Community & Guest List
By the age of 25 Marcus Taylor Founded and is CEO of Venture Harbour, a digital innovation studio that has built a multi-million dollar portfolio of highly-automated online businesses with ZERO outside funding. Marcus also developed the World's first scientifically-valid method of measuring human comfort zones and has been featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30. Marcus wants to show budding entrepreneurs how they too can build a profitable business without taking investment!
Michelle Mekky has more than 20 years of experience as a broadcast journalist and public relations executive, leading award-winning marketing and PR campaigns for some of the nation’s biggest and most diverse brands and businesses. After her years as a veteran journalist, Michelle launched her own company, Mekky Media Relations Inc., in 2016, to bring her brand of PR to the market and deliver powerful publicity. Michelle has led her company through a fast-paced launch and high-profile successes, including winning a prestigious 2018 Stevie Award for Women in Business, receiving a bronze medal in the Entrepreneur of the Year category. In 2020 Mekky Media won a Stevie Award for Public Relations Agency of the Year receiving a bronze medal and Bulldog Award for Best Not-for-Profit/ Association Campaign for Komen Chicago's Race for the Cure. Also in 2018, Michelle and Mekky Media were selected to be part of the Forbes Agency Council, a prestigious organization for owners and executives of PR, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. In 2019, Michelle was named a Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Entrepreneur, and Mekky Media was honored with two Publicity Club of Chicago Golden Trumpet Awards, in the categories of Advocacy (for its work with Komen Chicago) and Media Relations (for its work with Abt Electronics). The agency also was named a PR News Agency Elite Award Finalist for Media Relations in 2019.
Marketsmith has become one of the premier martech agencies in the U.S With a collection of patents and awards to boot."
Mary is a former Award-Winning Hotel Conference & Catering Director who then pursued Corporate Event Planning with several large defense contracting corporations. Her creativity, attention to detail and negotiation skills resulted in savings of over $250k for one company. As an entrepreneur, one of Mary's most memorable events was planning the Nelson Mandela Statue Unveiling for the South African Embassy in Washington, DC. Afterward, South African Ambassador Rasool declared Mary an "Honorary South African" as a result of her planning efforts at that prestigious event.
Matia Johnson is a native Washingtonian, strategic communications specialist, visual design guru, screenwriter, and newlywed! She has an undergraduate degree in English and Communications, and a masters in Producing Film and Video. With over 10 years of experience in publications, program development, and communications in both the government and nonprofit field, she has developed a niche for branding and has established Innovative Minds Media, DC’s premier branding agency for small business start ups. “IMM” specializes in digital branding, marketing, and small business tools for Creatives, those who are looking to open their own business, or take their business to the next level. As a rising entrepreneur herself, Matia continues to trust in GOD, determination, skills, and passion to see her dreams, and other people’s, take the shape of reality.
MICHAEL BLANK (Ashburn, Virginia) is an Entrepreneur, Investor, Author (“Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing”), Coach, and leading authority on apartment investing in the United States. As the CEO of Nighthawk Equity, Best-selling Author, Host of the Apartment Building Investing Podcast, Columnist and Real Estate Investor, Blank’s passionate about helping people become financially free in 3-5 years by investing in apartment building deals with a special focus on raising money. Through Blank’s investment company, Nighthawk Equity, he controls over $27M million in performing multifamily assets all over the United States and has raised over $6M. In addition to his own investing activities, he’s helped students purchase over 2,300 units valued at $86M through his unique “Deal Desk” and training programs. Blank’s been interviewed by top real estate podcasts, including Bigger Pockets, Joe Fairless (Best Ever Show), Get Rich Education, Cashflow Ninja and many more. “The Michael Blank” blog has also been listed in the Top 25 Real Estate Investing Blogs of 2018 by Leap Property Management, and he is a Contributor to FlipNerd. http://themichaelblank.com
As CEO of Asana Recovery, Mark brings 20+ years of experience in business development and operations to help innovate and effectuate an exceptional, yet cost-effective, approach to addiction treatment that incorporates both traditional and alternative therapeutic methods, and provides a truly individualized program of treatment for each client, thereby increasing the chances for real recovery.
Certified Virtual Expert™ Melissa St. Clair, is the owner of Paper Chaser, a virtual-based company established in 2006 providing a wide array of online office support services for small business owners. She made a beeline to entrepreneurship in order to thrive professionally alongside her active duty service member, and then made a seamless transition as a USMC retiree spouse. Melissa has been a featured speaker, has shared her small business expertise on multiple media platforms, and she was quoted in Julie Perrine’s book, Become a Procedures Pro™.
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."
Michael S. Fenster, MD, better known as Chef Dr. Mike, is one of a handful of physicians worldwide to hold both culinary and medical degrees and is the only Interventional Cardiologist and Professional Chef to do so. He is also the only cardiologist with joint academic appointments in both the Medical and Culinary Arts. He is a board certified Interventional Cardiologist, Professional Chef, and Professor of Culinary Medicine at The University of Montana where he teaches the same.
