Current Wedding MBA Speakers

Dr. Gregory Adaka, MD.

CHASING A SHADOW: Your business, your money, your health. Dr. Gregory Adaka will tell you the difference between successfully growing your business and the futility of “chasing shadows”. He is a physician with a career spanning over three decades. He was born in Manchester, England and in 2014 he and his family relocated to the United States. Dr. Adaka is a recognised thought leader in medicine and the healthcare industry, across both the United States and the United Kingdom. His message to policymakers and executives of all stripes is clear: the health of a business is only as strong as the health of its entrepreneur. He is one of those rare communicators who can distil complex ideas into simple, relatable insights with passion, clarity and lots of humour!

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.

Sonja Babich

Sonja Babich is the Owner and CEO of Iron Diamond, leading seven luxury wedding brands including Minnesota Bride, Wisconsin Bride, Nebraska Wedding Day, Washington Wedding Day, Oregon Wedding Day, California Wedding Day, and Arizona Bride. Passionate and hands-on, she and her team provide engaged couples with trusted publications, resources, and inspirational tools to plan the perfect wedding day. She is the host of the Wedding Day Podcast and producer of two renowned Minnesota wedding shows, recently expanding Iron Diamond’s national footprint onto TikTok and LTK to further connect with engaged couples. Prior to acquiring the company, Sonja was a wedding professional who personally planned and executed over 500 weddings, bringing unmatched expertise, vision, and leadership that continue to position her as a leading voice in the wedding industry nationwide.

Lyndzi Barnes

Lyndzi Barnes is a business operations strategist, entrepreneur, and speaker who helps business owners turn chaos into clarity through systems and strategic organization. A business owner since the age of 19, she has worked one-on-one with 200+ businesses across more than 38 industries, helping them streamline operations, scale revenue, and build companies that run without constant owner involvement. With experience planning weddings and holding an Event and Wedding Planning Certification, Lyndzi understands the fast-paced world of the wedding industry and teaches professionals how to build operational systems that support both exceptional client experiences and sustainable business growth. She is the founder of The Organized Executive membership, creator of The Real Small Business Owners education brand, and the developer of Opstra, an upcoming platform designed to help entrepreneurs organize every part of their business.

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.

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.

Tirzah Caffee

Tirzah Caffee is a 31-year veteran in the wedding industry and a 4th generation wedding pro. Collectively; her family has owned 5 venues across the nation. Tirzah was the CEO and founder of Alexander Homestead, a multiple 7-figure wedding venue, which is one of the most sought-after venues in Charlotte, North Carolina, hosting well over 120 full service/all-inclusive weddings per year. Tirzah and her team have produced events for celebrities ranging from country music star Luke Bryan to members of the White House, and you can even see her venue featured in Season 9 of Married at First Sight. Fun fact: Tirzah has personally produced over 2500 weddings in her career! After the recent sale of her wedding business, Tirzah took the opportunity to become a full-time venue consultant. Her passion is working 1 on 1 with venues, but she is also a digital course creator for venues, host of The Venue Success Podcast, a national speaker, 2-time recipient of Charlottean of the Year, mom of 2 adult children, and married to her business partner Bradley for the past 25 years. Needlesstosay, she keeps herself busy and has HUGE passion for our industry with the experience to back it up. You can connect with Tirzah at tirzahcaffee.com and on IG at Tirzah_thevenuecoach.

Shantel Campbell

Shantel Campbell’s journey in the wedding industry began in 2015 when she stepped into the role of Marketing Manager for one of Orlando’s top-grossing catering companies. Over the course of seven years, she built a strong foundation in strategic marketing, digital advertising, and lead generation specifically within the wedding and events space. To expand her expertise, Shantel spent a year at a digital marketing agency serving national and global brands, including Meta, Universal, Delta, and NASA. There, she gained exposure to high-level strategy, advanced ad performance tactics, and data-driven marketing strategies that most wedding businesses never consider. She brought those insights back to the wedding industry, elevating the way vendors approach visibility, positioning, and conversions. Now, with over a decade of experience and as the owner of I Do Marketing Group, an agency exclusively serving wedding professionals, Shantel doesn’t just create marketing — she builds conversion-driven strategies designed to increase inquiries, improve lead quality, and drive measurable revenue growth.

Ann Campeau

After 10+ years in corporate marketing, I changed focus to helping brides look and feel beautiful for their wedding day. When we opened, Strut was the southwest's first wedding dress store specializing in brides size 12+. Our second location, in Long Beach, CA, opened Fall 2013. As a jack of all trades, I'm working in sales, marketing, inventory management, human resources, public relations and more. I also co-own 2 other niche bridal stores in California. In 2018 I helped launch the National Bridal Retailers Association and serve as Director.

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

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.

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.

Renée Dalo

Renee Dalo is a keynote speaker, educator, author, and Certified Co-Active Coach. With over 13 years of industry experience, she inspires and educates event professionals to build confident businesses and thriving lives. She is the founder of Moxie Bright Events, host of the “Talk with Renee Dalo” podcast, and the author of her first book, “The Coordination Cure,” which will be released soon.

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!

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.

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.

Rob Ferre

Rob Ferre is wedding DJ, entertainer, and speaker from Salt Lake City, Utah. He founded Life of the Party Entertainment in 2007 after returning from a 3 year stint in Orlando Florida. His DJ company recently was awarded Best of State for Event DJ. He has presented for wedding professionals and at various DJ conventions throughout the country. Rob is the President of the Utah Chapter for American Disc Jockey Association and is a proud member of the National Speakers Association.

Kate Foster

A well-known speaker, trainer & consultant for the hospitality industry, Kate Foster is a influential voice when it comes to hospitality industry training, sales & revenue. She has coached and trained teams for luxury 5-star brands such as The Langham New York 5th Ave, Belmond Hotels, The Newbury Boston, The Lodge at Torrey Pines, along with national catering brands and ultra-luxury wedding planners. For almost a decade, Kate gained experience as a wedding planner and designer, planning over 500 weddings throughout her career. She transitioned her wedding sales experience into the corporate world working with clients such as the LA Rams, LA Lakers, Northrup Grumman, Toyota, Matell, Skechers shoes, Riot Games, Electronic Arts (EA), Ferrari and more. She has a comprehensive understanding of sales at all levels, price points, and aspects of this unique industry.

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

Brandee Gaar

Brandee Gaar is a luxury Event Planner, Thought Leader, Educational Speaker and Host of the "She Who Dares" Podcast. As a lifelong lover of all things events, Brandee spent 7 years as a corporate event planner with the prestigious Gaylord Hotels brand before opening her own event consulting firm. Blush by Brandee Gaar and Eleven Events by Blush have quickly become known for their over the top events and high touch standard of customer service. Brandee is passionate about teaching new and aspiring entrepreneurs her exact strategies in growing two 6-figure businesses. She provides expert tools for those who are ready to make their side hustle into a full time passion. Her goal is to help new businesses beat the statistics by starting with a success-minded focus!

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.

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 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.

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.

Erica Jankowski

Erica Jankowski is the Marketing Coach for Wedding Pro CEO and Owner of Aloha Erica Music, where she blends strategic marketing expertise with real-world wedding industry experience. With over a decade in digital strategy and product marketing, she helps wedding business owners implement high-converting systems that increase bookings and long-term profitability. As a globally recognized wedding musician who has built and scaled her own brand while actively serving clients, and as the host of The At Last Podcast, Erica brings a first-hand perspective on today’s booking cycles, marketing strategy, and client behavior while delivering actionable guidance to ambitious wedding professionals. Originally from Hawaii and now based in Orlando, FL, and having performed worldwide, she brings both global perspective and practical strategy to help wedding pros grow with clarity, confidence, and measurable results.

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.

Alan Katz

Alan Katz is a nationally recognized wedding officiant, speaker, and founder of Great Officiants, one of the largest officiant teams in the United States with more than 4,000 five star reviews. With over two decades in the wedding industry, he has officiated thousands of ceremonies ranging from intimate elopements to celebrity celebrations, earning a reputation for blending heartfelt storytelling, humor, and unforgettable moments. Known as the “King of Reviews,” Alan is widely respected for his expertise in client experience, reputation building, and media visibility. His work has been featured on television programs including The Kelly Clarkson Show, Say Yes to the Dress, and The Prank Panel with Johnny Knoxville, and he is a sought after speaker who teaches wedding professionals how to stand out, get noticed, and grow their businesses.

Irene Katzias

Irene Katzias is a wedding planner, designer, and industry speaker with over a decade of experience creating high end, hands on wedding experiences. As the founder of Irene + Co Events, she is known for storytelling driven design that brings each couple’s vision to life with intention and precision. Irene is a TEDx speaker and WeddingPro Educator who is deeply committed to elevating industry standards and fostering meaningful collaboration. Her work and expertise have been featured in leading publications including People Magazine, Carats and Cake, Martha Stewart, NY Post, and the LA Times.

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."

Mike Lannen

Mike Lannen is the founder of Eternity, a Vermont-based web design, digital marketing, and AI consulting firm. With more than 26 years of experience, he helps hospitality businesses turn AI and automation into practical, revenue-driving results—without losing the human touch. A nationally recognized speaker, Mike is known for making tools like ChatGPT and custom GPT assistants simple, useful, and immediately actionable. Las Vegas—his favorite city to visit—has been a regular stop for Mike for over 30 trips, often staying two weeks at a time, drawn to its energy, innovation, and bold approach to business.

Jessica Limberry

Jessica Limeberry has been in the wedding industry over 20 years, starting as a wedding photographer and then purchasing a Sophia's Bridal boutique in 2014. She has since grown her 1600 sq foot shop into 4 locations, working with thousands of brides each year. In addition to leading a team, Jessica coaches other bridal shop owners, and their whole staff, to help them grow more confident teams, a strong brand, and a successful (and profitable!) business!

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.

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 McCall

Sara McCall is the founder and visionary behind Stunning & Brilliant Events, a full-service luxury wedding and event planning company she launched in 2010 that has since produced over 1,500 events nationwide. Under her leadership, the company has expanded from its Myrtle Beach headquarters to 18 locations stretching from the West Coast to the East Coast. She and her team have worked with notable brands and platforms including Bravo TV, delivering high-level, personalized experiences for every client. Sara brings innovation, expertise, and a bold creative edge to every celebration she touches.

Adrienna McDermott

Adrienna McDermott is the founder of Ava And The Bee, a marketing agency exclusively for wedding professionals that builds connections with dream couples through inclusive, results-driven marketing, copywriting, branding, and website design. As a former bridal boutique owner, wedding planner, and florist with over 16 years of industry experience, she now channels that insider knowledge into creating marketing that actually works and brands that stand out from the competition. You can follow her on Instagram at @avaandthebee for weekly marketing insights and tips.

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.

Raina Moskowitz

Raina Moskowitz joined The Knot Worldwide as Chief Executive Officer in 2025, leading more than 2000 employees across the globe. Previously, Raina served as Etsy’s Chief Operating and Marketing Officer. She led Etsy’s Strategy and Operations, Marketing, Member Services, Trust & Safety, International, and Impact teams. Before Etsy, Raina led U.S. customer marketing at American Express, responsible for driving growth, loyalty and retention for American Express customers, and held multiple leadership roles in product and strategy. Since 2020, she has served on the board of directors of Sprout Social (Nasdaq: SPT), a provider of cloud based social media management software. Raina also serves on the Board of Tech:NYC, a nonprofit organization that engages with elected officials and civic leaders to support a thriving and inclusive tech ecosystem in the city. Raina is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

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.

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!

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 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 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

Jamie Lee Quickert

Jamie Lee Quickert is a hospitality sales powerhouse and brand storyteller who believes business should be both strategic and joyful. As Director of Sales for Graduate by Hilton Columbus and founder of Style by James, she drives measurable revenue growth while creating unforgettable experiences. Her expertise spans corporate, association, and wedding markets, with a signature focus on relationship-driven selling. Jamie brings bold insight, contagious energy, and immediately actionable takeaways to every audience.

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.

Emily Rochotte

Emily Rochotte is a social media strategist, SEO blog writer, and marketing educator for wedding pros. With over a decade of experience in the industry working with wedding pros and publications on their marketing, she knows how to help you build brand awareness and grow your business with engaging content that speaks to your ideal client. She is passionate about empowering wedding business owners to feel confident about their marketing and is here to cheer you on! Say hi to Emily over on Instagram or TikTok @emilyrochotte

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

Alea Shalae

Alea is a wedding industry educator, known for her enthusiastic, authentic teaching style. With a degree in business management and years of experience as a wedding photographer, videographer & content marketer, she brings a combination of both creative and strategic expertise. Alea delights in helping wedding professionals simplify their systems, elevate their client experiences, and increase revenue, all without increasing their workload!

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.

Susan Southerland

As president of Just Events! Group, Inc., Susan Southerland leads one of the most highly regarded teams in the event industry today. After graduating from the University of Florida and starting out as a sole proprietor, Susan has grown Just Events! Group, Inc. into a multimillion-dollar business. She achieved a long-time goal in 2018 when her company was named to Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing private companies in America. A driven businesswoman and talented event planner, Susan has worked with thousands of clients around the world hosting events throughout the United States, Italy, Mexico, and the Caribbean. She has authored several books related to the event industry and is a popular conference speaker. Her business advice has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Inc. Magazine, and other periodicals around the world. In addition to running her company, Susan has served as a consultant for world-renowned resorts, cruise lines, and small business owners who want to start or improve their event businesses. As an entrepreneur, wife, and proud mom to four great kids, she strives to help other aspiring business owners learn how to find the right balance to achieve their goals. You can find her online course, Cashing in on Corporate Clients at weddingproceo.com/corporate.

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.

Lauren Tankersley

Lauren Tankersley is the CEO of 828 Venue Management Company, which owns, operates, and manages event venues across the country. 828 VMC is reimagining what it means to run successful event venues. With a background in brand strategy and general management, Lauren brings deep business expertise and a passion for people-first leadership. She holds an MBA from Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business and is known for her energetic, thoughtful approach to building strong teams and scaling great ideas.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Michael Wedaa

Michael Wedaa is a respected business consultant and has been a successful entrepreneur for more than 25 years. He is the author of the best-selling book, Corporation and LLC Secrets and speaks about business entity strategies all over the country. Michael also lectures on business structures at UCLA, empowering aspiring entrepreneurs with essential knowledge for sustainable success.

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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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.

Cherie Yang

Cherie Yang is the Founder & CEO of Visualist, an AI-powered operating system for modern wedding pros and creative studios. She is building agentic AI that tracks projects, understands client context, and proactively supports real client work, with the mission of helping boutique businesses scale without losing their signature style. Cherie writes and speaks on AI, taste, and the future of creative entrepreneurship, and is host of the podcast, Taste Capital.

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.