I created Maddie's Hot Take - as social media profile with millions of views, and a Substack with over 40,000 followers.

I'm on national television almost every day as a Democratic strategist or political analyst - and I make a habit out of walking straight into the lion's den.

I spent over a year as a liberal debater on right-wing news channels, and I love to share what I've learned about politics, human nature and bringing people together. I've debated Scott Jennings on CNN and many prominent primetime news anchors. I have always been invited because I treat people with respect and kindness -- and I know how to be myself in difficult and stressful situations.

I'm also an attorney and jury consultant, specializing in human behavior and choice theory.

I wasn't always good at public speaking - but I wanted to share my thoughts and ideas so badly with the world, that I had to train myself how to do it. As a neurodivergent person in this space, I think I have a lot to offer folks who might struggle, just like I did.

I created Maddie's Hot Take - as social media profile with millions of views, and a Substack with over 40,000 followers. I'm on national television almost every day as a Democratic strategist or political analyst - and I make a habit out of walkin... Show more

Joris Quarshie is an Events and Programs Officer at Open Knowledge Impact Foundation, where he leads the planning and execution of impactful programs that promote open knowledge, community engagement, and digital inclusion. He works closely with diverse stakeholders to design initiatives that empower contributors, strengthen collaborative networks, and advance access to free and open information across communities.

Joris Quarshie is an Events and Programs Officer at Open Knowledge Impact Foundation, where he leads the planning and execution of impactful programs that promote open knowledge, community engagement, and digital inclusion. He works closely with dive... Show more

𝐈 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬, 𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐬, 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐮𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚-𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐄𝐎 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐌𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡.

With experience across Shopify development, WordPress full-stack development, SEO, digital marketing, inbound and outbound growth, I create solutions that directly support business goals — not just technical requirements.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐢𝐧

𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐟𝐲:
Custom app development
Theme customization & speed optimization
Conversion-focused store setup
eCommerce automation

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬:
Custom plugin development
Full theme development
API integrations
Performance & security optimization

𝐒𝐄𝐎 & 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
Technical SEO & on-page optimization
Content strategy & keyword planning
Inbound marketing funnels
Outbound outreach frameworks (email + ads)

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭
I combine development + marketing + automation to create complete digital systems.
This means clients don’t just get a website — they get business growth, improved conversions, and measurable results.

𝐌𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
To help brands scale faster through smarter websites, optimized funnels, and high-impact digital strategies.

𝐈 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐛𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬, 𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐬, 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐮𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚-𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐄𝐎 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢�... Show more

I am a Senior Staff Software Engineer at YouTube (Google), providing technical leadership for high-scale content creation platforms across an 80+ person organization. My work focuses on architecting scalable systems that integrate Generative AI into consumer products used by millions globally. At YouTube, I spearheaded the development of our first GenAI creation tools, building the asynchronous infrastructure required to deploy LLMs and diffusion models at massive scale. I also designed systems enabling remixing across 7+ billion videos and built AI-powered safety mechanisms to ensure platform trust. Prior to Google, I developed secure, HIPAA-compliant healthcare platforms at Epic Systems, building a strong foundation in reliability-focused engineering. Beyond industry leadership, I actively contribute to AI research, holding a U.S. patent for short-form video creation and co-authoring published research on deep sequential learning for human activity recognition. I hold a Master of Science in Computer Engineering from BITS Pilani, with expertise in distributed systems and applied machine learning.

I am a Senior Staff Software Engineer at YouTube (Google), providing technical leadership for high-scale content creation platforms across an 80+ person organization. My work focuses on architecting scalable systems that integrate Generative AI into ... Show more

Surya Narayana Reddy Chintacunta is a data engineer focused on building large-scale, AI-driven systems across cloud platforms. His work spans privacy-preserving customer analytics, real-time feature engineering for LLMs, and reinforcement learning for media optimization. At WPP Media, he leads data and analytics initiatives across AWS and GCP, including clean room integrations, ML-powered audience modeling, and global campaign intelligence systems. He has built distributed pipelines for e-commerce, insurance, and retail clients, and holds a master’s degree in Data Science from UMBC. Surya’s interests sit at the intersection of AI, distributed systems, and applied marketing science.

Surya Narayana Reddy Chintacunta is a data engineer focused on building large-scale, AI-driven systems across cloud platforms. His work spans privacy-preserving customer analytics, real-time feature engineering for LLMs, and reinforcement learning fo... Show more

If there’s a breaking news story, Natalie Martinez is usually on it.She just celebrated 25 years with NBC Chicago!Natalie joined NBC Chicago as a general assignment reporter in January 2001. She spent many years reporting for all of our daily newscasts, and anchored our weekend mornings for several years. She’s now seen every weeknight at 10 p.m. reporting on the top stories of the day, and every Friday night anchoring at 5, 6 and 10p.Natalie has covered big stories, like the deadly tornadoes that devastated Fairdale and Washington, Ill., and smaller stories that matter to the "little guy." She won one of her Emmys for her non-stop reporting of those Washington tornadoes. She earned another for her NATO Summit coverage in 2012. And most recently she added another Emmy for her coverage on the election of Pope Leo XIV in 2025.With more than two decades of reporting and anchoring under her belt, she came to NBC Chicago from WXXA-TV, the Fox station in Albany, N.Y. During her final two years Albany, Martinez was the primary anchor.Prior to her work at WXXA, this award-winning journalist had worked as an anchor, reporter and producer for several upstate New York television and radio stations.Natalie is very active and recognized in the Latino community and a respected member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, for which she was elected Chicago Chapter President in 2016. In 2017, the national NAHJ organization awarded her with the coveted "Si Se Puede" Excellence in Leadership award. In 2018 she was recognized by Negocios Now publication as Who’s Who in Hispanic Chicago for her contributions to the betterment of the community.She also does charitable work for CAWC (Connections for Abused Women and their Children) , the Salvation Army among many others. She frequently services as Mistress of Ceremonies for groups all over the Chicagoland area. In March 2011, Martinez was named one of Chicago's Most Influential Women by the I'm Every Woman Expo.A native of Buffalo, New York, Martinez is a three-time Emmy Award-winning journalist who graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and University of North London on scholarship.In 2012, she was among the journalists honored with a Chicago Headline Club Peter Lisagor Award for her role in covering the verdict in the trial against former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. She won an AP award for Best Reporter in 2013 for her breadth of work covering breaking, hard and feature news stories.Natalie’s work covering the Laquan McDonald case helped NBC 5 earn a coveted Peabody Award in 2016.Natalie grew up with a Ukrainian mother and Dominican father. She embraces and appreciates all the diversity that Chicago has to offer, and is a proud supporter of the Ukrainian community as well.Throughout her childhood and teens, Natalie danced ballet and has a deep-rooted appreciation for the arts. She’s often seen attending or hosting art related events around the city.Drop Natalie a line: natalie.martinez@nbc.com and follow her news coverage and exciting events on:InstagramTwitterFacebook

If there’s a breaking news story, Natalie Martinez is usually on it.She just celebrated 25 years with NBC Chicago!Natalie joined NBC Chicago as a general assignment reporter in January 2001. She spent many years reporting for all of our daily newsc... Show more

In 2022, journalist and podcaster Karen Steward released the true crime podcast Burden, examining the mysterious 1991 death of Billie Jean Letterman. The case remained unresolved for more than three decades, leaving Billie Jean's family searching for justice.

As the limited series wrapped, she had no idea the story was far from over. In 2025, Michael Letterman was arrested and charged with Billie Jean’s murder, turning a decades-old mystery into a contemporary courtroom drama that will unfold this year.

Steward is an award-winning investigative journalist. She has worked as a reporter and anchor at the NPR affiliate in Little Rock and as Public Education Coordinator for the Arkansas Supreme Court.

In 2022, journalist and podcaster Karen Steward released the true crime podcast Burden, examining the mysterious 1991 death of Billie Jean Letterman. The case remained unresolved for more than three decades, leaving Billie Jean's family searching for... Show more

Jimmy Katiyar is a Senior Manager of Product Management at SiriusXM Inc., where he leads Salesforce-based ad sales technology transformations across media, satellite, streaming, and podcast platforms. As a Certified Scrum Product Owner, he serves as both a Product Leader and Functional Solution Architect, supporting cross-functional domains including Sales Development, Marketing, Listener Support, Legal, Programmatic Sales, Ad Creative Services, Finance, Credit & Collections, and Training Enablement.
In his current role, Jimmy spearheads critical initiatives for streaming and podcast campaign booking, brand categorization, show monetization, and enforcement of ad block category and brand preferences. He drives unified Quote-to-Cash programs, leading Direct and Programmatic Sales redesign with opportunity product line-item integration, split approval processes, insertion order automation, and reporting data aggregation. His leadership of the Revenue Recognition project resulted in the successful design and implementation of a payment portal processing $750K–$3.5M daily, enabling advertisers and agencies to pay invoices via ACH or credit cards while integrating with Oracle Finance systems.
Jimmy's technical expertise spans Salesforce Service Cloud optimization, where he has delivered AI-powered solutions including DeepConverse Chat and Einstein AI features for case classification, article recommendation, case closure, and next best action workflows. His architectural work includes designing omni-channel routing systems, entitlement management for case milestones, CSAT automation, and creating unified "single pane of glass" interfaces for service agents. He also architected Salesforce processes for legal digital signature workflows using Adobe Sign for NDAs.
With over two decades of experience in enterprise technology solutions, Jimmy has held progressive leadership roles at organizations including Equinix Inc., IBM Global Business Services, Hewlett Packard, and Tech Mahindra. His international experience includes traveling to the UK and Singapore to support regional product integration efforts, aligning global teams and system designs for scalable, maintainable solutions tailored to global support operations.
Jimmy holds a Bachelor of Technology degree from MJP Rohilkhand University and maintains multiple industry certifications, including Salesforce Certified AI Associate, Service Cloud Consultant, and Administrator credentials, along with Certified Scrum Product Owner from Scrum Alliance, Oracle Siebel CRM Consultant, and IBM Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner certifications. His expertise in streamlining ad sales, AI strategies, product integration, business process re-engineering, and customer experience continues to drive innovation in ad sales technology transformations.

Jimmy Katiyar is a Senior Manager of Product Management at SiriusXM Inc., where he leads Salesforce-based ad sales technology transformations across media, satellite, streaming, and podcast platforms. As a Certified Scrum Product Owner, he serves as ... Show more

In the high-stakes B2B ecosystem, moving from a transactional business to a category-leading brand is not a cosmetic exercise. You cannot solve a deep positioning gap with a prettier logo, a generic press release, or superficial copy. It requires a structural redesign of how your business communicates its value.

My approach to strategic communications was forged over 7+ years of building brand strategies for high-growth enterprises and turning around struggling creative agencies and internal communications teams.

But what makes my methodology distinct is where I learned to analyze structures: the tax litigation matters of law firms, PwC India, and at the Delhi High Court. As a former tax litigation lawyer and LL.M. Gold Medalist, I spent 8 years dissecting complex corporate systems in an active legal practice pan-India. This brings unmatched analytical structure, logical flow, and risk-mitigation discipline to brand strategy, narratives, and visual language.

Today, as the Corporate Brand Architect and Founder of Alabaster Comms, I apply that exact analytical rigor to build corporate brand systems for mid-market enterprises, professional services firms, and startups, ensuring their communication strategies structurally align with their commercial goals.

I consult from a lived experience of:

M&A Value Creation: Designing the comprehensive brand strategy and positioning for a mid-tier IT services player, elevating its market posture to play a critical role in its successful acquisition.

Professional Services Scale: Architecting the organic regional narrative for a specialized cross-border law firm, driving their LinkedIn positioning to 10K+ high-value followers purely from scratch.

Agency Turnaround & Operations: Restructuring an APAC creative agency as Head of Client Services, stabilizing team operations, retaining major regional retainers, and securing a shortlist for South Asia Independent Agency of the Year.

Analytical Advocacy: Deploying the mental mobility, attention to detail, and cross-cultural adaptability gained from an LL.M. Gold Medal and an army background to solve high-pressure stakeholder alignment issues.

In the high-stakes B2B ecosystem, moving from a transactional business to a category-leading brand is not a cosmetic exercise. You cannot solve a deep positioning gap with a prettier logo, a generic press release, or superficial copy. It requires a s... Show more

I am a marketing executive and coach specializing in growing B2B SaaS companies. I thrive on leading experienced marketers to drive the business forward and execute strategy.

Expertise in messaging, lead generation, product marketing, email, and sales enablement. I make strategic decisions based on data and testing. At my core, I am a collaborative and decisive leader who excels in a fast-paced environment.

I am a marketing executive and coach specializing in growing B2B SaaS companies. I thrive on leading experienced marketers to drive the business forward and execute strategy. Expertise in messaging, lead generation, product marketing, email, and s... Show more

A designer, writer and technologist, Juliana Castro Varón is the senior design editor of AI Initiatives at The New York Times, and a cartoonist for The New Yorker. She’s the founder and now board member of Cita Press, a publisher of dozens of books by women, currently sponsored by Educopia and funded by Mellon. Juliana has received fellowships from Fulbright and Harvard, where she’s an affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society.

A designer, writer and technologist, Juliana Castro Varón is the senior design editor of AI Initiatives at The New York Times, and a cartoonist for The New Yorker. She’s the founder and now board member of Cita Press, a publisher of dozens of books b... Show more

Ben Felder is an Oklahoma City-based editor for Investigate Midwest, a non-profit news organization that covers corporate agriculture and other powerful players in the U.S. food system.

Ben Felder is an Oklahoma City-based editor for Investigate Midwest, a non-profit news organization that covers corporate agriculture and other powerful players in the U.S. food system. 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

Soy una apasionada de construir comunidades y crear relaciones que realmente importan. No te voy a engañar, cada vez que me siento a escribir mi biografía, ¡me olvido de todo lo que he hecho! Durante los últimos 4 años, he estado inmersa en el mundo del marketing, y además, he sido voluntaria de Girls in Tech en el último año, promoviendo la inclusión y el empoderamiento de mujeres en la tecnología. Para mí, es fundamental que la diversidad y la inclusión estén presentes en cualquier proyecto que llevo a cabo.

Llevo 6 años creando contenido en diferentes formatos, y en un evento, soy capaz de hacer de todo: desde ser operadora de cámara hasta ser la presentadora. Mi amor por el cine y mi curiosidad por aprender a hacer cosas con mis propias manos me han llevado a explorar hobbies como el doblaje, la cerámica, el kick boxing, la radio y la fotografía. Así que, básicamente, puedo desde organizarte una comunidad hasta hacerte un jarrón.

Soy una apasionada de construir comunidades y crear relaciones que realmente importan. No te voy a engañar, cada vez que me siento a escribir mi biografía, ¡me olvido de todo lo que he hecho! Durante los últimos 4 años, he estado inmersa en el mundo ... Show more

As Co-founder and Marketing Consultant at Go Global, I help businesses successfully enter and grow in international markets—offering strategic guidance on market entry, brand positioning, and cross-border expansion.

With over 15 years of experience in digital marketing, I currently lead the digital team at Gart Solutions as Head of Digital, where I drive data-backed campaigns and build scalable systems that fuel business growth—without IT roadblocks.

I’m a committed AI adopter, integrating emerging technologies into marketing and project management to streamline workflows, improve customer experiences, and future-proof strategies.

My unique strength lies at the intersection of digital innovation and global marketing—enabling brands to grow confidently, both locally and globally.

Key Skills:
▪️ Digital Strategy & Campaign Management
▪️ AIO & AI Overviews, LLM Search
▪️ SEO & Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
▪️ Inbound Marketing & Demand Generation
▪️ Social Media & Content Marketing
▪️ Marketing Automation & Analytics
▪️ Budgeting & ROI Analysis

🌍 Let’s connect if you're looking to expand internationally, scale efficiently, or unlock the potential of AI in your business.

As Co-founder and Marketing Consultant at Go Global, I help businesses successfully enter and grow in international markets—offering strategic guidance on market entry, brand positioning, and cross-border expansion. With over 15 years of experienc... Show more

Cameron Magee is the Founder & CEO of avad3, a national production company known for helping planners deliver flawless, high-stakes events and conferences.
 
For more than 20 years, Cameron has been behind the scenes of some of the most visible events in the country—producing conferences, summits, and galas for Walmart, the White House, and major national associations. But he’s best known not just for delivering flawless productions, but for teaching planners how to navigate AV budgets, rehearsals, and technology with ease.
 
His company, avad3, specializes in high-stakes event production with a service-first approach. Under Cameron’s leadership, the company thrives by:
- Serving planners managing six-figure AV budgets with clarity and trust.
- Providing end-to-end solutions—audio, video, lighting, staging, and hybrid events.
- Sharing education and resources that empower planners to succeed.
- Building a people-first culture where production pros are cared for as much as clients
 
Cameron sees himself as a teacher at heart. He’s written over 100 articles and spoken at industry events, helping planners gain confidence with AV—budgeting, rehearsals, RFPs, and new tech like LED walls. His sessions are less about showmanship and more about clarity, storytelling, and practical tools planners can use right away.
 
Grounded in Bentonville, Arkansas—with his wife, two kids, and golden retriever—Cameron brings humility and authenticity to every stage.
 
Whether backstage with a headset, leading a workshop, or speaking on the future of AV, Cameron helps people cut through the noise, focus on what matters, and deliver events that shine.

Cameron Magee is the Founder & CEO of avad3, a national production company known for helping planners deliver flawless, high-stakes events and conferences.   For more than 20 years, Cameron has been behind the scenes of some of the most visible eve... Show more

With a team of experienced professionals, Ian Stewart supports local and national businesses in crafting branding, messaging strategies, and content to build client trust, demonstrate authority, and increase online visibility to generate leads and drive conversations. As the founder and CEO of Whole Brand Agency, a StoryBrand Certified Guide, and the host of the Whole Brand Podcast, he has helped organizations such as the PGA Tour, Specialty Food Association, The University of Colorado, New Hope Network, Source Four Commercial Furniture, Innosphere Ventures, The Outdoor Network, Ozo Foods, Best Nest Wellness, and many other brands in the manufacturing, design, food & beverage, and healthcare sector.
Ian and his team have successfully organized and helped raise over $23 million in private equity and venture capital funding for their clients. He and his team helped one of the nation’s top thirty largest landscape companies sell to private equity; boost exposure, and increased sales by 23% for a furniture manufacturing group; and produced content to assist in generating more than $1 million in sponsorships for a PGA tour event.
Whether serving his clients or interviewing business leaders on his podcast, Ian is known for capturing stories that reflect the heart and soul of a person’s goals and wishes for their company and personal lives. Each of these stories is a lesson for others in corporate messaging, creating a vibrant and meaningful workplace culture, and building lasting relationships. Ian Stewart’s background in marketing and branding, community building, and storytelling is the foundation of his professional achievements at work and personal passion as a singer-songwriter. Ian draws audiences in for inspiration and tried-and-true knowledge, helping them reach their desired outcomes. www.wholebrand.agency

With a team of experienced professionals, Ian Stewart supports local and national businesses in crafting branding, messaging strategies, and content to build client trust, demonstrate authority, and increase online visibility to generate leads and dr... Show more

Matt has been an Umbraco developer for 15 years, is a member of both the Umbraco CMS and Umbraco Cloud Advisory boards and a long time Umbraco Certified Master. When he's not at the keyboard you'll either find him with a camera view finder pressed to his eye taking black and white photographs or building things with Lego.

Matt has been an Umbraco developer for 15 years, is a member of both the Umbraco CMS and Umbraco Cloud Advisory boards and a long time Umbraco Certified Master. When he's not at the keyboard you'll either find him with a camera view finder pressed to... Show more

A middle school teacher turned web developer, Nasser Abouelazm has always embraced the art of building epic and engaging experiences that delight, educate, and enchant a broad audience of users. As a senior full-stack engineer working to support Bloomberg Media, he is focused on developing solutions and features that support the Bloomberg.com subscriber experience. His first heavy production use of GraphQL was at his previous company, Voice - a startup building an NFT marketplace for creators.

A middle school teacher turned web developer, Nasser Abouelazm has always embraced the art of building epic and engaging experiences that delight, educate, and enchant a broad audience of users. As a senior full-stack engineer working to support Bloo... Show more

Diana Pelenur is a photographer and digital artist who is based in Toronto having grown up in Brazil and Uruguay. Diana has always been fascinated with technology and Web3 has provided
the perfect platform to explore her curiosity of what is possible on the blockchain. Her art is based on digital photographs that are then manipulated in photoshop to tell a story beyond the
photographic image. Diana likes to imagine what life would look like if we lived on the blockchain and her latest collection is a reflection of this imaginary world. Recently Diana has begun exploring art created with AI.

Diana is co-founder of XenosProject.io, an NFT pfp collection whose mission is to support schools in underrepresented regions. It is a project that is using Web3 to create a positive social impact.

Diana Pelenur is a photographer and digital artist who is based in Toronto having grown up in Brazil and Uruguay. Diana has always been fascinated with technology and Web3 has provided the perfect platform to explore her curiosity of what is possibl... Show more

Software engineer turned Site Reliability Engineer. Certified Data Engineer for GCP and Kubernetes Administrator. Has worked on performance critical microservices at a global scale. Helps companies scale up their infrastructure by mentoring, educating and building scalable software solutions. Focuses on information used and generated by services, basically data, which in turn is used to make informed, data-driven decisions about the future of the business. Has a Master in Computer Science and a broad experience in many layers from infrastructure to front-end. University guest lecturer and active in the Stockholm meetup community.

website:
https://bisconti.cloud

Software engineer turned Site Reliability Engineer. Certified Data Engineer for GCP and Kubernetes Administrator. Has worked on performance critical microservices at a global scale. Helps companies scale up their infrastructure by mentoring, educatin... Show more

I am is a seasoned User Experience Designer with a strong focus on automotive UX, human factors, and digital accessibility. With over 4 years of industry experience, I currently contribute to the UX team at Maruti Suzuki, where we craft intuitive and meaningful in-vehicle experiences that blend technology, human behavior, and design innovation. Their expertise lies in designing digital ecosystems that not only meet user needs but also drive broader business and societal impact.

In 2024, I delivered a well-received talk at UX India on enhancing user experience in automobiles, a session that sparked widespread discussions on the future of mobility design. Beyond professional projects, I am passionate about mentoring young designers, promoting accessibility in digital spaces, and pushing the boundaries of user-centered innovation in complex industries like automotive and connected mobility.
Outside of work, I am a photography enthusiast, an avid non-fiction reader, and a traveler who loves exploring diverse cultures and ideas. This unique blend of technical expertise, user empathy, and a visionary outlook positions me as a strong voice for how design can act as a transformational force for people, businesses, and the planet.

I am is a seasoned User Experience Designer with a strong focus on automotive UX, human factors, and digital accessibility. With over 4 years of industry experience, I currently contribute to the UX team at Maruti Suzuki, where we craft intuitive and... Show more

A senior PR & Marketing leader with 15+ years of hands-on experience in IT and tech-driven companies. CEO and Co-Founder of Around PR Studio - PR and communications agency specializing in startup visibility, investment PR, and AI-era reputation strategy for tech and AI companies operating in the US and Europe.

A senior PR & Marketing leader with 15+ years of hands-on experience in IT and tech-driven companies. CEO and Co-Founder of Around PR Studio - PR and communications agency specializing in startup visibility, investment PR, and AI-era reputation strat... Show more

FRANK ABE is co-editor with Floyd Cheung of a new anthology, THE LITERATURE OF JAPANESE AMERICAN INCARCERATION, (Penguin Classics). He is lead author of a graphic novel, WE HEREBY REFUSE: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration (Chin Music Press), and with collaborators Tamiko Nimura, Ross Ishikawa, and Matt Sasaki was named a Finalist in Creative Nonfiction for the Washington State Book Award. He won an American Book Award with Cheung and Greg Robinson as co-editor of JOHN OKADA: The Life & Rediscovered Work of the Author of No-No Boy (University of Washington Press), in which he authored the first-ever biography of Okada and traced the origins of his novel. He is currently developing a new stage adaptation of NO-NO BOY in partnership with Seattle Rep.

Abe wrote, produced, and directed the award-winning PBS documentary CONSCIENCE AND THE CONSTITUTION on the largest organized resistance in the camps, and with writer Frank Chin helped organize the first-ever “Day of Remembrance” in Seattle in 1978. He was an original member of Chin’s Asian American Theater Workshop in San Francisco and studied at the American Conservatory Theater.

FRANK ABE is co-editor with Floyd Cheung of a new anthology, THE LITERATURE OF JAPANESE AMERICAN INCARCERATION, (Penguin Classics). He is lead author of a graphic novel, WE HEREBY REFUSE: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration (Chin Mu... Show more

I’m Jack Miler, Marketing Manager at Britlit Publishers, where I collaborate with authors from across the globe. I help guide writers through each stage of the publishing journey, from editorial coordination to marketing and branding support, ensuring every project meets professional publishing standards. I value ethical publishing, open communication, and long-term author growth.

I’m Jack Miler, Marketing Manager at Britlit Publishers, where I collaborate with authors from across the globe. I help guide writers through each stage of the publishing journey, from editorial coordination to marketing and branding support, ensurin... Show more

Verso Tafon is a certified graphic designer and creative professional based in Cameroon. He studied Maritime Administration at the University of Bamenda and lived and schooled in Nigeria for over 18 years, experiences that shaped his creativity, discipline, and global perspective. He is the founder of Xousiahub, a creative agency dedicated to helping brands, churches, businesses, influencers, and media companies build strong visual identities and digital experiences.

Through his work, Verso has helped clients strengthen their brand presence, create impactful content, and reach their audiences effectively. He has collaborated with Beyond Company LTD, supported media houses with livestream setups, built modern content creation studios, and managed operations at God Firm LTD.

Passionate about combining creativity, strategy, and technology, Verso focuses on delivering high-quality graphic design, brand identity development, media production, and livestream solutions. His goal is to help clients bring their ideas to life and make a meaningful impact through visual storytelling.

Verso Tafon is a certified graphic designer and creative professional based in Cameroon. He studied Maritime Administration at the University of Bamenda and lived and schooled in Nigeria for over 18 years, experiences that shaped his creativity, disc... Show more

Chevron is a gray wolf, gamer, and event host from New Jersey. He works with several VRChat-based convention groups like the Furality Online Xperience, TailBass, Misho's Feeshquarium, Lords of Floof, WaterWolf, Projekt Community, and xCirrex Media to create events and bring people together for fun nights, games, friendship, and great times. He hosts Thursday VRChat Games alongside NoxTheSergal and Scottish Gamer every week (which are often attended with full instances), as well as in-person gatherings monthly. He passionately embraces VRChat and its rave and convention scene, especially with Furnal Equinox, CozyCon, Projekt Community, WaterWolf, and the Furality Online Xperience. You'll find him most often sharing photos on his art galleries to help promote his favorite events and organizations. Furrydelphia, Furnal Equinox, and Anthro New England's first ever VRChat Meet-and-Greets and Intro Panels were co-hosted by TJCoyote, Chief, Chevron, Lilithe Lotor, mBlade, and members of the Fluffy Fur Friends. Motivated by the TailBass and Furality VRChat portals, Chevron is now working to set up VRChat portals and meets at other in-person conventions.

He serves as a Photographer for the Furality Online Xperience, operator for the Operations Department for WaterWolf, Events Host for Projekt Community, and a tournament co-host for xCirrex Media events.

Chevron's love and passion for Furnal Equinox motivated him to cosplay as "Badgie" (Virtual Furnal Equinox 2021's unofficial mascot made of nothing but attendee badges) at the in-person convention in 2022. He reprized his role in-person in 2023 and 2024, and also attends other conventions as "Badgie" who is often referred to as "Attendee Man."

Chevron first attended Furnal Equinox in March 2021 over VRChat. The experience was so enjoyable that he dared to compared his experience at Furnal Equinox to Furality 2000 (November 2020). This motivated him to attend the in-person Furnal Equinox convention for the first time in March 2022. The trip was a first of many for Chevron: His first time in Canada, first time using Lyft, and first time public suiting and marching in a fursuit parade. Chevron has now added Furnal Equinox to his list of yearly attended conventions.

A lifelong player of EVE Online, Mechwarrior, Armed Assault III, Halo, Command & Conquer, and Dance Dance Revolution, Chevron holds a particular appreciation for older games of the late 1990s-early 2000s, such as the first Ghost Recon (2002) and Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. His first video game was Mario on the original Game Boy when he was five years old. His admiration of cyberpunk and all things futuristic is on full display with his Illumi Cyberwear LED visor. His fursuit was made by Sarahcat. Outside of the fandom, he works in the IT industry as a cybersecurity administrator and is (jokingly) addicted to Mountain Dew.

Chevron's ultimate goal is to bring people together for fun and great times. He embraces the future with open arms and is eager to dive right into all the fun that can be had together with friends and the fandom.

Chevron is a gray wolf, gamer, and event host from New Jersey. He works with several VRChat-based convention groups like the Furality Online Xperience, TailBass, Misho's Feeshquarium, Lords of Floof, WaterWolf, Projekt Community, and xCirrex Media to... Show more

Katrina Owens is a podcast host, speaker, and personal branding and public relations strategist who helps founders and leaders turn their personal brand into a revenue-generating asset: one that attracts opportunities, partnerships, and long-term growth. Known for her strategic approach to PR and positioning, Katrina helps entrepreneurs become recognized authorities and convert that recognition into tangible outcomes, including paid speaking engagements, media features, brand partnerships, and scalable income.

After a decade working in corporate marketing and public relations, Katrina traded boardrooms for her own bold vision, launching her company to support ambitious founders, executives, and service-based business owners who are doing exceptional work but leaving money and opportunity on the table due to under-visibility.

Today, Katrina teaches business owners how to intentionally build “famous-feeling” personal brands that actively support business growth. Through her frameworks, coaching, and thought leadership, she shows clients how to position their expertise, tell stories that convert, and use PR and visibility as tools for expansion, without relying on expensive agencies or chasing influencer culture. Her clients have landed features in Vogue, The New York Times, top-charting podcasts, paid stages, and brand partnerships around the world by leveraging their personal brand as a strategic driver of income, influence, and long-term legacy.

Katrina Owens is a podcast host, speaker, and personal branding and public relations strategist who helps founders and leaders turn their personal brand into a revenue-generating asset: one that attracts opportunities, partnerships, and long-term gro... Show more

Jade Everage, aka Marketing Moonie, is a social media marketer whose passion is bringing marketing solutions to small businesses and creators in the nerd culture space. From cosplayers and con vendors to anime podcasts and geek‑brand startups, she helps micro‑brands tap into the growing fandom market economy with tailored marketing systems, community growth, content strategies.

Jade Everage, aka Marketing Moonie, is a social media marketer whose passion is bringing marketing solutions to small businesses and creators in the nerd culture space. From cosplayers and con vendors to anime podcasts and geek‑brand startups, she he... Show more

I’m a journalist, content creator, and speaker living in northern California Wine Country. My goal is to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in wine/spirits, food, and travel with a focus on the places, the products, and most importantly the people! My writing and video content can be seen in Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, VinePair, Haute Living San Francisco, Dwell, HotelsAbovePar, Wine Enthusiast, and many other media platforms. Follow me on Instagram @mrnoelburgess and YouTube @noelburgessonourway

I’m a journalist, content creator, and speaker living in northern California Wine Country. My goal is to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in wine/spirits, food, and travel with a focus on the places, the products, and most importantly t... Show more