Ellen is a queer parent of 3 and an iOS developer with a passion for supporting others and taking long walks. An educator turned developer, Ellen discovered her passion for programming while teaching her students how to code. In 2016, she took the plunge and decided to follow her passion by embarking on an iOS apprenticeship. Since then, Ellen has worked on a variety of teams creating apps for e-commerce, banking, and automotive, among other fields. She spends her free time with her family going on adventures wherever and whenever they can.

Ellen is a queer parent of 3 and an iOS developer with a passion for supporting others and taking long walks. An educator turned developer, Ellen discovered her passion for programming while teaching her students how to code. In 2016, she took the pl... Show more

Aakansha Priya is a Solution Architect at Dash0 and a CNCF Ambassador. She loves championing her customers and serving as a bridge between them and engineering, ensuring technology delivers real value.

Aakansha has spoken at conferences on DevOps and the human side of tech, and is passionate about helping teams unlock the value of observability with OpenTelemetry. Beyond work, she enjoys painting, singing, reading, and spontaneous travel, and you’ll often find her at meetups and conferences.

Aakansha Priya is a Solution Architect at Dash0 and a CNCF Ambassador. She loves championing her customers and serving as a bridge between them and engineering, ensuring technology delivers real value. Aakansha has spoken at conferences on DevOps... Show more

I’m Leslie — a lifelong performer, producer, and mentor helping mission-driven women and entrepreneurs claim their space on the stage and in the spotlight
I started performing professionally at nine years old and went on to build a successful PR and communications agency that booked comedians, songwriters, and festivals all over the country. I’ve spent my life both on the stage and behind it — and I know what separates someone who’s simply speaking from someone who’s commanding the room.

When I began hosting my own women’s events and interviews, I realized something: most people with powerful missions were never taught how to hold the energy of the stage. They had the heart — but not the training or the opportunities. That’s where I come in.

Now, I teach the art and strategy of recognition — blending performance coaching, energetic embodiment, and real-world industry expertise to help people speak with presence, clarity, and confidence that sticks.

I’m Leslie — a lifelong performer, producer, and mentor helping mission-driven women and entrepreneurs claim their space on the stage and in the spotlight I started performing professionally at nine years old and went on to build a successful PR and... Show more

Jerrica Long is the Founder of Greenlight Yourself, a platform to help mid-career creatives build audiences and monetize their ideas. She has built her career at the intersection of creators, brands, and culture, and has led multimillion-dollar creator campaigns for global companies like Netflix, Lionsgate, and DreamWorks. Today, she doesn't just create campaigns, but builds ecosystems that spark conversation, loyalty, and long-term impact. She helps brands understand fandom and creators, and positions themselves for long-term success.

Jerrica Long is the Founder of Greenlight Yourself, a platform to help mid-career creatives build audiences and monetize their ideas. She has built her career at the intersection of creators, brands, and culture, and has led multimillion-dollar creat... Show more

8bitPR is a Budapest-based PR boutique focused on tech and VC communications

8bitPR is a Budapest-based PR boutique focused on tech and VC communications Show more

Carmen Graciela Díaz is a Puerto Rican journalist and author with more than 15 years of experience in writing and publishing in Spanish and English. With a decade of teaching experience, she is the Distinguished Lecturer/Director for the Bilingual Journalism Program at CUNY’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism.

She is the author of “Huele a Bomba: la paradójica esencia del periodismo de Avance,” a book on groundbreaking Puerto Rican publication, Avance. Her storytelling centers on arts, culture, education, and Puerto Rican and Latino issues. Carmen Graciela has worked with Univision News Digital, El Nuevo Día, and Primera Hora and her writing has appeared in Hyperallergic, El País, Centro Journal, The Miami Herald, The Common, and Reasons to be Cheerful, among other publications. Her freelance work includes research for the biopic Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It and being a contributing writer of a book documenting the work and the story of ArtPlace America. She holds master’s degrees from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism (New York) in Arts and Culture Reporting and Universidad del Sagrado Corazón (San Juan) in Cultural Studies. Her teaching and journalism have been recognized by the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and the Overseas Press Club (Puerto Rico chapter). From 2024 to 2025 she was a member of the Center for Cooperative Media's Racial Equity Advisory Board.

Carmen Graciela is currently working on her second book centered on Puerto Ricans in New York to be published in 2026 by Periodística Editorial.

Carmen Graciela Díaz is a Puerto Rican journalist and author with more than 15 years of experience in writing and publishing in Spanish and English. With a decade of teaching experience, she is the Distinguished Lecturer/Director for the Bilingual Jo... Show more

A trained actor with a curious background: from Theatre Studies, to Q/A, to Business Intelligence development, to full stack web development, I am the resident specialist PHP Developer Advocate at Global Cloud Communications giant Vonage. I founded Birmingham, UK's current PHP usergroup BrumPHP, hosted the Fusion Meetup Series, and organised the TechMids Developer Conference. I mentor, write and speak on PHP, JavaScript, DevOps, DevRel and tech culture. I pretended to be a DJ on the way.

A trained actor with a curious background: from Theatre Studies, to Q/A, to Business Intelligence development, to full stack web development, I am the resident specialist PHP Developer Advocate at Global Cloud Communications giant Vonage. I founded B... Show more

Qishen Sam Liang
samliangsk@gmail.com | https://www.linkedin.com/in/qishen-sam-liang/

EDUCATION
University of California, Santa Barbara | September 2019-June 2023
Bachelor of Arts, Asian American Studies
Honors: Distinction in Asian American Studies & College of Letters & Science Highest Honors

University of Southern California | August 2023-May 2025
Master of Science, Computer Science (Computer Networks)

University of California, Santa Barbara | September 2019-June 2023
Bachelor of Science, Computer Science

RELEVANT RESEARCH & PROJECT EXPERIENCE
Researcher | UCSB Department of Asian American Studies | August 2022-June 2023
Research Project: The Transformation of Asian and Asian American Stereotypes and Representations in the United States

Conducted media content analysis to investigate how dominant narratives about Asians and Asian Americans have been constructed to serve shifting national interests and maintain racial hierarchies.
Analyzed a diverse range of sources, including magazine articles like “How to Tell Japs from the Chinese,” political cartoon “The Honorable Fifth Column,” and COVID-19 anti-Asian news reports.
Argued that while modes of expression evolve, the underlying hegemonic frameworks of stereotype persist, demonstrating the shift from overt to subtle forms of representation in the modern era.
This research, which drew upon frameworks of racial formation and stereotype theory, culminated in a 30 pages paper and a departmental presentation.

Project Manager & Game Developer | University of Southern California | January 2025-May 2025
Project: Area 31: A Horror Maze Game

Led the design and development of a 2D narrative game in C# and Unity, gaining practical experience in the creation of interactive media and player-driven storytelling.
Engineered systems for managing player state and progression, directly informing research into how player agency and interactive systems shape understandings.
Managed the project lifecycle using Agile methodologies, demonstrating leadership in a collaborative, creative-technical environment.

SKILLS & INTERESTS
Research Areas: Asian American Studies, Games, Stereotypes, Computer Networking, Security
Technical Skills: Python, Unity, C#, Git, Data Curation, Data Analysis
Languages: English (Fluent), Mandarin (Fluent), Cantonese (Fluent)

Qishen Sam Liang samliangsk@gmail.com | https://www.linkedin.com/in/qishen-sam-liang/ EDUCATION University of California, Santa Barbara | September 2019-June 2023 Bachelor of Arts, Asian American Studies Honors: Distinction in Asian American ... Show more

Peter Gallinari is a seasoned professional with over 50 years of experience in Information Technology, including more than 30 years in leadership roles specializing in Data Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Compliance. He possesses extensive industry expertise across the financial services, healthcare, and government sectors.
Throughout his distinguished career, Peter has held several high-profile positions, including:
• Chief Data Privacy Officer for the State of Tennessee
• Domain Information Security Officer for the State of Tennessee
• Chief Security Officer at GE Capital and GE IT Director of Operations
• Chief Security Officer overseeing security for three hospitals in New York
• Assistant Vice President (AVP) of Delivery Services at Merrill Lynch
• Data Privacy Program Manager for the State of North Carolina
His deep knowledge of regulatory compliance, such as GLBA, SOX, HIPAA, FERPA, FTI, CJIS, SSA, and the EU GDPR, along with PCI compliance for commercial operations, and data protection frameworks: ISO27001, SOC2 TYPE2, NIST.
Peter is a recognized subject matter expert in cloud compliance and governance solutions and is a frequent keynote speaker at Data Privacy and Cybersecurity conferences across both the public and private sectors. His insights and leadership have consistently driven the secure and compliant management of sensitive data in complex, high-stakes environments. He currently has a new book out on Amazon: The Sound of Governance: Rockin Privacy Across Sectors, and a weekly YouTube Channel: Rockin Data Privacy - Peter Gallinari

MUSIC RECORDING ARTIST BIO
🎹 Peter Gallinari – Official Artist Bio
Peter Gallinari is a veteran keyboardist, songwriter, and recording artist whose career spans over three decades of performing and recording alongside some of rock’s most iconic names. Known for his soulful playing, powerhouse stage presence, and deep musical versatility, Peter has built a reputation as a go-to collaborator in the world of classic rock and beyond.

He is currently touring with pop legend Tiffany, continuing a long line of high-profile performances that have included tours with Leslie West & Mountain, Richie Scarlet (of Ace Frehley’s Comet and Alice Cooper).
Peter’s studio and stage credits are a who’s who of rock royalty, including collaborations with:
• Mary Wilson (The Supremes), Ace Frehley (KISS), Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (Guns N’ Roses), Fergie Frederiksen (TOTO), John Regan, (Ace Frehleys Comets, Peter Frampton, Stones)
• Anton Fig (David Letterman, KISS), Barry Lee Harwood & Derek Hess (Rossington Collins Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd)
• Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Rod Stewart), Dennis Dunaway (Alice Cooper), Kenny Aaronson (Bob Dylan, Hall & Oates)
• And many more, including members of Blue Öyster Cult & The Misfits.
In addition to his performance work, Peter is a proud member of the Hammond Family of Artists, recognized by the legendary Hammond Organ company for his musicianship and contributions to live music.
📡 Learn more and follow upcoming shows at:
🔗 www.petergallinarimusic.com

Peter Gallinari is a seasoned professional with over 50 years of experience in Information Technology, including more than 30 years in leadership roles specializing in Data Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Compliance. He possesses extensive industry exper... Show more

Tech professional from a non-Tech background. Musician. Composer.

Tech professional from a non-Tech background. Musician. Composer. Show more

From a young age Aditya has been fond of libraries where he used to spend all his time after classes to study science and computer science. He learnt hacking in grade 9th using termux and then went on to continue learning Python and C++ getting a six years of programming experience as of now. Aditya has not only been a climate advocate but an action taker with his projects like the smart drainage system he built in 2022 gaining him massive recognition as a child scientist in NCSC, he presented it as a solution for the 2019 urban flood of Patna. Thereafter, he went on to compete in international Hackathons including Epoch by the HackClub in Delhi and NASA Space Apps by NASA at Mountain View California on full funding. He was part of the class of 2028 at Minerva University, California with their highest scholarship. He was also accepted at TETR College of Business, Dubai - a highly selective business college - with 87% scholarship to study business with Computer Science. Currently Aditya is a freshman at IIT Jodhpur doing a BS degree in Applied AI and Data Science after he returned to India in 2025 from Minerva University due to ongoing family financial conditions. Aditya graduated from high school in 2023 with a motive to not join IIT just like people of his age but to be at a place from where he can really create the change he want to see in the future. He was one of the deputy head boy of Gyan Niketan, Patna leading over 4700 students. He helped organising the Bihar Entrepreneurship Summit 2025, the largest historical Entrepreneurship Summit in Bihar till date with microentrepreneurs hand picked from each of the 534 blocks of Bihar. Aditya has also volunteered in TechCrunch (America's largest Tech showcase event) as PointAI's representative and in CalHacks (America's largest collegiate hackathon). Currently, he serves as the captain of Moonshot Pirates India chapter, an initiative that serves as a platform to create change with the youth. He is the lead of social media management, project design and execution at Moonshot Pirates India. He also makes music and write lyrics that can potentially drive change and inspire people in addition to technology, he believes that the integration of technology with creativity goes a long long way.

From a young age Aditya has been fond of libraries where he used to spend all his time after classes to study science and computer science. He learnt hacking in grade 9th using termux and then went on to continue learning Python and C++ getting a six... Show more

Vanchhit Khare is an AI systems engineer, published researcher, and music producer. He
works at the intersection of agentic intelligence, automation infrastructure, and creative system
design. His experience spans large scale implementations in finance and healthcare, and his
research focuses on multi agent collaboration, contextual memory, and machine driven
coordination. He also creates electronic music that blends structured logic with emotional
storytelling. Learn more at https://vkhare.online.

Vanchhit Khare is an AI systems engineer, published researcher, and music producer. He works at the intersection of agentic intelligence, automation infrastructure, and creative system design. His experience spans large scale implementations in fin... Show more

An Undergraduate B.tech Student, pursuing career in Data Science

An Undergraduate B.tech Student, pursuing career in Data Science Show more

Passionate Engineering Manager at Datadog, mentoring aspiring engineers and advocating for the importance of soft skills in achieving success. Sometimes I like to define myself as "proud holistic hobbyist".

Passionate Engineering Manager at Datadog, mentoring aspiring engineers and advocating for the importance of soft skills in achieving success. Sometimes I like to define myself as "proud holistic hobbyist". Show more

Frankfurter Buchmesse 2024 & 2025
Leipziger Buchmesse 2025
Werde Eigentümer*in Konferenz
Buchpremiere Gewandhaus Dresden
Wirtschaftsfrauen e.V.
MamaMeetingBusinessClub
Waldbund Konferenzen u.a. Schloss Lieser 2025
AgrarLausitz Stammtisch

Frankfurter Buchmesse 2024 & 2025 Leipziger Buchmesse 2025 Werde Eigentümer*in Konferenz Buchpremiere Gewandhaus Dresden Wirtschaftsfrauen e.V. MamaMeetingBusinessClub Waldbund Konferenzen u.a. Schloss Lieser 2025 AgrarLausitz Stammtisch Show more

Sketchnoteuse depuis 2016, plasticienne textile, facilitatrice collaborative et visuelle,
Membre d'Agilemans

Sketchnoteuse depuis 2016, plasticienne textile, facilitatrice collaborative et visuelle, Membre d'Agilemans Show more

I thrive on community and Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform has a great one! Now it is my pleasure to support the community 💯in my role as a Community Strategy Director at DUG (Dynamics User Group)!

I am a versatile professional who encourages collaboration, delivers creative and effective solutions (What I call noodling😀). My natural high-energy approach smashed together with varied experience in IT, communication, marketing, business analysis, and project management is a strong foundation for any new challenge. I am passionate about building community, strong relationships, providing excellent customer service, and supporting the growth and success of my peers.

I thrive on community and Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform has a great one! Now it is my pleasure to support the community 💯in my role as a Community Strategy Director at DUG (Dynamics User Group)! I am a versatile professional who encou... Show more

Level 1 Italian Teacher in the Chicagoland area since 2011.

Level 1 Italian Teacher in the Chicagoland area since 2011. Show more

Jenna Waszak is the Director of Design at CivicActions, where she leads experience design across federal and civic technology projects. She champions open, collaborative design practices that empower designers and enable the delivery of better public services. Her work focuses on evolving design culture and delivery in an AI world, maturing design operations, and shaping how teams use openness to multiply their impact.

Jenna Waszak is the Director of Design at CivicActions, where she leads experience design across federal and civic technology projects. She champions open, collaborative design practices that empower designers and enable the delivery of better public... Show more

Rebecca Grier, Ph.D. is a behavioural scientist with 20 years experience in product development across various business sectors. Most recently she was the lead for Customer-Driven: EMEA at Microsoft, with the goal to change product making culture to be more customer obsessed. Previously she moved Ford to consider people with disabilities in the design of their autonomous vehicles and the US DoD to include user experience in testing of systems. She currently lives in Dublin with her husband and son.

Rebecca Grier, Ph.D. is a behavioural scientist with 20 years experience in product development across various business sectors. Most recently she was the lead for Customer-Driven: EMEA at Microsoft, with the goal to change product making culture to ... Show more

Designer with experience in both corporate and educational environments, specialized in UX/UI and web development. Passionate about collaboration, she actively participates in tech and STEAM communities, where she helps create spaces that bring together art, education, and technology. Her work is guided by a strong commitment to inclusion and collective learning.

Designer with experience in both corporate and educational environments, specialized in UX/UI and web development. Passionate about collaboration, she actively participates in tech and STEAM communities, where she helps create spaces that bring toget... Show more

Caitlin Steele is a pragmatic creative and design leader. She was a founding team member of MasterClass, and has worked on native apps for Medidata, lululemon, and Atlassian. She is currently the design manager for Trello Mobile.

Caitlin Steele is a pragmatic creative and design leader. She was a founding team member of MasterClass, and has worked on native apps for Medidata, lululemon, and Atlassian. She is currently the design manager for Trello Mobile. Show more

Norman Badger has dedicated more than thirty years to building a career with Publix, the employee-owned grocery company in the United States. His professional journey reflects a commitment to steady growth and a focus on leadership. From his early days working in hourly positions to advancing into senior leadership, he has consistently shown dedication to his work and the people around him. Today, he serves as Senior Vice President of Retail Operations, where he oversees the company’s stores and ensures that operational and service standards are maintained across the retail network.

Publix operates more than 1,400 stores in eight southeastern states, with the majority located in Florida, as well as in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. His career with the company began in 1995 as a front-service clerk in Aiken, South Carolina. After holding several hourly roles, he became a store manager in 2007, where he was responsible for budgets, staffing, customer service, and merchandising. In 2014, he was promoted to District Manager, overseeing multiple stores, guiding managers, and ensuring company policies were followed. By 2017, he was named Regional Director, where he managed several districts and focused on long-term planning, growth, and leadership development.

In 2020, Norman Badger, Publix, was promoted to Vice President of Product Business Development for the Bakery and Meat departments. In this role, he led efforts to expand product lines, strengthen supplier relationships, negotiate agreements, and improve merchandising and supply chain processes. His work focused on aligning customer needs with company goals. In 2024, he was promoted again to Senior Vice President of Retail Operations, where he continues to oversee store operations across all regions. His leadership encompasses supporting teams, driving operational consistency, and contributing to the company's long-term direction. He values the people he works with and is grateful for the opportunities he has received throughout his career.

He was born in Jacksonville, FL, and married his high school sweetheart in 2001. They have a son and have lived in several cities, including Atlanta, Charleston, and Raleigh, before moving back to Florida. Family is an integral part of his life, and they enjoy traveling and spending time together. Sports are another meaningful part of his personal life. He and his son are fans of the Steelers and Penn State, and they attend games every season as part of a tradition that strengthens their bond. In 2023, they traveled to Glendale, Arizona, to watch the Kansas City Chiefs play the Eagles, an experience they both enjoyed. His son plays JV football in several positions and also participates in basketball. Watching him compete brings pride, and over time, he has collected keepsakes from their trips, each one representing a cherished memory of their shared experiences.

Norman Badger of Florida values both his professional achievements and his personal life, striking a balance between leadership responsibilities and the meaningful time he shares with his family.

Norman Badger has dedicated more than thirty years to building a career with Publix, the employee-owned grocery company in the United States. His professional journey reflects a commitment to steady growth and a focus on leadership. From his early da... Show more

AI & Data leader with 14+ years of experience. Women in AI California State Ambassador. Talks about #AI in Life Sciences #Building solutions using Gemini #GenAI #Career in tech

AI & Data leader with 14+ years of experience. Women in AI California State Ambassador. Talks about #AI in Life Sciences #Building solutions using Gemini #GenAI #Career in tech Show more

I have been writing code for about 25 years yet strive to learn something new every day. I’ll never let a technical issue get the best of me and will always find a solution to the problem. My specialties over the last 10 years have been NET C# and Office 365 development. I can make SharePoint look good!

I have been writing code for about 25 years yet strive to learn something new every day. I’ll never let a technical issue get the best of me and will always find a solution to the problem. My specialties over the last 10 years have been NET C# and ... Show more

Publisher of Keynote Magazine https://www.keynotemagazine.com
Publisher of Exposure Magazine https://www.iloveexposure.com

The vivacious Tam Lawrence has owned and operated several businesses for over three decades, driven by her determination to never let her dreams be deferred by corporate America. Her relentless spirit opened doors that no one could close.

Lawrence's educational journey began at a technical college, where she earned a degree in Human Services. She then double-majored at Marquette University, earning a BA in Communication with a minor in Psychology. Pursuing further education, she attended Kent University and obtained a Master’s degree in Journalism.

While in college, Lawrence traveled the world as a professional stand-up comedian, appearing on BET Comic View and touring with Jamie Foxx and Sommore. After graduating, she opened a public relations agency in Charlotte, North Carolina, during the Democratic National Convention. In 2011, she expanded the agency to Atlanta, Georgia, and in 2013, she launched Exposure Magazine. In 2020, during the pandemic, she added Exposure Plus TV and Keynote Magazine to her media empire. Advocating on the frontline for urban media, Lawrence founded the Urban Media Union to ensure diversity and inclusion, providing fair opportunities for boutique urban-owned media platforms during adWeek.

Lawrence's commitment to social causes extends beyond media. She is a former State of Wisconsin Lobbyist who fought to advance the protection and care of aging individuals living in private community residential facilities that are not monitored or supervised.

As a mother of two incredible college graduates who walk in the grace of success that mirrors her compassion, Lawrence is a wealth of knowledge and experience. Over the years, she has owned a daycare center, a nightclub, several retail stores, and a senior care online safety program called Kare Facts.

In addition to her extensive professional achievements, Lawrence is also an accomplished author with two books available on Amazon.

Tam Lawrence’s dynamic career and dedication to advocacy and diversity make her a powerful speaker and a true inspiration.

Publisher of Keynote Magazine https://www.keynotemagazine.com Publisher of Exposure Magazine https://www.iloveexposure.com The vivacious Tam Lawrence has owned and operated several businesses for over three decades, driven by her determination t... Show more

Rebecca Bragdon is a dynamic speaker who weaves together storytelling, strategy, and authenticity to inspire audiences to see leadership, growth, and creativity in new ways. Known for her ability to make complex ideas feel personal and practical, Rebecca challenges listeners to lean into the future with curiosity and courage, rather than fear.
Her talks blend lived experience with sharp insight, offering audiences both inspiration and tangible takeaways. Whether she’s speaking about leadership, innovation, or the power of authenticity, Rebecca brings warmth, wit, and a bold perspective that leaves people thinking differently about what’s possible.
She believes the future belongs to those who choose connection over competition, hope over fear, and authenticity over perfection — and her mission is to help others step into that future with confidence.

Rebecca Bragdon is a dynamic speaker who weaves together storytelling, strategy, and authenticity to inspire audiences to see leadership, growth, and creativity in new ways. Known for her ability to make complex ideas feel personal and practical, Reb... Show more

Collins Wanjiku is a passionate graphic designer, UI/UX enthusiast, and branding specialist with a keen eye for clean, minimalist design. As the Co-Lead of the Graphics Design Club at Meru University, he actively nurtures creativity and innovation among digital creatives. Studying Electrical Engineering at Meru University, Collins blends technology with design.

Beyond design, he is an advocate for sustainable tech, aiming to empower creatives—photographers, game developers, and video editors—through innovation. He is also growing his presence on LinkedIn, showcasing high-quality branding designs, posters, and billboards to attract top companies.

Collins believes that in the digital world, creativity isn’t just an art—it’s a powerful tool for influence, engagement, and transformation

Collins Wanjiku is a passionate graphic designer, UI/UX enthusiast, and branding specialist with a keen eye for clean, minimalist design. As the Co-Lead of the Graphics Design Club at Meru University, he actively nurtures creativity and innovation am... Show more

Mandee has over 10 years experience in website strategy and optimization. She spent 6 years at Penn State focused on content and conversion optimization as the Director of Digital Strategy before becoming a Solutions Consultant with JAKALA, where she is focused on building platform strategies and brings her expertise in website analytics, user experience research, redesign roadmapping and content optimization to every project she works on.

Mandee has over 10 years experience in website strategy and optimization. She spent 6 years at Penn State focused on content and conversion optimization as the Director of Digital Strategy before becoming a Solutions Consultant with JAKALA, where she... Show more

James Simon didn’t start his career with the intention of becoming a producer. Like many who fall in love with theater, his first experience with the stage was through performing. He acted in plays during his school years and at summer camps, developing a connection to live performance early on. Though he later explored other fields—college and a radio career—he eventually found his way back to theater, though this time behind the scenes.

Today, James L. Simon is a Broadway producer with two Tony Award nominations and a portfolio of work that stretches from Manhattan to the United Kingdom.

James was born and raised in Bronxville, New York. He studied communications at Emerson College in Boston, preparing for a career in media. After working in radio for several years, he moved to New York City in the early 1990s to pursue acting full-time. Like many actors in the city, James balanced performance work with side jobs. One of those jobs introduced him to theater production, and that experience led him down a different professional path.

His first hands-on experience with a Broadway production came during the revival of Damn Yankees. Through that role, he saw just how much work goes into making a show successful. From that point forward, Producer James Simon began to take shape. The process of coordinating the many moving parts of a theatrical production sparked his interest and led to a long-term shift in focus.

James developed an ability to spot projects with potential and bring together teams capable of executing a shared vision. His strength lies in balancing creative ambition with the practical realities of producing. Over time, he established a reputation for being consistent, thoughtful, and adept at managing the challenges of theater production.

James L. Simon earned his first Tony nomination for Bells Are Ringing in the Best Revival of a Musical category. His second nomination came with Operation Mincemeat, recognized for Best New Musical. He also co-produced The Woman in Black Off-Broadway, which received the Best Play Revival award from the Off-Broadway Alliance. His credits include work in London’s West End and at major theater festivals around the globe.

James is currently preparing to bring The Marriage of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein to the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He is also co-producing a national tour of Dungeons & Dragons: Twenty Sided Tavern in the United States, an interactive production that combines live gaming and traditional theater elements.

When asked what keeps him producing, James often points to his belief in the power of stories. While he appreciates being part of well-known productions, he also values smaller, more intimate works that may not attract as much attention. In interviews and articles, he has noted how hard it can be for new voices to gain access in the theater industry.

He continues to support opportunities for emerging talent. James serves on the board of Untitled Theater Company No. 61 and donates to programs such as Artists Relief and Donors Choose. These platforms help artists at early stages of their careers gain visibility and support.

Outside the arts, James has volunteered with the New York Food Bank and Habitat for Humanity. He is also a regular blood donor through the New York Blood Bank and supports the Legal Aid Society, showing his broader commitment to service.

Producing involves far more than choosing scripts. It requires careful budgeting, coordination, conflict resolution, and planning for travel. James L. Simon, the Producer, remains deeply involved in all aspects of production. He finds value in the behind-the-scenes work—quiet tasks that ensure everything comes together on time.

Even with two Tony Award nominations and international credits, James stays focused on the work rather than recognition. He chooses projects based on substance, not trends, and strives to build environments where creativity can thrive.

Though some of his upcoming projects remain undisclosed, one thing is certain: James Simon, the Producer, continues to approach every production with care, dedication, and a deep respect for the process.

James Simon didn’t start his career with the intention of becoming a producer. Like many who fall in love with theater, his first experience with the stage was through performing. He acted in plays during his school years and at summer camps, develop... Show more