Meet Our Speakers
SMWL26 SPEAKERS
Mark W. Schaefer is a globally recognized author, keynote speaker, futurist, and business consultant who blogs at {grow} — one of the top five marketing blogs in the world. He teaches graduate marketing classes at Rutgers University and has written 12 best-selling books. Mark’s new book Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World describes an essential framework for businesses to stand out and be seen in a noisy world.
His many global clients include Pfizer, Cisco, P&G, Dell, Adidas, and the US Air Force. He has been a keynote speaker at prestigious events worldwide, including South by Southwest, Marketing Summit Tokyo, and the Institute for International and European Affairs. Mark has appeared as a guest on various media channels, including CNN, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and CBS News.
Marketing is in a pandemic of dull. 72% of all marketing registers no emotional reaction with customers. AI helps us churn out endless streams of blah (but hey, we’re saving money!).
It’s time for an audacious new playbook. AI can write, edit, and pump out puppy videos, but humans still own crazy. And that’s our secret weapon. This speech is for those who refuse to be ignored.
Based on all-new research and his book Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI marketing World, futurist and best-selling author Mark Schaefer presents a simple and exciting framework to disrupt our marketing efforts and become the signal against the wall of noise. This is the Anti-AI talk – a human strategy that can withstand the bots.
In this fast-paced and entertaining presentation, you’ll learn:
- The true economics of dull
- How to access “awe” and create viral marketing value
- A practical plan to disrupt your marketing immediately
- Why you should never, ever create an ad
- Why two guys stripped off their clothes in the middle of their speech
This is an audacious talk for an audacious time. Mark Schaefer will energize you audience and leave you with a notebook full of new ideas!
From Tampa, Florida
Business administration with a concentration in specialized studies
Member of the UNOH volleyball team, president of the student athlete leadership team, project assistant at Acuity Technologies
Fun fact, I’m 6’2
My name is Faith Clark, and I was born in Lima, Ohio. I am currently a student at the University of Northwestern Ohio, where I am pursuing a major in Marketing and a minor in Graphic Design. I am 19 years old and a member of my college’s soccer team. I am highly competitive and enjoy taking on new challenges. I am very much looking forward to being a part of this conference.
Hello I am Coach Will, the Founder and Lead Coach of Lifestyle Coaching Academy and the transformative 90-Day Journey. My powerful methodology for radical self-transformation was forged through my own crucible of personal reckoning, including a profound wake-up call, the unraveling of my marriage, a two-year recovery from a severe injury and a troubled upbringing. These experiences solidified my core belief: that the only true limitations are self-imposed, and that unwavering discipline and self-accountability are the keys to unlocking an unstoppable life.
I have a direct, no-nonsense approach and inspiring authenticity, I empower individuals aged 16+ to shed excuses, build unbreakable discipline, and consistently choose the “New You” over comfort. I strive to guide my community to create lives of integrity, confidence, and genuine purpose.
Cindy Dodd is an award-winning marketing leader, LinkedIn authority expert, and global speaker who has helped over 150,000 professionals and 1,000 businesses elevate their visibility, build authority, and generate leads and clients on LinkedIn.
As the Co-Founder and Chief Strategist of PEMA.io, one of the fastest-growing marketing agencies in the U.S. (ranked #526 on the Inc. 5000 List), Cindy leads global campaigns that connect ambitious brands with high-value clients through strategy, storytelling, and human-centered marketing.
Recognized by SUCCESS Magazine, FOX, and INC, and named one of SUCCESS Magazine’s Top 50 Women of Influence (2025), Cindy is passionate about helping leaders transform their online presence into a platform for influence and opportunity.
Her signature talks and workshops teach professionals how to go from invisible to in-demand—reframing LinkedIn as a stage for leadership, not just a profile. With her mix of data-driven insight and down-to-earth delivery, Cindy empowers audiences to own their worth, show up with confidence, and position themselves as their greatest asset, including generating inbound leads through LinkedIn.
After 150M+ LinkedIn DMs and thousands of campaigns, one thing is clear: inbound and outbound don’t compete, they compound. This session breaks down the Allbound system, showing how to connect content, engagement, and outreach into one growth loop that turns LinkedIn activity into qualified leads, meetings, and real opportunities.
I am from Cloverdale, Ohio and am currently pursuing a degree in Motorsports Marketing. I am actively involved in racing and have been for 11 years.
Outside of academics, I enjoy spending time at the racetrack and being part of the energy and excitement of race day. I also love a good game of golf with my friends, stay very active in the gym, and travel often!
Brian Garver is a nationally recognized leader in the healthcare revenue cycle space, bringing over 20 years of hands-on leadership experience. His deep expertise in patient experience, organizational culture, and business leadership has made him a trusted voice for healthcare finance professionals looking to drive meaningful, measurable change.
Brian’s presentations aren’t just talks—they’re experiences. Known for his ability to blend strategic insight with humor, empathy, and authenticity, he connects with audiences on a personal and professional level. He delivers practical, actionable takeaways that spark transformation—helping teams rethink how they lead, engage, and perform in a complex, ever-evolving healthcare environment.
Brian has inspired audiences across the country—from New York to Los Angeles—with his unique ability to challenge assumptions and ignite new thinking. His sessions are consistently rated among the most impactful, engaging, and relevant to today’s revenue cycle and finance challenges.
Brian is also the host of the popular LinkedIn Live series “The Revenue Cycle Rundown,” where he interviews industry leaders and explores the future of healthcare finance. Based in Lima, Ohio, he is an active member of the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM) and the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).
Co-founder of DICE, the anomalous data and insights consultancy.
Brian’s career began in finance before spending 18 years at Google. He started his nearly two decade career at Google running the North American sales training program in 2005. He held roles in several of Google’s internal creative teams including the Zoo, the creative and effectiveness team Brand Unit, and was head of creative strategy at Creative Works, the team dedicated to the top brand spenders on YouTube.
April Jackson serves as a Marketing Instructor at the University of Northwestern Ohio, while her broader industry career spans over two decades in marketing and communication leadership and digital transformation. She has also represented UNOH as a panelist for the university’s Breaking the Stigma event, supporting students pursuing careers in business and marketing. April is a member of the American Marketing Association, Faculty advisor for the UNOH AMA Chapter and holds multiple professional certifications, including Prosci® Change Management and Train‑the‑Trainer credentials.
Hosted by April Jackson. MC “Gianna San Filippo and panelists Abby Hohlbein, Faith Clark, and Ryan Yingst.
UNOH students reveal what makes them notice, follow, and trust brands
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.
Safe marketing used to feel smart. Today, it’s costing brands attention, trust, and relevance.
In a crowded digital world filled with automation, AI, and perfectly polished content, the brands winning aren’t the loudest. They’re the most human. They show up intentionally, tell real stories, and use video to create connection, not just clicks.
In this session, Jessika Suter explores why traditional, risk-averse marketing is no longer effective and how relationship-first, human-led content has become the new competitive advantage. Attendees will learn what video and social content is actually working right now, how to be more intentional with what they share, and how to stop chasing vanity metrics in favor of building trust, community, and long-term growth.
This is a call to move from broadcasting messages to building meaningful relationships and to finally unleash your brand by showing up as you truly are.
From Lima, OH
Degree in Supply Chain Management from Tiffin University. Currently getting an MBA from UNOH
Real-world experience from Copeland, Cenovus Energy, Brown Supply Company, and Heidelberg Distribution
Member of the UNOH Baseball team
Fun fact: I am left-handed
Sabine Kvenberg is a bestselling author, speaker, and communication coach who helps entrepreneurs and professionals speak with confidence, craft compelling messages, and connect authentically with any audience. With a background as an actress and director in Europe and 27 years as the founder of a U.S.-based Performing Arts School, she brings unmatched stage presence and storytelling expertise to her work.
A Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM), Sabine has been at the forefront of using AI in business since ChatGPT became publicly accessible. She leverages AI tools to streamline content creation, marketing, and client communication—scaling her business efficiently while staying creatively inspired.
Her signature programs, Camera Confident Fast Track and Confident Speaker, equip clients with the tools to present powerfully on stage and on screen. She also leads the Vibrant Voices Network, which helps aspiring and emerging speakers build confidence, clarify their message, and show up with impact through monthly coaching, connection, and practice opportunities.
Social media success isn’t just about what you post—it’s about how powerfully you show up. In this energizing closing keynote, Sabine introduces her Invisible Stage™ framework to turn the day’s strategies into real-world execution: the mindset behind your message, the presence behind your brand, and the confidence behind your camera. You’ll learn practical techniques to regulate nerves, communicate with clarity, and step in front of the lens with gumption—so your content feels more human, magnetic, and credible. Walk away with an implementation plan you can apply immediately—on stage, on camera, and in every conversation where trust matters.
Michael King is a seasoned executive coach, speaker, and multi-business owner with a background that’s as dynamic as the leaders he serves. A former professional musician and executive pastor, Michael brings a unique blend of creativity, emotional intelligence, and business acumen to every stage and coaching session.
He is the founder of Teams.Coach, a leadership development company, and Gawker Traffic, a client-facing agency focused on growth strategy and digital presence. Michael works with a wide range of clients—from high-performing entrepreneurs and small businesses to some of the most innovative and influential leaders in the Fortune 500.
Known for his direct, no-fluff communication style and strong sense of humor, Michael delivers high-impact insights paired with inspirational, real-world stories that drive clarity and action. His passion lies in helping leaders cut through the noise, simplify their strategies, and lead with confidence.
Michael has been married to his wife Beth for 26 years and is a proud dad to three amazing kids—and three dogs that require just as much attention. He’s a fan of all things Apple, a regular at Starbucks, and finds his balance riding his Ducati motorcycle whenever possible.
Unleashed – A Keynote Experience with Michael King
What happens when you stop holding back? When you silence the doubts, break the patterns, and finally let loose the creativity, influence, and leadership that’s been inside you all along?
Unleashed is more than a keynote—it’s an experience. Michael King, award-winning executive coach, “Architect of Influence,” and professional musician, blends hard-hitting leadership insights with the soul of live music to ignite transformation in the room.
In this session, Michael will take the audience on a journey that fuses rhythm, story, and strategy. With his saxophone in hand and his frameworks in play, he’ll demonstrate what it looks like to break through fear, unleash your voice, and lead with creative clarity.
Expect moments that make you laugh, moments that make you think, and moments that hit you right in the gut. You’ll leave not only inspired, but equipped—with practical tools and a renewed mindset to unleash your potential in business, leadership, and life.
Because when you’re unleashed, you don’t just influence the room—you change the culture.
Moderator Marc Bowker, with Asha Zayn & Will Smith: How to get started as a small business online the right way.
Katie Brinkley is revolutionizing social media marketing with her less is more approach. With over 19 years expertise, Katie has developed a unique 4 post strategy that helps clients achieve more growth while posting less. This game-changing method leverages Katie’s platform-agnostic storytelling tactics tailored to each brand’s goals. From implementing social media growth for AT&T and DirecTV to providing done-for-you services for solopreneurs, Katie understands social media’s evolution. Blending journalism and social media savvy, Katie helps clients attract their ideal audience and drive measurable results efficiently.
You don’t need more content.
You need a better strategy.
In a world where everyone is posting, few are actually being heard… and even fewer are turning their content into clients.
In this session, Katie Brinkley breaks down the content strategy no one is talking about… and how podcasting can help you unleash your voice, stand out in a crowded market, and build authority that leads to real business growth.
You’ll walk away with a clear, simple approach to creating content that connects, converts, and actually moves your business forward.
Marc Bowker is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience as the owner of Alter Ego Comics, an award-winning comic book store located in downtown Lima, Ohio. With deep expertise in comic retail, Marc has helped shape the local and national comic book community, offering valuable insights into building a successful and sustainable business in the niche world of comics.
A certified Heroic Coach and personal development mentor, Marc specializes in guiding small business owners to increase their energy, productivity, and connection. Drawing from personal experience with anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder after a nervous breakdown in 2016, Marc is dedicated to helping fellow entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of mental health while achieving peak performance in both business and life.
Moderator Marc Bowker, with Asha Zayn & Will Smith: How to get started as a small business online the right way.
Tracy Phillips is an Emmy-nominated video and visibility expert who has harnessed her 23 years of video production experience and award-winning documentary skills to help businesses create testimonial videos that do the selling, recruiting, or fundraising for them.
Tracy is celebrated for her unmatched expertise, her quick wit, and her boundless enthusiasm for guiding her clients and students in the effective use of video to impact both internal and global audiences.
Her signature ‘laugh & learn’ style of presenting has made her one of the most sought-after speakers, trainers, and workshop facilitators in her field.
Tracy’s client roster boasts New York Times best-selling authors, top players in the real estate industry, and Fortune 500 companies.
Whether you’re raising capital, launching a new product, or trying to stand out in a crowded market, your story is your secret weapon. Stop hiding behind your company and start leading with the one thing your competitors can’t copy: YOU.
Perfect for entrepreneurs at any stage who want to build deeper connections with customers, investors, and partners through authentic storytelling.
You’ll walk away with:
– How to identify the pivotal moments in your journey that prospects actually care about
– The biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when telling their story (and how to avoid them)
– A step-by-step process for creating your own founder’s video—even if you hate being on camera
George Whitcher is a seasoned programmer from New Hampshire. With professional experience dating back to 2006, he specializes in complex back-end programming, database queries, and server management. Beyond coding, he’s a devoted husband and father, an avid snowboarder, a musician and composer, and a lifelong gamer—even writing cheat codes still found online. Proudly embracing his “nerd” identity, he’s always eager to learn and take on new challenges. He’s open to discussing projects, helping bring ideas to life, and sharing his wealth of knowledge with others.
A practical, no-fluff deep dive into modern web development strategies that drive real results. Learn how performance, scalability, and user experience directly impact conversions, and how to engineer all three into every site you build.
Chad Petersen is The Story Catcher—a Certified Spiritual and Narrative Coach who helps people rewrite the stories they tell themselves so they can live with purpose, presence, and peace. Blending humor, heart, and years of storytelling experience, Chad guides others to realize they are already enough.
Shawn Quintero is the Co-Owner and Chief Operating Officer of Next Step Social, where he leads marketing strategy, operations, and growth systems for entrepreneurs and brands. With over 20 years of experience in marketing and executive leadership, Shawn has helped design and execute multiple seven-figure marketing launch campaigns and scalable content ecosystems. His work focuses on turning expertise into powerful media platforms, high-converting marketing funnels, and strategic brand assets that drive audience growth, authority, and long-term business value. Shawn is also a keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and master emcee, known for compelling stories that ignite motivation and champion powerful change. Signature topics include magnetic podcast campaigns, AI innovation, market intelligence, and building brands beyond the founder.
Why real connection is the ultimate strategy in 2026.
Ben Albert is the owner of Balbert Marketing LLC, founder of the GrowGetters ONLY Collective, and host of the internationally recognized podcast Real Business Connections.
Through his companies, Ben empowers growth-minded leaders with strategic marketing, podcast production, and community-building resources. Once an underdog, now a successful entrepreneur, Ben is passionate about helping others achieve their potential. He is on a mission to move the needle on one million lives, one conversation at a time.
Austin Armstrong is author of the book VIRALITY!, a keynote speaker, 2X 7-figure entrepreneur, host of the podcast
BusinessTok, and CEO of Syllaby, an AI startup that helps content creators create, schedule, and publish videos in minutes. Austin is also co-founder of AI Marketing World, a premiere AI marketing conference. Austin has created and published over 12,000 videos across social media which has earned him billions of views and millions of followers across every social media platform. He loves sharing the strategies that have worked for him to empower you.
Aleasha Bahr is the world’s #1 authority on Black Sheep Sales. As a sales strategy and messaging expert with 15 years of experience, her proven method has helped sell tens of millions in offers – without acting like a douchebag.
Her approach ditches mainstream sales tactics and helps business owners and their teams convert up to 80% of leads without pressure or pretending to be someone else.
Michael W. Allison, MBA, is a keynote speaker, leadership theorist, and executive advisor whose work sits at the intersection of adversity, performance psychology, and decision-making under pressure. With more than twenty-five years of leadership experience across the U.S. Marine Corps, government, higher education, and entrepreneurship, he is widely recognized for helping leaders turn adversity into strategic advantage. A decorated Marine and Purple Heart recipient, Michael’s leadership was forged in high-stakes environments, including surviving a VBIED attack in Iraq and leading Marines through uncertainty and extreme operational pressure—experiences that continue to shape his approach to resilience, identity, and performance.
Following military service, Michael built a distinguished civilian career, holding executive roles on a Class I railroad, leading multimillion-dollar federal initiatives at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, serving in senior higher-education leadership, and founding and exiting an INC 5000–recognized company. He is the founder and CEO of The Adversity Leadership Institute and creator of proprietary frameworks such as Adversity Leadership®, Break The Bottle®, and Protect The House. A best-selling author and international speaker, Michael has worked with organizations including Salesforce, Visa, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Boeing, and ESPN, with insights featured on NBC, ESPN, and USA Today. Grounded in faith and family, he brings clarity, discipline, and conviction to leaders navigating pressure, complexity, and rapid change.
In today’s always-on digital world, marketers and creators are expected to be visible, responsive, and authentic at all times—often at the expense of clarity, energy, and trust.
Protect The House® equips professionals with a practical framework to build internal and external boundaries that sustain performance and relationships over time. Drawing from high-pressure environments where burnout and mistakes are costly, Michael W. Allison introduces his 4-Walls Framework™—Identity, Boundaries, Discipline, and Renewal—to help attendees protect their brand, their energy, and the relationships that matter most.
This keynote delivers actionable strategies to:
- Maintain brand clarity while scaling visibility
- Set healthy boundaries with platforms, clients, and audiences
- Build trust-based relationships instead of transactional engagement
- Sustain creativity and performance without burnout
This session is designed to help attendees not just unleash their message—but protect it for the long run.
Roger Wakefield is “The Expert Plumber” and a dominant force in the skilled trades, boasting a combined social media following of over 1.3 million subscribers and followers. With appearances on The Today Show, Dr. Phil, and alongside Mike Rowe on Chris Cuomo Project, Roger has successfully bridged the gap between traditional blue-collar expertise and modern digital influence.
Beyond the screen, Roger is a seasoned entrepreneur and the founder of SponsorKit.Pro, a SaaS platform dedicated to revolutionizing how creators and influencers automate and scale their sponsorship outreach. By combining his deep technical knowledge of the plumbing industry with a sophisticated mastery of digital branding, marketing, and sales systems, Roger provides a blueprint for how tradespeople and creators alike can turn their skills into profitable, scalable legacies.
On stage, Roger delivers high-energy, actionable insights on the intersection of personal branding, business systems, and the future of the creator economy.
by Roger Wakefield
Tony Christensen is the co-founder of Brick Social, a 7-figure international eCommerce growth agency responsible for billions of impressions and millions in monthly ad spend for its clients. Tony helps brands stand out by reverse-engineering virality and crafting bold, memorable creative. As the youngest child, he learned early how to get attention; now he teaches brands how to do it at scale.
An international speaker and unapologetic data nerd, Tony specializes in virality, performance creative, and online selling. He has managed hundreds of millions in ad spend and has built a reputation for breaking down complex marketing ideas into simple, actionable strategies that drive revenue.
Most small businesses don’t have an ad problem; they have a fundamentals problem. This talk uncovers the hidden mistakes that quietly drain budgets, stall growth, and make business owners think “ads just don’t work.” If you’ve ever felt like your campaigns should be performing better, but can’t pinpoint why, this session will connect the dots.
Instead of chasing hacks or endlessly tweaking settings, you’ll learn a clearer way to approach creative, testing, and scaling so your ads actually drive consistent revenue. Expect practical insights, real-world patterns, and a simple framework you can apply immediately.
I’m a diverse social media specialist who has seen it all. My career beginnings are in broadcast journalism where I learned to master the art of “telling a story.” Since then my journalistic approach to social media has led the charge in successful campaigns in a wide variation of industries such as radio, healthcare, personal branding, restaurant, fitness, retail, b2b, museum, higher education among many others.
At my day-to-day, I’m a Sr. Content Solutions Consultant at LinkedIn. Bringing over 15 years of digital media experience to marketing teams across the nation and in Canada, I strive to bring the best out of their skillsets. From brand to demand to video to thought leadership, I’m at the pulse of their next LinkedIn launch enabling teams to get the best results.
My philosophy for digital is a cross between 2010s let’s throw a dart at the wall to 2020s data-driven approaches. Blending the two, allows us to maximize our potential as marketers. I’m passionate about teaching, and being an ambassador for our community.
Jeremy Vest is the founder of Creator Unlock and Niche King, where he helps creators become the king or queen of their niche on YouTube—and get paid for it.
His strategies have powered growth for Grant Cardone, Roger Wakefield, and dozens of Fortune 100 brands, contributing to 50+ billion views across student channels. Jeremy teaches creators how to show up as the clear niche leader, not just another voice chasing views.
Own the niche. Lead the conversation. Win.
By Jeremy Vest
Tyrone Russell is a filmmaker and strategic storyteller, and the co-founder of Ellipses & Ampersand, a strategic storytelling firm based in Columbus, Ohio. After nearly a decade in New Zealand directing short films and shaping documentaries, he returned to the U.S. to bring cinematic thinking into the digital world.
Today, Tyrone helps founders and organizations clarify their message and build story-driven strategies that actually move people. He brings structure to the strategy and a little Strategic Shenanigans to the execution, because joy and momentum beat performative polish every time.
His work explores identity, belonging, and transformation, often through a lens that favors play over posturing and perspective over noise.
Ali McGee Kelly is an MBA-educated strategist with over a decade of experience in administrative operations, digital marketing, and helping marketers utilize new technologies. Currently serving as the Director of Memberships at Social Media Examiner, she leads the AI Business Society, where she focuses on helping marketers bridge the gap between complex AI technology and practical, human-centered business application. An expert in systems thinking and AI prompt engineering, Ali specializes in streamlining procedures and developing innovative educational materials that empower professionals to utilize AI to get more done in less time.
I’m Ryan Koral.
I’ve been running a video production business for over 20 years. When I started, I had a camera, a dream, and absolutely zero business skills. I was undercharging, overworking, and making it up as I went – which is a nice way of saying I was stressed out of my mind.
Since then, I’ve built a 7-figure production company (Tell Studios), coached hundreds of filmmakers, and recorded almost 500 episodes (with over a million downloads) of this podcast – all to help video pros like you charge what you’re worth, build systems that don’t require you to be “on” 24/7, and actually enjoy the business you’re building.
No hype. No hustle culture. Just real strategies from someone who’s been in the trenches and is still in them.
