WEDDING MERCHANTS BUSINESS ACADEMY

LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER

Begins November 12, 2024

Concludes November 14, 2024

DISCOUNT DEADLINE Mar 24, 2024

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WEDDING MERCHANTS BUSINESS ACADEMY

LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER

Begins November 12, 2024

Concludes November 14, 2024

DISCOUNT DEADLINE Mar 24, 2024

Current Wedding MBA Speakers

  • Troy Adams

    Troy Adams

    Owner

    Carolina DJ Professionals

    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.

  • Amber Anderson

    Amber Anderson

    Owner

    Refine for Wedding Planners

    Amber Anderson

    After a decade in weddings and events, Amber Anderson, founder of Heavenly Day Events, pivoted her career into coaching others while maintaining a role in her planning company in Austin, Texas. As the host of Refine for Wedding Planners, Amber desires to coach and mentor new, aspiring and struggling planners via the largest Facebook group exclusively for wedding planners by offering a course, retreat and templates! As a Public Speaker, Amber is known for having radical honesty, often saying what most people are thinking but won’t say, striving to elevate the industry one conversation at a time.

  • Talmar Anderson

    Talmar Anderson New

    CEO

    Boss HQ

    Talmar Anderson

    Meet Talmar Anderson, the host of Rock Your Bossitude podcast and the badass CEO & Founder of Boss HQ, the company that empowers audiences of driven business owners with revenues of $500K - $5MM experiencing growing sales and feeling frustrated by bad hires and an underperforming team. Clients feel stuck with the thought "We could be so much bigger if I could JUST find the RIGHT people" until they learn the life-changing system. Powerful, thought provoking, and to the point, Talmar Anderson, "The Boss Muse," has been featured on AppleTV, Roku and more, and is a sought-after speaker. As the creator of Bossification - the ground-breaking program that delivers step by step process and insights on HOW to hire, HOW to manage and HOW to step fully into your Visionary Boss role - Talmar knows how to create dramatic shifts in your perspective on what it means to be the boss of a successfully growing businesses. Boss HQ delivers Hiring Strategy and Boss Best Practices that empower business owners to build a kickass team you can trust so your business can scale on purpose! Talmar is based out of SE Georgia while working with clients throughout the country by way of Virtual Workshops, Group Programs and Private Client offerings. Offering organizational consulting and delivering repeatable processes for hiring and managing allows our clients to be the Boss they were always meant to be and to Scale on Purpose. It does NOT have to be so hard to build, lead and celebrate with your dream team. Talmar has been honored to be selected on the IncSpire Board of Directors, she was a Premier Success Coach for the 500,000 plus membership of the international organization eWomen Network, Talmar also served as the Chair for the George Mason University School of Business Women In Business Initiative Advisory Board. She also proudly served as the Vice President of Pets for Vets - DC Chapter.

  • Kristin Banta

    Kristin Banta New

    Owner

    Kristin Banta Events

    Kristin Banta

    Kristin is the creative visionary behind Kristin Banta Events’ one of the country’s leading experiential event design and production firms. Named the 2023 Event Designer of the Year at the Special Event Gala Awards, KBE has been an innovator for over twenty years, setting the standard for high-end events. From exclusive corporate galas, immersive premiere parties and unforgettable brand activations to influential industry soirées, luxury weddings and destination extravaganzas, Kristin and her team of specialists plan, design and produce events around the globe for a distinct group of notable brands and private clientele who all share a passion for the dramatically different. At the cutting edge of the latest trends in decor, catering and entertainment, KBE takes the client’s vision to an epic new level, orchestrating truly original celebrations that are provocative and impact all senses, telling a distinct story to each and every guest.

  • Alan Berg

    Alan Berg

    CSP, Global Speaking Fellow

    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 New

    Owner

    House of Bernal

    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.

  • Kristin Binford

    Kristin Binford New

    Owner

    Haue Valley

    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.

  • Tirzah Caffee

    Tirzah Caffee New

    Owner

    Alexander Homestead

    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 Alexander Homestead, a multiple 7-figure full-service venue and planning team in Charlotte, NC. For the past 8 years, Tirzah has helped hundreds of wedding pros across the nation have extraordinary success! Her passion is teaching sales strategies for staying fully booked, helping wedding pros create efficient systems, add income streams, create dynamic teams, and avoid burnout. You can work 1-on-1 with Tirzah at multiple different entry points from a 2-hour zoom to 6 months of personal coaching. Stay in touch with Tirzah on IG at Tirzah_thevenuecoach or www.tirzahcaffee.com, where you can join her FREE coaching community for venue owners and operators.

  • Laura Cannon

    Laura Cannon

    President

    International Association of Professional Wedding Officiants (IAPWO)

    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.

  • Jenae Cartwright

    Jenae Cartwright New

    Owner

    Cake & Crumble

    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 Chapman

    The I Do Society

    Mark Chapman

    Mark, and the team of digital marketing experts he leads, have become the premier agency for the wedding industry. His career experience as a wedding photographer (before founding his agency) gave him the perfect insight into exactly what is needed for success when marketing a wedding business. Mark and his team deliver powerful marketing campaigns for extraordinary wedding business growth.

  • Tom Chelednik

    Tom Chelednik

    Chief Operating Officer North America Associate Director of Vendor Engagement

    Wedding Pro

    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

    CEO

    The Knot Worldwide

    Tim Chi

    Tim Chi is a DC-based CEO and entrepreneur who founded WeddingWire out of his living room with three friends in 2007. Tim led the company from an internet start-up to a multimillion-dollar leader in the wedding planning industry. In 2018, WeddingWire and XO Group merged to form The Knot Worldwide, the largest global wedding planning company serving millions of engaged couples across 15 countries. Tim holds a bachelor of science degree from Cornell University and a Master’s of Science degree in Engineering Management from Tufts University.

  • Sarah Chianese

    Sarah Chianese

    Executive Chef

    Mangia and Enjoy!

    Sarah Chianese

    Sarah Chianese is Executive Chef of Mangia and Enjoy! an award-winning boutique catering and private chef company based out of both the Hudson Valley, NY and Colorado Springs, CO. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, her exposure to a wide variety of ethnic cuisines inspired her love for food starting at an extremely young age. Her history as a Chef accompanies careers in Theatre/Film/TV/Music & Fashion production as well as Education & Consulting, yet creating joyful memories through food remains her first and foremost passion.

  • Katie Cotton

    Katie Cotton

    Owner & Principal Makeup Artist

    Cotton Rouge and Company

    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

    Renée Dalo

    Wedding Planner, Educator, Public Speaker & Pocdast Host

    Moxie Bright Events

    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.

  • Twah Dougherty

    Twah Dougherty

    Founder and Creative Director

    Twah Dougherty Photography

    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 Drake

    Owner

    Braden Drake LLC

    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

    Wedding SEO Specialist

    Sara Does SEO

    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

    Michelle Ellis New

    Owner, McEllis Brides Design Studio

    McEllis Brides

    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 Ely

    President

    OFD Consulting

    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

    Andrea Eppolito

    Owner

    Andrea Eppolito Weddings & Events

    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 New

    Owner

    Chris J. Evans Photography

    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

    Elizabeth Fisher New

    Owner + CEO

    Lizzie Bee's Flower Shoppe

    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

    Donna Forsythe

    Director

    Celebrant Academy

    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

    Owner + Creative Director

    Harmony Creative Studio

    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

  • Chef Nettie Frank

    Chef Nettie Frank New

    Owner

    Chef Nettie Frank

    Chef Nettie Frank

    In 2006, Nettie stepped out on her own starting Silver Whisk Catering. Providing delectable delights for weddings, corporate events and high profile clients like professional golfer Tony Finau. She's been an invited guest chef at Disney's Food and Wine Events in California and Florida, provided red carpet fare to celebrities at Project Angel Food in Los Angeles, and served the cast of Will and Grace at CBS studios. Nettie launched Beyond Glaze Doughnuts with her father in 2008, winning a Best in Utah Doughnuts award for her gourmet treats that boasted a 'No Sprinkles Allowed' philosophy. That's when she caught the eye of the Food Network, appearing on the first season of Cake Wars in 2015 and earning the respect of top chefs and the adoration of a national audience. Her on camera experience doesn't stop there, Nettie is a well known food stylist working with companies like Frigo Cheese and Santa Monica Seafood, a frequent guest on Utah television shows Good Things Utah and BYU's Dinner Takes All. But her favorite moments are spent where it all started, back in her own kitchen teaching budding chefs on her YouTube channel Chef Nettie Frank, and spending as much real time as possible with her husband, two children and two dogs.

  • Megan Gillikin

    Megan Gillikin

    Owner

    Weddings for Real / The Planner's Vault

    Megan Gillikin

    Megan Gillikin is a successful Wedding and Event Planning business owner at A Southern Soiree, Consultant to fellow event industry pros, Podcaster at Weddings For Real, and Mom to 3 girls under 7. Her two favorite meals are breakfast and dessert, and she loves dance parties in the living room with her husband and those 3 daughters!

    Megan graduated with her hospitality degree and her MBA. After graduation, she earned her stripes in the hotel industry by working for Marriott for almost 5 years on the event operations/planning side in roles that lead her to her love of events. In 2010, Megan left the hotel world and took over ownership of an existing wedding planning company in need of re-branding to remain relevant within the industry. After 10 years of growing A Southern Soiree, Megan has established it as one of the most sought after, highly regarded event planning companies in the southeast.

    She loves getting to know the inner workings of people’s personalities…so much so that she started a wedding industry podcast in 2018! That led to another passion, which is consulting with other industry vendors on growing their businesses purposefully! Megan has a love for providing real, insightful and tangible advice and wisdom on growing and sustaining a successful event business! If you’re Myers-Briggs fans she’s an ENFJ, and a solid 3 on the Enneagram. She’s ambitious, adaptable and enthusiastic and her love for this industry is contagious!

  • Brian Green

    Brian Green

    Chief Event Architect and Creative Planning Visionary

    ByBrianGreen

    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

    Founder

    Unboring!Wedding

    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

    Bron Hansboro

    Owner

    The Flower Guy Bron

    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.

  • DJ Hapa

    DJ Hapa

    Head Coach

    thedjcoach.com

    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

    President

    Wedding MBA

    Will Hegarty

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

  • Tayler Cusick Hollman

    Tayler Cusick Hollman New

    Founder

    Enji

    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 Hufft

    Celebrity Officiant

    Reverend Clint Hufft

    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.

  • Stella Jones

    Stella Jones

    Owner & Motivational Speaker

    Stella's Bridal

    Stella Jones

    Stella loves to live life outside of the box! With a degree in Fashion Merchandising Management from LIM in New York, she started her journey in bridal and opened Stella’s Bridal Boutique in 2011. As a premiere retailer, Stella has had to expand her store three times over the course of the past eight years, in order to accommodate her growing presence in the Western New York region. What drives Stella in this industry is her connection with women and her ability to open their eyes to see the true beauty that reigns within. In 2017 Stella began her Stella Talks seminars. Her motivational speeches have given her a platform to spread her love and energy to an even larger audience. Stella’s many accomplishments include being a four-year running recipient of the Wedding Wire Couples’ Choice Award, Winner of the Women in Business Award and her most rewarding accomplishment thus far- being the Mommy to her one and only little boy, Diesel.

  • Vanessa Joy

    Vanessa Joy

    Owner

    Vanessa Joy Photography

    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.

  • Nayri

    Nayri

    Wedding Fashion Expert

    Lovella Bridal

    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!

  • Anthony Lambatos

    Anthony Lambatos

    Owner

    Footers Catering

    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.

  • Tanisha Lee

    Tanisha Lee

    Owner

    Collectively Wed

    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)!

  • Shan-Lyn Ma

    Shan-Lyn Ma New

    Co-CEO and Co-Founder

    Zola

    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.

    Instagram

  • Don Mamone

    Don Mamone New

    Speaker | Identity Coach | Consultant

    The Mamones LLC

    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 New

    Owner & CEO

    Wedding Dance Coach

    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 New

    CEO

    Honeyfund

    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.

  • Marc McIntosh

    Marc McIntosh

    Co-Founder

    Team Wedding Marketing

    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.

  • Shafonne Myers

    Shafonne Myers

    Founder

    Pretty Pear Bride

    Shafonne Myers

    Shafonne Myers is a media mogul and body image coach for plus size brides and a launch coach for creative business owners. She built an internationally recognized, award-winning wedding publication, Pretty Pear Bride. It’s the only site in the world for plus size brides and has solidified her as THE plus size bridal expert. She also helps creative business owners sell online and launch wildly profitable digital products, so they have more income, impact and freedom in their business.

  • Leah Nadu

    Leah Nadu New

    Founder & Owner

    Historic Ashland

    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

    Bethel Nathan

    Owner

    Ceremonies by Bethel & Elevate by Bethel

    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 New

    President

    Visual Sound Productions, Inc

    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.

  • Christie Osborne

    Christie Osborne

    Owner & Founder

    Mountainside Media

    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.

  • Kate Paulley

    Kate Paulley New

    VP Marketing

    Wedgewood Wedding & Events

    Kate Paulley

    Meet Kate Paulley, the VP of Marketing at Wedgewood Weddings & Events, where she's all about creating experiences that make couples' journey to "I do" as joyful as the day itself. Kate's not just about making things look pretty; she's obsessed with the nuts and bolts of marketing—think conversion rates and getting the most bang for your buck. She thrives on the digital playground, from crafting epic content for websites to building communities online that feel more like get-togethers than mere touchpoints. Wedgewood Weddings’ marketing efforts are powerful and result driven, attracting 3,000,000 web visitors last year, gaining over $60,000,000 in booked revenue, and all at a cost of only $43 cost per lead. With her at the helm, the company has seen a flood of leads that turned into thousands of weddings, making dreams come true without breaking the bank. She's a Brit who's made SoCal her home, bringing a dash of high-energy enthusiasm and a knack for clear, engaging communication that crosses oceans and cultures. What makes Kate stand out isn't just her savvy marketing skills or her impressive track record. It's her passion for connecting with people in genuinely meaningful ways. Over five years, she's helped the team at Wedgewood Weddings & Events charm over a million leads into nearly 40,000 big days. Kate's the kind of marketer who turns ideas into action and data into stories. If you're looking for inspiration, or just a great conversation about the latest in digital marketing, she's your person.

  • Fausto Pifferrer

    Fausto Pifferrer

    Co-Founder

    Blue Elephant

    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.

  • Roy Porter

    Roy Porter

    Activities Director

    Engage Works

    Roy Porter

    Roy Porter is the Activities Director at Engage Works, based in Los Alamitos, CA. An inspiring hospitality industry speaker for over five years with thought provoking standing room only lectures addressing a wide variety catering topics. Catersource Ambassador Bill Pannoff calls Roy, “The Professor.” His practical hands-on technique intensive sessions devoted to off-premise catering basics are known for helping caterers gain expertise, build confidence, and transfer the information learned to their staff. A catering industry veteran with experience spanning many intimate house parties, large group plated and buffet services - plus many high profile Hollywood events. He consults with off-premise caters and related hospitality businesses nationally on operations, marketing and staffing issues. Roy served as a Catersource Forum Moderator for several years. He is member of The Advisory Board for Long Beach City College Culinary School and is the Director of Production for the annual Golden State of Cocktails conference in Los Angeles, CA.

  • Becca Pountney

    Becca Pountney New

    Wedding Industry Marketing Consultant

    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 Radicelli

    Founder & Executive Coach

    Mentor Pods Group Coaching

    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 José Ramirez

    Co-Owner & Venue Director

    Madera Estates

    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 New

    CEO

    Wedding Booking System

    Joe Rare

    Joe Rare is an entrepreneur through and through. He's an investor, a marketer, and most importantly, a father and a husband. Currently Joe owns four internet-based companies with nearly $2M 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 more than 400 venues across 11 countries (plus over 200 vendors). Joe's company Wedding Booking System has pioneered the use of marketing and sales automation in the wedding industry. In 2024, it's been no different, 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

    Liza Roeser

    CEO & Founder

    FiftyFlowers

    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.

  • Rev. Roxy

    Rev. Roxy New

    Marriage Ceremony Connoisseur and Founder

    MARRIED by REV ROXY®

    Rev. Roxy

    Rev. Roxy, Marriage Ceremony Connoisseur and Founder of MARRIED by REV ROXY®, is the go-to Officiant for high-profile couples, featured on Love is Blind, Married at First Sight & Love & Hip-Hop. As a renowned Premarital Counselor, she crafts enchanting ceremonies inspired by her background as a military and clinical Chaplain. With accolades from Forbes, Vogue and The New York Time, Rev. Roxy's expertise and personalized touch ensure an unforgettable fairytale wedding cherished forever.

  • Rob Schenk

    Rob Schenk

    Trial Attorney & Editor of WeddingIndustryLaw.com

    Rob Schenk

    Rob Schenk is a trial attorney and editor of WeddingIndustryLaw.com, an online resource of news, information, and legal materials for wedding professionals. In 2016, he launched WedFormz.com, a database of downloadable contract templates for wedding and event businesses. Rob’s expertise has been featured in Time, Huffington Post Weddings, Yahoo News, Slate Magazine, The Knot, PetaPixel, and Above the Law. Rob is licensed to practice law in California, New York, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia.

  • Elizabeth Sheils

    Elizabeth Sheils

    Co-Founder & CEO

    Rock Paper Coin

    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

    Nora Sheils

    Founder

    Bridal Bliss

    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

    Wedding Celebrant, Speaker, and Author

    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.

  • Inbal Sivan

    Inbal Sivan New

    Owner

    Inbal Sivan Photography

    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.

  • Shannon Tarrant

    Shannon Tarrant

    Founder

    Wedding Venue Map

    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.

  • Terrica

    Terrica

    Terrica Inc & Wedding Pro Workshop, CEO

    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

    CeCe Todd

    Owner

    CeCe Designs

    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.

  • Jen Trotter

    Jen Trotter

    Owner

    Lip Service Makeup

    Jen Trotter

    Known as the Queen of bridal beauty in Dallas/Fort Worth, Jen Trotter is the owner and principal artist behind Lip Service Makeup, the team that recently snagged a coveted AACWP Vendi Award for Favorite Hair and Makeup for the 5th year in a row, landing them in the Hall of Fame. In addition to beautifying thousands of brides over the course of her 25+ year career, Jen and her team also work on such diverse projects as major motion pictures, Dateline NBC, ABC's 20/20, commercial and media clients, and tv and film projects with Oxygen, Netflix's Love is Blind, Paramount and more. Jennifer’s work has also been featured in media outlets such as BRIDES Magazine, Bella NY, The Today Show, Bustle.com, and Martha Stewart Weddings and more. As a veteran vendor, she’s an active member of her local chapters of NACE, and the Society of Wedding Professionals, ILEA, and PWG…and she's currently serving as a board member for the Dallas WIPA Chapter. In addition to her role as a respected business owner, leader and mentor, she's also a communications expert, trainer and dynamic speaker with a background that includes conflict resolution, corporate training, PR and nearly 10 years as a Program Director for the Make A Wish Foundation. Melding her business background with her vast experience as an "in the trenches" wedding vendor gives Jennifer a unique perspective! She not only knows how to manage the occasional bridezilla, but she's also passionate about teaching other business owners how to manage communication elements to reduce conflict and chaos. Jen is a top-rated speaker and podcast guest who pulls no punches as she shares proven strategies, words and phrases designed to keep conflict now, paving the way for long-term sustainability and success.

  • David Tutera

    David Tutera

    Lead Wedding & Entertaining Expert

    David Tutera Experience

    David Tutera

    Leading Wedding & Entertaining Expert, David Tutera is hailed as an artistic visionary whose ability, uniquely creative talents and outstanding reputation have made him a tremendous success in the lifestyle arena. Tutera has created a name for himself by taking his passion for designing spectacular events and transforming it into a lifestyle. He continuously exceeds the expected with an unmatched level of inspiration, imagination and innovation to create the latest trends in entertaining. Tutera’s grandfather, a successful florist, first noticed his grandson’s artistic ability at an early age and encouraged David to pursue his destiny. At age 19, with the sound advice of his grandfather and only one client, David opened his own event planning business. Today, David Tutera presides over an award winning company built from experience, dedication and Tutera’s natural talent for transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. His name has become synonymous with style, elegance, creativity and vision. Honored by Life & Style Magazine as “Best Celebrity Wedding Planner,” David's impressive client list includes events for Jennifer Lopez, Matthew McConaughey, the Official Post Grammy Parties, Elton John, Vanessa Williams, Barbara Walters, the Rolling Stones, Nancy Regan, Prince Charles, The White House, private events for the Vice President, Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfiger, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Susan Lucci, The John F. Kennedy Center, as well as countless film premieres and celebrity parties for royalty, politicians and socialites. Tutera has been on the board for the Prevent Cancer Foundation for more than ten years and has also designed events for the Alzheimer’s Association, DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids) and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. David Tutera has been a fixture on WE tv for ten seasons with his popular hit shows; “My Fair Wedding,” “David Tutera: Unveiled” and now his newest and highest rated show, “David Tutera’s CELEBrations.” In every star-studded episode, David’s jaw-dropping work for his Hollywood clients takes center stage. From weddings to birthday parties and everything in between, viewers watched in droves as David planned rapper Lil Kim’s baby shower, an over-the-top wedding for former “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” cast member, Taylor Armstrong, and events for R&B artists Brandy, her brother Ray J, “Mob Wives’” Angela “Big Ang” Raiola, Dennis Rodman, Holly Robinson Peete, Ice T and Coco, and many more. David is also a professional speaker hired to lecture on the topics of weddings, lifestyle, design and more, having conducted speaking appearances all over the world and has also penned seven popular books, currently in stores, which include: My Fair Wedding (Gallery Books), The Big White Book Of Weddings: The How-To Guide For The Savvy, Stylish Bride (St. Martins Press), Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings (Disney Publishing), Big Birthdays (Bulfinch Press), The Party Planner (Bulfinch Press), America Entertains: A Year of Imaginative Parties (Stewart, Tabori and Chang) and A Passion for Parties: Your Guide to Elegant Entertaining (Simon & Schuster). The David Tutera brand and products have appeared on the big screen in multiple feature films and television movies, including: Last Vegas starring Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Michael Douglas, The Came Together starring Amy Poehler, BET’s Christmas Wedding Baby, Hallmark’s A Perfect Wedding and more. David has made guest appearances on Today, Extra!, Good Morning America, The View, CNN, The Rachael Ray Show, The Talk, Steve Harvey, Wendy Williams, Queen Latifah and many more. In addition People, USA Today, In Touch, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, In Style, Cosmopolitan, Redbook, Bridal Guide and Town & Country have all featured his work. Tutera has also made special television appearances in the popular daytime soap, The Young & the Restless and TV Land’s The Exes. David Tutera lives in Los Angeles with his daughter Cielo, husband Joey and their rescue dog, Lucy.

  • Shannon Underwood

    Shannon Underwood

    Vice President, Conference Director

    Wedding MBA

    Shannon Underwood

    Shannon Underwood is the VP of the 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.

  • Chris Washburn

    Chris Washburn

    Owner & DJ

    Washburn Entertainment

    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.

  • Leah Weinberg

    Leah Weinberg

    Co-Founder and Partner

    Oduberg Law, LLP

    Leah Weinberg

    Leah Weinberg is co-founder of Oduberg Law, LLP and co-owner of contract template shop Legally Set – is an attorney, a recovering wedding planner, and the author of The Wedding Roller Coaster. After nearly a decade in the wedding industry as the owner of Color Pop Events, a New York City-based wedding planning company, Leah is returning to her roots as an attorney to assist her former colleagues in the events industry, along with other entrepreneurs and business owners. Her work and insights have been published online and in print with Vogue, the New York Times, People, CNN, CNBC, Bravo, Martha Stewart, and The Knot, among others. A WeddingPro Educator with The Knot + WeddingWire since 2020, Leah travels throughout the country sharing insight with her peers regionally, as well as at national conferences such as Alt Summit, NACE Experience, and The Special Event.

  • Jacquie Westney

    Jacquie Westney New

    Owner

    Wedding Angels Bridal Boutique

    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 New

    Owner

    Lindsay J. Williams

    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

  • Derek Woodruff

    Derek Woodruff

    Owner

    Floral Underground

    Derek Woodruff

    Floral Underground is a boutique floral studio located in Traverse City Michigan, specializing in DIY floral experiences, workshops, and specialty designs for local delivery.