Speakers

Following a hardcore snipe hunt, botched pizzeria robbery, two years in a bear suit, and several moments atop a 6-foot unicycle, Chad Illa-Petersen (aka The Story Catcher) discovered the compelling power of stories. Today, Chad helps you find and craft the stories you didn't even know you had to create deeper connections and open a portal of belonging.

Known as the Queen of Relationship Marketing, Jessika is on a mission to redefine corporate America and create something she wanted to be part of. Jessika founded NOW Marketing Group in 2010 with only a laptop and a vision to give people with heart an upper hand. NOW Marketing Group was recognized as Inc. Best places to work 2022, is a Forbes-recognized Agency Partner, Partnered with Facebook, Google and is a certified inbound partner with Hubspot.

NOW Marketing Group works with more than 100 clients across the United States and beyond, choosing to serve – not sell. Jessika lives by a personal mission of helping inspire people to love more, give more and be more through authentic relating and proving doing what’s right, not what’s easy, can turn a vision into a profitable agency that produces results.

Called the “Zen Master to Digital Marketers” by Forbes, Bryan Kramer is a renowned business strategist, global keynote speaker, executive coach, and two-time bestselling author, including a TOP 150 USA best-selling book. Bryan created a global movement known for his keynotes, books, and talks for “There Is No BtoB or B2C: It’s Human-to-Human, H2H. He is the CEO of H2H Companies, an executive coaching company, and co-owner of PureMatter, a Silicon Valley marketing consultancy founded in 2001, which earned a spot as one of the “Fastest Growing Companies.” His global TED Talk featured a TED “first” – allowing mobile devices during the event to illustrate his belief that even a small inspirational share holds power to change the world for the better. Bryan has spoken worldwide over 200 times at global companies, including Mastercard, L‘oreal Paris, NASA, GoDaddy, Harvard University, Charles Schwab, International Culinary Institute, Verizon, Dell, and the NFL.
For more information: bryankramer.com

Brie E Anderson is an Analytical Nerd with a Soft Spot for Strategy. She's spent the last 10 years helping businesses of all sizes execute data-driven strategies to increase ROI. Today Brie runs BEAST Analytics, a digital marketing analytics consultancy, and contributes to leading industry publications such as Moz and Search Engine Journal.

Brian Fanzo is a digital futurist keynote speaker who translates the trends of tomorrow to inspire change today. His customized and personalized programs showcase real-world stories and examples of forward-thinking people and businesses. He teaches companies of all sizes how to leverage technology in real-time in order to engage their customers at the right time. Brian has a gift for bringing people together online and offline. He has worked in 76 countries, highlighting his passion for change, collaboration, and technology.

Why does Olivia love to stand outside? Because if anyone asks, she’s outstanding!

Olivia is a native of Elida, Ohio who continued her love of the Buckeyes and knowledge in Columbus, Ohio at The Ohio State University. As a graduate of Bachelor of Arts-Communication in 2019. What Olivia enjoys most in her role with NOW Marketing Group is becoming a hub of information to her clients and helping them build meaningful, human relationships through all forms of communication. Overall, she is driven by an eagerness to bring bubbly and creative energy to the business world.

When she isn’t working, you’ll find Olivia visiting new camping venues, traveling to the beach, attending concerts, and spending time with family and friends.

Andrés has been a champion since he was a little tyke. Born and raised in Puerto Rico he hails from Caguas, PR. As a tiny kiddo he was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma – Bone Cancer, and at 1.5 half he went through chemo and is now a proud cancer survivor! Andrés has been swinging for the fences since age 4 – his love for baseball carried through high school and was offered a scholarship to the play as a Racer at the University of Northwest Ohio bringing him to Lima, OH. His life goal is to show others – kids or adults – that regardless of the challenge, you are strong enough to overcome those hurdles and can fulfill your dreams.

Focusing his studies on digital and multimedia marketing, Andrés earning his place on the Dean’s List and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing. He’s taking that knowledge and is now creating killer content for our clients. When he’s not on a ballfield or behind a laptop, Andrés loves to cook, play golf, watch YouTube videos and teach his friends Spanish terms.

Brian “The Truth” Williams: Beneath a sly smile and cool-as-ice exterior, our “Mr. No Gimmicks Needed” is a genuine and devoted soul who smoothly drops a creative beat for the NOW MG. Dedicated to his roots, his family and his church, this young Marketing Maven is a Lima-born, Lima-bred, Lima-dedicated professional with a steadfast heart, a nose for discovery and an eye for creativity. This “Instagram Icon” first felt the marketing tug as a student at the University of Northwestern Ohio, where he learned his trade as part of the American Marketing Association before capturing his Bachelor’s Degree. That became the launching point for a young man with vibrant ideas and a rock-solid work ethic that delivers vision and consistency for NOW Marketing Group’s clients. Indeed, there is nothing bland about this Brand Manager, whose knowledge of social media is only outweighed by his drive for discovering the newest trends and best ways to drop an audience’s jaw. And when he’s not lighting up social media, you can find Brian inside a weight room, grooving to smooth R&B jams or discussing the Good Word.

George has been professionally developing websites and software for companies worldwide since 2006. With that many years of experience, he has become known for his proficiency, attention to detail, and his smile! He gives every project he works on his all and is learning the latest technologies and furthering his education to be the best developer he can be. He is a Web Developer, Web Designer, Graphic Artist, Mobile Application Developer, Windows Application Developer, IT Administrator (Linux & Windows), Database Administrator, 3D Designer, Indie Game Developer, and more.

No matter how big or small your project is George is ready to see any aspect of it through! When George isn’t working or furthering his education he is spending time with his family. He also has many hobbies like snowboarding, playing music, cooking, and football. Go, Patriots!

Jena is a dynamic small business owner with an inspiring journey to share. At the height of the pandemic, Jena embraced the entrepreneurial spirit and started her business, Beyond Laser Creations. Recognizing the growing need for face masks during quarantine, Jena and her daughter started sewing face masks that were hand-cut one at a time.

Jena needed a way to cut the fabric faster. She started researching a variety of machines and came upon laser cutters. Beyond Laser Creations has made over 5000 masks to this day. Beyond Laser Creations now uses lasers to create many different items, such as home décor, gifts, and business merchandise. They have also expanded into several laser cutters, engravers, printers, and commercial embroidery machines!

They sell online from their website, Facebook, and new in-store location. Jena has grown this business in a short time and is ready to share her journey on her steps to success as a small business owner.

Terry Weaver is an Ideapreneur who is passionate about seeing creative entrepreneurs live life alive. As a speaker and author he has helped thousands of individuals harness their dreams and make them a reality by giving them clarity, around who, why, and how they serve to allow them the freedom to build the impact and income they desire.

With a background in the music business, Terry has led creatives through their professional journey from the Grammys to six-figure launches. Terry’s mission is to help leaders take what they are doing to the next level and see his clients thrive in the purpose they were put on this earth to do.

As a highly sought-after speaker, Terry has shared the stage with Disney legends, athletes, leaders of Fortune 500 companies, and award-winning actors and musicians. He has collaborated with brands such as the United States Postal Service, Leadercast, Connect, Warner Brothers, World Vision, and The Blue Man Group along with helping his clients do the same with companies like Costco, Walmart, UCLA, Amazon and The Walt Disney Company.

He hosts the premiere event for creatives, entrepreneurs, and leaders called “The Thing” in Orlando, Florida and his book and podcast “Making Elephants Fly” has quickly become the go-to resource for anyone trying to move big ideas forward.

It’s pretty clear that Terry believes that the impossible is actually possible. He lives outside Nashville, Tennessee along with his wife Leslie with their miniature schnauzers, Walt & Oswald.

Visit TerryWeaver.com

Marc Bowker is the CEO of Alter Ego Comics and has been in the e-commerce space for nearly 20 years. He and his wife, Angie, also own Live at The Lab, an intimate event space in downtown Lima. And Marc recently launched MarcBowker.com with success tools for small businesses.

​​Award-winning social media strategist with a passion for building community with Live Video. Julie Riley has over 15 years of experience in digital marketing. She is the Social Media and Community Manager for StreamYard, managing 25k+ members in their community. She has worked with Social Media Examiner, The Small Business Administration, and countless others.

She has a vast array of experience including live video production, social media management, community management, chat marketing - the list goes on! She is a dedicated community leader with a passion to teach others how they too can build an amazing business through their social channels and grow their communities with live video (her specialty)!

She’s a hard-working woman who knows how to get things done, no matter what challenges come her way. If you want to build an amazing community, Julie can get you there.

With over 15 years of digital marketing and startup experience, Mike Gingerich runs 3 professional blogs on business, lifestyle and health while participating in triathlons and half marathons to raise money for worthy global causes.
mikegingerich.com.

At the heart of Good Food Restaurants are family and quality. Founder and President John Heaphy entered the culinary world through a humble door, selling his homemade meatball subs at county fairs. His passion for quality food has guided him to forty years of industry excellence.

Prior to starting Good Food in 1996 with the purchase of the original Happy Daz restaurant, John worked for Gordon Food Service as one of the company’s leading salesmen, where he learned the vendor side of the food service industry. Before that, he owned several restaurants in the Lima area including John’s House of Prime, The Tower Café, and Chubb’s Subs.

In 2005, John and his wife Aimee purchased Beer Barrel Pizza and Grill, a Lima establishment dating back to 1965. They have since created a beloved restaurant concept known for its welcoming atmosphere and from-scratch recipes.
Happy Daz, a fast-casual diner and the first entry in The Good Food family, still serves up classic diner food at six locations. The home of Ohio’s famous Tremendously Tasty Tenderloin sandwich.

Old City Prime in Downtown Lima has drawn acclaim for its premium steaks, seafood, and entrees, and continues to attract both locals and out-of-town visitors. The Upper Lounge, an entertainment club, showcases music, comedy, and live performance throughout the year accompanied by a full craft cocktail bar.

Good Food owns and operates eighteen restaurants, across four brands, and employs over 900 people in eight towns and cities. Defined by a family-owned and operated culture, deep and long-term relationships with employees, and an ongoing commitment to the communities in which it does business, Good Food Restaurants continues to grow, particularly as a driving force in the redevelopment efforts in Downtown Lima with an all-new development coming soon

Jennifer was a founding member of that team that created myStaffingPro, a software-as-a-service applicant tracking system. She became the company’s first CIO and led at myStaffingPro through its acquisition by Fortune 500 company, Paychex, in 2013. During that time, Jennifer and founders launched The Meeting Place on Market in 2003, a coffee shop in downtown Lima, Ohio, as a labor of love. The Coworking Center and Shop for Good were both founded in 2019. She is an associate professor of business at the University of Northwestern Ohio where she primarily teaches entrepreneurship and international business/ development economics.

Jennifer received her BA from Anderson University (IN) in business management, and her MBA from Eastern University (PA) in economic development.

Victoria Gonzalez currently serves as the Public Information Officer and Administration Assistant for the Allen County Sheriff’s Office. In her role she utilizes social media to keep in contact with the citizens of Allen County, Ohio. Since growing the Allen County Sheriff’s Office social media presence, it has become a quick and effective way to spread awareness, alert the community, and recognize employees.

Victoria began her career in marketing more than 10 years ago as a radio account executive. That experience naturally branched out into social media; managing and creating content for local businesses and events. She has a passion for helping small businesses maximize their presence on social media and beyond!

Jordache is a power partner expert, digital growth strategist, and international speaker who helps impact-driven entrepreneurs and CEOs scale their business by increasing their visibility, impact, and revenue through meaningful connections, innovative technologies, and principle-based systems.

His proven framework, The FRIENDS Method™, combines Jordache's extensive experience as a growth strategist, business coach, and mentor with his expertise in building relationships and utilizing technology to drive growth.

Jordache is also passionate about bridging the gap between entrepreneurs and Web3. He runs the Web3 Bridge (W3B) Community, a community where entrepreneurs can learn the pillars of the Web3 Universe.

Always a student, sometimes a teacher, Mark is a computer science, game design, and entrepreneurship teacher going on 16 years. His classroom is a hybrid of a mad-scientist’s laboratory and a traveling circus. Mistakes are encouraged, iteration is frequent, and expectations are high.

Mark and his students team up to build 2D, 3D, and virtual reality experiences and games. The VR experiences include working with real world companies to build training simulations that are used for customer education and employee job training.

Mark won the 2018 District 1 Ohio Teacher of the Year Award, The 2015 Henry Ford Innovation Nation Innovative Teacher award, and is an Adobe Certified Associate Educator and Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert.

Tommy Truong is a husband, father, gamer, and technology evangelist. Despite spending most of his time in front of screens, he finds the most value in interacting with people and being close to the action.

Over the past 7 years, Tommy has designed software for education, government, non-profits, and private businesses. In 2017, he started his first company, Great Lakes Reality Labs, to create mixed reality content for education, training, and therapeutics. In 2020, he opened one of the largest motion capture studios in the US, Haptix Studio, to produce motion capture and virtual production.

Tommy is also an adjunct professor at Davenport University, inspiring and preparing the next generation of digital creators.

Julia Jornsay-Silverberg is a social media enthusiast who loves to excite, inspire and motivate people to cut through the digital clutter by being authentic and vulnerable online. She believes in taking an anti-highlight reel approach to social media by not just showing the perfect moments, but the messy middle and relatable reality.

She has a diverse background working for The Buffalo News, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, and Telesco Creative Group before joining NOW Marketing Group as Brand Manager in 2020.

As the 2018 recipient of the “Emerging Alumni Award”, granted by the University at Buffalo School of Management Alumni Association, Julia has more than 10 years of experience working in digital marketing and is known for delivering powerful presentations that leave people feeling excited and empowered.

Viveka von Rosen is the Cofounder and Chief Visibility Officer of Vengreso. Formerly the world’s largest digital sales transformation company, Vengreso recently pivoted into the Productivity SaaS space with it's auto text expansion, personal writing assistant and education platform, FlyMSG.

Viveka is a well known subject matter expert on LinkedIn and the author of several business and fiction books.

Her personal mission is to enable knowledge workers everywhere with the tools and time they need to be more successful doing what they are passionate about.

When she’s not doing that, she’s either diving or hang gliding or hiking the trails near her Colorado home. (Basically, anywhere without cell reception)

Phil Mershon is the director of experience for Social Media Examiner. He's been designing the Social Media Marketing World experience for over a decade, Drawing from over 25 years in creating customized events, Phil loves to create memorable moments and transformational experiences. In addition, Phil is a jazz saxophonist, a pickleball enthusiast, and the author of Unforgettable: The Art and Science of Creating Memorable Experiences.

Sadea is a seasoned social media manager who is deeply passionate about strategy, relationship building, and content creation. With her innovative mindset and creative flair, she has a proven track record of crafting compelling social media campaigns that captivate audiences and drive results.

Sadea's expertise in social media marketing is backed by her degree in communications and years of experience in the digital marketing industry. Her exceptional skills have helped numerous clients to stand out and be recognized for the amazing businesses they are.

Sadea's customized strategies are tailored to meet the unique needs of each client, ensuring that their social media presence is optimized for maximum impact.

Katie Brinkley has been leveraging social media to grow audiences and income for over 19 years. Since the time of MySpace, she's helped her clients build a strategy to attract the right followers and generate consistent inbound leads in as little as an hour a week.

From building corporate-level growth strategies for AT&T and DirecTV to implementing done-for-you social media for solopreneurs and local businesses, Katie has been at the forefront to the changes in how buyers engage on social media. Utilizing her platform-agnostic strategies, Katie's clients have been able to see bottom-line results at every stage of the sales process.

Katie's history of radio journalism mixed with her social aptitude allows her to bring a unique insight and leverage her client stories to the forefront of their social strategy.

Jennifer Watson is an Emmy winning TV Personality, Global Marketing and Social Media Strategist, a Meteorologist on The Weather Channel, Speaker and Podcaster. Jennifer is a dynamic talent with a passion for every aspect of digital media from building brand strategies, creating content plans, to getting executive buy-in. She motivates audiences from the stage and drives engagement, including launching numerous Facebook Live campaigns for the biggest weather brand, garnering millions of views. She has been featured in Chief Content Marketer Magazine, and on stage at Social Fresh, Social Media Marketing World, Social Shake-Up to name a few.

Owen Hemsath a.k.a Owen Video is the founder of Acceleratus Media and the award-winning YouTube Growth Strategist and High-Performance Business Coach behind the Nation’s Most Visible & Influential leaders and brands.

He has consulted for major brands like North Face, Oracle, and Dropbox. Owen has helped his clients achieve millions of views and generate millions of dollars in sales and brand sponsorship. Owen has been invited to speak all over the globe and has been featured in major media like ABC, NBC, KUSI and Social Media Examiner.

PR pro Kate Paine works with entrepreneurs and change-makers to develop their personal brand and slice-of-life story so they can set themselves apart in their marketplace and stand out from the social media noise. Kate is also the founder and CEO of Standing Out Online and is known as an expert on using LinkedIn as a powerful personal branding and storytelling platform, and teasing out anindividual's personal story.

She uses her journalism and marketing background to tease out her clients’ compelling stories to helpthem stand out as experts or thought leaders both online... and off. Kate also speaks at national marketing conferences about personal branding strategies and social media, and teaches how to use LinkedIn as a lead generation tool for corporate sales and marketing teams.

Tony Christensen is a leading expert in the field of Facebook and Google advertising. As the Managing Partner of Brick Social, a leading digital advertising agency, he has managed over $100 million in advertising spend for ecommerce brands. Tony has a proven track record of driving results through innovative digital advertising strategies and is a sought-after speaker and thought leader in the industry. He has spoken at conferences and events around the world, sharing his expertise and insights on the latest trends and techniques in digital advertising. Tony's passion for data-driven decision-making and his ability to develop cutting-edge strategies has made him a valuable asset to businesses looking to expand their digital footprint.

Jeff Howell has transitioned his marketing experience and predisposition to authenticity into a
successful ecommerce career. His career mission these days is to evangelize the necessity of having a well executed ecommerce solution integrated into existing marketing strategies while equipping his clients with the knowledge to be successful. Being active on TikTok, Jeff shares his life, nerdy thoughts and encourages others to just be themselves.

Crystal Tosh is a marketing ace, master of empathy, and lover of chucks. With a degree in psychology and a master's in public health, Crystal has the know-how to create effective marketing strategies that truly connect with people.
As a passionate advocate for transparency and authenticity in marketing, Crystal co-founded SoTrue, an agency dedicated to promoting ethical practices in the industry.

In her free time, Crystal runs a nonprofit organization that rescues horses from slaughter and provides them with love and care.

Crystal is also an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hiking, biking, and camping. She finds solace in nature and is passionate about preserving it for future generations. Her deep connection to the environment and her love for animals make her a compassionate and empathetic marketer who truly understands what drives people.

Amy Hartmann is the Co-Founder of SoTrue Digital, a digital marketing agency that's all about engaging like a human and harnessing the power of grassroots marketing. Amy knows that good marketing isn't just about pushing products or services - it's about creating meaningful connections with your audience. That's why the team of digital marketing ninjas at SoTrue Digital take a personal approach to marketing, working with clients to develop strategies that feel authentic and relatable; and crafting messages that make people say OMG that’s SO TRUE!

Jamie Samples is the owner and founder of Yellow Barn Media, a marketing firm serving the equine industry. For over 15 years, Jamie has served this unique and diverse industry through done-for-you social media and marketing services, speaking, coaching, writing, and more. She is known for her contagious smile, enthusiasm for business building, and being a master connecter to ensure others' success.

Fiona Lucas is a dynamic and highly ethical Social Media and Online Community Strategist, consultant, speaker, and author at iRespectOnline. With a strong corporate business background, she has a deep interest in emerging technology such as Artificial Intelligence (ai) and the ethics around them.

Fiona assists businesses to build strong reputations by helping business owners make sense of social media, humanize their brands, build community, and minimize risks. She uses tailored reputation management strategies that focus on creating effective social media plans, identifying and mitigating potential reputation risks & handling negative reviews and feedback. By implementing the 4Rs framework, businesses can improve their online presence, increase customer loyalty, and drive revenue growth.

Fiona is also a part of the marketing colab book by Mark Schaefer, The Most Amazing Marketing Book Ever, available in this June

Visit www.filucas.com.au

Jim Fuhs is President of Fuhsion Marketing and does Marketing the Marine Corps way. Jim is a retired Marine LtCol turned digital marketing consultant, speaker, live streamer, podcaster, remote live stream and virtual event producer with over 30 years of business and social media experience. Jim fuses Marine Corps Leadership with next level digital Marketing. His 20 plus years of highly successful leadership experience as a Marine Corps Officer lets him bring that to bear in the ever changing world of Marketing and Technology.