Community & Guest List
Maddie Watkins is the owner and founder of 202strong, a local fitness studio in the DMV that specializes in making strength training, specifically with the barbell accessible to those who might feel they "can't" lift or aren't strong enough to lift a barbell. Maddie left her background in genetics and microbiology to pursue a personal training certification after she graduated college in early 2010 after discovering the barbell herself and how feeling strong completely changed herself and her life. 202strong opened in 2015 and today there are 2 locations plus a newly added virtual program, StrongLine.
Melane Mullings is a successful entrepreneur, Founder of Aere Management Consulting and author. A self-described ‘Venture Catalyst’, Melane catalyzes the reaction that turns seemingly simple, esoteric business ideas - born out of passion and purpose - into ventures that experience combustible success. Thirteen years after establishing and operating her first entrepreneurial venture in the healthcare recruiting space, Melane successfully sold the business, and is now sharing her unconventional strategies to success in her book: 'Lemonade! Squeeze Your Challenging Life Experiences Into a Successful Business', and through her consulting practice, Aere Management Consulting. Her book and consultancy grant her the opportunity to help struggling entrepreneurs and business owners build a solid foundation for their ventures, and achieve purpose-driven, impactful, sustainable success.
Passionate product manager and two-time founder with knowledge in implementing business ideas and developing SaaS and mobile tech. Co-founder and CEO @airfocus. Loves to create elegant products and user experiences.
Matt Weik, the owner of Weik Fitness, LLC, is a well-respected fitness expert/author/podcaster with a global following. His work has been featured in nearly 100 fitness magazines, 2,000+ websites, as well as having numerous books and audiobooks that are published. Matt Weik graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Kinesiology. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist, personal trainer, and sports nutritionist. Matt is also a member of the supplement expert panel.
Mary Hoyt Kearns’ purpose in life to help people discover and nourish their Inner Light, and to teach them how to heal themselves. She holds a PhD in developmental psychology from Fordham University, with a focus on Behavioral Health. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher, Certified Life Coach, Usui Reiki Master, and has studied herbalism, shamanism, past life regression, mandalas for healing, and more. She is the owner of Your Stellar Self, whose mission is to bring Light, Love, and Healing to the world by supporting mind+body+spirit wellness. Mary has been offering wellness workshops and talks on various mind-body-spirit topics since 2003.
Mike Newman is the CEO of Returnity Innovations, the pioneer in the elimination of single use shipping packaging. Mike has worked at the intersection of supply chain and sustainability for over 20 years. After directing the Sierra Club's political operations in 20 states, he received his MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. As Sales and Marketing Vice President for ReCellular, he built ewaste programs for Verizon, AT&T, Walmart, Best Buy and more, saving millions of used cell phones from landfills. Through his leadership at Returnity, reusable packaging will replace the use of over 1 million cardboard boxes and poly mailer bags in 2019. Mike has been featured on The Today Show, the New York Times, NPR and more.
Melanie Aronson is the founder and CEO of Panion, a people-first community management platform helping organizations build more privacy, empathy and meaningful connection into online and offline communities. She has a bachelors in anthropology from Columbia University and a masters in documentary filmmaking from the School of Visuals Arts in NYC. She is also a Fulbright recipient. Melanie worked in sales for Apple for almost 3 years and for more than 10 years as a freelance filmmaker, photographer and designer. Melanie has lived an international life, residing in NYC, Spain, Italy, Sweden and now in Portugal.
Maribeth Decker is the founder of Sacred Grove, where people and pets heal and connect. Maribeth is an intuitive animal communicator and energy healer.
and is a bestselling author herself. She speaks professionally about inspiring others through words and entrepreneurship and was named the “Voice of Generation Z” by Community Magazine."
Former Professional basketball player (6'8" 240") turned Sustainable Health & Fitness coach (I'm also vegan and have been for some time now) Ended pro career in 2011 and opened my first gym in 2013 and onto my second gym in 2016. Lots of highs and lows. From a massively growing gym and community, to losing my vehicle & going days without eating. My passion is sharing the happiness that being healthy and fit can bring to anyone of any journey. Currently i've transitioned to mainly online systems allowing me to reach and support even more people.
