Julie Williamson, PhD is the CEO and a Managing Partner at Karrikins Group, a Denver-based, global-serving business consultancy. Author, Keynote Speaker, and Host of The Failure Gap Podcast, Julie is a leading voice in how alignment can transform leaders and organizations.

Alex Pregnolato is Group CFO of Liberty London, the heritage luxury retailer on Great Marlborough Street. Since joining in January 2026, he has focused on turning finance into a genuine growth partner for the business, sharpening how the group plans, prices risk, and allocates capital across a multi-entity structure that spans the flagship store, e-commerce, and an owned Italian mill. His career in luxury and heritage finance includes senior roles at Prada, MCM, Versace and De Beers, with postings across London, Milan, New York and Shanghai. He works at the intersection of commercial strategy and financial rigour, and brings particular depth in private equity dynamics, international expansion, and heritage brand value. He splits his time between London and Milan, is fluent in Italian, and has a personal interest in Japanese cuisine, the Chinese language, and his twelve year old teacup Yorkie, Oliviero.

Appointed President of Particle Measuring Systems (PMS) in March 2024, Andy leads with a global perspective and a disciplined focus on innovation and execution. He previously served at PMS as Vice President of Finance and Business Development (2016–2018). He then became CFO of the Spectris Industrial Solutions Division (2019–2022) and Interim Business Group Director (2020), where he coordinated strategy across seven operating companies, including PMS and Servomex and led the divestiture of four businesses in 2020-2021. Before rejoining PMS, Andy was President of Servomex (2022–2024), where he delivered record sales, improved on‑time delivery, and earned recognition for continuous improvement, health and wellbeing, and sustainability. At PMS, Andy emphasizes clarity of strategy, customer proximity, and empowered teams. He champions the Spectris values – True, Own It, Aim High – while investing in capabilities that matter: a new manufacturing and innovation hub in Colorado, strengthened global systems, and continued technology leadership in life sciences and electronics. Under his leadership, PMS has advanced global growth, improved customer metrics and employee engagement, and reinforced operational resilience. Originally from Scotland, Andy holds a Commerce degree from Glasgow Caledonian University and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. He lives in Boulder, Colorado, is a sports enthusiast – particularly football and tennis – enjoys running, and is married with four daughters.

April Whitson is a globally recognized expert on Workplace Culture with over two decades of leadership and HR ex-perience in large, global organizations such as Amazon.com, Textron Corporation and currently ABB Inc. She is a published author of the book The Stay Challenge: a leader’s guide to managing unwanted turnover & regrettable re-tention which quickly became a trusted resource for people managers eager to create great places to work. She is a thought leader on all things culture, employee engagement, and leadership. April has developed cutting-edge programs to help leaders improve their profitability through decreased employee turnover costs, saving millions! Her approach to culture and employee experience through enhancing leadership performance is direct and simple, put-ting the leader in the driver’s seat to intentionally create impactful and positive employee experiences along the jour-ney from hire to retire. Along with her husband, April resides in Kansas where they raised three children and now enjoy the empty nest. She is an avid reader, scuba diving enthusiast, and continues to live her purpose to bring positive work experiences to everyone she encounters.

As a Managing Partner at Karrikins Group, Bruce lives out his passion for Making HOW Matter to leaders. Internally he leads our strategy and operations, oversees client engagements, and spends time developing our HOW Activators. His personal experience as an executive combined with his extensive work with senior leaders in client organizations makes him a high impact partner for our client executives. His cross-industry business acumen couples with a passion for human dynamics to help leaders drive alignment – and his direct and concise style drives accountability to personal growth. Bruce has worked with organizations of all sizes and in most industries. He has held executive roles in small, mid-size and Fortune 1000 companies and consulted with some of the fastest growing, most innovative global leaders and brands.

Carice is passionate about empowering others and democratizing access to the unwritten rules of success in high-performing environments. Her goal is to unlock people’s potential and increase their impact and fun at work. Carice released her 1st book - Intelligence Isn't Enough in South Africa and the UK under the Jonathan Ball Publishers Imprint. Her book was re-released under the Berrett-Koehler Publishers imprint and distributed by Penguin Random House in October 2022. The paperback, ebook and audiobook (narrated by her) are available on Amazon and wherever you get your books. In the book, Carice helps professionals understand themselves more fully, build better relationships and have more fun and more impact at work. She shares experiences and lessons learned from a) her education at Harvard Business School and her career at McKinsey & Company and Deloitte, b) her freelance work with Bain & Company and Google and c) the careers of approximately 30 black professionals she interviewed who have worked in Africa, the USA and Europe in the fields of private equity, entrepreneurship, technology, consulting, healthcare, financial services and non-profit. She has presented insights from her book to blue-chip organizations such as Google, Bain & Company, McKinsey & Company, Biogen, Bloomberg, JP Morgan Chase, Accenture and Kraft-Heinz, just to name a few. At McKinsey & Company, Carice managed a leadership development program for early career professionals as a Professional Development Manager. Carice has also worked for top companies such as Deloitte and Korn Ferry. She relocated back to the USA (Atlanta) after living in South Africa for 10 years with her husband Fungayi. She is a Director in HR for an asset management firm and she holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from The University of Alabama (Roll Tide!). In June 2024, Carice received her Executive Coaching Diploma from Emory University and in late 2024, Carice launched an online course based on her book. On a more personal note, she enjoys traveling, massages and she is obsessed with mangoes, chocolate and laughter. Carice loves to stay connected so please reach out to her on LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok at @CariceAnderson. To learn more about Carice, please go to her website at cariceanderson.com

Chris Baird is the President and CEO of OptConnect, a global managed wireless and IoT connectivity company headquartered in Kaysville, Utah. Under his leadership, OptConnect has grown organically and expanded through the acquisition and integration of Premier Wireless Solutions (PWS), M2M DataGlobal in Santiago, Chile, Capestone in Leiden, Netherlands, and DPL Wireless in New Brunswick, Canada. Chris leads the teams responsible for growth strategy, acquisitions, and post- acquisition integration, with a consistent focus on operational discipline and long-term value creation. With nearly two decades of experience in the cellular wireless and IoT sectors, Chris brings a deep understanding of both the technical and human dimensions of building durable companies. His leadership philosophy centers on clarity, trust, and accountability, with a strong belief that sustained performance follows when people are supported, challenged, and aligned around a shared purpose. This approach has guided OptConnect’s evolution from an early-stage startup into a scaled, profitable, and internationally operating enterprise. Chris is known for his ability to lead through complexity and change, particularly in high-growth and acquisition-driven environments. He has a proven track record of developing and executing strategy while maintaining cultural cohesion across geographies and teams. In recognition of his leadership, he was named CEO of the Year by Utah Business Magazine in 2021. During Chris’s tenure, OptConnect has earned repeated industry recognition, including eight consecutive appearances on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies and numerous “Best Companies to Work For” honors from Inc. Magazine, the Salt Lake Tribune, and Utah Business Magazine. The company has also been recognized by the Mountain West Capital Network as one of Utah’s fastest-growing companies nine times in the last ten years. Additionally, Chris also serves on the Board of Directors at Ogden, UT-based Becklar, where he contributes to governance, strategy, and growth initiatives within the connected safety, security, and technology sector. Chris studied Business Management and Spanish at Weber State University. He lives in Kaysville, Utah, with his wife, Ally, and their four children. Outside of work, he values time with family, travel, and coaching his children’s sports teams, experiences that continue to shape his perspective on spirituality, leadership, resilience, and growth.

For many years, Cyril has worked behind the scenes in some of Australia's biggest companies. He gets the clutter - on the desk, under the desk, the full diary, the email and meeting addictions and multiple task lists back to ground zero. He gets his clients focused on their priorities. His fans say he had a big impact on their performance and the performance of their business. His biggest fans say he has changed their lives. One even said she now ‘sleeps at night’ and is not woken up anymore thinking of all she has to do. Cyril has held senior management roles in both Europe and Australia. In France, he was the General Manager of EF Corporate, a subsidiary of the international group EF Education. He was also Director of Sales for British Airways, overseeing corporate and indirect sales for the group. In 2006 Cyril launched ‘Work Smarter: Live Better’ (WSLB) with one simple vision: providing efficiency solutions to millions around the world. With his team, Cyril has built WSLB into a highly respected efficiency coaching and consulting firm for the Australian and International market. WSLB focuses on enabling organisations and their people to be above target and in control, Cyril is the author of ‘Work Smarter: Live Better’, in the top 10 business books in Australia. He is a regular contributor to business magazines such as BRW and AFR, and has appeared many times on national TV and radios. Today, as well as managing and leading WSLB, Cyril is coaching CEO and Senior Executives. He is a regular key note speaker on ‘strategy execution’ and ‘working smarter’ and consulting for large companies on aligning people with the strategy of their business. Above all, he is a passionate business leader and coach who focuses on helping people to change their work habits, take control and dramatically improve their performance. Today Cyril lives in Sydney with his wife and three children and works with clients in Australia and around the world.

Dallas currently serves as the Chief Commercial Officer at NetApp. He and his team have a very sim- ple and inspiring charter: to drive profitable growth by building a unified, end-to-end GTM model that will make it easier and more effective for customers to secure and use our technology to achieve success in their most important initiatives. Dallas is an accomplished executive with experience in software, sales, mergers & acquisitions, strat- egy, and operations. He has led large organizations through disruptive and challenging market tran- sitions in the logistics, supply chain, software, healthcare and IT industries. Previous to NetApp, Dallas Served as the World-Wide Senior Vice-President of GTM Strategy & Rev- enue Operations. Dallas began his tenure in the WebEx Technology Group where he led software teams for the enterprise, global multi-national and service provider teams producing triple-digit growth for four consecutive years. He then moved into leading strategy & planning for the US Com- mercial group, where he helped the theater become the largest software-selling team in the compa- ny. Dallas then served as COO and Vice President for the Americas where he and his team were re- sponsible for strategy, planning, operations, enablement, engagement, and go-to-market efforts. In his role immediately prior to joining Cisco, Dallas served as the Executive Director of Misys All- scripts’s corporate development team where he led merger, acquisition, and corporate strategy. At Misys, he helped lead the company through a strategic transition from a software practice manage- ment platform to an electronic medical record platform and was also asked to lead a company con- solidation of four business units into one. At DHL, Dallas held various leadership roles in sales, in ad- dition to leading the financial vertical and the Global Multi-National sales teams. During his tenure at DHL, he engaged in the transition from a dominant domestic-based system to an international supply chain and logistics business. Outside of his professional life, Dallas lives with his wife Ashley and their three children in Atlanta. An avid soccer fan, he has spent time coaching elite youth teams and supporting Atlanta United in its quest for another cup. He is currently an advisor to the Board for The Joseph Sams School where he pursues his passion for special education.

Dana Sednek is a renowned expert in digital transformation who advises executives around the world. With 20+ years’ Fortune 500 experience, she’s held titles like Chief Analytics Officer and Head of Learning Technology - and has been helping organizations transition to digital work not since the early 2020’s, but the early 2000’s. As the Chief Consultant at Dana Sednek Consulting, Dana partners with clients like Cisco, MasterClass, United Airlines, and Harley Davidson to solve complex problems at the intersection of people and technology - including supporting AI transformations and analytics strategies. In 2023, she completed MIT’s executive leadership certificate in Generative AI for Digital Transformation. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Conflict Resolution. Dana lives in Denver, where she runs her company from her 1960’s A-Frame “cabin in the city”, alongside her rescue dog Luna.

Dan is the Chief Executive Officer of Innovation Federal Credit Union and has 30 years of experience in the finance sector. Dan is committed to lifelong learning and curiosity, which helps him adapt to change and disruption. He recently finished the Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Business from MIT Sloan & Columbia Business School. Dan also has a Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation from McMaster University the Director's College and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan. Dan values community and volunteerism, which guide his personal choices and goals. Dan and his wife Laureen reside in Swift Current. 

David formerly served on the De Beers Executive Committee as Chief Brand Officer with overall responsibility for the profile, reputation and marketing of De Beers and its brands. His experience across the contrasting luxury, lifestyle and extractive sectors gives David unique insight into the evolving expectations of consumers, the corresponding pressures on business and the power of brand purpose to propel communities, companies and clients forward.

In 2023, Debra P. Wilson became the ninth president of NAIS. In addition to leading the organization in partnership with the NAIS Board of Trustees, she provides support and education to member schools. Wilson speaks frequently on topics such as leadership and governance, school operations and financial sustainability, community health and well-being, and the future of schools. She also serves as a key spokesperson, representing the independent school voice in broader educational conversations. Before becoming president of NAIS, from 2019 until 2023, Wilson served as president of the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), where she led the organization through a period of growth and supported school leaders in her region through the COVID-19 pandemic. Her SAIS role followed 19 years at NAIS as general counsel. In that capacity, she oversaw advocacy work for the organization, supported schools in crises, advanced best practices in governance, and created legal advisories along with other informational resources. Before joining the NAIS staff, Debra was a tax litigator at the Department of Justice. In addition to serving on the boards of several independent schools, Debra’s current board service includes The Enrollment Management Association (EMA), the International Council Advancing Independent School Accreditation (ICAISA), and the Council for the Advancement of Private Education (CAPE), of which NAIS is a founding member. Wilson is also co-author of the NAIS Trustee Handbook (10th and 11th editions) and regularly contributes to the NAIS Trendbook, Independent School magazine, and other industry publications. Wilson received a B.A. in English from Sewanee: The University of the South and a J.D. from the University of South Carolina. She is a proud graduate of the Williams School, an independent school located on the campus of Connecticut College. She is an avid reader, photographer, and cook who loves to be outdoors.

Jandel Allen-Davis, MD, is the President and CEO of Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado, a world-renowned rehabilitation hospital that specializes in neurorehabilitation and research for individuals with spinal cord injury and brain injury. Prior to Craig, Dr. Allen-Davis was the Vice President of Government, External Relations and Research for Kaiser Permanente Colorado from 2009-2018. In that role, she led the organization’s government relations and regulatory affairs, community relations and community benefit investment, clinical and health services research, stakeholder engagement, communications, and advertising and marketing functions. Dr. Allen-Davis is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and was in active practice for 25 years. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Medical School, Dr. Allen-Davis completed her residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Dr. Allen-Davis is an active participant in the community. Notable past board service includes the University of Colorado Foundation, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, National Jewish Health, the Colorado State Economic Development Commission (OEDIT), the Denver Botanic Gardens, and Mile High United Way. She is the Immediate Past Chair of the Colorado Hospital Association and sits on the boards of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and the Common Sense Institute. Dr. Allen-Davis also serves as a Class C Director of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank Board of Governors and is current Deputy Chair. Dr. Allen-Davis has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards and recognitions. She was honored with the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine Lifetime Achievement Award and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Del Hock Lifetime Achievement Award, both of which acknowledge her extensive career and influence. Additionally, she received the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts John L. Madden, Jr. Leadership Award and the Girl Scouts Women of Distinction Award, celebrating her leadership and service. Dr. Allen- Davis has also been recognized by the Denver Business Journal as one of the Outstanding Women in Business, awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Business Award for her commitment to social justice and equality, and was the recipient of the Center for Personalized Education for Physicians George Dikeou Award for her contributions to physician education. She is married and has two children. She enjoys gardening and hiking and is a fiber artist whose work has been displayed in several galleries over the years.

Sonya grew up in New York City where she started her organizing company, Seriatim, in 1999. Proudly dyslexic, Sonya founded her business in order to avoid writing a resume and now, almost two decades later, she and her Seriatim team have earned themselves a reputation as consummate Chaos Whisperers. In 2017, Sonya became the first organizer to be accepted into the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. Her debut memoir, Confessions of a Chaos Whisperer, was published in 2024 by Post Hill Press. She is currently President of the New York Council of Relocation Professionals (NYCORP). In her spare time, Sonya organizes her husband, three children, and rescue dog, Finn.

I am a transformation‑driven revenue and commercial operations leader with experience across early‑stage technology companies and global enterprises. My background spans HR, Services, and Sales Operations, giving me a multi‑functional perspective on how organizations grow, scale, and execute. My work focuses on simplifying complexity, aligning organizations around the highest‑value priorities, and building scalable systems that enable predictable, profitable growth.   I lead global Revenue Operations for Zebra Technologies, integrating commercial processes, data, technology, and operating rhythms into a unified model that strengthens forecast accuracy, enhances pipeline quality, and embeds AI‑driven insights into daily execution. My goal is to ensure our commercial engine scales with precision across markets and business lines.

Harvey Johnson joined PBMares in October 2003, and took over as the Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2021. As the CEO he is responsible for providing vision and driving the strategic direction of the Firm, supervising other executives, and overseeing growth plans Prior to taking on the role of CEO, Mr. Johnson’s leadership experience includes serving as the practice leader of the firm’s Financial Institutions Team, Cyber & Control Risk Services Team, and Regional Market Partner in Hampton Roads. Mr. Johnson believes in using his professional skills to support the community through philanthropical support and service by serving as a director of the following Boards. Current Board Service: • TowneBank Peninsula • RVA 757 Connects • Hampton Roads Chamber Prior Board Service: • Help & Emergency Response, Inc. • Tidewater Chapter of the VSCPA • Greater Peninsula NOW

Hilary Blair, CEO, CSP, Speaker, Leadership Coach, and Group Facilitator, weaves her professional acting experience into programs for corporate teams and individuals to elevate presence, communication, and connection. She’s certified in Conversational Intelligence™ (CIQ) and CultureTalk and trained in ORSC (Organizational Relationship Systems Coach) and approaches coaching from a wholistic systems perspective.

Tucson native Jeremy Sharpe is the President of Sharpe Development Group, a multigenerational real estate organization dedicated to creating a better life through the built environment. In his role, Jeremy leads the continued evolution of his family’s five-decade legacy, overseeing a diversified portfolio of residential and commercial development, construction, and utility operations.  Jeremy also serves as Managing Partner of Rancho Sahuarita, Southern Arizona’s premier master-planned community spanning more than 3,000 acres and recognized nationally for its innovative lifestyle programming and family-focused design. With a commitment to long-term sustainability and meaningful placemaking, he guides teams and projects that prioritize connection, thoughtful amenities, and the overall well-being of the people who live and work in the communities they create. Rooted deeply in Southern Arizona and driven by a forward-thinking approach to community building, Jeremy is helping shape the region’s next chapter, creating places that inspire, endure, and thrive for generations. About Sharpe Development Group  Sharpe Development Group is a family-founded, values-driven real estate organization focused on shaping places that strengthen community life. Rooted in Southern Arizona, the company brings together decades of experience with a modern, people-centered approach to planning and development. Across its work, ranging from neighborhood design to commercial environments, Sharpe Development Group emphasizes long-term stewardship, thoughtful land use, and creating meaningful connections between people and the places they call home. Guided by a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and authentic regional character, the company continues to build environments that support both everyday living and the future of the communities it serves.

Jersey Banks, grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Denver, Co. Leaving Denver after high school, she attended The New School University in New York City where she studied contemporary dance and began a lifelong love of the city. Like many graduates in the arts, she was a “starving artist”; a professional dancer, by day, and a “jack of all trades” in the city’s hospitality workforce by night. Engaging in high profile guest services, hosting events, being the scantily clad and untouchable entertainment, beverage “aka” bottle service, bartending, and even “working the door”, she caught more than a glimpse behind the curtain, becoming satiated to both nightlife and her performance pursuits. After taking a break from dance and wanting to refine her service experience into something that fed her interests in art, people, and working during daylight hours, she eventually cartwheeled into real estate. She hated it. It did, however, foster the meeting of Lyon Porter, (her soon-to-be life and business partner). In 2014, they accidentally turned a single-family townhouse in Brooklyn into a boutique hotel and lifestyle brand, Urban Cowboy Hotels. What started as a passion project for design and good conversation, became a much-needed antidote to the exclusive pay-to-play nature of the city. “The Cowboy” evolved into a community of travelers and artists. Now with 5 properties under their umbrella, the Creative Studio in Brooklyn, A luxury boutique hotel in Nashville, a lux lodge resort “adult camp” in the Catskills, a 70’s Motel, Dive Bar & Swim Club called the Dive Motel, and a downtown boutique, her hometown hero project and homage to the west in Denver, Co. As a co-founder and owner, Jersey’s role with both brands has evolved from the innkeeper of the mom-&-pop B&B in Brooklyn to overseeing operations across all locations and heading company culture. She is now focused on Brand Development through experience, merchandise, and design as the CEO of the Urban Cowboy Creative Studio. The Studio serves as the in-house creative and brand management team for all Urban Cowboy projects, private clients, and collaborations. Jersey also shares a 4-year-old with her partner Lyon.

Jo has 30 year’s experience of working on technology enabled change and transformation programmes. Combining a unique knowledge and appreciation of the power of technology with a deep understanding of what makes humans tick she is able to advise and support senior leaders through some of their biggest challenges. A passionate runner, reader, open water swimmer and campaigner for teaching mental health as a science in schools to normalize mental health for future generations.

Jonathan C. Marcus – the Favorite Son of Ann – looks after the operations of the Rose Sisters Chips production facility in Connecticut and is responsible for the overall strategy and growth of the Company.  Prior to starting RSC six years ago, Jonathan’s career in general management, sales, marketing and consulting spanned over 30 years in both the U.S. and international arenas for large consumer financial services corporations as well as multiple fintech start-ups.  He holds degrees from the University of Delaware and Thunderbird School of Global Management.  Once Rose Sisters Chips finds itself in households across the USA…the world is next!

Josh Kern is Chief Executive Officer of Snooze, an all-day breakfast and brunch concept with nearly 70 restaurants across the United States. He joined Snooze in 2025 to lead the brand’s next chapter of growth, with a focus on strengthening the guest experience, developing high-performing teams and building the operational and commercial capabilities needed to scale the business. A restaurant and consumer brand executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience, Josh has built his career at the intersection of brand, operations and growth. Prior to Snooze, he served as CEO of SPB Hospitality, one of the nation’s largest multi-brand restaurant operators, where he led a diverse portfolio that included Logan’s Roadhouse, Krystal, J. Alexander’s, Stoney River Steakhouse & Grill, Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom, Gordon Biersch and Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery. Earlier in his career, Josh served as Chief Marketing Officer of Smashburger and held senior leadership roles spanning marketing, sales, brand strategy and enterprise growth. Josh is known for bringing a commercial mindset to restaurant leadership while maintaining a strong belief that sustainable growth starts inside the four walls. His leadership philosophy centers on hospitality, accountability and developing great people, with a simple belief that when teams consistently deliver an exceptional guest experience, stronger business results follow. At Snooze, Josh is leading an evolution of the brand that honors the originality and culture that have defined it since its founding in Denver in 2006, while bringing greater discipline to operations, technology, marketing and growth. His focus is straightforward: more guests, more visits and more growth, driven by a better guest experience.

Josh Miramant is the Founder and CEO of Blue Orange Digital, a leading data and AI services firm backed by Oliver Wyman. With over a decade of experience, he has built Blue Orange into a 150+ person team delivering enterprise-scale projects in data engineering, analytics, and generative AI for Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, and healthcare organizations. Josh works closely with executives and investment leaders to define strategies that harness AI and agentic systems for business impact. His focus is on helping organizations move beyond experimentation into production-ready deployments that drive measurable outcomes—from automating workflows and augmenting decision-making to accelerating portfolio company digital transformations. By aligning advanced AI capabilities with governance, scalability, and ROI, Josh ensures clients capture sustainable competitive advantage from their data and technology investments. Previously, Josh founded and scaled two venture-backed SaaS companies, one acquired by Blackbaud and another acquired by a private equity firm. In both, he led initiatives to monetize data assets, modernize infrastructure, and unlock enterprise value—experiences he now applies to guide PE-backed portfolio companies and enterprise clients through AI-driven transformation. Based in New York City, Josh is also an avid runner, golfer, and lifelong outdoors enthusiast, originally from Maine.

Justin is a serial entrepreneur with 15 years of experience building companies from the ground up. Before Executive Presence, Justin launched multiple successful startups that were eventually acquired. He holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BS in Electrical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy. Justin’s earliest career days were spent at McKinsey & Company working for one of the world’s top business consulting firms. Justin also served as a Navy officer aboard nuclear submarines, leading large crews on advanced naval missions. About Executive Presence We specialize in helping companies build trust and visibility by elevating their leadership, particularly on LinkedIn. Our premium, fully-managed service is designed to position executives as thought leaders while strengthening overall brand recognition. Our approach includes comprehensive content strategy, creation, and analytics. Each client works with a dedicated consultant (“Engagement Manager”) who develops a customized strategy, conducts monthly interviews to source content, and oversees content creation. We continuously analyze performance to refine messaging and enhance engagement.

Fourteen years ago, Justin Salisbury walked into Breeze Thru Car Wash with $274.76 to his name, making $10 an hour. He worked his way from Regional Operations Manager to President and COO, fueled by radical accountability, relentless curiosity, and an unconventional background spanning degrees in global business management alongside trades certifications in welding, underwater welding, and plumbing. He didn't follow a single lane. He followed what mattered, took it seriously, and built the path as he went. Today, Justin is part of the ownership team at Breeze Thru Car Wash, a regional, independently owned company operating 16 locations across Colorado and Wyoming with one of the largest wash membership programs in the country. Breeze Thru is recognized as an industry leader in innovation and quality, and Justin is a driving force behind that reputation. He owns strategic vision, operational standards, brand integrity, compliance, and the company's ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System. He sets annual objectives, approves implementation plans, and when the business needs to evolve, he ensures the right people are empowered to lead that change. Justin models the rise, not just the result. You can't "dollar and cents" your way to authentic care, and Justin builds teams and cultures that prove it every day.

Katie Jarek is an international business strategist and consulting leader based in Denver, Colorado. With a deep expertise in leading cross-functional global teams and optimizing processes for large-scale projects, she has made significant strides in change management, strategic planning, and continuous improvement. Currently, Katie serves as a Consulting Director at GEP Worldwide, where she spearheads initiatives in operational excellence, AI Powered transformation, data-driven decision-making, and process improvements. She has led diverse global teams across many countries, including Puerto Rico, Spain, and Fiji, where she lived, as well as managing teams with members spanning multiple continents. This past summer, Katie took on a new challenge outside of work by swimming across the English Channel as part of a relay team, demonstrating her passion for pushing limits. Katie is recognized for her strategic vision and her commitment to achieving impactful results.

Kendall Colman, 25-year CEO of Colman Coaching to help top industry leaders to advance their careers, elevate their speaking skills and scale their companies. She is also host of One Step Ahead: Practical Foresight in Uncertain Times on her Youtube channel, Colman Coaching.

Ken Wilkinson is the Founder and CEO of Layer 10, a leader in human-centered technology integration for the built environment. With over 20 years of experience at the intersection of technology, design, and architecture, Ken has become a trusted expert in creating adaptable, sustainable spaces that prioritize the human experience. He is currently authoring “Building Tomorrow: The Layer 10 Way,” a groundbreaking framework for integrating technology with purpose—ensuring spaces are not only functional but deeply connected to the needs of the people who use them. Ken’s expertise spans large-scale commercial developments and innovative residential projects, making him a sought-after advisor, speaker, and thought leader. Through the Layer 10 Academy and initiatives like the “Build Spaces People Love” Webinar Series, Ken empowers professionals with actionable strategies to design future-ready, people-centered spaces. In addition to his work at Layer 10, Ken serves as Co-Board President of Trailhead Community, a nonprofit dedicated to creating inclusive housing for Colorado’s neurodiverse population. Under his leadership, Trailhead has become a model for how thoughtful design and collaboration can transform lives and communities. Passionate about bridging the gap between technology and design, Ken is dedicated to helping developers, architects, and building operators create environments that truly resonate with people—spaces that stand the test of time.

Kristi is a proven and respected Human Resources (HR) leader with more than three decades of overall HR experience, including 25+ years specializing in domestic, sales, executive and international compensation programs. Kristi has worked across multiple industries including Healthcare, Insurance and High Technology in both Software and the Semiconductor Industry. Size of companies range from small (50+ employees) to medium (2,500-15,000) to very large (100,000). Kristi has spent the last 17+ years working for VSP Vision in various roles, serving as Chief Human Resources Officer since 2015. Kristi has extensive experience providing professional coaching to managers on compensation management, organization, and policy issues. In addition to compensation expertise, Kristi is highly skilled in benefit program design and analysis, HR Information System (HRIS) implementations, and HR policy development and implementation. Kristi has served as the Executive Staff Liaison for the VSP Board of Directors Compensation Committee for the past 10+ years. She provides the Board with recommendations, review, and advice on Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and other executive-level compensation, CEO performance, succession planning, and corporate incentive programs. Kristi is a member of the San Francisco CHRO Governing Body, holding a Co-Chair role since January 2023. In this position, she serves in a leadership role to provide input and expertise, align business priorities, and to strengthen the CHRO community and network for continued collective success. In January of 2025, Kristi was elected to the Board of Directors for PRIDE Industries, which creates sustainable employment for individuals with disabilities, helping to realize their true potential and lead independent lives. Beginning in June 2025, Kristi will begin serving on the Compensation and Governance committees, a testament to the expertise she brings to the PRIDE Board. Kristi has previously held high-level positions for the Sacramento Compensation and Benefit Association, including President and Officer on its Board of Directors. She also served on the Board for the Sacramento Veterans Employer Resource Group (VERG) as the Tools & Resources Director, as well as the Human Resources UC Davis Advisory Board to advise on Corporate HR Policies and was a member of the Linkage Purposeful Leadership Client Advisory Board. A proud professional achievement for Kristi is being honored five consecutive years (2021-2025) as a “Top CHRO” by N2Growth, a global leadership consulting and executive search firm that recognizes innovative, future-focused executives around the world who’ve shown a dedication to fostering a dynamic, inclusive, and forward-thinking work environment. Kristi has a Masters Degree from San Jose State University in Sociology. She also believes that fitness, exercise and overall wellness are crucial to maintaining a healthy quality of life. In her spare time, Kristi maintains her Personal Training Certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM-CPT).

As CEO of CBTS and a member of its Board of Directors, Kristin shapes and drives the strategic direction of the organization. A dynamic visionary, she is guiding the evolution of CBTS from a traditional infrastructure and managed services firm into a market leader in AI-enabled digital transformation solutions. Kristin is a seasoned industry veteran with over 20 years of experience driving transformative growth at top companies in the technology sector. Prior to joining CBTS, she served as the President of Arrow Electronics’ Global Enterprise Computing Solutions (ECS) division. Before joining Arrow, Kristin held key leadership roles at Deloitte Consulting, Oracle, and Sun Microsystems. She also served as the Secretary of Technology and Chief Information Officer for the State of Colorado. Kristin’s leadership has earned her numerous industry accolades, including recognition on CRN’s ‘Top 100 Channel Leaders’, the GTDC Innovator Award, Women We Admire’s ‘100 Women in Technology’, and CIO of the Year by the Denver Business Journal.

Liza Adams is an AI Advisor and GTM strategist who transforms go-to-market teams for the AI era. With 20+ years as a senior marketing executive at companies like Smartsheet, Juniper Networks, Pure Storage, and Encompass Technologies, she brings deep expertise in leading through technological shifts. Her people-first, AI-forward approach helps organizations unlock what's possible through real-world use cases, delivered via applied AI workshops and strategic advisory engagements. Across multiple companies, she has led transformations into high-performing teams where human and AI teammates work together to achieve breakthrough results in just a few months.

Mandy Morris is known for helping, leaders, entrepreneurs, and everyday high-achievers break the deep, hidden patterns that quietly mess with their success — quickly and effectively. She’s an Executive Psychology Coach, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified EMDR Clinician, and Co- Founder of soFree , a breakthrough stress-relief app that helps users reset their nervous system in under two minutes. With over a decade of experience, Mandy’s mission is to free people from the grip of unresolved wounds and disrupt the cycles of self-sabotage that quietly shape their behavior, relationships, and performance. Specializing in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), she helps clients rewire their minds and heal at the source —,empowering them to lead, live, and connect with greater clarity and resilience. Mandy’s approach is rooted in real results — not long, drawn-out processes. She works with those who are ready for meaningful change, whether they’re facing personal roadblocks or navigating the pressures of leadership and entrepreneurship. Whether in private sessions, on stage, or inside fast-moving organizations, Mandy brings a unique mix of science, empathy, and strategy to help people live and lead with impact.

Matthew Pine leads Xylem’s 23,000 colleagues in solving water challenges for customers in more than 150 countries. He also serves on Xylem's Board of Directors. As CEO, Matthew is dedicated to driving a high-impact culture that harnesses the power of Xylem's talented people and partners to drive profitable growth through cutting-edge solutions and differentiated technologies. His vision is to take the complexity out of water management and help Xylem customers and communities become more water secure. Background Matthew joined Xylem in 2020 and became CEO in January 2024. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer and led Xylem’s Applied Water and Measurement and Control Solutions segments, and the Americas region. Matthew has over 25 years of experience in general management, sales, marketing, digital and product management in the United States and internationally. He previously held senior leadership roles at United Technologies Corporation, Vestas Wind Systems, Lennox International Inc. and Trane Residential & Light Commercial Systems. Matthew also serves on the Board of Directors of Trane Technologies, a global climate innovator focused on sustainable solutions for buildings, homes and transportation. Community Impact Matthew is passionate about the future of water and champions Xylem’s reverse mentoring and sponsorship programs to advance the development of talent in the sector and foster an inclusive workplace. He has also led employee network groups throughout his career and served as executive sponsor for the inaugural Xylem People of Color and Allies Network. Under Matthew’s stewardship, Watermark, Xylem’s corporate citizenship program, is a cornerstone of Xylem’s strategy to deliver social value and advance employee and stakeholder engagement. Watermark has delivered education and access to safe water and sanitation to more than 8.9 million people. Matthew is also a member of the U.S. Business Roundtable and the World Economic Forum’s Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders.

Matt Leta is a digital leader with over 20 years of experience. He built his first game at 10, founded his first startup at 19, leading him from Poland to London and Silicon Valley. He exited 2 companies, invested in many and today helps unlock the value of AI – with a unique approach to upgrading the entire business logic. He has assisted over 150 companies with digital product innovation and transformation. His client list includes Apple, Google, JLL, CBRE, GNC and over 100 startups. Today he tackles a complex and difficult task: How to build a truly AI-native business, but for himself and his enterprise clients. Matt established Future Works, a digital services firm that helps B2B companies build their digital core, optimize operations and accelerate growth in ways unseen ever before. In 2020, Matt founded Future Horizon, a non-profit organization and community uniting leaders and innovators to help solve tomorrow’s problems. Matt pioneered AI-driven business creation. He now leads Future Works. His first book “The LEAP Guide” became a #1 Bestseller and maintains a rare 5-star rating on Amazon. His second book dives much deeper and is set to be released in Q2 2025.

Michelle Prince is a best-selling author, sought-after motivational speaker, self-publishing expert, leadership coach and CEO/Founder of Performance Publishing Group, a “partner” publishing company dedicated to making a difference... one story at a time. She is an advanced certified Human Behavior Consultant and dedicates herself to helping leaders impact the world, using the strengths and talents already within them, to create an extraordinary life and exponentially grow their business. She’s helped thousands become published authors through her consulting, courses, seminars, and publishing services, and founded the “Book Bound Academy.” She has also published many successful books, including her best-selling Winning In Life Now, The Power of Authority, SHINE Through Your Story and her most recent book, Illuminate Your Greatness.

Miles is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of OTM. With a strong background in IT and passion for marketing technology, Miles translates the fancy tech jargon so that the entire team can stay ahead of the curve. Aside from overseeing all nerdy things, Miles enjoys browsing Amazon for the latest gadgets, riding motorcycles, playing guitar and learning new things.

Monica supports one of TELUS' flagship Leadership Development programs, designed to accelerate the growth of high-potential emerging leaders. This immersive program builds essential leadership capabilities, focusing on self-leadership, innovation, strategic thinking, and emotional intelligence, while also providing career development and professional coaching to drive long-term success. With 18 years of experience in the organization, Monica has always been deeply committed to relationship-building, cultivating curiosity, and guiding others through change. Believing in the power of storytelling, resilience, and lifelong learning, she is passionate about empowering emerging leaders to reach their full potential and become impactful leaders.

Nick Anderson is co-owner and CEO of OneAccord, a consulting firm founded in 1999 that has served more than 650 organizations in the US and abroad. Today, OneAccord is dedicated to serving a diverse array of business and industry with strategic planning and operational implementation to facilitate growth and enterprise value creation. He is also founder of Chosen Leader, a brand that supports the growth and development of leaders everywhere. Anderson’s book, Six-Word Lessons for Middle Managers was published in May, 2022 followed by two additional volumes in the Six-Word Lessons series published in 2025; Six-Word Lessons for Executives, and Six-Word Lessons for Founders and Owners. Anderson became an entrepreneur following a 25-year career in financial services and a lifetime full of challenge and experience.

Richard Giles is currently Group Finance Director of Parkdean Resorts, a large-scale hospitality business with locations around the UK. He has spent most of his career with purpose-led brands across the hospitality and retail sectors, in a number of different Finance roles. Before joining Parkdean, he spent eight years with De Beers Group, the world’s leading diamond company. Richard is energized by enabling colleagues to realize their full potential, and by pursuing effective collaboration between Finance and the wider business.

Richard Kopelman is redefining what it means to lead a modern accounting and advisory firm as CEO of Aprio. Since taking the helm in 2013, he has propelled Aprio into the top 20 nationally—ranking No. 20 on Accounting Today’s and Inside Public Accounting’s Top 100 Firms lists—while earning recognition on Forbes’ Best-in-State CPAs list and being named to Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting. Richard’s vision has driven Aprio’s transformation from a single office to more than 40 locations across the U.S. and globally, fueled by more than 45 strategic acquisitions and significant investments in technology and AI. Guided by the firm’s 31 Fundamentals, his leadership has shaped a people-first, tech- forward business advisory and accounting firm built for sustained growth and the future of the profession.

As the founder of Fintelligent, Rob and his team provide financial clarity to entrepreneurs of growth stage companies. They solve the problem of the business owner's accounting system not working for them. Fintelligent provides a fractional financial department that handles ongoing accounting, provides great analytics and offers helpful advice that grows EBITDA, providing founders more freedom running their business. He's helped many founders of professional services and technology companies scale and exit their businesses. Rob holds an MBA from Emory University and a BS Business & Economics from Lehigh University. Rob loves to travel and has visited all 50 states and 4 continents.

Sergio Rodríguez is the President and CEO of the Hector and Gloria López Foundation whose mission is to provide scholarships and persistence support to students from Texas who are first in their family to pursue their baccalaureate degree. These students come from some of the most under-resourced parts of Texas, including South Texas, the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, West Texas and the Austin/Central Texas region. The Hector and Gloria López Foundation is the namesake of Sergio’s aunt and uncle, Hector and Gloria López, prominent South Texas ranchers whose estate created one of the largest Latino-funded private foundations in the country. The story of the López Foundation goes back to the 1700s when ancestors of Gloria García López received Mexican and Spanish land grants as some of the early Tejano settlers in South Texas. Through higher education and business-savvy, this ranch estate increased in size over the ensuing years and is now the basis for the Foundation. Since its first year of grantmaking in 2022, the Hector and Gloria López Foundation has granted over $47mm to first-generation students with the goal of creating thousands of educated, economically mobile students to be the future leaders of Texas. In fall of 2026, the Foundation will have 360 scholarship students in 14 different universities in Texas. In his role as CEO of the Foundation, Sergio manages the endowment, as well as 34,000 acres of South Texas ranches and mineral interests in 6 counties of South Texas. He also provides the philanthropic and grantmaking leadership to his staff of twelve team members. Prior to leading the foundation, Sergio spent 7 years managing GALO OPS, LLC (formerly GALO Land & Cattle Co.), the ranching business begun by his aunt and uncle in 1951. Sergio was also a vice president for 20 years at CGI Technologies and Solutions, an international professional consulting and technology firm. In this position, Sergio sold and managed complex IT systems integration projects with federal, state, municipal and commercial clients in Washington DC, London, Denver and Austin. Sergio is a native of Alice, Texas, but grew up in Austin, where he resides with his wife Louise and three daughters. Sergio currently sits on a number of boards, including the Board of Trustees at St. Edward’s University and the Advisory Board of the University of Texas Press. He has also served as the Development Chair of the Austin PBS Board of Directors, Secretary of the Board of Governors at Austin Community Foundation, and served on the boards of Breakthrough Central Texas (Vice-Chair) and Con Mi MADRE (Treasurer). He is currently a member of the Philosophical Society of Texas and the University of Texas Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee. Sergio holds a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University in Architecture and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In 2026, Texas State University conferred an honorary doctorate (Doctor of Humane Letters) to Sergio.

Sonya grew up in New York City where she started her organizing company, Seriatim, in 1999. Proudly dyslexic, Sonya founded her business in order to avoid writing a resume and now, almost two decades later, she and her Seriatim team have earned themselves a reputation as consummate Chaos Whisperers. In 2017, Sonya became the first organizer to be accepted into the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. Her debut memoir, Confessions of a Chaos Whisperer, was published in 2024 by Post Hill Press. She is currently President of the New York Council of Relocation Professionals (NYCORP). In her spare time, Sonya organizes her husband, three children, and rescue dog, Finn.

Susan Lintonsmith is President and Chief Executive Officer of Regis Corporation (Nasdaq: RGS), a leading haircare company with nearly 4,000 salon locations across North America and a portfolio of well-known brands including Supercuts, Cost Cutters, SmartStyle, and Roosters. Prior to becoming CEO in March 2026, she served as Chair of the company's Board of Directors. Susan has spent more than 35 years leading growth, brand transformation, and operational excellence across public and private companies. She previously served as CEO of Elements Massage and Quiznos and has held senior leadership roles with organizations Red Robin, Horizon Organic Dairy, Coca-Cola, and Pizza Hut. In addition to her executive leadership, Susan serves on the boards of ONE Group Hospitality (Nasdaq: STKS), Checkers & Rally's Drive-In Restaurants, and Pet Supplies Plus. Susan is also the author and publisher of the Under the Couch children's fantasy series, inspired by her two sons and created to spark a love of reading in reluctant readers.

Tony Gonçalves is the founder of The Evrose Group, a growth and transformation advisory firm connecting Portugal’s technology, media, and entertainment sectors with global opportunities. Recognized as a change agent, he’s known for scaling businesses, driving large-scale transformation, and delivering value across global corporations and venture-backed companies. Goncalves has held senior executive roles at WarnerMedia, AT&T, Otter Media, and DIRECTV. As Chief Revenue Officer of WarnerMedia, he led the launch of HBO Max, one of the world’s leading streaming platforms, and transformed the organization amid a global pandemic while growing a $20 billion revenue portfolio. At Otter Media, he oversaw ventures including Crunchyroll and Hello Sunshine into unicorns, underscoring his ability to build and transform businesses at scale. Through The Evrose Group, Gonçalves advises clients such as Grupo Impresa, Mediaprobe, and Arrow Global. He spearheaded Tribeca Festival Lisboa, serving as Executive Producer of the festival’s first European edition, and created The Heart & Hustle of Portugal, an English-language podcast produced with Portuguese news organization Expresso that showcases Portuguese culture through conversations with cultural icons and leaders. Beyond his advisory work, Gonçalves serves as board chair of Upwardly Global, a member of Portugal’s Conselho da Diáspora, a three-time honoree on Variety’s “500 Leaders & Icons” list, and an active mentor through The Unicorn Factory and Iona University.