Community & Guest List

Melanie Padgett Powers is the owner of MelEdits. She is a freelance writer, managing editor, copy editor and proofreader in Silver Spring, Maryland, who primarily works with membership associations and health care organizations. She has a journalism degree and was previously a newspaper reporter in her home state of Indiana. Melanie is also the creator and host of the Deliberate Freelancer podcast, which focuses on the business side of freelancing.

Momentum is a Digital Marketing company whose founder, Mac Frederick, originally started at Google! Mac also started Momentum 360, a branch of Momentum that focuses on digital and virtual touring. In a world of virtual everything, his business really skyrocketed.

Marissa Ferguson is a 24 years-young entrepreneur who began her business just under 2 years ago with a vision and her iPhone. What started as a side gig turned into a full time job in 4 short months, all thanks to shampoo... yup, shampoo. Since then, she's been able to travel freely, pick up her dream car, build fruitful savings + investments, give back more than ever and most importantly, impact thousands of lives. This is just the beginning for Marissa as she continues to live out her god-given purpose!

Marie Gettel-Gilmartin, founder of Fertile Ground Communications, is a writer and marketing communications coach who loves to connect people and resources or solve seemingly impossible problems. She guides clients in discovering what makes them special and helps them share that with the world. She has two podcasts: Finding Fertile Ground features grit and resilience stories from historically excluded populations., and Companies That Care highlights business leaders who are working to create a better world for all. Marie helps clients communicate about pressing issues; creates compelling websites that showcase company culture; implements world-class sustainability and community engagement strategies; ghostwrites for clients to position them as experts in their fields; writes communications that boost employee engagement; coaches leaders and executives on how to strengthen communications and leadership; helps win work by writing compelling, unbeatable proposals and award applications; and coordinates authors and reviewers to produce documents in one voice.

Monique Melton is a relationship coach, published author, and international speaker. The heart of her work is to support married couples in building happy and healthy marriages. She travels the world speaking at conferences and events on topics related to personal growth, marriage, and relationships. She’s been published in magazines, featured in blogs and podcasts and has touched the lives of people all over the world. She is a natural big-bold dreamer and a deeply rooted woman of faith. She is a proud Navy wife to her high-school sweetheart and she is a loving mother to two little ones.