Community & Guest List
Christie Lawler is the Founder and Owner of CJL CONSULTiNG, a niche marketing agency that primarily serves the national hospitality industry, She is also the Founder and Director of The WITI Group, a nonprofit foundation that supports the future female leaders of the food and beverage industry through mentorship, emotional and financial support. Christie is also host of the Lawler Out Loud Podcast, soon to be a published author, a public speaker and most recently she added inventor to her list of attributes as she just launched her own infusion line - JAB MiXOLOGY.
Christine Brooks-Cropper is President and CEO of the DC Fashion Foundation (DCFF). She holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Delaware and received a Bachelor of Arts-Sociology degree from Delaware State University. She is a proud mother to her son, Christian.
As President and CEO of the DC Fashion Foundation, she identifies ways to retain and support new and established designers, fashion retailers, professionals and assist design students transitioning from school to career. Christine spearheaded the formation of the Commission on Fashion Arts and Events in DC Government with the message that fashion is an asset to economic development, served as Chairman for Mayor Gray and Mayor Bowser from 2013 to 2017.
As President and CEO of the DC Fashion Foundation, she identifies ways to retain and support new and established designers, fashion retailers, professionals and assist design students transitioning from school to career. Christine spearheaded the formation of the Commission on Fashion Arts and Events in DC Government with the message that fashion is an asset to economic development, served as Chairman for Mayor Gray and Mayor Bowser from 2013 to 2017.
Living a life of wellness has always been a part of him - since growing up eating fresh food from his grandparents' garden, playing baseball throughout school and enjoying time in the mountains surrounding his family's southwest VA home. After six years of active duty, Chase was medically discharged from the military due a string of injuries that ultimately required him to have bilateral reconstructive hip surgeries. After learning how to walk again, twice, exercise as medicine and healthy lifestyle modifications became his passion.
Chris Hervochon is the owner of SOAR (Strategic Operational Accounting Resources) which is a sole proprietor CPA firm started in 2018. SOAR provides outsourced accounting and tax preparation for businesses and individuals. Prior to forming SOAR, Chris spent the prior ten years between forensic accounting and corporate accounting and finance, most recently as Finance Director for a large healthcare organization. Chris is highly involved in the accounting profession, volunteering with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and South Carolina Association of CPAs (SCACPA) and is also a 2018 graduate of the AICPA Leadership Academy.
Chandler Sterling founded the California Beard Company in 2016. A cartographer by training but a lover of beards by birth he became frustrated by the cosmetics industry after searching for a high-quality natural beard oil. Fed up with being unable to find a suitable beard oil, and being a DIYer at heart, he set out to create his own recipe that would meet his high standards. The goal was to create something simple, only containing materials that came from the earth, that could mimic a product from the era before cosmetics were synthesized and contained potentially harmful chemicals. The result of this experiment led to California Beard Company’s Original Beard Oil recipe. After months of serious use, he realized that this product needed to be shared with the world, and it’s been a wild ride ever since.
Chris Cade is the founder of The Miracles Store (www.themiracles.store), an inspirational online store where you can get uplifting shirts, hoodies, and coffee mugs with positive quotes on them. 10% of the profits help women and children rise up from domestic violence.
Chris is also a certified Firewalk Instructor by Sundoor's Peggy Dylan (she taught Tony Robbins how to firewalk), he's swum with wild dolphins in the Bahamas, bent spoons with The Monroe Institute (have you heard of the CIA “Stargate” program?), left a six-figure job to become an entrepreneur, and he is a grateful full-time single father.
Chris is also a certified Firewalk Instructor by Sundoor's Peggy Dylan (she taught Tony Robbins how to firewalk), he's swum with wild dolphins in the Bahamas, bent spoons with The Monroe Institute (have you heard of the CIA “Stargate” program?), left a six-figure job to become an entrepreneur, and he is a grateful full-time single father.
Chris Colbert is the CEO and Founder of DCP Entertainment, a media platform for underrepresented voices, including people of color, women, the LGBTQ+ community, and other overlooked communities. He began his career in audio production more than a decade ago as an intern and consultant for Sirius Satellite Radio (now SiriusXM Radio), where he helped create Jamie Foxx’s comedy & music channel, The Foxxhole. Having worked with names like Jamie Foxx, Touré, Joy-Ann Reid, Zak Levitt, Andrew Jenks, Joe Madison, ESSENCE, PEOPLE, Crooked Media, Sports Illustrated, and the United Negro College Fund, Chris specializes in media partnerships and content development.
Chandra has built successful and profitable businesses through her boutique consulting and public relations firm, Chandra Gore Consulting, working with entrepreneurs to help them create foundations to ensure longevity and growth. Quietly making strides with placements for small businesses, entertainment, authors, therapists and motivational speaking clients on local and national news outlets she has also been leaving her mark as a publicist in the industry. She is also an author, speaker, podcast host, festival founder and producer.
Catie Harris, PhD, MBA, and Registered Nurse is the NursePreneur Mentor who has empowered hundreds of nurses to monetize their knowledge and skills in business, while inspiring them to change the way healthcare is perceived and delivered. She strives to undo the perception that nursing care is limited to the hospital setting. Through her intensive mentorship program, Catie shows nurses how their nursing knowledge can transcend the hospital system into a profitable business.
Catie is an international speaker who has been featured in ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News and Huffington Post. She has also shared her innovative mentorship work on National and International Podcasts and TV including Be Efficient TV, Dubai One and Copy Chief with Kevin Rogers.
Catie is an international speaker who has been featured in ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News and Huffington Post. She has also shared her innovative mentorship work on National and International Podcasts and TV including Be Efficient TV, Dubai One and Copy Chief with Kevin Rogers.
As a creative visionary and storyteller, Cory Rosenberg has been dedicated to helping companies and individuals alike bring life and value to their corporate and personal brands. With over three decades of experience, Cory has become a recognized expert in branding, licensing, production and new product development, and has ushered hundreds of projects from concept through to profitability. In addition to concentrating on developing his own portfolio of intellectual properties, Cory is a sought after creative and business/brand growth development consultant.
