Eszter Hatala is an artist and maker based in County Kildare, Ireland. Passionate about sustainability and creativity, she transforms used coffee pods into unique handmade jewellery, giving everyday waste a beautiful second life. Alongside her upcycling work, Eszter creates commissioned pet and wildlife portraits, combining craftsmanship with a love of art and nature. Through her work, she aims to inspire others to see the creative potential in materials that would otherwise be discarded.

Eszter Hatala is an artist and maker based in County Kildare, Ireland. Passionate about sustainability and creativity, she transforms used coffee pods into unique handmade jewellery, giving everyday waste a beautiful second life. Alongside her upcycl... Show more

Steve Staeger is a consumer investigative reporter based in Denver, Colorado, with 18 years of experience in television journalism. Known for rigorous, impactful storytelling that holds powerful institutions accountable, his work spans high-stakes deep dives into police misconduct, exorbitant medical billing practices, and systemic consumer issues. To date, Steve’s consumer investigations have successfully returned more than $4 million to Colorado residents. Over the course of his career, his reporting has been recognized with 19 Emmy Awards and an Edward R. Murrow Award. He frequently speaks on the intersections of media verification, public records, and consumer advocacy.

Steve Staeger is a consumer investigative reporter based in Denver, Colorado, with 18 years of experience in television journalism. Known for rigorous, impactful storytelling that holds powerful institutions accountable, his work spans high-stakes de... Show more

Sammy Azdoufal is an independent security researcher and software engineer based in Barcelona. His work focuses on the cloud and mobile attack surface of consumer IoT, with an emphasis on Chinese ODM/OEM ecosystems supplying the smart-home market in Europe and North America.

In February 2026, he disclosed a critical MQTT ACL bypass affecting roughly 7,000 DJI ROMO robot vacuums across 24 countries, granting live camera and microphone access. The disclosure was covered by The Verge, Cybernews, Popular Science, The Guardian..., and led to a $30,000 bug bounty award from DJI. He is known for using AI coding assistants — specifically Anthropic's Claude Code — as part of his reverse-engineering workflow, and for combining hands-on protocol analysis with disciplined responsible-disclosure practice.

The Meari Technology audit presented in this talk was conducted between February and April 2026, with CVE coordination performed by Tod Beardsley (runZero, Inc.) and disclosure coordinated with CISA. It is his largest single-vendor IoT audit to date.

Sammy Azdoufal is an independent security researcher and software engineer based in Barcelona. His work focuses on the cloud and mobile attack surface of consumer IoT, with an emphasis on Chinese ODM/OEM ecosystems supplying the smart-home market in ... Show more

Abdulakem Yusuf is a recent graduate with a degree in Agricultural Economics. He serves as a Gold Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador, Google Cloud Innovator, Postman Student Leader, GitHub Campus Expert, Friends of Figma Lead, and AWS Community Builder. Additionally, he is a Power BI Instructor at Pristine Research and Development Consult Limited and a fellow at No Hunger Bank.

Abdulakem Yusuf is a recent graduate with a degree in Agricultural Economics. He serves as a Gold Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador, Google Cloud Innovator, Postman Student Leader, GitHub Campus Expert, Friends of Figma Lead, and AWS Community Build... Show more

Mohssine El Moumine is the founder of CutNow, a startup building the real-time availability layer for walk-in service businesses. With firsthand experience in the barber industry, he identified operational inefficiencies caused by the lack of visibility into wait times and availability. He is currently focused on building and validating CutNow while actively participating in startup, innovation, and technology ecosystems across Morocco and the MENA region.

Mohssine El Moumine is the founder of CutNow, a startup building the real-time availability layer for walk-in service businesses. With firsthand experience in the barber industry, he identified operational inefficiencies caused by the lack of visibil... Show more

Hey, my name is Rayan Nazir, and I am a passionate blogger at PPE Online. I share engaging blogs about Hand Gloves, including safety benefits, material types, and industry-specific applications. My aim is to provide valuable insights for professionals and businesses seeking effective hand protection solutions.

Hey, my name is Rayan Nazir, and I am a passionate blogger at PPE Online. I share engaging blogs about Hand Gloves, including safety benefits, material types, and industry-specific applications. My aim is to provide valuable insights for professional... Show more

Hello, my name is John Marshal, and I work with Ouros Jewels, a US-based online retailer of affordable lab grown diamond jewelry.

Hello, my name is John Marshal, and I work with Ouros Jewels, a US-based online retailer of affordable lab grown diamond jewelry. Show more

Lead Data Scientist with 7 years of experience building production-scale forecasting, pricing, and decision-support systems for Fortune 50 retailers. Expertise in demand forecasting, inventory planning, markdown optimization, anomaly detection, and new-item forecasting. Proven track record of delivering scalable ML solutions that improve accuracy, reduce compute cost, and support high-impact merchandising and supply-chain decisions.

I also build Agentic AI solutions, creating products that connect external signals with internal insights, uncover correlations, and generate actionable statistics. These complement my forecasting work and reflect my broader interest in bridging traditional machine learning with emerging AI capabilities.

My approach to problems is straightforward: find the simple solution that gets 90-95% of the results, ship it, and iterate x iterate. I'd rather ship something that works than chase perfection first. Progress comes from quick feedback and continuous refinement.

Outside of work, I'm drawn to physics and evolution. I like understanding the principles and math behind how things work, which overlaps a lot with machine learning. It keeps my curiosity alive and gives me new ways to think about problems.

Lead Data Scientist with 7 years of experience building production-scale forecasting, pricing, and decision-support systems for Fortune 50 retailers. Expertise in demand forecasting, inventory planning, markdown optimization, anomaly detection, and n... Show more

Jill has spent more than three decades at The Columbus Dispatch in Ohio before joining InvestigateTV in 2017. She investigated, among other things, naughty teachers, predatory mortgage brokers, slumlords, awful nursing homes, and defective baby products. and For kicks, she digs into sports and has written extensively about the dark side of youth, high school and college athletics.

Jill has spent more than three decades at The Columbus Dispatch in Ohio before joining InvestigateTV in 2017. She investigated, among other things, naughty teachers, predatory mortgage brokers, slumlords, awful nursing homes, and defective baby produ... Show more

Results-driven Industrial Engineer experience in optimizing manufacturing processes, improving operational
efficiency, and implementing cost-saving strategies. Skilled in utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma method
ologies, and data-driven analysis to streamline workflows and enhance productivity. Proven ability to lead
cross-functional teams to develop and execute process improvements, resulting in significant reductions in pro
duction costs and cycle times. Expertise in conducting root cause analysis, managing projects from conception
to completion, and leveraging advanced analytical tools to drive decision-making. Strong communicator with a
history of collaborating with stakeholders to achieve organizational goals and deliver measurable results.

Results-driven Industrial Engineer experience in optimizing manufacturing processes, improving operational efficiency, and implementing cost-saving strategies. Skilled in utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma method ologies, and data-driven anal... Show more

Product Manager | Digital Banking & Varejo | +5 anos em produtos digitais
Apaixonada por transformar ideias em soluções digitais que impactam a vida das pessoas, atuo há 5 anos em gestão de produtos digitais: 4 anos no varejo na Whirlpool Latin America, onde liderei iniciativas de inovação e experiência do cliente, e agora 1 ano no Banco Bradesco, mergulhada no universo do banking digital.
Ao longo da carreira, acumulo +10 anos em tecnologia, com passagens por companhias aéreas, indústria e atendimento ao cliente — sempre com foco em otimização de processos e resultados concretos.

Product Manager | Digital Banking & Varejo | +5 anos em produtos digitais Apaixonada por transformar ideias em soluções digitais que impactam a vida das pessoas, atuo há 5 anos em gestão de produtos digitais: 4 anos no varejo na Whirlpool Latin Amer... Show more

My name is Himanshu Gosai. I am Business Central/NAV functional consultant with 9+ years of experience in multiple full-cycle implementations across a diverse range of industries including manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and professional services. Throughout my career, I have focused on increasing business process efficiency through technology and driving digital transformation.
By leveraging expertise in business processes and Dynamics systems, I have helped organizations streamline operations, optimize process workflows, and achieve greater operational efficiency.

My name is Himanshu Gosai. I am Business Central/NAV functional consultant with 9+ years of experience in multiple full-cycle implementations across a diverse range of industries including manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and professional services.... Show more

Puneeth Ranjan Komaragiri serves as Principal Technical Account Manager for AWS Enterprise Support, specializing in enterprise cloud architecture and AI integration strategies for business services. Based in Virginia, USA, Puneeth works with Fortune 500 companies to design and implement scalable AI solutions that drive operational efficiency and business transformation. With extensive experience in cloud-native architectures, AI/ML workload optimization, and enterprise governance frameworks, Puneeth has guided numerous organizations through successful AI adoption journeys. His work focuses on bridging the gap between technical innovation and business value, helping enterprises navigate the complexities of AI integration while maintaining security, compliance, and cost efficiency. Puneeth is passionate about sharing practical insights that accelerate AI maturity in business services.

Puneeth Ranjan Komaragiri serves as Principal Technical Account Manager for AWS Enterprise Support, specializing in enterprise cloud architecture and AI integration strategies for business services. Based in Virginia, USA, Puneeth works with Fortune ... Show more

Tuesay Singh is a seasoned technology leader with over a decade of experience at the intersection of AI, fintech, and cloud engineering. She is currently a Product Lead at Deloitte Consulting in San Francisco, and provides AI Engineering as a Service to banking clients. Prior to Deloitte, she was as a Senior Technical Product Manager at Amazon's Hazardous Goods Compliance vertical, leading OCR optimization across Seattle and European Union. She has an MBA from the Kelley School of Business and an MS from the University of Southampton. Outside of her professional role, she is a Board Advisor, Chapter Lead for Girls Who Code, member of Women in Product.

Tuesay Singh is a seasoned technology leader with over a decade of experience at the intersection of AI, fintech, and cloud engineering. She is currently a Product Lead at Deloitte Consulting in San Francisco, and provides AI Engineering as a Service... Show more

I'm a Data Engineer with 3+ YoE on FnB and Fintech industries. As data engineer (also solo-fighter data engineer in previous company) I have experience to creating data warehouse, optimizing legacy code / query, migrating to another data warehouse , and supporting another data role in the back of darkness

I'm a Data Engineer with 3+ YoE on FnB and Fintech industries. As data engineer (also solo-fighter data engineer in previous company) I have experience to creating data warehouse, optimizing legacy code / query, migrating to another data warehouse , ... Show more

I am a Calligraphy artist from Croatia, specializing in historical Scripts from the 1st through the 20th century.
Through my craft, Kalidariart Design, I have been creating personalized one-of-a-kind gifts for the past seven years.
In addition, I teach medieval Calligraphy through workshops and live demonstrations, sharing the beauty and craftsmanship of this centuries-old art form with audiences of all ages.
For special events such as Isle of Wonders, I create original themed illustrations and personalize them with visitors' names written in Calligraphy, turning each piece into a unique souvenir and a lasting memory of the event.
For the past two years, I have served as the festival scribe at Isle of Wonders, where I combine art, storytelling, and live Calligraphy performance to create magical moments for visitors. This year, besides my Calligraphy work, I will also be presenting my Croatian Dragon T-shirts, featuring my original artwork inspired by Croatian legends and mythology.

I am a Calligraphy artist from Croatia, specializing in historical Scripts from the 1st through the 20th century. Through my craft, Kalidariart Design, I have been creating personalized one-of-a-kind gifts for the past seven years. In addition, I ... Show more

Shelly Hoffman is Chief Growth Officer at Luckie, one of the top privately held marketing agencies in the South. Luckie has deep roots in CPG, FinTech, Healthcare, and Travel and Hospitality, partnering with brands and destinations to drive brand awareness, sales and visitation, optimize revenue, and build lasting loyalty.

Shelly leads Luckie's growth practice, identifying and executing growth strategies for clients to expand revenue, working at the intersection of data science and marketing. With 20+ years in marketing, Shelly began her career in digital and account strategy before co-founding Marbury Creative Group. After 14 years of growth, the agency was acquired by Luckie in 2024.

A Georgia native and former D1 tennis player at Mercer University, Shelly earned degrees in Communications and Spanish. That competitive drive has fueled her passion for business development ever since.

Shelly Hoffman is Chief Growth Officer at Luckie, one of the top privately held marketing agencies in the South. Luckie has deep roots in CPG, FinTech, Healthcare, and Travel and Hospitality, partnering with brands and destinations to drive brand awa... Show more

Hej, jeg er Schmidtmille fra København. Jeg er Norton-kontaktperson i Danmark. Jeg arbejder for en supportvirksomhed, der yder Norton-support i Danmark. Jeg arbejder der som Norton-kontaktperson i Danmark.

Hej, jeg er Schmidtmille fra København. Jeg er Norton-kontaktperson i Danmark. Jeg arbejder for en supportvirksomhed, der yder Norton-support i Danmark. Jeg arbejder der som Norton-kontaktperson i Danmark. Show more

I am a Data Platform Manager, focusing on the Microsoft stack at Montego Pet Nutrition. He loves working with data and started his career in IT working with Microsoft SQL Server. After spending a decade in the UK, working for several multi-national organizations across different industries in various roles, he has settled back in his country of birth in a remote part of the Karoo, South Africa.

I am a Data Platform Manager, focusing on the Microsoft stack at Montego Pet Nutrition. He loves working with data and started his career in IT working with Microsoft SQL Server. After spending a decade in the UK, working for several multi-national o... Show more

Soy Sofía Saglietti, fundadora de BIG Fiestas, organizadora de eventos hace más de 14 años y docente de diseño y creatividad.

Durante años trabajé creando experiencias para cumpleaños, casamientos y eventos, pero con el tiempo entendí que celebrar va mucho más allá de una fiesta: tiene que ver con las emociones, los vínculos y los recuerdos que construimos con otras personas.

Esa mirada fue la que dio origen a BIG Fiestas, una startup argentina creada desde cero junto a Nicolás Rivanera, buscando transformar la manera en la que las personas organizan eventos y conectan con proveedores.

Hoy mi foco está en construir comunidad alrededor de un producto digital con propósito, combinando creatividad, experiencia humana, tecnología y comunicación emocional.

En mis charlas me interesa hablar del lado más real de emprender: validar ideas, sostener una visión, conectar con las personas y entender que, detrás de cualquier plataforma, lo verdaderamente importante siempre es lo humano

Soy Sofía Saglietti, fundadora de BIG Fiestas, organizadora de eventos hace más de 14 años y docente de diseño y creatividad. Durante años trabajé creando experiencias para cumpleaños, casamientos y eventos, pero con el tiempo entendí que celebrar... Show more

I’m Sofiat Nafiu, a dedicated user experience & visual designer with over 5 years of experience in branding and product design.
I'm currently, the Chief Driver & Funding Designer at Moospire, an innovative tool designed to help creatives enhance and streamline their workflow by allowing them to create, curate, & customize moodboad from the web or with AI. Over the years, I have led design initiatives at Moospire and spearheaded design and strategy at Niyo Group as a brand designer, collaborating extensively with marketing, sales, and product teams to unify brand strategies and elevate customer experiences. My freelance work with various brands has further honed my expertise, where I applied advanced design principles and utilized industry-standard tools like Figma and Adobe Creative Suite to transform complex concepts into user-friendly designs. I'm dedicated to creating accessible, inclusive, and functional designs that enhance usability and engagement.

I'm also passionate about teaching upcoming designers and contributing to their growth, ensuring they understand how design works, user behavior, and the principles that guide good design.

I’m Sofiat Nafiu, a dedicated user experience & visual designer with over 5 years of experience in branding and product design. I'm currently, the Chief Driver & Funding Designer at Moospire, an innovative tool designed to help creatives enhance an... Show more

Richard Torrey was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and later moved with his family to Ludlow, Massachusetts. From a young age, he developed a strong work ethic and regularly took on different jobs to help earn money. Throughout childhood and adolescence, he worked mowing lawns, painting houses, babysitting, baling hay, and managing newspaper routes. Growing up in a family with limited financial resources taught him the importance of saving money and working consistently toward long-term goals.
Rick carried this discipline into adulthood, remaining focused on improving his skills and creating opportunities for himself. His determination to work and learn simultaneously became a defining part of his early years and later contributed heavily to his success in both technology and business.
Rick Torrey completed high school while continuing to work multiple jobs and take classes whenever possible. He enrolled in Springfield Tech computer processing school, where he developed technical skills that later became valuable in his programming career. Between 1973 and 1975, he balanced school with full-time work while also taking evening college courses. During that period, he trained full-time in Experimental Engineering at Pratt & Whitney in Hartford, Connecticut.
Richard also found time to coach Little League hockey between 1973 and 1974 despite his demanding schedule. Under his guidance, the Ludlow, Massachusetts team achieved success in regional competition. Although he could not continue coaching due to work and school responsibilities, the experience demonstrated his leadership abilities and commitment to teamwork.
Richard Torrey purchased his first family home in Windsor, Connecticut, in 1975 after years of carefully saving money. That same year, he left Pratt and Whitney to begin working at Travelers Insurance as a computer programmer. His technical knowledge and problem-solving abilities allowed him to advance quickly within the company.
Torrey later transitioned into technical support, where he played an important role in improving methods for developing computer systems. One of his most significant accomplishments was helping design more efficient access methods for computer development systems during a time when even large technology companies faced limitations in these areas. Although he found success in programming and technical work, he remained interested in exploring opportunities outside the corporate environment.
Richard Torrey's path into entrepreneurship began unexpectedly in 1987 when he loaned money to a friend who wanted to purchase a small ski shop. When the business struggled and eventually closed in 1991, he decided to purchase the store from the bank himself. At the time, he had very little retail experience, but he committed himself to learning every aspect of the business.

Richard Torrey was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and later moved with his family to Ludlow, Massachusetts. From a young age, he developed a strong work ethic and regularly took on different jobs to help earn money. Throughout childhood and adol... Show more

Rama Mohan Reddy Pilli is a seasoned Data & AI Architect with deep expertise in large-scale distributed data systems, modern lakehouse architecture, and real-time analytics engineering. With extensive experience at Kard Financial and Dell EMC, he has led mission-critical initiatives that modernize data platforms, optimize compute at scale, and enable high-throughput AI and analytics workloads.

Rama specializes in building multi-petabyte Databricks Delta Lakehouse ecosystems, architecting medallion-modeled pipelines using Delta Live Tables, Auto Loader, Photon, and Spark 3.x performance tuning. He has engineered real-time merchant intelligence systems, high-scale segmentation APIs, and EKS-based microservices powered by AWS S3, IAM Roles for Service Accounts, ALB ingress, and Terraform-first infrastructure. He is recognized for delivering multimillion-dollar impact through cost-efficient cloud designs, Z-Ordering and Liquid Clustering optimization, and resilient ETL frameworks supporting millions of users.

An IEEE Senior Member and SAS Eminent Fellow, Rama actively contributes to global technology awards as a judge and speaks on scalable AI architectures, data engineering automation, and next-generation lakehouse design.

Rama Mohan Reddy Pilli is a seasoned Data & AI Architect with deep expertise in large-scale distributed data systems, modern lakehouse architecture, and real-time analytics engineering. With extensive experience at Kard Financial and Dell EMC, he has... Show more

25 years of experience helping manufacturers and distributors transform technology into a powerful tool that increases their profitability, productivity, and competitive edge.
Specialties:
Business strategy
System alignment
Team mentoring
Wholesale Food Distribution
Food Products Manufacturing
Wholesale Distribution
Discrete Manufacturing
Health Care
Dynamics365
Office365

25 years of experience helping manufacturers and distributors transform technology into a powerful tool that increases their profitability, productivity, and competitive edge. Specialties: Business strategy System alignment Team mentoring Whole... Show more

Rebecca Boakyewaa Anderson is an data analyst and business intelligence professional, recognized for her expertise in data sorting and analysis, trend identification, and unlocking the full potential of organizational data. With a career spanning over a decade, she has consistently elevated business users by transforming raw information into actionable insights that drive strategic decisions.

She currently serves as a Sales Analyst at the National Lottery Authority (Ghana), where she leverages advanced data analytics to optimize performance and uncover growth opportunities. Alongside this, Rebecca contributes to the Dynamics User Group (DUG) Ghana Leadership, guiding professionals in harnessing Microsoft Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform to embed governance, foresight, and evidence-led leadership into African business realities.
Her diverse experience includes roles as a Data Analyst at FredExcel, where she honed her skills in calculations, reporting, and trend interpretation, and as an Administrator at Christ Embassy International (Believers’ LoveWorld), where she managed operations with discipline and precision for over 11 years. She has also worked as a Contract Data Analyst at Rock Africa Ghana, applying her analytical acumen to short-term strategic projects.
Rebecca’s professional journey reflects her passion for Power BI, data science, and the transformative power of Microsoft technologies. Her leadership within DUG Ghana and her hands-on experience across industries position her as a trusted voice in the analytics community—bridging technical expertise with strategic foresight.

Rebecca Boakyewaa Anderson is an data analyst and business intelligence professional, recognized for her expertise in data sorting and analysis, trend identification, and unlocking the full potential of organizational data. With a career spanning ove... Show more

Eve Macdonald is a creative growth strategist at KISS Branding, a Leeds-based brand strategy and creative studio working with food, drink, FMCG and purpose-driven challenger brands. She leads business development, thought leadership and outreach, bringing the same commercial sharpness to KISS's own positioning as she does to client work.
She writes Just a little Kiss, a Substack covering brand strategy and consumer culture for brand managers, founders and marketers, with bylines in Design Week. She is also the founder of Pencil It In, a creative community and events platform championing Northern creative talent across Leeds and Manchester.

Eve Macdonald is a creative growth strategist at KISS Branding, a Leeds-based brand strategy and creative studio working with food, drink, FMCG and purpose-driven challenger brands. She leads business development, thought leadership and outreach, bri... Show more

•Team Manager | Sr. Solution Architect on the Dynamics SMB Delivery team at Stoneridge Software
•25+ years of experience in functional consulting for Dynamics implementations and upgrades, as well as directly supporting SMB clients for Dynamics GP, CRM, and Business Central
•Microsoft certifications:
• Microsoft Certified Trainer
• Microsoft Business Central
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales

•Team Manager | Sr. Solution Architect on the Dynamics SMB Delivery team at Stoneridge Software •25+ years of experience in functional consulting for Dynamics implementations and upgrades, as well as directly supporting SMB clients for Dynamics GP, ... Show more

Patrick Walsh Empire Holdings centers on the professional record of Patrick Walsh, a Palm Beach County, Florida-based entrepreneur, investment specialist, company founder, and executive. His work has developed across investment management, enterprise finance, corporate strategy, and value-oriented business leadership. In 2012, he founded PW Partners in Jupiter, Florida, establishing a firm focused on small and mid-cap companies and the long-term value that can be created through operational strategy, disciplined capital allocation, and careful business planning.

At PW Partners, Patrick serves as founder and CEO, guiding work related to mergers and acquisitions, hedge funds, investment banking, equities, enterprise finance, and corporate strategy. The firm focuses on maximizing the potential of portfolio companies through strategic decision-making and practical operating measures. His investment management background includes a particular focus on the restaurant industry, where performance often depends on operating structure, capital planning, brand execution, and steady financial oversight.

Patrick’s professional work has been featured in Barron’s, Forbes, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. In 2018, Ernst & Young named the founder and CEO of PW Partners its Entrepreneur Of The Year. This recognition reflects his experience as an investment professional, company builder, and executive, spanning public markets, private investment opportunities, and consumer-focused businesses.

Patrick Walsh also relates to his leadership at Empire Holdings and Investments, a diversified holding company headquartered in Palm Beach County. Patrick joined the firm in 2020 and served as CEO, overseeing its corporate structure and supporting its flexible investing approach. Empire Holdings and Investments has subsidiaries in various markets and pursues opportunities across Florida and nationwide, giving its work a broader connection to multiple industries and long-term business value creation.

Across PW Partners and Empire Holdings and Investments, Patrick’s clients and affiliations have included TMPL, Palm Beach Sports Club, LIV, Town Sports International, and Famous Dave’s of America. His board-level experience includes roles with BJ’s Restaurants, Inc., Del Taco Restaurants, Inc., Famous Dave’s of America, and Town Sports International, where he served as chairman of the board. In 2015, Nation’s Restaurant News named him to its Power List, which recognized 50 influential people in the restaurant industry that year.

Patrick began his career in 1998 as an investment analyst at Prudential Capital Group and Prudential Securities. In that position, he specialized in commercial property and publicly traded real estate investment trusts. He later joined Deutsche Bank as vice president of investment banking, spending several years with the multinational bank and financial services company. After that, he moved to Illinois and worked with a well-known hedge fund focused on long-short equity before becoming managing partner at PWK Partners in Chicago. He remained there until 2012, when he relocated to Florida and founded PW Partners.

His academic background began at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, where he studied economics and competed in baseball and football. After a back injury ended his athletic career, he transferred to Boston College in Massachusetts and graduated from the Chestnut Hill campus with honors in accountancy. Patrick later earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and completed further investment education at Columbia University, including the Graduate School of Business Executive Value Investing Program under Bruce Greenwald.

He was born in San Diego, California, and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. His mother and father, both New England natives, worked as a school teacher and a naval officer. He now lives and works in Jupiter, Florida. Outside of business, he enjoys cooking, fitness, travel, reading, and literature. As part of a professional biography, Patrick Walsh Empire Holdings reflects a career built around PW Partners, Empire Holdings and Investments, restaurant industry experience, board service, investment discipline, and practical executive leadership.

Patrick Walsh Empire Holdings centers on the professional record of Patrick Walsh, a Palm Beach County, Florida-based entrepreneur, investment specialist, company founder, and executive. His work has developed across investment management, enterprise... Show more

I have over decade of experience leading teams and organizations focusing on data - building insights, foundations or even more advanced sophisticated ML models. I lead with empathy and leave organizations in better shape I found them in.

I have over decade of experience leading teams and organizations focusing on data - building insights, foundations or even more advanced sophisticated ML models. I lead with empathy and leave organizations in better shape I found them in. Show more

Carl W. Zev has extensive experience working within the corporate environment as well as operating as a successful business owner. Over the course of his career, he has started, developed, and grown multiple businesses into multi-million-dollar companies. His hands-on experience in entrepreneurship and corporate leadership has provided him with a deep understanding of business strategy, team dynamics, negotiation, and performance-driven growth.

Recognizing early on that communication and mindset are critical factors in business success, Carl invested years in studying Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Emotional Intelligence (EQ), and advanced nonverbal communication. Through this training, he developed a strong ability to read body language, interpret behavioral cues, and understand how people think, respond, and make decisions in professional settings.

Carl has applied these skills to significantly enhance his negotiation, presentation, and listening abilities, allowing him to create stronger partnerships, resolve complex business challenges, and achieve better outcomes in high-level discussions. His expertise in reading nonverbal signals and understanding emotional dynamics has also enabled him to communicate more effectively with clients, partners, and teams.

Beyond his own business success, Carl is passionate about teaching these powerful skills to others. He has trained and mentored many sales professionals, executives, and small- to mid-size business owners, helping them develop stronger communication strategies, improve their negotiation effectiveness, and build greater confidence in their leadership roles.

A core element of Carl's work focuses on the power of mindset, focus, and motivation. He believes that sustainable success comes from combining practical business knowledge with the mental discipline required to stay focused, resilient, and purpose-driven. Through his coaching and training, Carl helps professionals unlock their potential, sharpen their communication skills, and develop the mindset necessary to achieve meaningful business and personal success.

Career Milestones
1986
Carl graduated from Upsala College with a BA in Marketing

1989
Founded CS Bread Distributors with only $500, sold for $45,000

1993
Built Virgin Springs into a multi-million dollar bottled water company

2003
Sold Virgin Springs water company to Culligan Water Company

1995
Negotiated a multi-million dollar bottled water contract with the 1996 Atlanta, Ga Summer Olympics

1999
Director of Sales for Poland Spring Water's largest distributor — grew sales 300%

2001
Founded Federal Surveillance Systems, a technology company

2005
Founded and sold Blue Mountain Spring Water

2021
Sold Federal Surveillance Systems to an investment firm in New Jersey

Present
Founder & CEO of Zev University and Zev High Performance Training LLC

Expertise
Expert in NLP, emotional intelligence (EQ), and advanced nonverbal communication, specializing in reading body language within business environments

Carl W. Zev has extensive experience working within the corporate environment as well as operating as a successful business owner. Over the course of his career, he has started, developed, and grown multiple businesses into multi-million-dollar compa... Show more