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.
2016 Client Choice Award USA and listed in IAM Strategy 300."
As President & Founder of Anvil Media, Lewis oversees strategic direction of the company, with a focus on sales and marketing. He speaks internationally, writes for industry publications like SmartBrief and has been an adjunct professor at Portland State University since 2000. Since transitioning his career into digital marketing in 1996, he’s founded or co-founded four agencies and 2 organizations. He’s been named a Top 40 Under 40, Marketer of the Year by AMA Oregon and a Top 100 Digital Marketing Influencer by BuzzSumo in 2019. Outside of work, Lewis enjoys consulting with startups and spending time with family.
Ian Sells, 38, has been a serial entrepreneur since childhood when he'd rescue, repair and resell items tossed by others. Since 2004, Ian has been growing and scaling businesses through fiscally sound leverage and proven internet marketing strategies. After selling his first Amazon brand, he launched four more product lines while also opening an Amazon consulting business, managing over $30 million in sales. He is the CEO and founder of MillionDollarSellers.com (MDS) an elite, mastermind Amazon group with nearly 400 sellers representing over $4 billion in 2019 Amazon sales. In his continued mission to empower emerging brands, Ian is the co-founder and CEO of RebateKey.com a rapidly-growing, online cash-back rebate and coupon marketplace.
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.
Beth established SmartMouth in Salt Lake City in 2005 to offer Speaker Coaching, Presentation Skills Training, Media Readiness™ Training, and related services. Beth is the author of the award-winning book "Jock Talk: 5 Communication Principles for Leaders as Exemplified by Legends of the Sports World." She is also the creator of the iOS app, SmartMouth Public Speaking Toolkit, and a suite of Communication and Presentation Skills courses offered online through OpenSesame.com and GO1.com. Beth has lectured and taught at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, the University of Utah, and New York University. In 2015, Beth was one of Utah Business Magazine’s "30 Women to Watch.” She has been featured in Forbes, Harvard Business Review, the BBC, The Wall Street Journal and is a regular contributor to Forbes.com.
Armineh Keshishian is the founder and Artistic Director of Evolution Dance Theatre which has created and produced a number of multidisciplinary dance theatre productions. She says “I strive to create cultural fusion through art. I am inspired by concepts of women’s empowerment, diversity, multiculturalism and breaking down archetypal traditions. My aim is to bring people and cultures together by focusing on our commonalities vs. our differences.” Her last creation ‘Follow Your Heart’ a Broadway style Middle Eastern show, got the attention of Canada’s Prime Minister The Right Honorable Justin Trudeau who sent a letter of congratulations. Armineh is a leader who inspires by example and by courage.
As a lawyer, photographer and business consultant for entrepreneurs , Rachel helps creative industry professionals all over the world initiate, strategize and implement strategic business and marketing plans through various mediums of consulting resources and legal direction.
Dave is regarded as a leading expert in the delivery of technology services, with broad experience in both technology and business. He owned and operated an IT Solution Provider and MSP for over a decade, both acquiring other organizations and eventually being acquired. This firm was a winner of multiple awards, including Kaseya’s Cutting Edge and ConnectWise’s Best New Idea, as well as being a finalist for Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner of the Year in the Small Business Specialist category. After his MSP experience, he has worked for multiple vendors at such companies as Level Platforms, GFI, LogicNow, and SolarWinds, leading community, event, marketing, and product strategies, as well as several M&A activities. He is also the host of “The Business of Tech," and he also is a co-host on the "The Killing IT Podcast.”
Scott Petinga is a philanthropic serialpreneur who is using his businesses to help solve humanitarian needs. When he’s not busy saving the planet, Petinga disseminates his acquired wisdom, knowledge and experience in his recently released memories “No One Ever Drowned in Sweat: G.R.I.T. - The Stuff of Leaders and Champions” In addition, he’s the founder of two additional 501(c)(3) including the TH!NK DIFFERENT Foundation, The Center for Advocacy for Cancer of the Testes International (CACTI) and the Fairy Foundation. He lives in the Minneapolis metro area with his wife, spoiled dog and is also the father of three pretty amazing daughters.
