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breakout sessions
day 1, session 1
pick one
Melissa Wilmot, Rock Paper Coin
A communicator by profession and in the wedding business by passion, Melissa merges her experience and expertise to share Rock Paper Coin with everyone she encounters. She loves meeting new people, cultivating relationships, and constantly striving for success as she helps grow Rock Paper Coin. Melissa’s background includes time spent working in the Oregon State Capitol, and leading public affairs and public relations departments, as well as years in the startup world, after she launched her wedding startup, WedBrilliant, in 2014. Born and raised mostly in Africa, Melissa still loves to travel the world and is probably mid-planning her next getaway with her husband, Matt, and her two sons, Grady and Nolan. Her home is now in Portland, Oregon, where she keeps busy dining at some of the best restaurants in the country. Melissa’s also not opposed to substituting dessert for pretty much any meal!
Keynote Speaker's Roundtable
brit Bertino, ceremonies unveiled
Since opening her own company in 2002, Brit Bertino has become one of the most sought after Event producers. Planning spectacular events is just something Brit Bertino was born to do. When you bring together her experience, overall business knowledge, leadership skills, innovative ideas, unique solutions and comprehensive understanding and implementation of the countless details, you get one of a kind, amazing events that exceed expectations, each and every time. Brit Bertino began her career working for a broadcasting company producing concerts and events for elite musicians, then she moved on to producing weddings for cruise lines, traveling and planning exotic celebrations for her clientele. Ultimately she settled in Las Vegas and began Brit Bertino Event Excellence, never looking back and only looking forward!
Currently, her business is based in Northern California and in Las Vegas, Nevada during peak seasons but also featuring many desired international and domestic destinations. As she travels with her elite clientele to their exotic locations to produce, her business takes her across the globe, providing over-the-top, exceptional, one of a kind celebrations. She offers professional event management, destination management and design services for any event type or size of event. Her clients include an array of celebrities and socialites. Brit is sure to give you and your guests a breathtaking experience with memories that will last a lifetime.
Keynote Speaker's Roundtable
Kristin hubbard, our Dj Rocks
Kristin Hubbard is the Founder of the female-owned and operated DJ and entertainment companies, Our DJ Rocks, ONYX and photo booth rental company Photobooth Rocks headquartered in Orlando, Florida where she leads a team of more than 35 employees who market, sell and produce 800-900 events annually. Her journey into the world of DJing began when she asked a simple question, 'Can chicks be DJs too?' The answer was YES and the learning began.
Kristin DJed her way through college and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Public Relations with a double Minor in Marketing and Education from the University of Central Florida. When Kristin launched Our DJ Rocks in 2010, the goal was to bring her energy and passion for music to every event including weddings, corporate events, and parties of all types. Who knew she would be able to fuse her knowledge of hospitality in the events world with her love of DJing along with a degree in Advertising/Marketing/PR?!
In 2014, Kristin started expanding her DJ team and has more than quadrupled the Our DJ Rocks DJ roster to currently 12 DJs, in less than 5 years. She meticulously trains every DJ in the Our DJ Rocks “DJ University'' Training program growing the business to the only all-female DJ multi-operation company in the South East.
Kristin has grown two successful businesses with a rock-solid foundation using a combination of creative marketing/branding and building a company culture that people want to connect with. She is well-known in the event industry as someone you 'have to know' and continues to expand both businesses through constant recruiting and training, seamless operations, a laser-focused sales management, and leadership.
Cultivating Client Obsession: Unleashing the Power of Customer-Centricity
Discover the secrets to developing an unwavering commitment to your clients in our captivating presentation, "Cultivating Client Obsession: Unleashing the Power of Customer-Centricity." Join us as we delve into the core principles and strategies that will transform your organization's approach to client relationships. Learn how to deeply understand your clients, foster a customer-centric culture, personalize experiences, and exceed expectations, all while harnessing the latest technology. Don't miss this opportunity to unlock the key to creating loyal, satisfied clients who become passionate advocates for your brand.
Key Presentation Takeaways
1. Deeply Understand Your Clients
2. Foster a Customer-Centric Culture + Empower Your Team
3. Continuously Seek Feedback
4. Go Above and Beyond Expectations
5. Leverage Technology
Shaun Gray, Shaun Gray Events
Shaun Gray is a wedding planner with over a decade of experience in the industry. In addition to his expertise in event planning, Shaun is also well-versed in the world of short form video, and serves as a strategist in the area for wedding professionals. He is eager to share his tips and insights with fellow creative professionals, to help them “Just Hit Record!”. When he's not busy helping clients celebrate exceptionally or promoting the importance of showing up on short form video, Shaun can be found enjoying all that Houston has to offer, from Rockets games and museum exhibits to sunny Sunday Funday spots around the city. In his free time, he is also a devoted dog dad to his seven-year-old Rat Terrier mix rescue, Bear.
Using Short Form Video To Find Your Next Client!
Short Form Video is THE medium right now, whether it's Tiktok, IG Reels, FB Reels, YT Shorts, or Pinterest. Being able to tell stories through video is important for any wedding business. This presentation is designed to give attendees practical ways to start storytelling in their short-form videos today and find their next client!
Key Presentation Takeaways
1. Examples of effective storytelling methods in a variety of short-form video apps/sites
2. Practical ways to batch videos and publish on multiple channels
3. The confidence to implement it in your business today.
day 1, session 2
pick one
TOM CHELEDNIK, WEDDINGPRO
Tom Chelednik has over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing with 15 specifically in the wedding industry. From 2008 - 2020, Tom held several sales positions at The Knot, including Regional Director of Sales and Director of Training and Enablement. He led teams that were instrumental in growing and retaining new business across 20 states and Canada, ultimately helping wedding professionals book more weddings and grow their businesses. During his time at The Knot, Tom traveled the country 70% of each year to speak with and learn from wedding professionals. Tom is passionate about sharing the knowledge he has gained over the years and continues to coach pros, specifically to help them increase their leads and bookings. In addition to The Knot, Tom was the COO of The Treasury Venue Collection in St. Augustine, Florida where he learned first hand what it was like to operate a wedding venue. During that time he also helped build an online learning platform called Venue Profit Pro, which was designed for wedding venues across the country to improve their marketing and sales results. Tom rejoined The Knot Worldwide in the summer of 2022 and is now managing The Customer Success Teams. When he's not traveling around the country, you can find Tom spending time with his family that now includes two grandchildren.
Keynote Speaker's Roundtable
LEAH WEINBERG, ODUBERG LLP
Leah Weinberg - Co-Founder of Oduberg LLP and Co-Owner of contract template shop Legally Set is an attorney, a recovering wedding planner, and the author of The Wedding Roller Coaster. After nearly a decade in the wedding industry as the owner of Color Pop Events, a New York City-based wedding planning company, Leah is returning to her roots as an attorney to assist her former colleagues in the events industry, along with other entrepreneurs and business owners. Her work and insights have been published online and in print with Vogue, the New York Times, People, CNN, CNBC, Bravo, Martha Stewart, and The Knot, among others. A WeddingPro Educator with The Knot + WeddingWire since 2020, Leah travels throughout the country sharing insight with her peers regionally, as well as at national conferences such as Alt Summit, NACE Experience, and The Special Event
Keynote Speaker's Roundtable
Kristin hubbard, our Dj Rocks
Kristin Hubbard is the Founder of the female-owned and operated DJ and entertainment companies, Our DJ Rocks, ONYX and photo booth rental company Photobooth Rocks headquartered in Orlando, Florida where she leads a team of more than 35 employees who market, sell and produce 800-900 events annually. Her journey into the world of DJing began when she asked a simple question, 'Can chicks be DJs too?' The answer was YES and the learning began.
Kristin DJed her way through college and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Public Relations with a double Minor in Marketing and Education from the University of Central Florida. When Kristin launched Our DJ Rocks in 2010, the goal was to bring her energy and passion for music to every event including weddings, corporate events, and parties of all types. Who knew she would be able to fuse her knowledge of hospitality in the events world with her love of DJing along with a degree in Advertising/Marketing/PR?!
In 2014, Kristin started expanding her DJ team and has more than quadrupled the Our DJ Rocks DJ roster to currently 12 DJs, in less than 5 years. She meticulously trains every DJ in the Our DJ Rocks “DJ University'' Training program growing the business to the only all-female DJ multi-operation company in the South East.
Kristin has grown two successful businesses with a rock-solid foundation using a combination of creative marketing/branding and building a company culture that people want to connect with. She is well-known in the event industry as someone you 'have to know' and continues to expand both businesses through constant recruiting and training, seamless operations, a laser-focused sales management, and leadership.
Cultivating Client Obsession: Unleashing the Power of Customer-Centricity
Discover the secrets to developing an unwavering commitment to your clients in our captivating presentation, "Cultivating Client Obsession: Unleashing the Power of Customer-Centricity." Join us as we delve into the core principles and strategies that will transform your organization's approach to client relationships. Learn how to deeply understand your clients, foster a customer-centric culture, personalize experiences, and exceed expectations, all while harnessing the latest technology. Don't miss this opportunity to unlock the key to creating loyal, satisfied clients who become passionate advocates for your brand.
Key Presentation Takeaways
1. Deeply Understand Your Clients
2. Foster a Customer-Centric Culture + Empower Your Team
3. Continuously Seek Feedback
4. Go Above and Beyond Expectations
5. Leverage Technology
Shaun Gray, Shaun Gray Events
Shaun Gray is a wedding planner with over a decade of experience in the industry. In addition to his expertise in event planning, Shaun is also well-versed in the world of short form video, and serves as a strategist in the area for wedding professionals. He is eager to share his tips and insights with fellow creative professionals, to help them “Just Hit Record!”. When he's not busy helping clients celebrate exceptionally or promoting the importance of showing up on short form video, Shaun can be found enjoying all that Houston has to offer, from Rockets games and museum exhibits to sunny Sunday Funday spots around the city. In his free time, he is also a devoted dog dad to his seven-year-old Rat Terrier mix rescue, Bear.
Using Short Form Video To Find Your Next Client!
Short Form Video is THE medium right now, whether it's Tiktok, IG Reels, FB Reels, YT Shorts, or Pinterest. Being able to tell stories through video is important for any wedding business. This presentation is designed to give attendees practical ways to start storytelling in their short-form videos today and find their next client!
Key Presentation Takeaways
1. Examples of effective storytelling methods in a variety of short-form video apps/sites
2. Practical ways to batch videos and publish on multiple channels
3. The confidence to implement it in your business today.
day 2, session 1
pick one
mark chapman, the i do society
Having an impact on small businesses across the nation wasn’t on Mark’s radar at all as a young 20-something starting out in the wedding industry. He was hustling hard like any young entrepreneur, but as we all eventually find out - you reach a limit to growth because you only have so much time and money.
After experiencing burnout from all the energy spent at local networking events and mediocre marketing opportunities, Mark needed to find a different way to promote his family’s wedding photography studio. He took a course on Google Ads and to his great surprise, LOVED it.
He quickly became fascinated with using advertising automation & data to reach couples who were actively searching (even while he slept!) instead of all the time spent networking with people who weren’t in need of his wedding services nor actively looking for them.
Local friends in the industry heard of his success with advertising and started asking for his help. It wasn’t long before he decided to trade in his camera for a nicer laptop so he could engage this unexpected passion for helping other wedding pros avoid the burnout he experienced and help them reach the right couples with the power of great ads.
Fast forward many years (and lots of new gray hairs!), Mark has successfully built the wedding industry’s leading authority on advertising: The I Do Society. He frequently shares his knowledge in virtual meetings online, as well as taking the stage at industry conferences like Wedding MBA, Better Bridal Group, The Marquee Show, The White Dress Society, Bridal Show Producers International, and many others.
Keynote Speaker's Roundtable
nayri, wedding fashion expert
Given today’s dynamic world, Nayri beautifully leverages technology to create a unique, unforgettable customer experience. From being a bestselling author to styling brides, online branding, YouTubing, speaking, coaching, and educating, Nayri has turned Lovella Bridal into the successful bridal brand it is today. She specializes in overall business branding, online presence, team building, and implementing sales and marketing initiatives. Her innovative strategies make her an industry leader and pioneer.
Keynote Speaker's Roundtable
Kristen weaver, KRISTEN WEAVER PHOTOGRAPHY
Kristen Weaver is an Orlando and Destination Wedding Photographer, named one of the top wedding photographers in the world. She operates a photography business with 7 associate photographers as well as a fashion studio.
The Gen Z Vibe Check
Join Kristen for an interesting look at Gen Z and how this highly active market is changing the wedding landscape! Gen Z currently has couples in the 22-26 age range entering their engagements and wedding eras. We'll look at how Gen Z is changing trends, communicating and hiring, and why inclusivity and diversity matter to them. As a majority of our clients will be phasing from Millennials to Gen Z (both now and in the coming years), it will be important to stay up to date on the pulse of this exciting Generation!
Key Presentation Takeaways
1. Inclusivity and diversity among Gen Z
2. Style trends and buying behaviors
3. Wedding forecast
Jen Sulak, Pink Light Images / Weirdo Weddings
Jen is a passionate artist & photographer that welcomes the weird, celebrates imagination and creates spaces to belong. Jen has a passion to encourage others in their craft & voice and bring a spirit of love & creativity wherever & whenever possible! She is the Lead Wedding Photographer for Weirdo Weddings (& Pink Light Weddings) and Conceptual Portrait artist with Pink Light Images.
Expand your Brand: How 19 Styled Wedding Shoots Transformed my Career
Stylized shoots are not a thing of the distant past! In order to shift, grow and create new brands - styled shoots are a way to attract our ideal customers, get creatively satisfied AND move forward in new business adventures. In a 1-year span, Jen created, hosted, and directed 19 stylized photography events for a new brand while also promoting other wedding professionals. Here's what happened!
Key Presentation Takeaways
1. A look at how imagery can (and will) attract the clients you want to work with
2. The basics of a styled event, going beyond stations into a fully immersive experience
3. Take your ideas into publications, blogs and local news pitches, and social media.
day 2, session 2
pick one
TERRICA, HUSTLEQUARTERS
Spreading her metropolitan style throughout the low country as an award-winning event planner, Terrica has been creating exquisite weddings and events in the Golden Isles area for the past eighteen years. Her weddings and expertise have been featured in The Knot, Reader’s Digest, Martha Stewart Weddings, HLN tv, Style Me Pretty, PeopleTV, and many others.
Combining that experience with humor, compassion, and hustle, she travels the globe teaching at workshops, retreats, and conferences. Known as the Motherhustler, through her educational hub HustleQuarters, she has helped over 4000 wedding professionals confidently increase their pricing, perfect their sales process, and create dynamic back offices that help their businesses run like well-oiled machines.
A Speaker of the Year nominee for the National Association of Catering and Events ONE Award, Terrica's engagements have taken her around the world speaking at IADWP, Catersource, Wedding MBA, NACE National, The Coterie Retreat, and a host of local chapters and professional groups in the US. A popular educator for The Knot and Wedding Wire, she launched her new industry education systems, Wedding Hustle University, and Wedding Pro Workshop, to provide niche and nuanced education that help wedding professionals implement and build their businesses quickly and efficiently.
Terrica loves being connected to those in the wedding industry, hosting the “She Doesn’t Even Go Here” podcast while being a guest on many others such as VenueRX, Rock My Weddings, The Power of Purpose, Weddings for Real and more. Additionally, she is also a passionate leader within the industry, spearheading the Unity Through Community initiative to make the wedding industry more diverse and inclusive, and sits on the advisory board for Fellowship for Change, a program from WeddingPro to elevate historically underrepresented demographics in the industry.
As an avid lover of cake and champagne, you'll find her at home in the Golden Isles with her four kids and disgruntled cat. When not entertaining family and friends, she’s frequently binging on RuPaul’s Drag Race and Game of Thrones (except season 8).
Keynote Speaker's Roundtable
Anna Coats, marry me tampa bay
Anna Coats is the owner and editor of the wedding publication, Marry Me Tampa Bay and founder of the online marketing consulting firm, Married to Marketing.
Anna has appeared as a wedding expert on the national talkshow Daytime TV, ABC, NBC, and Fox and has provided wedding planning advice in the U.S. News and World Report, Washington Post, and L.A. Times.
She is a three-time finalist for Tampa Bay Business Journal's Business Woman of the Year and named 40 Under 40 by Breezin' Entertainment Magazine.
With nearly 20 years of marketing experience, including leading a marketing team for a Fortune 500 company, Anna provides blogging, social media, and online marketing consulting for the wedding and event industry.
Streamlining Social Media: Time-Saving Tips to Maximize Your Content
Are you overwhelmed by the constant demand to keep up with your social media channels? Discover how to boost productivity while creating more impactful content to elevate your online presence.
KEY PRESENTATION TAKEAWAYS
1. How to source content for your social media
2. The best editing software to create Reels / TikToks
3. How to batch schedule your social posts
4. The quickest way to write captions
5. How to proactively engage with your audience
Kristen weaver, KRISTEN WEAVER PHOTOGRAPHY
Kristen Weaver is an Orlando and Destination Wedding Photographer, named one of the top wedding photographers in the world. She operates a photography business with 7 associate photographers as well as a fashion studio.
The Gen Z Vibe Check
Join Kristen for an interesting look at Gen Z and how this highly active market is changing the wedding landscape! Gen Z currently has couples in the 22-26 age range entering their engagements and wedding eras. We'll look at how Gen Z is changing trends, communicating and hiring, and why inclusivity and diversity matter to them. As a majority of our clients will be phasing from Millennials to Gen Z (both now and in the coming years), it will be important to stay up to date on the pulse of this exciting Generation!
Key Presentation Takeaways
1. Inclusivity and diversity among Gen Z
2. Style trends and buying behaviors
3. Wedding forecast
Jen Sulak, Pink Light Images / Weirdo Weddings
Jen is a passionate artist & photographer that welcomes the weird, celebrates imagination and creates spaces to belong. Jen has a passion to encourage others in their craft & voice and bring a spirit of love & creativity wherever & whenever possible! She is the Lead Wedding Photographer for Weirdo Weddings (& Pink Light Weddings) and Conceptual Portrait artist with Pink Light Images.
Expand your Brand: How 19 Styled Wedding Shoots Transformed my Career
Stylized shoots are not a thing of the distant past! In order to shift, grow and create new brands - styled shoots are a way to attract our ideal customers, get creatively satisfied AND move forward in new business adventures. In a 1-year span, Jen created, hosted, and directed 19 stylized photography events for a new brand while also promoting other wedding professionals. Here's what happened!
Key Presentation Takeaways
1. A look at how imagery can (and will) attract the clients you want to work with
2. The basics of a styled event, going beyond stations into a fully immersive experience
3. Take your ideas into publications, blogs and local news pitches, and social media.
