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

Nikhil Mehra is a Senior Product Manager specializing in AI systems, data platforms, and product strategy. He focuses on architecting decision loops, data contracts, and human-in-the-loop patterns using high-velocity, real-time domains as a proving ground for scalable AI product design. His work spans automation frameworks and experimentation systems operating at scale in complex, multi-stakeholder environments. Nikhil writes and speaks on bridging the gap between AI model capabilities and practical product implementation, emphasizing system reliability, risk thresholds, and operational guardrails.

Nikhil Mehra is a Senior Product Manager specializing in AI systems, data platforms, and product strategy. He focuses on architecting decision loops, data contracts, and human-in-the-loop patterns using high-velocity, real-time domains as a proving g... 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

I'm a PR and communications professional helping tech companies turn complex ideas into stories that connect. With experience spanning cybersecurity, AI, SaaS, and consumer tech, I craft tailored media strategies that drive visibility, trust, and measurable growth.

Throughout my career, I’ve partnered with startups and established brands to secure high-impact coverage, build strong thought leadership profiles, and create communication strategies that truly resonate. My approach combines strategy, creativity, and data-driven storytelling, ensuring every pitch, campaign, or media placement serves a clear business goal.

I'm a PR and communications professional helping tech companies turn complex ideas into stories that connect. With experience spanning cybersecurity, AI, SaaS, and consumer tech, I craft tailored media strategies that drive visibility, trust, and mea... 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

With two decades of professional experience, my expertise in digital marketing and neuromarketing has been the cornerstone of my success. At La de Rojo Marketing & Talks, I have honed key skills in applied neuroscience and sensory marketing, consistently seeking creative solutions to drive growth and increase sales for the brands I collaborate with.

My passion for continuous learning and innovation is evident in every project and strategy I design, as my team and I work to maximize the impact of our digital campaigns and events, helping our clients achieve their business goals and strengthen their market presence. Additionally, I am the author of "STIMMA," a book on self-love and personal branding for success.

As a motivational, energetic, and charismatic speaker, I am dedicated to educating and entertaining your audience, ensuring they leave inspired and informed.

With two decades of professional experience, my expertise in digital marketing and neuromarketing has been the cornerstone of my success. At La de Rojo Marketing & Talks, I have honed key skills in applied neuroscience and sensory marketing, consiste... 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

Natalie Preddie is an award-winning Canadian travel journalist. author and on-air personality with bylines in international publications including National Geographic, Globe & Mail, Travel & Leisure and The Washington Post.

Natalie shares travel tips with national television & radio audiences on shows like Breakfast Television, Sirius XM and Montreal Now.

She is the host of the travel series, GET LOST with Natalie Preddie.

Most importantly, she is the mother of 3 little boys aged 4,6 and 8.

You can follow her travel adventures on social media and her site, nattyponline.com.

IG: @ _nattyp

Natalie Preddie is an award-winning Canadian travel journalist. author and on-air personality with bylines in international publications including National Geographic, Globe & Mail, Travel & Leisure and The Washington Post. Natalie shares travel... Show more

Jennifer Walton is a strategic narrative consultant and the founder of the Sky Nile Narrative Development Studio, where she helps Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and public sector organizations transform how they're understood, trusted, and chosen.

With over 15 years leading brand strategy across Abbott Nutrition, Nationwide Insurance, and Columbus Regional Transit Authority, Jennifer has built a reputation for solving the problem many leaders don't want to name: their story isn't working for them. She specializes in developing proprietary narrative frameworks that align leadership teams, activate culture, and create measurable market differentiation.

Jennifer's talks blend strategic rigor with cultural intelligence, delivering actionable frameworks that audiences can implement immediately. She speaks on corporate storytelling, authentic leadership, and how organizations can build narratives that drive belief, action, and long-term impact. Her approach is direct, practical, and designed for leaders who are tired of visibility without results.

She also writes The C.O.D.E., a weekly newsletter on LinkedIn teaching career "cheat codes" to ambitious professionals navigating organizational life.

Jennifer lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband and two daughters where she serves on a number of Boards, such as Zora's House, Girls Health Period, and the Columbus College of Art and Design. Community building is not just a passion, but a priority for her as the co-founder of GroundxGrind, a community social hub in her city that brings together people and programming in a thirdspace that's thriving.

Jennifer Walton is a strategic narrative consultant and the founder of the Sky Nile Narrative Development Studio, where she helps Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and public sector organizations transform how they're understood, trusted, and chosen... Show more

Jonny Ross is a Fractional CMO, digital strategist, and founder of the award-winning agency Fleek Marketing. With over 24 years’ experience in small business and more than two decades working in digital, Jonny helps organisations cut through the noise, build visibility, and turn their websites and marketing into genuine growth engines.

A former e-commerce business owner himself, Jonny brings a practical, commercial mindset to everything he does. His work focuses on modern SEO, content strategy, and discoverability in evolving search environments — including AI-driven platforms and generative search — always grounded in real customer behaviour and measurable outcomes.

Jonny works with leadership teams to clarify strategy, strengthen messaging, and build internal capability, often acting as the bridge between vision and execution. He’s known for translating complex digital concepts into clear, actionable insights that teams can actually use.

An experienced speaker, trainer, and event host, Jonny regularly talks about SEO, AI, content, and website strategy, with an emphasis on storytelling, trust, and long-term visibility. He is co-author of WebProud, host of the Jonny Ross Fractional CMO Podcast, and co-host of the 90-Day Website Mastery Podcast.

Jonny’s approach is simple: no gimmicks, no jargon — just smart strategy that helps businesses get found, chosen, and grow with confidence.

Jonny Ross is a Fractional CMO, digital strategist, and founder of the award-winning agency Fleek Marketing. With over 24 years’ experience in small business and more than two decades working in digital, Jonny helps organisations cut through the nois... Show more

17 years of experience in reporting, data analytics and business intelligence in finance, insurance and media.

17 years of experience in reporting, data analytics and business intelligence in finance, insurance and media. Show more