based out of Austin and New York, specializing in weddings since 2008. Inbal is a graduate of the photography program at the School of Visual Arts in New York, and taught photography on the college level and in adult education for 7 years. Her photography has been widely published both online and in physical media, Including New York Magazine, Time Out New York, Huffpost, Time Magazine, Real Simple, Style Me pretty, and many more. She has also been the recipient of numerous industry awards including WPJA, Fearless Photographers, and Photo District News’ “Top Knots”. Her fine art work, which features artificially lit environmental portraits, has been included in multiple gallery exhibitions in NYC.

Jen Sulak

Jen Sulak is an experimental artist and wedding photographer who loves the connection that still moments bring in our modern times. Over 18 years ago she started the journey of becoming a photographer which has brought her to 2020, the year that started her hyper-niche brand of Weirdo Weddings Photography. This niche speaks to many couples out there looking for acceptance, inclusion and visibility in a saturated wedding industry world. Jen is one of many amazing quirky voices in the industry stepping out to share, collaborate, connect and CREATE with others. A few professional highlights of her career: Cameos on "Fandemonium" by Adam Richman, TLC's Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta, Non-Binary fashion week on Offbeat Wed, The cover of Quirky Weddings Magazine, A full feature episode on Sony's "Facing Creativity" with Brooke Shaden and her Vow Renewal LIVE on Kidd Kraddick in the Morning Radio Show in DFW. She also began her own podcast called "Tattoos and Toddlers" a podcast that looks at having a business with young children, caretaking and fun tattoo stories. Her guests are a range of hard-working individuals sharing their REAL life stories and inspirations for us all. This began inspired by her fellow wedding pros struggling to address this in their lives and how it all intertwined in the end.

Shannon Tarrant

Shannon Tarrant is on a mission to help event industry businesses shake things up. A professional go-getter, she has a distinctive 15-year background in developing companies into the top of their local market. As an off-site caterer and then venue manager, she developed both into local powerhouses by following the same system for success. Shannon is a highly regarded coach, working alongside vendors while running her own wedding business - WeddingVenueMap.com, a resource helping couples to find the perfect venue. Her successful system includes strategic planning, goal-oriented sales, outside-the-box marketing, and exceptional vendor relationships. Shannon has been featured on Catersource, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Special Events. No matter which hat she's wearing, her goal is simple - to empower companies to differentiate themselves and drive measurable results using a proven system of small changes with big impact. Shannon tells it like it is, whether you’re ready for it or not.

Nikita Thorne

Nikita Thorne is the Head of Strategy at Guides for Brides and Big Day Agency and a leading voice in the UK wedding industry. Her decade of marketing experience and five years in the wedding industry have made her a marketing powerhouse for wedding pros, particularly within social media management and consultancy. Nikita is a speaker at UK industry events including the UK Wedding Conference, RSVP Symposiums, and The Hotel Marketing Conference, where she educates on wedding marketing and social media strategy. She also guest lectures at Oxford Brookes University, shaping the next generation of wedding marketing professionals. Her insights and commentary regularly feature in all the prominent UK media outlets; Hello! Magazine, OK! Magazine, The Mail Online, The Sun newspaper.

Terrica

Terrica has been creating exquisite weddings and events in the Golden Isles area for the past sixteen years. A contributing board member of the North American Academy of Wedding and Event Planning, Terrica’s weddings and expertise have been in The Knot, Reader’s Digest, Martha Stewart Weddings, HLN tv, PeopleTV, and more. A Speaker of the Year nominee for the National Association of Catering and Events ONE award and a popular educator for The Knot and Wedding Wire, she launched her new wedding industry education system, “Hustle Sold Separately“ and VIP Membership Educational Group, “Hustle & Co.” last year. Terrica also hosts the “She Doesn’t Even Go Here” podcast.

CeCe Todd

Christy “CeCe” Todd prides herself on not being a “design and drop” floral designer. Working with CeCe is always a one of a kind experience. Known for her infectious personality and her insane attention to detail, her command of flawless event design is what makes her such a valued wedding and event vendor, mentor, and speaker. Winning several design and industry awards including three consecutive years of WeddingWire Couples Choice, Best of Borrowed and Blue, and features in National blogs lead to her becoming the go to designer for Live Nation. Her extensive client list includes Journey, Train, Def Leppard, Ariana Grande, and Kevin Hart. Her diverse design roster also includes non-profit Galas such as the Chris Hammond Foundation and Brides Against Breast Cancer, Grand Openings, and concept design for businesses. CeCe Designs work has graced the covers and pages of many magazines including Southern Bride, B-Metro, & Alabama Weddings along with several features on National blogs like Style Me Pretty and Luxe Pearl. CeCe’s following on a variety of social media platforms is a result of her uplifting outlook and charismatic ways. CeCe comes from a long line of creative individuals. Her grandmother was a floral designer and her mother was an internationally known jewelry designer. Her mother is a founding partner in CeCe Designs and Events. This creative blood line lead CeCe to pursue a career as a professional singer. After realizing the end of that career dream, CeCe entered into the flower world in 2000 as a creative outlet. Working for a local florist, she quickly became the wedding director, buyer, and eventually store director for 5 years. Her love of vibrant colors and willingness to challenge herself with new design techniques, allowed CeCe to continue to grow in confidence and reputation. CeCe also owns a sister company that specializes in décor and prop rentals that she manages alongside her husband. She is also a founding partner in Create: A luxury wedding and special event collaborative workspace. All of these companies and interests give CeCe the flexibility to remain on the cutting edge of design and props. She is based in Birmingham, Alabama but travels the United States and Internationally. She is the mother of a beautiful daughter, Isabella, and her three “gift” sons: Daniel, Joshua, and Andrew. Her signature color is pink and is known for always having a flower in her hair.

Kate Turner

The Kate + Company team is an internationally sought-after event design and planning firm. Lead by Creative Director Kate Turner and Executive Director Kimmy (Klipsch) Gainer, this Saint Louis based team has been most notably named one of the best event designers by Vogue, Brides, and Loverly. They are frequently featured by Martha Stewart Weddings, BRIDES, Grace Ormonde, Style Me Pretty, and so many more. With a client roster that includes professional athletes, politicians, and prominent business professionals, Kate + Company’s work has earned the team numerous local and national awards. Though, that’s not what they are most proud of. Seeing the faces of their clients as they see the dream come to life and those memories preserved forever in their albums and social media feeds is what keeps them coming back. Kate + Company has taken the party to Portugal, Napa Valley, Charleston, New York, Chicago, Milwaukee, Scottsdale, and more. Their bucket list? Montana, of course (IYKYK).

Shannon Underwood

Shannon Underwood is Vice President of Wedding MBA. She recruits and trains new speakers, sells exhibit booths, and designs marketing materials for the convention. Shannon lives in Scottsdale Arizona with her husband and two children.

Mike Walter

A graduate of the Connecticut School of Broadcasting, Mike has used his smooth MCing style and outgoing personality to forge a career as one of the nation’s top entertainers. He is a featured spokesperson at many of the area’s top Bridal Shows and has MCed at events including concerts, beauty pageants and fashion shows. He is also a seminar presenter at various DJ Expos across the country, sharing his knowledge and experience with other DJs in hopes of raising the industry to new heights of respect and professionalism. Along those lines Mike is also a contributing writer to a number of DJ Industry Publications like The Disc Jockey News. As owner of Elite Entertainment, Mike has guided the company since 1993. His vision for how Elite would be run has always been: “Our aim is to provide THE BEST customer service. I mean, even if a client doesn’t book with us, for whatever reason, we want them to walk away saying, ‘Wow Elite Entertainment is made up of great people.’ That’s our ultimate goal.”

Chris Washburn

Chris Washburn is the owner of Washburn Entertainment, one of Central New York's most popular DJ and photo booth companies, which specializes in providing passionate and elite level entertainment to modern weddings, along with corporate and school events. Chris and his team perform in ways that showcase real emotions, advanced DJ and MC techniques, and a drive to deliver the "WOW" factor. He's also a regular nightclub DJ and often travels to Las Vegas to spin as a member of Soundbite Productions. Chris is a dedicated and contributing member of the DJ community and performs at industry conferences and offers consulting on a regular basis. He also speaks at colleges and other organizations on the topics of DJing, entrepreneurship, marketing, and social media. He loves helping others by sharing his passions and believes it's only right to give back and help the industry grow as a whole. Chris and his wife Megan share a special bond as they are both Korean adoptees that live in Ithaca, NY with their three cats.

Jacquie Westney

Jacquie Westney is owner of Wedding Angels Bridal Boutiques with locations in Atlanta, Georgia and Portland, Maine. Since purchasing Wedding Angels in 2007, she has grown the company from two fitting rooms and three employees to multiple locations with 14 fitting rooms and 50 employees – and 12-fold increase in revenue, selling in a month what used to take a year! One of her key passions beyond her own bridal and formal boutiques is helping other business owners realize their own dreams! Jacquie’s Wedding industry career and her Wedding Angels Story began when she had the privilege of being a Wedding Angels Bride herself! When Jacquie and her husband were married in 2006, she said “YES” to her wedding dress at the original location of Wedding Angels in Atlanta. Little did she know that she had just said “yes” to her dress and a whole lot more! About six months after her own wedding, she took the opportunity to buy Wedding Angels Bridal Boutique – moving from corporate to being a business owner.

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Lindsay J. Williams

Lindsay J. Williams is a seasoned entrepreneur and wedding industry expert, renowned for her innovative strategies in wedding show marketing. With a knack for turning face-to-face interactions into booked weddings, she has carved a niche for herself as the go-to authority for wedding professionals seeking to maximize their revenue through show participation. As a sought-after speaker and consultant, Lindsay has taught thousands of wedding professionals to elevate their businesses by leveraging the power of wedding shows through her signature programs, "The Bridal Show Blueprint" and "The Closer". Her passion for helping others succeed is evident in every aspect of her work, making her a trusted mentor in the industry. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the field, Lindsay is dedicated to guiding you towards greater success in your business.

Facebook: Lindsay J Williams 
IG: @mslindsayjwilliams

Jordan Xu

Jordan Xu is the Founder and Principal Planner & Designer of Emily Jordan Events. Since founding her company in 2012 in Atlanta, Jordan has led over 175 weddings, corporate, social, and non-profit events across the Southeast. In 2021, she expanded her company by opening a second office in North Carolina. In her 13 years in the industry, Jordan's company has been recognized in The Knot Hall of Fame, has won three Diamond Awards from Modern Luxury Weddings Atlanta, and received an Allie Award for their work. Jordan’s expertise as a planner and successful business owner allows her to train and guide wedding industry professionals in creating the career and business they envisioned through her education platform, Jordan Xu Edu.

Donald Yim

Donald Yim AIFD, CFD, PFCI is a floral artist whose unwavering passion for flowers, innate sense of exploration, and keen eye for beauty have driven his illustrious career in floral design for over 30 years. As a versatile freelance designer, he channels his expertise into a multitude of projects and events, leaving his creative mark wherever he goes. In addition to freelancing, Donald has made significant contributions as the Floral Design Director at Smithers-Oasis North America in Kent, Ohio, and as the Education Specialist at the Teleflora in Los Angeles, California. Fusing elements from both eastern and western cultures, Donald has cultivated a distinct approach to floral designs and aesthetics that has garnered widespread recognition within the industry and media. His unique style has graced the stages of various floral shows and earned him a prominent place in internationally acclaimed magazines. Beyond his design prowess, Donald's affable and humorous teaching style has propelled him to become a beloved figure in floral education, captivating students with his innovative ideas and cutting-edge techniques. To extend his passion to a broader audience, Donald has established a thriving YouTube channel where he generously shares his floral journey, offering a wealth of design inspiration and invaluable industry knowledge to enthusiasts worldwide. Donald Yim's journey in floral design is punctuated by his unwavering commitment to constant growth and excellence. In 2019, he showcased his talent on the global stage by securing an impressive 5th place in the World Flower Art Contest held in Beijing, China, where 33 luminaries of the floral industry gathered under the theme "Live Green Live Better." He continued to shine by achieving 1st place in the 51st annual Sylvia Cup Design Competition, an esteemed live competition that stands as a testament to his dedication to pushing the boundaries of floral artistry. Donald's enduring dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence exemplify his philosophy of always striving to go beyond his best.