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      <image:title>Past Events - FestForums SF 2018 - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
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      <image:title>Past Events - FESTFORUMS NYC 2018 - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
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      <image:title>Past Events - FESTFORUMS SANTA BARBARA 2017 - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail</loc>
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    <lastmod>2024-07-22</lastmod>
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    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/syreeta-butler</loc>
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    <lastmod>2023-03-07</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/be7a7cba-60c2-4ca4-a7ec-dd4c614de831/syreeta+butler.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Syreeta Butler - Founder &amp; CEO of Just B. Consulting</image:title>
      <image:caption>Love, abundance and growth. These are just a few words that Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Syreeta Butler, lives by. Having been in practice for over 14 years, Syreeta began her mental health journey at a young age. Witnessing her own family’s struggle and dysfunction, she vowed to be the person to finally break the generational trauma her family was experiencing. Syreeta kept her promise to herself and enrolled in California State University-Northridge, where she received her undergraduate degrees in both Psychology and Af-Am Studies. Upon graduating, Syreeta wanted to further her knowledge in the psychology and mental health field. She then relocated to San Francisco, where she enrolled in the Graduate program at The California Institute of Integral Studies, receiving a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Holistic Psychology/Medicine. Syreeta’s unique approach to holistic developmental healing led her to create a lane that has broken barriers. After a chance encounter at a concert one evening, Syreeta met the owners of one of the top music labels – LVRN. She presented an idea to create a Mental Health &amp; Wellness Program within a music label. LVRN loved the idea, and brought Syreeta on board as a consultant to create an in-house program dedicated for the overall wellness of its artists and employees. Within a short period of time, Syreeta has been able to create a paradigm shift and create a new normal in the music industry and entertainment as a whole where mental health is seen as an important component of any successful career. Syreeta has experience helping clients heal from: childhood abuse (emotional, verbal, physical, sexual), lack of attention, affection and nurturing in childhood, post-traumatic stress disorder, heartbreak recovery, divorce issues, betrayal, affair recovery, anxiety, depression, grief, anger, emotional abandonment, physical abandonment, career issues and racial trauma. Through her fluid therapeutic approach, Syreeta excels by creating spaces where there is a foundation of those three feelings, allowing people to have the courage to explore the depths of their soul and their fears because they know there is no judgment. Syreeta consistently and successfully challenges every person she encounters to “Just Be”.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/ticia-bernuth-agri</loc>
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    <lastmod>2023-01-26</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/24e024b7-af6e-495b-9ae5-e686ab5002d2/Ticia.Bernut.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Ticia Bernuth Agri - The year 1969 turned life upside for Ticia Bernuth Agri as it did for many of the people who became part of the original crew of the “The Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace &amp; Music – more universally known now simply as the single word “Woodstock”. Before becoming Michael Lang’s aide, right hand, protector and side kick Agri had visited 72 countries between ages 19 though 21, and attended college at NYU, Columbia and Suny where she graduated mastering Italian, French and Spanish as well. Even those astonishing adventures could barely have prepared Agri or anyone for Woodstock, yet her calm demeanor, gravity and equanimity, served the Festival and producer Michael Lang well. Agri’s attitude contributed greatly to the reassurance often needed at any given time that Woodstock could indeed unfold as it did. Involved in every aspect and every negotiation, with Michael Lang at her side, Ticia Agri was everywhere and part of everything that was happening, often all at once. Following Woodstock Agri became a body worker specializing in The Rolf Technique - Structural Integration and other healing modalities for over 30 years. She married, raised two children and studied Plant Spirit Medicine, Integrative Manual Therapy and Shamanism as well. Agri opened The Light and Healing Center in Exeter NH raising money for the Bon Tibetan Orphanage and Temple in India housing Tibetan refugees. Her recent work includes The Ribbon Breath Meditation teaching and she is currently writing a book “Journey to Woodstock”. Agri is a part of the circle of Woodstock veterans who regularly gather to recall and remember the vision that animated the creation of the Festival which many of those original crew continue to embrace – one of Peace and Love. Agri lives in Maine with her family</image:title>
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    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/stephen-parker</loc>
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    <lastmod>2023-01-18</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1674067279300-4OOFTQTPU8PX8EHKYX7J/stephen.parker.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Stephen Parker - The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) has appointed Stephen Parker as its new Executive Director to lead the organization. David Hazan, music industry executive, will be interviewing Stephen Parker on Wednesday February 1, 2023 at FestForums in his first live interview since assuming the position. "Parker’s previous experience, which includes working for the National Governors Association, the Country Music Association, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine and the National Guard, should serve him well as he leads the independent venue sector through what is an uneven financial recovery in economically uncertain times for many of its roughly 1,000 members" states Pollstar.</image:title>
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    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/chris-bullard</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
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    <lastmod>2023-01-17</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/c9db6992-b488-4a67-b488-5e17620fc425/Chris.Bullard.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Chris Bullard - Chris Bullard is the founder and Executive Director of Sound Mind Live, a nonprofit building community and open dialogue on mental health through the power of music. Sound Mind produces the annual Sound Mind Music Festival for Mental Health, which has featured acts ranging from Jason Isbell to All Time Low to Big Boi and over 30 mental health partners. The organization also produces a mental health video series with Billboard Magazine &amp; National Alliance on Mental Illness, the "Going There with Dr. Mike" podcast with Consequence Media, and activates audiences around mental health in partnership with venues, festivals, and artist tours around the country.  Chris began his career as a touring musician, performing with acts such as Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. Subsequent to receiving his MBA, Chris oversaw portfolio management at Acumen, a global non-profit impact investing fund focused on poverty alleviation. Chris founded Sound Mind Live based on personal experience overcoming mental health stigma after he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, after starting a music support program for those affected by mental health issues at the National Alliance on Mental Illness in New York City. Chris holds a BA from University of Southern California and an MBA from Fordham University.</image:title>
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    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/irene-soriano</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
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    <lastmod>2023-01-17</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/be8d3844-831a-4c43-882c-3eeeea24505c/Irene.Soriano.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Irene Soriano - IRENE SORIANO is a writer, film curator, and independent arts producer living in Los Angeles. Irene joined the Sundance Film Festival in 2022 as a Film Programmer and worked with the programming team to curate this year's short films section. She was also selected to be part of the inaugural class of Outfest Fusion's Programming Fellowship, an initiative where Fellows screen and curate titles for the 2022 &amp; 2023 Outfest Fusion QTBIPOC Film Festival. Irene was Film Independent/Project Involve's first Fellow under the Film Programming track in 2003 and has since curated film programs for the Echo Park Film Center, Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), and the Festival of Philippine Arts &amp; Culture. In addition, she has served on various film festival programming committees, including the Los Angeles Film Festival, Film Independent's Project Involve, Outfest, and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.</image:title>
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    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/bryan-brand</loc>
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    <lastmod>2023-01-17</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/a6496803-afa8-4ea3-8dc4-7b6c9e24b430/Bryand.Brand.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Bryan Brand - Bryan Brand, VP of Business Development at Ticketsauce. Bryan's background includes over 12 years of entrepreneurship, business development, operations and leadership. Bryan co-founded NIGHTOUT, an online ticketing and event discovery platform for the live entertainment space in 2012, which merged with Ticketsauce, the leading white labeled ticketing software for live events in Q2 of 2021. Bryan now leads the business development team at Ticketsauce focused on providing event producers with robust white labeled ticketing software backed by world class support.</image:title>
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    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/cr-capers</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
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    <lastmod>2023-01-12</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/4c2583bb-660d-4827-ab40-b1a8a26660d8/CR.CAPERS.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - CR Capers - CR Capers is the Founder and CEO of Harlem Film House, a 501(c) (3) corporation that turns artists into creative entrepreneurs. In her role as Executive Director, CR creates and produces film &amp; music festivals and operates year-round workshops, theatre productions and live events, while also offering business consulting to filmmakers and content creators in underserved communities around the world.  In 2019, she founded the Harlem Film House MetaVerse, forging a path for equity, opportunity and ownership through immersive storytelling and experientials. She has produced over 350 immersive events, bringing over 50k people into the metaverse under her metaverse and XR experiential and branding company 3VM.  She also founded the Mall of the MetaVerse, and established the groundbreaking program META FILM WORKS, creating a true community economy in the metaverse for creatives and entrepreneurs alike. She is the founder and director of the award-winning Hip Hop Film Festival, named “BEST NEW FILM FESTIVAL THE UNITED STATES”.</image:title>
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    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/jeffrey-weber</loc>
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    <lastmod>2023-01-11</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1673462742746-GT2H6KU72YITRZH85T3U/Jeffrey.Weber.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Jeffrey Weber - Jeffrey Weber has been a widely-recognized music industry professional for over forty years. He has produced over 200 CDs with releases on just about every major label as well as a host of independent labels. Along the way, his projects have yielded two Grammys, seven Grammy nominations, at least seventeen top ten albums, two number one albums and an assortment of other honors. His books, “You Sound Amazing! Every Single Lie of the Music Business,” “Pandemic Side Effects – A Tragic Comedy of Unintended Consequences,” "You've Got A Deal! The Biggest Lies of the Music Business" and “We’ll Get Back To You! Even Bigger Lies Of The Music Business” are all published by Headline Books. During his forty-year career in the music industry, he has founded, ran or participated in various label capacities from A&amp;R, Music Supervision for film and TV, Production, Interactive Programming, Marketing, Sales, International Relations, Business Affairs and Art Director for dozens of independent labels as well as his own labels, Weberworks Entertainment Group and Stark Raving Records. His productions have also appeared on every major label including MCA, Warner Bros., Atlantic, BMG, Columbia, A&amp;M, Elektra as well as such labels as GRP, Hip-O, Sheffield, Concord, Bainbridge, Silver Eagle, Zebra, among countless others. Among the many artists that have fallen under the banner of “Produced by...” include: Nancy Wilson, David Benoit, Steve Lukather, the Utah Symphony, Jackson Browne, Marcus Miller, Michael McDonald, Bill Champlin, Gerald Albright, Tom Scott, Chick Corea, Stanley Clark, Etta James, Linda Hopkins, Kenny Burrell, McCoy Tyner, Jackie McLean, Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big), Cozzy Powell, the Count Basie Orchestra, Cindy Blackman Santana, Buster Williams, John Sebastian, Ronnie Dio, Ritchie Blackmore, Pat Boone, Buddy Miles, Billy Preston, MC Lyte, Kenny Rankin, Diane Reeves, Diane Schuur, Rita Coolidge, Luther Vandross, David Crosby, Simon Phillips, Jeff Porcaro, Patrice Rushen, Toni Tennille, among many others. Jeff has been a concert, event and music festival producer for over twenty years with extensive experience in concert management and production, staging, lighting, video and audio from the smallest of venues to large stadium shows. He has produced shows for Facebook, the Los Angeles Soul Music Festival, Habitat For Humanity, Atlantis Resort, NASCAR, the Breeder's Cup, Chicago White Sox, Cystic Fibrosis, Fallsview Casino and Resort, Ford, Harry Caray's, KTLA, Loehmann's Department Store, Lupus L.A., National Association of Music Merchants, National Cable and Telecommunications Association, Netflix, Orange County Flyers, Pebble Beach Pro-Am, AT&amp;T, Dockers, Shore Club-South Beach, Taste Of Chicago, USAA, American Idol and The Tonight Show among many others. Stark Raving Press, Weber’s next gen novella length eBook publishing company launched in 2013. The roster includes NY Times Bestselling authors, Pulitzer Prize winners and an assortment of other highly lauded authors. The company has national and international distribution and focuses on mysteries, crime fiction, action/adventure, thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, horror, women’s literature, romance and non-fiction. Each of their titles is $2.99 or less. Jeff is in high demand as a consultant to the financial industry on a multitude of music industry related matters. To date, he has consulted with such companies as Canyon Capital Advisors, Samlyn Capital LLC, Fleishman-Hillard, Inc., Morgan Stanley, MSD Capital (UK) Limited, BlackRock, Fidelity Investments, Apollo Investment Corp., Goldman Sachs, Putnam Investments, KPMG LLP and Scopia Capital, LLC. Recently, Weber finalized his, from the ground up, re-definition of the business model for a record label that he firmly believes will be the architecture for all labels in the future. Weber’s model has embraced a complete slate of innovative concepts and procedures, ranging from the manner in which artist contracts are conceived and implemented to recording procedures, to innovations in sales, marketing and promotion. Designed to reinvent and re-energize the relationships between the artist and the label and the artist and the consumer, the model establishes format-breaking levels of transparency and unique partnerships in all label/artist/fan relationships. His innovative concepts were the operational foundations for two independent labels distributed by Fontana (Universal). At the time, he was named President of both labels. Jeff is well known for his involvement in high technology recording techniques, especially live two track recording, live multi-track and digital recording. Because of their sonic excellence, his recordings have been repeatedly selected by major hardware manufacturers to demonstrate their product lines. Jeff is very active as a music supervisor for film, television and cable. He specializes in cost effective synchronization and master use license acquisition strategies as well as production based music options. Jeff co-founded and programmed Studio M, a nationwide broadcast television network that utilized their growing 28,000 music video library to broadcast multiple genre based music video shows. It was on the air seven days a week, for five hours a day to an estimated audience of thirty million homes. In addition to music production, Jeff has spent over twenty years behind the microphone as a voice-over talent for commercials, cartoons, industrial films, infomercials, live web broadcasting, and television. He has done voice work for Huawei, Interscope (Guns &amp; Roses), Toyota, Nissan, Ford, VR Troopers, the Ventura County Star newspaper chain, Play It Again Sports, Sony, Boston Acoustics, Audio Source, the BBC, the Jazz Network, Dejaun Jewelers, the Los Angeles Zoo, CBS and Warner Bros., among countless others. He continues to be extremely active in this field. Well versed in video production, Jeff has written, produced and directed over two-dozen music based concerts and videos. For one project, he produced a 12 camera, High Definition, robotic, five-channel surround sound DVD/CD for a rock and roll cover band comprised of famous television actors who traveled the country raising money for their selected charities. He traveled with the band, producing all their live concerts for over five years. He has been a music journalist with articles in major industry publications nationwide. He has received numerous awards as an art director and many of his album cover designs have been published in ”Best of...” annual publications. As an educator, he has taught courses on the music industry at universities and law schools (he has a law degree as well) across the country. Jeff is a lifetime member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) as well as a former Governor, National Trustee and Chapter Vice President. Jeff can be contacted at jeffreyweber@me.com, or by cell at 805-701-4890.</image:title>
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    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/jordan-harris</loc>
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    <lastmod>2023-01-11</lastmod>
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      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Jordan Harris - Jordan Harris is a sports and entertainment executive with extensive event production and marketing experience currently serving as Vice President, Events for the Los Angeles Times. Prior to the LA Times he was the General Manager, Wynn Partnership for Blue Wire Podcasts where he was responsible for establishing and running operations at the content studio inside Wynn Las Vegas while also managing sponsorships, talent and revenue generation for the venue. Jordan has also worked for Intel within their sports division as the Global Events Director after spending close to a decade at IMG partnering with clients, talent and brands on marketing, activations, sponsorships, events and business development. Jordan graduated from UC Irvine and earned an MBA from NYU Stern, with concentrations in Finance and Entertainment, Media &amp; Technology. He also played collegiate basketball at Colgate University before transferring to UC Irvine before going on to play for professional leagues in Germany, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg and Kuwait. Jordan is married with two children, Baldwin (2) and Axel (4 months).</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/steve-levy</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-01-06</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/2211744f-c69a-4966-9f9e-af5df1943f67/Steve.Levy.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Steve Levy - 30-year industry veteran in the music and live event business as a founder and at C-Level. Head of Marketing and Digital at Insomniac Events from 2017-2020. Oversaw new strategies and processes that drove two years of significant YOY growth. Reorganized, hired and rebuilt internal marketing, sales and content teams. Led marketing and sales for 8 large scale festival brands and approximately 200 events with 1.5 million tickets a year sold. Headhunted to join Virgin’s new live event and festival business as CMO in March 2020. Through his Clanger Digital consultancy business recently led marketing and sales for 2022 Imagine (Atlanta) and Wonderfront (San Diego) festivals and advised for numerous music, tech and event businesses. Founder of seminal record label Moonshine Music and BPM Network which was acquired in 2016.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/christopher-breedlove</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-01-05</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/3fde2c92-a1c3-4549-8e18-c7cca5966b6a/Christopher.Breedlove.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Christopher Breedlove - Christopher Breedlove is an American designer, community builder and experiential producer. Christopher currently works as the Director of Civic Activation at the Burning Man Project where he oversees the Burners Without Borders (BWB), Regional Network, Global Art Grants and Civic Arts programs and sits on the leadership group for the burning Man Environmental Sustainability Roadmap in San Francisco, California. At Burning Man Project Christopher has spearheaded several strategy expansions for BWB including developing the Civic Ignition Grant Program, and the Mobile Resource Unit (MRU). While creating a more decentralized leadership system he has expanded the education offerings with online meet-ups, toolkits, and in-person summits in Norther Nevada, as well as overseen several response projects including Standing Rock, Calais Refugee Camp, and a series of disaster relief projects. As an educator, Christopher speaks on several topics that include: Burning Man, Culture Building, Design Thinking for Social Impact, Community building and Art as Social Dialogue. He Also hosts several workshops including: Democratic Grant Giving, Human Centered Design (HCD), and Collaborative Effigy Building.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/rob-weekes</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-01-05</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/702ced86-838d-463b-befb-66f693cf718e/Rob.Weekes.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Rob Weekes - In 1997 while on shore duty in the Navy on active-duty Rob was ﬁrst introduced to entertainment security as a part-time security staff member at Blockbuster Pavilion in Devore, CA.. Rob quickly emerged from the ranks into more supervisory roles and established himself as leader moving into a venue operations position with SFX, later Clear Channel, which is now Live Nation. His ability to successfully manage events gained him much attention and ultimately elevated him to high proﬁle positions managing the security aspects in festivals, amphitheaters, touring, and numerous special events. Rob has been instrumental in the early development of safety and security plans during the opening stages for several facilities and special events.   Rob retired from the Navy in 2010, moving into an entertainment position at San Manuel Indian Bingo &amp; Casino.  For the next three years Rob set the standard in entertainment, managing a lounge, night club, and the main event room from load-in to load-out to include his face and voice opening nearly every event as the MC.  The experience gained during his three-year hitch at San Manuel established is path to a high standard of performance. After leaving the casino, Rob took on security management roles with Goldenvoice, Live Nation, and independently with 12 new and upcoming festivals.  Rob also had his run booking and promoting the NAMM Rock n Bowl raising money for the Wounded Warrior Foundation, a handful of youth music events, and VIP services for Veterans through his company Black Ticket VIP.   Come 2015 Rob was involved in 26 different events to include all the major music award ceremonies, some of the largest music festivals at home and abroad, along with training and tours.  Just as an offer was on the table to tour with a major artist, Rob was offered a job as the Director of Security for Insomniac Events.  Understanding the challenges from the past, Rob quickly established protocols which lowered guest issues and raised the bar for the company's safety which assisted in Insomniac's return to Los Angeles.  During his time with Insomniac, Rob was asked to assist in writing protocols for Live Nation Festivals where his input will have a positive effect on live music for years to come. At the end of 2018 marked a big change for Rob as he started his own safety and security management company known as LIVE Management Consulting (LMC).  Since the beginning, LMC has been involved in events and tours all over the world.  LMC is known as "The Fixers", going into events to fix past issues and help promoters get back on track operationally and on budget.  LMC currently manages safety for a wide range of clients internationally and focuses on the safety of all.  In 2021 Rob went on a 52-stop national bus tour with Post Modern Jukebox.  As the COVID Compliance Manager there were zero COVID cases, zero cancellations, which were plaguing the touring industry.   In 2022 Rob took on the role of Security Director for The STROKES Band for Headline Security Management Ltd.  The STROKES started the year with festivals in South America, Europe, and Australia later joining the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the U.S., ending the year with a few private events.</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/david-hazan</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-01-05</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/5d7e2606-3ff7-44e5-ab94-8dda6b3c6c3b/David.Hazan.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - David Hazan - Founder DLH Strategic Marketing   For more than 25 years David Hazan has held executive positions at top music and media companies, most recently as Head of North America for Midem, a leading b2b event serving the global music community.   David’s deep music marketing experience includes senior positions held at The Orchard, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, VH1/MTV Networks, Putumayo World Music, and Wind-up Records where, earlier in his career as Executive VP of Sales and Marketing, he directed the marketing and release campaigns for multi-platinum Grammy winners Evanescence. Over the course of his career, he has consulted 30+ tech, brand, media, event and festival clients including SoundExchange, Myxt.com, AudioShake, Festicket, Ottawa Bluesfest, CID Entertainment, found.ee, Stay22, AEG Network Live, Audible Reality, Omnispace360, Cirque Eloize, Microsoft, .dotmusic, Xlrator Media, MDIIO, TVT, Qrates, Shout! Factory, Mobile Backstage, GigSalad, as well as the O’Cannabiz, GrowUp and Canadian Music Week conferences, where he continues to curate multiple panels, events and hackathons.   He is a frequent speaker, interviewer and moderator at leading industry events around the world including Music Tectonics, IEG, SXSW, MusicBiz, Amplify, Canadian Music Week, Midem, Mondo NYC, Indie Week, Screen x Screen, Music Pro Summit, Indie 101, NOLA Music Tech, and MU:CON among others.   David has also worked at leading experiential marketing agencies including US Concepts/MKTG and EMCI/Rockbill, where he ran their London office.   David lives in Nyack, NY with his family.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/jeffrey-abramson</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-01-04</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/9e0522b6-d85b-49ab-88d5-0d5a2b5dadf0/Jeffrey.Ab.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Jeffrey Abramson - Jeffrey has over 20 years of experience at the intersection of entertainment, media technology, and brand strategy for start-ups and Fortune 100 companies.  He’s dedicated his career to empowering innovators, storytellers, experience and product makers through entrepreneurial strategies and pioneering technologies that enhance audience experiences and engagement. As a seasoned creative strategist, partnerships and marketing executive, program director and producer – he has led many companies through uncharted territory.  Most recently he led partner marketing for Meta’s virtual events and social audio content products and oversaw the virtual reality creative and business ecosystem at Discovery Inc.  He has also served as an XR programming consultant for Sundance, Tribeca and EarthX Film Festivals. Previously he was Co-President of the film, fashion, music and art events and experiential marketing firm Gen Art, where he also served as the Director of the annual Gen Art Film Festival. Over the course of his career he has worked for many influential media, tech, brands, agencies and cultural organizations including Miramax Films, Canon, Sunshine Sachs, The Intelligence Group and The Marketing Arm, and with partners including Amazon, Acura, Cadillac, Google, REI, Starbucks, Toyota, MySpace, Texas Instruments, Nokia SXSW, VidCon and most film studios. He currently is operating as an independent consultant.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/jackson-gillies</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-12-28</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/6bd6b769-7b19-4fd9-a6d9-0380134fc7da/jackson.gilles.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Jackson Gillies - Jackson Gillies is a 23-year-old singer/songwriter/musician residing in Santa Barbara, California. Jackson’s short 5 years of being a performing artist include highlights like placing top 68 on the 2019 season of American Idol (of which the audition has over FB 28 million views), giving the first ever TEDx Talk about his skin condition called “Hidradenitis Suppurativa” or “HS,” winning the title of “Santa Barbara Teen Star” in 2016, and independently releasing 4 singles that have amassed hundreds of thousands of online streams.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/hearty-har</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-12-28</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/fede4e12-82ad-4990-bf37-2a62833c0242/hearty+har+copy.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Hearty Har - Hearty Har is a psychedelic rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2012. Led by brothers Shane Fogerty (guitar/vocals) and Tyler Fogerty (guitar/vocals), Hearty Har has come to be known for their exciting and raucous live shows, which blend modern psychedelia with classic garage rock and roll. Imagine a neon lightning bolt extending from the stage and reaching deep into your heart, down to your feet, then through the ground to the Earth's core. Now you have an idea of Hearty Har's live show.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/david-segall</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-12-28</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/34173e7c-a141-494a-a7a2-bd3c57a22048/David.Segall.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - David Segall - Raised on roots-rock and soul, singer-songwriter David Segall began his career in Santa Barbara at the age of 17. He has since performed throughout the U.S., Europe, and Costa Rica. David collaborated with producer and multi-instrumentalist Jesse Siebenberg (Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Supertramp) on his latest recordings and has shared the stage with Michael MacDonald and Zach Gill (Jack Johnson, ALO).  David and his band play regularly at festivals and private events throughout California, including Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Summer Solstice, Harbor Fest, and Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival.  Inspired by the upbeat vibes of Jason Mraz, Bob Marley, and Paul Simon, David's soul-stirring songs and world beat grooves get his audiences up on their feet and dancing.  Deeply inspired by nature and the ocean, David’s music emerges from his life experiences as a Yogi, surfer, and sailor. His songs carry a universal message of love, self-empowerment and “being the change” we wish to see in the world.  David is frequently sought after to perform at charity events, such as Santa Barbara Channel Keeper, Youth Interactive, Rally 4 Kids, and the Surf Happens Foundation, to name a few. He is currently in the studio working on his third E.P. and gearing up for a West Coast tour. Growing up in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, David first started performing on stage at the iconic Roy’s when he was seventeen. He studied Voice and Performing Arts while at UCSB, where he graduated from the B.F.A. Acting program. After college, his music led him to Los Angeles to record his first album. Three years later, he ventured on to Chicago, where he fronted the group Modern Conversation, released three EP’s, and toured across the Midwest and East Coast. After four years away from the ocean, David returned to Santa Barbara in 2012, started living on a sailboat, and began writing the songs for his latest studio release, Godspeed.</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/shawn-jones</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-12-28</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d600ce97-4df0-4d59-9f7b-2d8c3adfba3b/Shawn.Jones+copy+2.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Shawn Jones - With a new blistering blues/rock trio album, winning the SCBS Battle Of The Blues Bands, and several European tours gaining him thousands of new fans, it's obvious Shawn Jones is on a roll!. Recently Shawn was invited to guest as opener for the five time Grammy winning legend Robert Cray on a 16 date theater tour of the UK. “The response and CD sales were overwhelming!”, says Shawn. With five studio albums and one live album under his belt, Shawn’s skills as a seasoned songwriter, guitarist and vocalist make him one of the most dynamic and relevant artists on today’s music scene. With over 25 years of touring experience, Shawn stays true to form of his influences. Growing up in the heartland of Southern California, one of Shawn’s earliest recollections as a boy was listening to his father singing and playing the guitar, which then led him to follow his dreams as a professional musician. He’s shared bills with many renowned musicians, including B.B. King, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Leon Russell, Derek Trucks, Robben Ford, Joe Bonamassa, and many others. Shawn has been touring in excess of 200 dates a year, creating new fans and followers everywhere he performs, which includes the U.S., Ireland, United Kingdom and European Union. His variety of performances capture his audience whenever he’s playing an acoustic set that highlights his soulful voice and incredible guitar skills or rocking the crowd with his band of world class musicians.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/ash-hoyle</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-12-20</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/522de908-7399-446a-8f5a-afb221350d50/Ash.H.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Ash Hoyle - Ash is a features Programmer at the Sundance Film Festival. He focuses on both fiction, nonfiction, and Midnight. He has previously worked at Sundance as an Associate Programmer for shorts and features and to support Director of Programming, Kim Yutani. Ash has also worked as the Director of Programming of Damn These Heels Film Festival, run by the Utah Film Center, as well as a Senior Programmer at Outfest Los Angeles and a Programmer at Palm Springs Shorts Fest. Ash is a 2021 Project Involve Fellow on Film Independent’s programming track and has also been involved in programming, NewFest NY, Sun Valley Film Festival, Overlook Film Festival, and AFI Fest and worked in production at ABC, Mssng Peces, and The Annoyance Theater. Ash is originally from Philadelphia, PA and holds a dual degree in Film &amp; English from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/amanda-phelan</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-12-13</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/05d4189f-f8de-4c3e-90f2-f0ac8409b9ca/AmandaPhalen.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Amanda Phelan - Amanda Phelan has over 8 years of experience in talent booking and artist representation ranging from agency touring to festival promotion. She is the current Director of Talent at Danny Wimmer Presents after joining in 2019 from United Talent Agency.  Amanda oversees all booking, curation, and deal negotiations across the various talent integrated platforms at DWP.</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/lawrence-peryer</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-12-06</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/0d2afc3f-d97b-45e9-a49a-fcb78e7cba5e/Lawrence.P.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Lawrence Peryer - Lawrence Peryer (LP) is the Chief Commercial Officer of Lyte, the technology platform reimagining e-commerce for top festivals, events and artists everywhere. In an industry where the standard is “no refunds,” Lyte's mission is to fill every seat with real ticket holders at fair prices and make the entire experience magical and simple for fans. As Lyte continues to expand their roster of partners (with the last year seeing its most successful four quarters to date), LP and his team oversee the company's revenue functions, including: Research and Analysis, Business Development, Partnerships, Sales, Solutions and Client Services.  Working at the crossroads of technology, creative media, commerce and community, Lawrence Peryer (LP) develops business products and solutions that brings fans closer to the artists, experiences and music they love. As a commentator, LP has become a go-to resource for his analysis on the trends and challenges within the entertainment industry. He has recently been interviewed by Rolling Stone, Bloomberg, Billboard Magazine, Hollywood Reporter and Wall Street Journal. His speaking and panelist engagements have included repeat appearances at the Billboard Touring Conference, among others. He is a published writer on both business and cultural topics, involved in his community as the Arts Commissioner for the City of Normandy Park, and sits on the advisory board of NIVA, the National Independent Venue Association. He also created and hosts Lyte’s weekly podcast, Spotlight On… – distributed by Osiris Media – where he has candid conversations with key names in music, sports, business, entertainment and the arts.</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/eddie-bernard</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-12-06</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/6fbd759d-52cb-4bba-aedc-c88be2f74e94/Eddie.Bernard.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Eddie Bernard - Lead Producer - Asbury Park Music and Film FestivalSponsorship Acquisitions - Rock The Bells FestivalProducer - Landmark Nuart Film Festival (Los Angeles)Eddie has built a career out of early adopting, data driven, digital strategies resulting in micro-targeted impressions applied to live-event promotion and ticket sales, offering expertise in planning and executing unforgettable marketing programs and events within the music, film and entertainment festival industries.Eddie was a beta-tester for Facebook’s initial pre launch over 17 years ago. He immediately recognized the platforms potentials in marketing and advertising through social media and started his own social agency, CYAN Marketing, in 2006, which was quickly engulfed by marketing conglomerate Allied Integrated Marketing. Here, he found early indicators of success by designing a social campaign for legendary DJ Tiesto, taking him to over 10 million Facebook followers in a single US tour. He recently conducted sponsorship acquisitions and digital marketing campaigns for Guerilla Union - creator of the worlds largest hip hop music festival, (Rock The Bells) featuring artists like Snoop Dogg, Wu Tang, Wiz Kahlifa, Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, Lauryn Hill, and many more. Building coinciding digital/on-site activations for companies like Toyota, Vitamin Water, Monster Energy, Kingston Technology, Boost Mobile, and more - connecting with young music-fan audiences through creative and interactive ways. On the film side, has implemented campaigns for major studios: Universal, Fox Home Entertainment, Sony Home Video, Sony Pictures Classics, Roswell Studios (Dave Grohl) and others to increase awareness and sales of various film projects through digital advertising and events. Eddie has built Facebook pages and social campaigns for 3 Academy Award winning films including “Whiplash” “Blue Jasmine” and “Midnight in Paris”. Eddie is one of 3 lead producers for The Asbury Park Music and Film Festival- a hybrid event started in 2015 and has grown into a staple event in the Tri State area. With appearances and performances from Bruce Springsteen, Danny DeVito, David Crosby, Jakob Dylan, Wycleff Jean, Sublime with Rome, Don Cheadle, Cameron Crowe, Gov't Mule, Michael Franti, and so many more.Additionally, Eddie created several “venue takeovers” at The Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, and Toronto Film Festivals - programming venues with fully produced and sponsored “after-parties” for competition films, featuring an array of talent including Danny DeVito, Bruce Springsteen,  Jack White, Ashton Kutcher, Jessica Alba, Adam Corolla, Jimmy Page, David Crosby,  helping connect with potential distributors. Most recently, Eddie is a digital marketing consultant for Landmark Theaters, developing new traffic funnels and ticket-conversion tactics. He is also a digital event producer and social strategist for Steven Van Zandt's educational based foundation, TeachRock.org. He recreationally plays drums, guitar, and hockey, and coaches a youth hockey program in Santa Barbara California.</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/chris-stills</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-12-01</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/ccaedfbf-0f85-4c62-a409-42456e52e17f/Chris.Stills1.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Chris Stills - No matter how much life twists and turns, it always brings us where we’re meant to be… Chris Stills is a celebrated troubadour who’s releases include his debut album 100 Year Thing produced by Ethan Johns, on through to the eponymous Chris Stills and most-recently, Don’t Be Afraid where Chris reconnected with that “California kid who loves Leon Russell and Tom Petty”. Raised between California and France, Chris has cultivated his music internationally along side a successful acting career where he’s played Julius Caesar in the top-grossing French musical Cleopatra-The Last Queen of Egypt. Stills went on to also appear opposite Mélanie Laurent in in the French film Requiem for a Killer and later landed a foot firmly in both music and acting camps when his contributions to the long-running US hit series of Shameless led to a regular guest spot across two seasons of the show. Chris’s music is sought-after in film and television including his songs “Live To Live” on American Hustle and Black Betty in Hot Pursuit. He also sang the Bee Gees’ “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” in the Oscar winning movie I, Tonya.</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/benise</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-12-01</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/0f24f88d-afa7-4bc6-91f1-682e91ee40eb/Benise+-+Flamenco+Dancers.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Benise - Since the age of eleven (when he received his first guitar), BENISE practiced relentlessly, completely self-taught, mastering a variety of different styles that were eventually to become his own unique sound. Though unable to read a single note, he began composing original works with powerful emotional arrangements that are both wild and refined, producing a sound that is as edgy and exotic as it is romantic and sensual. “I’m always inspired by places I’ve traveled,” says BENISE, “so I’ll try to capture the essence and beauty of the different places in my melodies. It’s truly like painting on air--creating colors and lush soundscapes that take people (and me) away to a safe place with no prejudice and no boundaries.” Leaving his family and friends in the Midwest to move 1500 hundred miles away from home to Los Angeles with nothing more than his guitar, he held in his heart the encouragement from his parents to “work hard and have faith.” After being turned down by almost every club in Los Angeles, BENISE started performing on the streets. It was not uncommon for BENISE to put on over 200 shows a year, sometimes playing 2 to 3 events in a single day. Tourists from around the world and native Angelinos alike took to BENISE like the “Pied Piper” of Spanish guitar. From there, the path of his music took on a life of its own, effortlessly opening doors along the way to attract musicians, dancers and cirque performers, eventually creating the extended family that is now known simply as his namesake, “BENISE.” BENISE started to promote his own concerts, selling out 2,000 seat theaters through Southern California. A natural performer, BENISE held audiences captive with exotic drums, Gypsy violin, Flamenco dancers, Cirque performers, Brazilian Samba dancers and percussionists, African tribal drummers, Havana horns, and brilliant theatrical lighting to create and unforgettable experience. In addition to organizing stunning live shows, BENISE took his career by the reins by producing, arranging and releasing 15 albums on his own independent record label, Spanish Guitar Entertainment, plus 6 DVDs. The recordings capture the expressive Spanish guitar arrangements that stem from influences around the world, carrying listeners to such culturally rich destinations as Spain, Africa, Brazil, the Mediterranean, Cuba, India and Egypt.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/skip-martin</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-12-01</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/bd1ebc98-d5a1-4394-aba9-a39ade7b62c7/DSC00946.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Skip Martin - Skip Martin is a Grammy Award winning artist, songwriter, producer and author, best known for his tenure as a lead singer and trumpeter for two legendary groups, Kool &amp; the Gang and The Dazz Band. His achievements include MOBO Outstanding Achievement Award, Platinum &amp; Gold Record recipient, R&amp;B Song of the Year, six consecutive Top 100 albums, two Top 100 singles, to name a few. He is also a music savant as Skip was the youngest person ever to perform at Monterey Jazz. With his newest project, “People Get Ready”, Skip asked 28 of his musician friends to be a part of this heartfelt crusade to aid the children of St. Jude Research Hospital during COVID – artists include Stevie Wonder, Taylor Dayne, Neal McCoy, Ray Parker Jr., John Elefante, Kevin Chalfant, Doug E Fresh, Robert Kool Bell, Pastor John P Kee and more.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/jesse-colin-young</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-12-01</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/4e6255d8-0871-47e9-8a8a-5550299abe14/unnamed.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Jesse Colin Young - A pioneer of American roots music for more than half a century, Jesse Colin Young has left a unique mark on the intersecting worlds of folk, blues, jazz, country, and rock &amp; roll. As the frontman of the Youngbloods, he immortalized the ideals of the Woodstock generation with "Get Together," an international hit that called for peace and brotherhood during the turbulent 1960s. During the decades that followed, Young expanded both his audience and his artistic range, releasing a string of solo albums that mixed socially-conscious lyrics with top-tier guitar skills and gorgeous vocals. An acclaimed songwriter, singer, instrumentalist, producer, label owner, podcast host, and longtime social/environmental activist, he has established a permanent place in America's musical landscape, while continuing to make modern music that's every bit as vital as his work during the countercultural era.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/teddy-jack</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-12-01</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/39beee8f-aa7b-4034-ab1f-55688be90c40/IMG_3543.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Teddy Jack - Teddy Jack is a singer, songwriter, producer, and guitarist. The musician launched his career in the 2000s following in the footsteps of his famous father, Leon Russell. Teddy’s self-titled debut album Teddy Jack(2002) was released under his father’s Leon Russell Shelter Records. As it is, his father contributed to the writing of some of the songs which likely explains why their music has a close resemblance. This is felt in the mix of funk, jazz, and pop despite Teddy’s music being described as featureless and strained at the forefront of tunes.Teddy is the godson of one of his father’s closest associates, Gary Busey.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/shara-pathak</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-11-02</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/773b899a-041b-4d37-bb37-6ac60fda00a7/shara.pathak1.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Shara Pathak - Shara Pathak is the President of Tap N Go and Price Chopper Wristbands. She has been involved in the business since its inception 25 years ago. She is a passionate and courageous leader, who is committed to her team's growth, happiness and success. With only a tiny percentage of women at the helm of manufacturing companies in Central Florida, Shara is breaking barriers and spearheading Innovation. She ventured into the world of Software Development to place her Wristband manufacturing company on the cutting edge of tomorrow's technology. By purchasing a UK based Software company in January of 2020, she is creating a multitude of unique new capabilities. Price Chopper Inc. has become the FIRST AND ONLY Wristband Company worldwide that has successfully perfected a Turnkey offering for a Cashless Software Platform. Tap N Go's technology fits perfectly into Live Events, Festivals and State Fairs. The One-of-a-Kind platform controls Admissions and Access as well as sales of all items including food and beverage, in a totally cashless environment with or without Internet Connectivity. Under Shara's leadership, The Price Chopper and Tap N Go Group of companies continues to expand outside of its box with the newest addition in 2022 - a 10,000 Sq Ft Microbrewery! Brewlando is a stone's throw away from the Orlando International Airport, and boasts an impressive offering of over 12 tasty and seasonal craft brews. A classic demonstration that Entrepreneurship, Opportunity and Vision knows no boundaries.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/matt-mclernon</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-10-27</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/527a9870-4c78-42f8-b06e-0fb08f9b6380/Matt.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Matt McLernon - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/ryan-romenesko</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-10-12</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/7c6c050f-57c3-44f8-a7a4-80707017de7a/Ryan.Romanesko.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Ryan Romenesko - Ryan Romenesko is Vice President of Jensen Communications, Inc (JCI) based in Pasadena, CA. He has been with the company since 2010 in various roles. Through the years at JCI, he has helped execute campaigns for legendary musicians including Carlos Santana, Crosby, Stills, Nash &amp; Young, Jackson Browne, Zakk Wylde, Steve Vai, Joe Bonamassa, and Kenny Loggins. In addition, he is hand-crafting campaigns and developing several up and coming artists for the company, as well as currently managing a few rock acts. He previously acted as tour &amp; stage manager for Jameson Irish Whiskey for their Love Thy Neighborhood Block Party Festival Tour, and was instrumental in the booking, production, and execution of a number music festivals. Ryan Romenesko is a communications professional with over 12 years of experience. He has crafted and helped execute campaigns for legendary artists including Carlos Santana, Crosby, Stills, Nash, &amp; Young, Jackson Browne, Kenny Loggins, Zakk Wylde, Steve Vai, Joe Bonamassa, and more. In addition, he served as the tour &amp; stage manager for Jameson Irish Whiskey for their Love Thy Neighborhood Block Party tour.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/maureen-valker-barlow</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-10-12</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/84f56f95-fb15-428b-bb15-eb90f21c8029/Maureen.ValkerBarlow.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Maureen Valker-Barlow - Maureen Valker-Barlow is the Executive Vice President of Partnerships at Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP) and President of BrandMark Agency. With 20+ years of industry experience, Maureen is at the helm of negotiating brand partnerships for talent and music festivals across a variety of genres and interests. Maureen has conceived highly developed programs for a wide variety of clients and while she is known for creating symbiotic and beneficial partnerships, she is also highly regarded for her ability to create original experiential marketing activations which resonate with fans and create lasting brand loyalty. Maureen's music industry experience began almost 20 years ago when in 2002 she was a Chef on Vans Warped Tour catering to touring musicians and staff. After quickly realizing the business of music was her path to personal growth and success, she transitioned through various sales roles at record labels and agencies before landing in her current role at DWP. Maureen is from Bridgewater, New Jersey and graduated from the French Pastry School in Chicago, Illinois. Maureen and is happily married to her husband Chris Barlow who is also an industry Executive. They currently live in Los Angeles, with Joanie and Marcello, their two beloved felines. About Danny Wimmer Presents: Since 1993, music industry veteran Danny Wimmer has been producing concerts and festivals, both large and small. In 2011, he formed Danny Wimmer Presents, which now produces several of the largest rock and alternative festivals in the U.S. By combining A-list talent with local cuisine and culture, DWP has become recognized within the industry for delivering the highest-quality entertainment experiences to fans, artists, sponsors, partners and host cities. DWP creates memorable and all-encompassing festival experiences, leaving both consumers and partners with lasting and meaningful impressions. DWP will continue to add new music festivals to its already stellar portfolio, which currently includes Aftershock, Bourbon &amp; Beyond, Epicenter, Hometown Rising, Louder Than Life, Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival, and Welcome To Rockville. Previous DWP festivals include Rock On The Range, Carolina Rebellion, Northern Invasion and more.</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/chesley-heymsfield</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-10-05</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1663789565028-2RYW4UMZ5A6C07J0YDK0/Chelsey.Heymsfield.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Chesley Heymsfield - Chesley has worked with talented artists from all around the world . Her first music video Aesop Rock’s “Fast Cars” was nominated for three MTV Woodie Awards in 2005, aired at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood and Anthem in London. She worked as a Producer for post and VFX on over a hundred commercials, music videos and films like Hostel: Part II and BRATZ. She Line Produced “Don’t Feel Right” music video for The Roots and “This Feeling” music video for popular Italian singer DJ Jad for Sony/BMG and the cult comedy feature film, “Team Extreme” for Fox/Fuel TV, which premiered at X- Dance at Sundance 2006, a series of commercials for J. Walter Thompson Chicago “Thermasilk” and short films for Mandate Pictures (Juno, Finding Neverland). Her independent produced feature film, “The Woods Have Eyes” was released on Blu-Ray by Echo Bridge. As Producer, Chesley’s Nike commercial entitled “Goal” for the World Cup Soccer 2006 games was an Official Honoree for both Telly and Webby Awards. She co-wrote the feature film screenplay “Vijj” with director-actor Robert Englund based on a novel by the Russian author Nikolai Gogol. She also adapted the screenplays including, “I Want To Be A Soldier” which was filmed in Spain with Danny Glover and Robert Englund, won the Rome International Film Festival 2010 Kid’s Choice Award. In 2011, Chesley founded the Louisiana International Film Festival &amp; Mentorship Program (LIFF), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that serves as a live event platform for filmmakers, musicians, visual artists and innovators with a year-round Film Society, annual signature Film Festival with over 50+ films screening along side industry workshops, panels and special events. LIFF also hosted industry events at Tribeca, Toronto International Film Festival, the American Film Market and Sundance Film Festival. LIFF has hosted notable guests such as, Renee Zellweger, Vincent D’Onofrio, Christy Turlington, Princess Shaw, Kelsey Grammar, Maro Fiore and others to thousands of attendees. Now, she is directing a timely documentary film about “the illness of a thousand names” and its relationship to ‘COVID Long Haulers’ called MOVIE ABOUT M.E. She is also directing a companion impact campaign called ICEBERG PSA to raise public awareness about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. The movie website’s is: www.movieaboutme.com</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/devin-dehaven</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-11-02</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/acc23294-f324-4282-9142-c0f57e624f88/Devin.DeHaven1.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Devin DeHaven - Devin is an award-winning veteran television executive producer and director. Devin has produced and directed live streams and broadcasts that have reached over 1 billion people worldwide across multiple platforms. His credit list boasts diverse experience in a range of genres and mediums, along with a variety of skills such as multi-camera producing, directing and live streaming games, sports and music. Specializing in producing and directing large-scale music festival live streams and broadcasts for festivals such as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Rock in Rio, EDC, Life Is Beautiful, Outside Lands, Rolling Loud, JazzFest and Stagecoach. Website: www.fortress.la</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/kristin-flickinger</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-09-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/cf03713a-926e-4a8e-8e72-37a971eb41db/Kristin.Flickinger.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Kristin Flickinger - An activist at her core, Kristin began her career in the LGBTQ+ arena as an intern for the National Gay &amp; Lesbian Task Force in the ‘90s, and cut her teeth in politics managing a field office during the same-sex marriage campaigns of the 2000s. Never afraid to voice important questions, Kristin’s style of leadership is transparent, bold, and collaborative. As Director of AIDS/LifeCycle, she led a team of high-performing fundraisers toward goals viewed as “impossible” by others, achieving a $1 million (20%) increase in fundraising in her first year.  Before her current role with Pacific Pride Foundation, Kristin brought her passion for advocacy and inclusion to the C-suite Director of Programs role for the Los Angeles LGBT Center, where she oversaw a portfolio that included 150 staff and a $15 million budget. In that role as a senior leader for the world’s largest LGBT organization, Kristin served as an inclusion champion, overseeing organization-wide efforts to improve services to and employment practices for lesbian and bi women, and cross-departmental collaboration among providers of services to the Trans community. Kristin also played an instrumental role in the creation of an intergenerational culinary arts training program designed to provide LGBTQ+ youth and seniors at risk of homelessness with the skills and opportunity for careers in the culinary arts - including at the Center's flagship social enterprise, Liberation Coffee House. In her current role as Executive Director of Pacific Pride Foundation, producer of the Pacific Pride Festival in Santa Barbara, CA, Kristin oversees a broad suite of services, including peer support programs, training and education, counseling, and harm reduction, including Narcan and fentanyl test strip distribution, as well as the county's only syringe exchange.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/gail-kvistad</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-09-09</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1662752252865-XZZ41Z7KO1AQ9KL0BDMD/gail.kvistad.1.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Gail Kvistad - Gail Kvistad Hosts and Produces "Living Local" TV show airing since 2010 and now on Youtube. Gail is an avid world traveler and festival lover who has never met a stranger. She has attended festivals all over the United States and the globe including; Australia, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and is always ready for her next adventure. Gail is a true “California Girl” she radiates optimism and fun, her flair for production, talent for direction and thirst for adventure serve her well in the fields of entertainment, travel and production. As a Light Worker she excels cultivating spirit, collaboration and creativity and delights in raising energy levels and consciousness. Growing up enjoying the great outdoors and plethora of ocean and mountain sports available Gail learned early on respect for the environment and the importance of conservation, stewardship and sustainability. These values are reflected in her career and the diverse variety of media and non-profit projects for clients including PBS “Building Green”, NAT GEO “Today”, NBC, Starwood Hotels, Hilton, Marriott, State of CA Dept. of Education and many others. Gail started her career hosting and producing documentaries after a stint teaching English for Rotary of Japan. She thrived opening new territories and learning about diverse and delicate eco-systems in the Caribbean for Rodale Press SCUBADIVING Magazine where Gail also utilized her Spanish skills and promoted the environment through the Caribbean Travel and Tourism Awards. She produced travel videos and web content in an emerging new field as Multimedia Manager for ISLANDS Media and Resorts and Great Hotels that led to her “dream job’ hosting a travel and adventure TV and Web Series always with a keen eye on the environment and focus on education. As segment producer for the National Geographic “Today" show Gail cultivated her interest in nature and sustainability, she worked in Mexico and extensively in the Yucatan and Tulum at the turn of the 21st century which has had a lasting impact and serves as inspiration and influence for her non-profit work. The “Mexico Festival” is a project in development to bring awareness to the environment, plastic pollution and threats to the fresh water cenotes and Tulum's Sian Ka’an Biosphere. As a director, host and producer Gail choses projects in alignment with her life purpose chosen at age 18 “To entertain, stimulate and motivate people to be the best they can be”. You can view previously aired episodes of Gail’s TV show “Living Local” Santa Barbara a Cox Cable TV Series started in 2010 on FB and learn about the Santa Barbara community recent disasters on www.One805.org. Gail has served as board member of Santa Barbara City College Foundation, Youth Interactive Media for Good, Save the Mermaids founding member, committee member of; Partners in Education, Dream Foundation, SB School of Squash, Audubon Society, One805 Foundation. Eternally optimistic Gail strives to participate in projects that have a positive impact on the universe and humanity.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/kyle-newport</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-09-07</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/7fab8e91-8801-4162-ac02-f266385eda30/Kyle.Newport.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Kyle Newport - Kyle Newport is the Executive Producer of the highly popular Sunset Jazz Festival across the United States. He has also served as lead Media Planner for the National concert tours for Jamie Foxx, Chris Tucker, Will Downing, Chris Rock and others.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/benjamin-oberman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-09-07</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/b56c4bcf-5587-4da3-ad4e-1db2af109997/Benjamin.Oberman.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Benjamin Oberman - Benjamin Oberman is the Founder, President &amp; CEO of Film Festival Flix, a global virtual venue powering VIP access to exclusive content through your secure and private channel with total control over your content, audience, sponsors, and advertisers.</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/wade-randolph-hampton</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-09-07</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/81f6b0fe-7880-4979-9d3c-f88ea4e01052/Wade.Randolph.Hampton.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Wade Randolph Hampton - Seasoned producer who believes in the power of music in film. Leads live stream creative programming and film production for partners at AEG partnership’s in-house creative agency, AEG Studios. Oversees original content, talent series and branded initiatives, including industry-leading broadcasts for Coachella, Stagecoach, and more.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/simon-rust-lamb</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-09-07</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/df2c6673-74db-4c58-94a3-f43ae8851021/Simon.Rust.Lamb.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Simon Rust Lamb - Simon Rust Lamb has dedicated his career to producing positive, memorable, one-of-a-kind events. With over 20 years experience in the live music space, he has navigated all facets of this dynamic business, from legal, press, permits, venue relations, local politics, crisis management, and collaborations with local authorities. An avid entertainment observer and scholar, Mr. Lamb has written numerous articles, and taught Select Topics in Live Entertainment Law for Southwestern Law School. He champions electronic music culture throughout all of his endeavors. He was the COO and General Counsel at Insomniac, a key member of the Electric Daisy Carnival and Wonderland event series production team. Simon was also an Executive Producer on UNDER THE ELECTRIC SKY, the EDC LV 2013 documentary that premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2014, and is distributed by Focus Features. He launched his first entertainment business, the limited edition music 'zine NOMIS, while still in college. Next, Simon co-founded the annual Dune desert music festival. Simultaneously, he founded tastemaker independent record label Fragrant Music. Simon's music and motion picture interests first intersected at the Sundance Film Festival, where he booked talent for festival events. Energized by the film festival marketplace, he enrolled in law school and focused on entertainment law. Simon graduated magna cum laude. Simon's experience spans live events, motion picture, television, music, publishing and new media. At his clerkship at Warner Brothers Pictures, he worked on legal clearances for films including “OCEAN’S 13.” As a clerk at Manatt, Phelps &amp; Phillips, he focused on music business transactions. As an attorney at Lionsgate, he shepherded a bevy of motion pictures through delivery.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/alyxander-bear</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1668636565473-CETM35G7IK66D0KAHE0I/Bear+%40+LIB+%281%29.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Alyxzander Bear - Alyxzander Bear is the Executive Director of Production of Insomniac, the producers of the largest music festivals in the world. Bear has a demonstrated history of over 40 years working in the entertainment industry.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/joe-litvag</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-09-22</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1663787752545-GWABW4LJP1BBBB4D21A4/Joe.Litvag.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Joe Litvag - Joe Litvag currently serves as the Founder and President of The Just Listen Company, a boutique firm focused on the unique field of live events and entertainment. Mr. Litvag delivers expertise and results, based on over 28 years of in-depth experience in select highly specialized areas such as festivals (creation/development/execution), live event venues (strategy/booking/operations), and private or corporate events (development/booking/execution).  Throughout his career, he has created or co-created 14 festival brands, developed 9 live music venues, produced more than 250 special events, and promoted literally thousands of concerts from stadiums &amp; arenas to clubs &amp; theaters nationwide.  Most recently, Mr. Litvag served as President of Live Events for Los Angeles based Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP). His responsibilities included the oversight of the company’s growing presence in the live event sector along with daily company operations. DWP’s significant portfolio of business features several renowned music festivals, and in addition Mr. Litvag steered DWP’s expansion into new sectors of live entertainment such as national touring and production, venue booking and operations, concert and festival services and special destination events.  Prior to his role at DWP, Mr. Litvag served as President at New York based Blackbird Presents, a specialized company focused on producing celebratory live events for industry legends such as BB King, The Band featuring Robbie Robertson and The Outlaw Music Tour featuring Willie Nelson.  Before Blackbird Presents, he spent more than 15 years in Saint Louis MO as Senior Vice President at AEG Presents. There, Mr. Litvag was responsible for many venue acquisitions, the creation and development more than ten incredibly successful festivals and he promoted and produced thousands of concerts for hundreds of artists, including some of entertainment’s legends like Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Metallica, Tool, AC/DC, Foo Fighters, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Tony Bennett and many others.  Mr. Litvag began his career in Saint Louis MO in 1993 at Contemporary Productions, where he worked his way through the independent promoter ranks to become Vice President of Concerts within eight years, producing and promoting concerts from clubs to amphitheaters and arenas. Upon the sale of the company to SFX Entertainment and eventually Clear Channel Entertainment (now Live Nation Entertainment), he became the leader of the St. Louis office before celebrating his ten-year anniversary with the company. Mr. Litvag earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas where he majored in Business Communication. He currently resides in St. Louis with his wife and two sons. He enjoys playing ice hockey, and he is actively involved in local and national fundraising efforts for various autism awareness causes.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/zack-borer</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-09-07</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/e2dea29a-d4eb-4352-b910-021412501099/zack.borer.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Zack Borer - Zack Borer is a licensed psychotherapist based in Los Angeles and the co-founder of Borer Newman, a company that provides clinician based, research backed mental health support and solutions to all sectors of the music industry. Borer Newman works with festivals, tours and music driven companies to enhance emotional wellbeing and to mitigate the acute mental health crises that have become commonplace in the music industry.  Zack spent a decade as a working musician and songwriter and is familiar with the mental health struggles that exist within the music industry.  www.borernewman.com</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/ali-rivera</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-09-07</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d6b13eb6-93fe-4a82-841f-af737e2f7a90/ALI-RIVERA.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Ali Rivera - Ali has been the driving force in developing and leading efforts for thousands of global live stream campaigns at YouTube. She launched the first Coachella Live Music stream on YouTube in 2011, and has worked closely on building Coachella on YouTube into the legendary #Couchella it is today. COVID-19 changed the world overnight and hit the music industry hard, changing the way artists interact and connect with fans. Under Ali’s leadership, while the world was locked down, her team executed some of the most meaningful live events in YouTube’s history including Andrea Bocelli’s Music For Hope record breaking live stream, Global Citizen Together at Home, Roots Picnic Virtual Experience, Post Malone’s Nirvana Tribute, and a partnership with National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) to launch a 3-day Music Festival #SaveOurStages Fest that raised over $2M for NIVA’s Emergency Relief Fund and helped advocate for the passing of the $2B Save our Stages Act. As the world reopened, Ali focused on working hand in hand with artists to continue their live streaming efforts while simultaneously performing in person as a way to connect with fans around the world. This year her team entertained the world with Coachella 2022, Stagecoach Music Festival, Roots Picnic and much more.</image:title>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/adam-brill</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-31</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/44b81990-0a55-450e-b374-22d3da92a50f/Adam.Brill.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Adam Brill - Adam Brill is Vice President, Fairs &amp; Festivals at Wasserman Music, based in Chicago. Brill works across the agency's roster booking artists for festivals, fairs and other events across North America. Prior to joining Wasserman, Brill was an agent at CAA for six years and worked at UTA and APA earlier in his career, and has represented and developed successful artists including Conan Gray, Tate McRae, Zara Larsson, Audrey Mika, O.A.R, Gavin DeGraw, Capital Cities and Imagine Dragons. He has also consulted for Atlantic Records, bringing attention to signing prospective young talent. Brill began his work in the concert business leading the concert committee at the University of Iowa, where he oversaw a team of more than 20 students and promoted arena shows by John Mayer and Bob Dylan, among others.</image:title>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/paul-jun</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-30</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/a8d8fd35-78d2-4bc8-aa12-0be895e974d9/Phillip.Jun.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Paul Jun - Paul is co-founder &amp; CEO of Filmocracy, a film and festival streaming platform. He is a serial problem solver and USAF veteran. He served as an intelligence officer and upon completing his service he moved to the film industry where he worked as Director of Sales and Acquisitions at Covert Media before starting his own company. UCSD and CSUF MBA alum.</image:title>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/ed-vicent</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-30</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/9d3d0dcd-df62-4f0f-b8b1-ac3b430c9da9/Ed.Vicent.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Ed Vicent - Ed Vincent is the founder and CEO of festivalPass, the world's first live event subscription membership across music, film, food &amp; wine, theater, tech &amp; innovation and more. Access thousands of live events nationally and hotels globally for one monthly fee.   Ed is a Web 3 evangelist who believes we are in the very early stages of a new economy built on the fundamental opportunities that the blockchain provides both technically and philosophically.   As the architect of the Festival Family Lifetime Founder NFT providing lifetime access to the festivalPass platform and $1,200 of credits to redeem annually in perpetuity, he has developed instant utility for NFT holders and a plan to offer that utility to other NFT communities. Previously, Ed was the founder and a partner in Predict Ventures, a holding company for Predict Analytics, Connected Intelligence and Higher Intelligence.  Predict was the trusted data and strategy adviser to some of the biggest brands in the entertainment and media industry.  Predict provided unique and extensive expertise in the film, television, and the media industry. Clients have included MoviePass, AMC Networks, WEtv, IFC, Sundance Channel, A+E, Lifetime, History Channel, Corus Entertainment, MovieTickets.com, Screenvision and dozens of other entertainment and media companies. Mr. Vincent has been an entrepreneur for more than 20 years following a 6 years investment banking career.  During his time as an entrepreneur, Ed has created Citystuff (sold to eCommerce Solutions in 2001), Vincent Partners (a 70 person experiential agency) and SimplyEngage (acquired by Modomodo in 2014).  Ed is a member of Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), has a BS in Finance from TCNJ and graduated from the prestigious Entrepreneurial Masters Program (EMP) at MIT. There were 3 girls that stole Ed’s Heart.  They call him dad. Ed would prefer to be in flip flops and after 23 years as a resident of downtown NYC, he calls Austin, TX home.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/lizette-gomez</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-24</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/b6d8958e-49dc-4241-9295-6c0780d1a7ce/Lizette.Gomez.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Lizette Gomez - Lizette Gomez is the Sales Manager for Venues, Music Tours &amp; Live Events at Cast &amp; Crew. Since joining the company in 2011, she has helped plan and coordinate sponsorship opportunities, developed business strategies based on customer needs in the live event and music tour spaces, and built strong relationships with customers spanning the industry. Having transitioned over to CAPS and Live Events in 2018, Lizette has applied her deep knowledge and skillset to the strategic approach to venues, festivals, and music tours of all kinds. And since she’s a musician at heart, don’t be surprised if you spot her playing in her family mariachi band.</image:title>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/derek-ball</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-24</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/76694766-68f3-4491-bd37-4b39a5cef4f1/Derek.Ball.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Derek Ball - Derek is CEO of atVenu, the leading provider of live event point of sale, inventory management and financial settlement solutions serving hundreds of festivals and over 100,000 other live events around the globe every year. Based in San Francisco, Derek has grown multiple successful ventures in both the US and Canada over the past three decades. His passion for creating an exceptional experience for fans, promoters, sponsors and key stakeholders is contagious.</image:title>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/marilyn-mead</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-23</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/118ac237-a9e6-4a31-939f-af5a3664e5ab/Marilyn.Mead.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Marilyn Mead - B2B marketing executive with a proven ability to drive growth, demand, customer acquisition and expansion in SaaS. Currently serving a world-class marketing team at Winmo with a distinctly customer-first, product-led vision.</image:title>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/becky-brett</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-23</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/bf3b6af4-2af3-44c9-86f9-97e5ef0a2471/becky.brett.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Becky Brett - Executive coach for creative entrepreneurs, podcaster, retreat facilitator. Creator of The Labyrinth coaching program to help improve your relationships.</image:title>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/claire-wright</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-23</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/7084e5fc-7675-45b5-b5a3-5b7389f36e54/Claire.Wright.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Claire Wright - Entrepreneur dedicated to building companies with a strong focus on change and social impact. 20+ years experience as Co-founder and CEO, leading strategy and operational implementation for product launch, and scale strategies within many sectors that range from entertainment, F&amp;B, real estate, wellness, medical, and technology. Featured in Forbes, Good day, LA, Sky, Daily Mail, and more.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/jesse-lawrence</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-23</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/c7e16260-286c-4ff1-b026-4650b87d5f85/Jesse.Lawrence+copy.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Jesse Lawrence - Jesse is Founder and CEO of TiqIQ, the leading event-ticket content and commerce company. Jesse began his career as a writer, covering Silicon Alley 1.0 in the mid '90s. He parlayed his familiarity with New York’s "new media" scene into product and business development roles at StarMedia, The Wedding List and BrowseUp. More recently, Jesse worked at IAC, where he managed corporate development and business development activities and enjoyed watching hours of College Humor videos and calling it work.</image:title>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/mel-leis</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-23</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/e070d728-0e18-4f78-a739-bde1d7a1d509/Mel.Leis.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Mel Leis - An accomplished leader with robust experience in delivering optimal results and establishing key relationships with business segments globally. Skilled in managing relationship building, contract negotiations, new account development, sales management, market share growth, and customer relations across diverse industries. Hold credit for developing new markets from scratch and consistently enhancing revenue with the focus on top-line &amp; bottom-line performance; I excel in formulating strategic plans to facilitate the attainment of business targets. Excellent communicator with exceptional mentoring skills in transforming a low-performing team to a high-caliber workforce coupled with proven abilities to work with cross-functional and multidisciplinary teams.</image:title>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/fabrice-sergent</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-23</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/7c10a56b-49d0-4575-9442-b42fb6d94ce5/fabrice.sergent+copy.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Fabrice Sergent - At Bandsintown, we believe that live music is one of the last "tribal experiences" which creates happiness and understanding in the world. Our mission is to help artists build a sustainable future through virtual live stream, music release, merch and traditional live events promotion. With a reach of 250 million Monthly Active music fans globally, over 70m registered concert goers and 560.000 touring artists registered to the platform, Bandsintown offers powerful, scalable and targeted digital marketing solutions to engage with music enthusiasts. I am an entrepreneur driven by passion, having led hyper growth digital media enterprises in the U.S. and in Europe with extensive experience in the music industry, digital consumer marketing, brand building, business development, M&amp;A. Co-founded and led two start-ups to $100m+ revenues. I started my journey by founding Club-Internet, with the support of Lagardere/Hachette in 1995. Club-Internet was one of the very first Internet Service Provider (similar to AOL in the US) launched in France and later became one of the largest ISP before it was purchased by Deutsche Telecom’s T-Online in 2000 for 1.2 billion Euro</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/chad-issaq</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-23</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/b243677f-d123-456b-9e9c-480a0e4e2ea5/Chad.Issaq+.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Chad Issaq - Key stake holder in producing over 50 nationally recognized festivals including launch of Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Clusterfest Comedy, Lost Lake, Grandoozy, Vegoose, Life is good Festival, and Superfly culinary property the Great Googamooga. Co-founded Superfly agency division and oversee monetization / growth of festival &amp; event revenue streams, agency client base, IP and organizational development. Collaborate with Media &amp; Entertainment property owners including NBCU, WarnerMedia &amp; Disney to develop new experience-centric IP and leverage existing fan bases / audiences to drive new revenue and create enterprise value. Specialties: Entrepreneurship, IP development and property monetization, creative marketing, branding, content licensing, contract negotiation, partnership sales, management, decision-making, event production, budgeting, organization development and management, and making people feel awesome!</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/kevin-lyman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-23</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/42d64b6e-b0a8-480a-9819-2c6cb104af4a/Kevin.Lyman.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Kevin Lyman</image:title>
      <image:caption>Kevin Lyman is the founder and operator of the Kevin Lyman Group, formerly known as 4Fini, Inc., a live event production company and brand strategy firm. His most notable live production is the live music festival series Vans Warped Tour, which attracted about 750,000 people annually and was the longest-running North American festival concert tour. In the Fall Semester of 2018, Lyman started teaching at USC's Thornton School of Music as an Associate Professor.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/michael-martin</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-01-06</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/e686a631-5e73-452f-9c79-c38b4af0f9c2/Michael.Martin1.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Michael Martin - Described by Billboard magazine as a “Guru of live event greening”, Michael Martin is an innovator in business-based tech and social change campaigns leveraging culture for impact. He is the founder and CEO of Effect Partners and r.Cup, two purpose-driven organizations committed to creating global awareness of and meaningful change in environmental sustainability.  Effect Partners creates concepts or companies that become campaigns and then movements. For over 30 years Michael has helped to develop innovative sustainability strategies and campaigns for leading entities including Toyota, Live Nation, Toyota, UPS, Target, AEG, Clif Bar, U2 and Apple Computer. In addition, he led the sustainability movement in the event and entertainment industries, and is known for introducing many of the greening practices used today.  Michael helped Earth Day become the world’s largest secular event, and developed the first-ever national global warming campaign with Ben &amp; Jerry’s and Dave Matthews Band, uniting the nation’s top 20 environmental groups and putting the concept of climate change on the map.  In 2017, Michael founded r.Cup - the nation’s leading reuse platform. r.Cup is catalyzing the Reuse Movement using cultural campaigns, grassroots organizing, community partnerships,  logistics, and technology, and made its debut with the support of over a dozen artist and musicians, including U2, Dave Matthews Band, Rod Stewart, Jack Johnson, Maggie Rogers and Rolling Stones, and festivals including Camp Flog Gnaw, Farm Aid, Sea.Hear.Now, Ultra Music Festival and Vans Warped Tour. As part of the Reuse Seattle coalition, r.Cup is partnering with Seattle Public Utilities, PR3, The Washington Nightlife Music Association (WANMA), and a growing list of Seattle restaurants and entertainment venues, to design the nation’s first municipal reuse system - building the infrastructure and services needed to truly create reuse at scale while delivering a blueprint for other cities and municipalities. Recently, Michael helped form the Music Sustainability Association, a hyper inclusive member driven association that facilitates systemic solutions to help the music industry integrate sustainability into its operations.  Michael currently sits on the Boards of MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative, and People’s Organic Cafe. He is a 30-year member of Social Venture Network (now American Sustainable Business Network). Michael lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/laurie-kirby</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-23</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/57461c65-6b7b-4293-9e74-bd9d89d3d035/Laurie.Kirby.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Laurie Kirby - President &amp; Owner of FestForums Laurie B. Kirby, Esq. produces FestForums Santa Barbara NYC, and San Francisco and Best of the Fests, a B2B conference and awards event for music, film, food and wine festival organizers.  The conference addresses how to improve the fan/attendee/talent experience at festivals. Laurie was an attorney for over twenty years and established The Legends of the LPGA, the senior division of the LPGA. She has represented professional athletes, newscasters, musicians, golf properties and nonprofits. Laurie is a frequent speaker, interviewer and moderator at dozens of festivals and corporate conferences, including IFEA, SXSW, Pollstar, BizBash, TourLink, San Francisco Music Tech Conference, Maui Music Tech Conference, Sponsor Secrets, Canadian Music Week, IEG, Event Expo, The Mill Valley Film Festival, The Catalina Island Film Festival, Film Festival Flix, The Napa Valley Film Festival and The Lady’s Filmmaker Festival on all aspects of the industry. Additionally, she is often quoted as an industry thought leader in publications such as Variety, Indiewire, Forbes, The Street, AMP and Music Festival Business. She has also been a contributor to Indiewire, Eventbrite &amp; Sonic Bids.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/lesa-ukman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-23</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/7388e2f5-ef59-4388-80fc-a52d7afce5a1/Lesa.Ukman.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Lesa Ukman - Lesa Ukman is a thought-leading entrepreneur, writer and speaker renowned as a pioneer in assigning value to marketing collaborations. She has propelled sponsorship from a promotional sideline to a vital discipline by creating the methodology to value and measure investments in sports, arts, entertainment and nonprofits. Her analytics have been adopted throughout the world. While working for the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office of Special Events in 1980, Lesa devised the first-ever public/private partnership programs, which still serve as the blueprint for municipal marketing. Driven by the then-radical idea that businesses that partner with the things people love—sports, music, festivals and nonprofit causes—vastly outperform competitors, she founded IEG (sponsorship.com) in 1982. Her ideas caught the imagination of the business world, giving rise to an industry now worth more than $85 billion. In 2006 she sold IEG to WPP, the world’s largest advertising, marketing and communications services group. Lesa is an avid champion of the industry and a keen observer of sponsorship’s broader impact on society. This includes expanding the notion of ROI to incorporate social as well as financial outcomes. For over three decades she has piloted the annual IEG Conference, which remains a must-attend event for professionals seeking to make the most of their sponsorship relationships. Lesa is a sought-after keynote speaker and serves on various boards.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/donnie-estopinal</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-23</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/694991f6-90d8-4e74-a91d-8f87b34902c6/donnie.estepanol.+copy.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Donnie Estopinal - Disco Donnie Presents (DDP) is an electronic dance music event production company, founded by James "Disco" Donnie Estopinal. Since the company's inception in 1994, DDP has sold over 16 million tickets producing over 16,000 live events, arena shows, and outdoor festivals in over 100 markets around the world including the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Latin America. Annually, DDP is responsible for organizing and promoting nearly 1,000 club events across the U.S. ranging from Portland, Philadelphia, Houston, Tampa, New Orleans, Dallas, and St. Louis to name only a few; plus major festivals such as Ubbi Dubbi, Sunset Music Festival, Freaky Deaky, Sun City Music Festival, The Day After, and Ultimate Music Experience. Founder and CEO, James "Disco Donnie" Estopinal, Jr. is considered one of the godfathers of U.S. electronic dance music, evolving over the past 27 years to become one of the top dance music promoters globally. From his early days in the 1990s New Orleans dance scene, Disco Donnie coupled eccentricity with ingenuity to create elaborately themed parties that charmed patrons, garnered an international following, and unwittingly became a catalyst for a national debate over the First Amendment right to expression.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/amy-scheller</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-23</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/db03bd9f-5509-4243-9fc4-864bf1356c0a/Amy.Scheller.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Amy Scheller - Amy Scheller currently holds the position of Executive Vice President of Strategy &amp; Development. Her focus spans many aspects of the company’s development including strengthening and broadening strategic partnerships, expanding product and service base, and keeping the mission of providing our industry with innovative solutions moving forward. This includes a key role on the Technology Advisory Committee created to develop and implement technology advancements to the ProCrewz® enterprise resource management system and mobile application. Amy started her career in television in 1999 on the road working on remote productions, and eventually put down roots in the Boston area where she managed remote productions for the New England market. She joined Program Productions in 2017 and quickly proved a valuable addition to the team. As a forever athlete, her competitive nature and appreciation for teamwork fuels her dedication to continually push the limits of Program Productions’ mission.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/paul-thornton</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-01-05</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/dac9d91e-1ba6-447b-86c7-1f5ac2b37934/Paul-Thornton.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Paul Thornton - Paul Thornton is a live entertainment and sports industry veteran who currently serves as the President of TAG Presents LLC, an events and entertainment based company founded in 2007 to create and manage live sports and entertainment events. A twenty five year veteran of the live entertainment industry Thornton was the founder and president for Bravo Entertainment, a company that grew from its inception in 1995 to producing up to 700 live events per year across 19 states. Bravo became the largest live events promotions company in the northwest United States and the 8th largest ticket seller in North America.   As founder of the Big Easy Concert House, Thornton designed, opened, and operated a chain of concert venues from the ground up. By 2004, the Bravo umbrella of companies had grown to more than 200 employees and averaged 20% growth annually, of which Thornton managed all operations. In 2006, Thornton sold Bravo Entertainment and the Big Easy Concert House venues, and agreed to continue to serve as the president to make for a smooth transition of ownership.   Thornton has been honored as a 2003 Winner of the State of Idaho’s “Accomplished Under 40” Award, presented by the Idaho Business Review. His company was nominated for Independent Promoter of the Year for North America in 2002 and 2004, and was the winner of the 2004 State of Idaho Private Sector Recognition Award as the leading company in the state for its charitable contributions, fundraising events, and awareness campaigns for the Family Advocate Program. Thornton also served as an Executive Board Member for the Downtown Boise Association (“DBA”) which is a non-profit 501(c)6 Corporation that manages the downtown Boise Business Improvement District. Thornton was highly involved in Little League baseball as a board member, manager, and All-Star coach for a period of nine years. Thornton was honored to give the commencement speech in 2014 for AESA Prep Academy. Thornton currently sits on the Advisory Board for multiple companies, and is a partner in American Revolution Distillery which owns American Revolution vodka and Uncle Ed’s Damn Good vodka brands.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/tanner-smith</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-23</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/578f0ce6-ca4a-485f-b0a8-f4bf8d71fb8e/tanner.smith.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Tanner Smith - Tanner Smith is the director of talent and festival development for Atlanta-based Sixthman, which creates themed cruise and festival experiences for bands, brands and their fans. He manages the planning and implementation of full cruise ship charters hosting artists such as KISS, Train, Chris Jericho, Outlaw Country on SiriusXM, Dude Perfect, Joe Bonamassa, 311, along with Cayamo and The Rock Boat festivals. He is also an adjunct professor at Joel A. Katz Music and Entertainment Business program at Kennesaw State University. Previously, he held the position of director of programming and production for ASO Presents, the promoter wing of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO). He was responsible for the management and operation of Chastain Park Amphitheater, the ASO’s POPS series, Atlanta Symphony Hall and Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. During his nine years at these venues, he worked with artists such as The Eagles, Tom Petty, Steve Martin and Brian Wilson.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/wendee-lee-curtis</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-17</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/7023a1ec-76eb-47af-91f8-b48d95962111/Copy+of+BTS+Shot+1+%281%29.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Wendee Lee Curtis - Wendee Lee Curtis, Event Host, Emcee, and Moderator, is a Veteran News Anchor and Broadway Performer bringing the art of news-level production, live entertainment, and the magic of connection to your virtual events.  Her experience in both the corporate and theatrical worlds makes her an ideal presenter for hybrid events that need to reach all attendees, virtual or in-house, to be memorable. With her expert knowledge and powerful presence, Wendee will keep your audience engaged from beginning to end. Highlights of on-camera celebrity interviewing include Joe Jackson (Father of The King of Pop, Michael Jackson) for the documentary "Making Michael"; The EPIC Conference with Billy Porter, Misty Copeland, Lilias White, and Douglas Lyons; Individual interviews with well-known personalities such as Liza Minnelli, Donald Trump, Wayne Brady, Al Green, Tony Danza, Miranda Lambert, Kelly Pickler, Jerry O’Connell, and EXTRA co-hosts Dayna Devon and Mark McGrath. Additional hosting experience includes live events for WeTV, Disney Family’s Chick Chat: a Girl's Guide to Life with Teri Hatcher; Tone Network’s “Tone Talks” with Rachel DeAlto, Joyce Marter, and Tara Stiles; and CCA Live with Liz J. Simpson.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/diane-eber</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-12-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/5b1c219d-4446-4120-9f4c-b2b8a25db229/Diane.Eber.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Diane Eber - With more than 17 years of experience producing and programming live performances, Diane shapes artistic programming that reaches new audiences and has a deep impact. A music nerd at heart, she enjoys the creative challenge of dreaming up programming that is unique and engaging for a wide range of audiences. Serving as Executive Producer &amp; Artistic Director of BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn Festival, Diane has been involved with BRIC for almost 15 years. Her work with various institutions includes MASS MoCA, GlobalFEST, NPR Tiny Desk, The American Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Hall, Symphony Space, Third Street Music School, Theater of War, Harlem Stage, Reimagine End of Life, Columbia University, and the Kennedy Center.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/ken-dean</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-03</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/a269aa2e-9f66-436f-8367-5bff9845a76f/Ken.Deans.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Ken Dean - Bringing years experience from the entertainment world, Kens award winning talent has helped AWS, ABC Television Networks, AEG/Goldenvoice, AT&amp;T, Alaska Airlines, FastChannel Network, Infiniti, Jones Radio Network, Level 3 networks, Latitude 38 Entertainment, Lion Brand Yarn, Mazda, Neilson, Netflix, Nissan, The Penske Corp., Radio and Records, Smith-Kline Beecham, Taco Bell, VNU, President Clinton, Vice President Gore, and many others form and present their message internally and externally in clear, concise, and innovative ways. A seasoned veteran in producing live events, Ken consults and performs operations management annually around the world to many festivals and companies including: Coachella, Stagecoach, BottleRock, Thunder on The Ohio and the World’s largest grossing multiday out door event, Desert Trip. Highly experienced in financial &amp; touring management, Ken spent several years on the road overseeing concerts and producing tours, including national and international accounting for Men at Work, Def Jam, Melissa Etheridge, Dave Koz, and David Lanz. In the mid-eighties Ken was part of the management team that brought musical artists Men at Work, The Split Enz, and The Divynals to the forefront of the US music scene, and later on partner of the group responsible for the explosion of the Seattle music scene including Alice in Chains, Mother Love Bone, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. Looking towards the future, As COO of the development lab company Flaregun, Ken has been a critical team member developing new technology that provides cutting edge AR apps for Festivals and Events.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/peter-kimball</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-09-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1531c0f6-1d42-40e6-bb1d-0446e7fda03f/Peter.Kimball1.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Peter Kimball - With more than 25 years of experience in the television industry, Peter’s career has spanned from directing award-winning shows to managing teams for broadcast entertainment events. In his most recent position, Peter created and led a team responsible for the development, promotion, and account management of NEP US Mobile Units’ entertainment business, including numerous concerts, comedy/network entertainment shows, and televised CrossFit events. Since 2006, His NEP group provided broadcast television facilities and experienced tech support to major North American music festivals, including Bonnaroo, Coachella, and Lollapalooza, among others. Prior to joining the mobile unit industry, Peter directed numerous national multicamera shows, including The Oprah Winfrey Show (Kingworld), The Montel Williams Show (Paramount), The Joan Cusack Show (ABC Network), and many others. He has received two national Emmy awards for Excellence in Television Direction/The Oprah Winfrey Show and is a member of the Director’s Guild of America.</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/nancy-kennedy</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-08-03</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/729ccf66-2125-43de-b11d-a9fb69fa86bb/Nancy+Kennedy_Sonoma+Int%27l+Film+Fest.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Nancy Kennedy - Director of Sponsorship and Development, Sonoma International Film Festival Nancy joined the Sonoma International Film Festival in January of 2021. She is involved in securing funding for the non-profit film arts organization through all contributed income opportunities: Sponsorship, Grants, Underwriting, Individual Giving, and Special Events. Bringing back long-time supporters and reaching new sources of support has been the challenge. Nancy spent the last 30+ years working in Partnerships, and a variety of other roles, during her tenure at the Seattle International Film Festival, securing millions of dollars of support and partnerships during her time with the organization. “SIFF was relatively small when I started and huge when I left.” Covid cut her position at Seattle, and she decided it was time for Wine Country and more fun with a Festival that’s slogan is: “The Best In Film, Food, Wine and Fun.” It doesn’t get better than that! Nancy was recently joined in Sonoma by former Seattle Artistic Director, Carl Spence. We are going to create magic here in Sonoma – join us!</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/gary-spivack</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-12-13</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/2e0677cb-56dc-47fa-b9f4-7bbca9c88c5b/Gary.Spivac.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Gary Spivack - With three decades of music industry experience, Gary Spivack comes to SaveLive as as a Senior Executive overseeing both special live events and all rock music genres across multiple platforms. Gary most recently served as Executive Senior VP/Head of Talent at Danny Wimmer Presents. Gary will remain as a consultant to DWP helping to book&amp;curate the nation’s leading rock/hard rock destination festivals which currently include Welcome To Rockville, Louder Than Life, Aftershock, Sonic Temple and more. After earning a BFA from the University of Colorado, Gary entered the music industry as a drummer for a handful of (struggling) Los Angeles rock bands. Gary decided to cross-over to the business side and was hired by Elektra Records as the labels West Coast promotion manager. This led to VP/Rock &amp; Alternative Music Promotion &amp; Marketing stints at MCA, Atlantic, Capitol and finally his last label stop at Geffen Records in 2003. After 16 years climbing up the record label ladder, in 2006, Gary launched Right Arm Entertainment with two partners which, in 2013, evolved to his own talent buying company now known as Rockhouse Presents under the DWP umbrella. Gary is in daily contact with the top artist managers, music agents, label heads, national &amp; regional convert promoters as well as key rock&amp;alternative radio programmers across North America. Gary has not one but two published books to his credit. In 2004, MTV Books put out “Coldplay. Look At The Stars” a riveting story of how Coldplay conquered America as told from Gary’s POV during his tenure as a VP at Capitol Records. And Gary wrote the forward and conclusion to “Rock On The Range…Where Rock Lives” a coffee table book celebrating the 5th anniversary of America’s #1 rock festival, Rock On The Range. Gary served as lead producer for “Long Live Rock…celebrate the chaos”, a rock documentary currently streaming on both Prime Video &amp; Apple TV. This deep dive into the beloved but often misunderstood genre of hard rock was filmed over 3+ years at various festivals that Gary produced and features A-level rock bands as Metallica, Guns ‘N Roses, Tom Morello, Slipknot, Avenged Sevenfold, Alice In Chains, Rob Zombie, Stone Temple Pilots, Greta Van Fleet and many more. Over his career, Gary has guest lectured at Cal State Northridge (served as an adjunct prof), University of Colorado, The Musicians Institute and has participated in numerous amounts of seminars, and convention panels spreading and sharing his vast knowledge and wisdom to audiences all across the country. Gary is currently a board member on both ROCK AGAINST RACISM and THE CONTINUANCE PROJECT</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/henry-diltz</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-07-27</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/9f49cabf-5391-42ec-aed4-3f265a2f4209/Henry.Diltz.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Henry Diltz - Henry Diltz is a music photographer who has shot more than 250 album covers and thousands of publicity shots in the ‘60s and ‘70s, including the iconic Morrison Hotel cover for The Doors. Other artists, whose fly-on-the-wall style portraits he’s known for, include musical legends such as the Eagles, Neil Young, Crosby Stills &amp; Nash, Jackson Browne, America, Steppenwolf, James Taylor, Jimi Hendrix, The Monkees and David Cassidy. He was the official photographer at the Woodstock festival in August 1969. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, LIFE, People, Rolling Stone, High Times and Billboard. A popular musician in the 1960s, Diltz never set out to take some of the most iconic photos of our era – it just happened. Fresh from a globetrotting childhood, he attended colleges in Munich, West Point and Honolulu, where he became known as a musician and founding member of the Modern Folk Quartet. Phil Spector produced one of their last singles. This led to many friendships with emerging recording artists in the California rock communities of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Immersed in this world, he accidentally discovered a passion for photography, which turned into an obsession and, later, occupation. His gift did not go unnoticed by musician-friends, whom Diltz documented as he hung out in the scene. “I only wanted to remember exactly what I saw,” he says. “It was all about capturing images and moments, filling the frame with the essence of what I saw.” Diltz’s professional career began with the serendipitous $100 sale of a single shot of the Buffalo Springfield in 1966. In a memorable six-year partnership with design legend Gary Burden, the list of album covers and artists he shot grew to read like a “Who’s Who” of rock ‘n’ roll history. Musicians liked him for the natural quality of his photos and because he was not part of the Establishment press. His work graced magazines like Rolling Stone and included a LIFE cover of Paul and Linda McCartney in April 1971. Diltz’s photos are distinguished by a lyrical sense of composition that actor Harrison Ford once referred to as “Henry’s framing Jones.” There’s an intuitive, naturalistic luminosity that only available light - which he prefers - can deliver. Whether working in conventional film or digital images, he always finds the perfect balance of illumination, color and reportage. Henry and his images are such fixtures in rock culture, he is interviewed regularly and often for books, articles and documentaries about the era and speaks regularly on college campuses. Today, his extensive archive is handled by Henry Diltz Photography. He continues to document the music scene from his base in Southern California. Diltz is a partner in, and is exclusively published and represented by, the Morrison Hotel Gallery, which specializes in fine-art rock photography. “I am amazed at the accumulation of images that has resulted, simply by doing what I love to do, day after day after day,” he says. “It’s a result of being with countless people over the years, waiting at the sidelines for the moment to happen. Photography has been my passport, and I have arrived in the present, where I have always been, camera in hand. There! That says it best for me!”</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/david-beame</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-07-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/a2eb688b-6d53-46aa-a741-6bbca97bcdcd/David.Beame.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - David Beame - David Beame is a live event and broadcast executive producer and entertainment attorney. Over the past decade, David has served as the Vice President, Events and Broadcasts, at Global Citizen and has produced some of the largest and most notable purpose-driven festivals and live broadcasts throughout the world including the annual Global Citizen Festival on the Great Lawn in NYC as well as festivals in India, South Africa, and Europe. The televised and digital broadcasts from these shows and the more recent One World: Together At Home and Global Goal: Unite For Our Future, have been seen by hundreds of millions of people throughout the world. He is especially proud to be part of a team working towards ending extreme poverty. David’s expertise lies in directing and overseeing all elements of the live experience while also negotiating and structuring production, artist, sponsor, broadcast, and distribution agreements. Past performers include Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Coldplay, Rihanna, Pearl Jam, Stevie Wonder, Queen + Adam Lambert, Ed Sheeran, and Neil Young, along with celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Hugh Jackman, Leonardo Dicaprio, Kerry Washington, and Stephen Colbert, and dignitaries including President Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama, Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, and Prime Minister Modi of India. As a partner in his law firm, David is a deal maker who counsels and guides the careers and projects of artists and creative entrepreneurs in music, film, television and digital. Through his sharp business acumen, industry relationships and insightful and thorough legal advice, David has negotiated and structured millions of dollars of entertainment related transactions. He has guided the careers of developing artists, songwriters and producers from the initial stages of their careers through to global recognition. David is a graduate of New World School of the Arts, received two bachelor of arts degrees from Boston University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law.</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/michael-dorf</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-07-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1cbc7677-4a3f-43fb-87b7-bf9687428982/Michael.Dorf.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Michael Dorf - Michael Dorf came to New York City in 1986 and founded the go-to venue for independent music, the Knitting Factory and served for the first 15 years as CEO, expanding the brand into Europe and Asia via tours, festivals, and producing over 200 recordings, TV shows, etc.  Dorf was recognized as a pioneer in producing music on the Internet, through a variety of strategic relationships with Apple Computer, Intel, and Bell Atlantic. During this time he created the Digital Club Network and in 2002, he left the Knit to pursue other endeavors, including a Carnegie Hall concert fundraiser series, founding a Hebrew school, and winemaking.   In 2008, Dorf created City Winery–Manhattan’s first fully-functional winery, restaurant, music venue and private event space. In the past 14 years, Dorf has expanded City Winery to 14 locations including Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Hudson Valley, and has 5 more scheduled to open in 2022/23 in Detroit, St. Louis, Columbus, Pittsburgh and Grand Central Station.   Dorf has become one of the most prolific independent promoters in New York, an important music impresario, and according to The New Yorker, he has “perfected the art of the tribute concert.”  Over 15 years, the fundraiser series has honored legends like Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, and Prince while raising over $1.5 million for music education non-profits. He serves on the board of The American Symphony Orchestra, Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals and is currently Chairman of LabShul/Storahtelling. He has received numerous honors from a variety of organizations including Humanitarian Awards from WFUV, Young Audiences, Little Kids Rock, among others.</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/dre-durant</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-07-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/fde3ce1d-1573-4fa3-a591-87ee67891f9f/Dr.Dre.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Dre´ Durant</image:title>
      <image:caption>With over 12 years of experience in festival operations, Dré Durant has helped shaped premium programming at various music, film, interactive events, and concert venues across the United States including Coachella Valley Music &amp; Arts Festival, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo Music &amp; Arts Experience, ESSENCE Festival of Culture, Voodoo Festival, and House of Blues among myriad of other projects.  In addition to his experience in the music industry, Dré Durant has worked as a Documentary Features Programmer for the New Orleans Film Society and Festival.  He is a graduate of Tulane University and currently resides in New Orleans with his husband.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/dr-steven-gundry</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-07-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/de828d50-db8b-4aa2-99e5-5fe3f9cfbce5/Dr.+Gundry+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Dr. Steven Gundry - Dr. Steven Gundry is one of the world’s top cardiothoracic surgeons and leading pioneers in nutrition. He is the founder of Gundry MD, a line of wellness products and supplements, host of the top-rated health show, The Dr. Gundry Podcast, and medical director at The International Heart and Lung Institute Center for Restorative Medicine.  He has spent the last two decades studying the microbiome and now helps patients use diet and nutrition as a key form of treatment. He is the author of many New York Times bestselling books including The Plant Paradox, and The Plant Paradox Cookbook, and The Longevity Paradox: How to Die Young at a Ripe Old Age and The Energy Paradox: What to Do When You Get-Up-and-Go Has Got up and Gone. He just released his latest USA Today national bestseller, Unlocking the Keto Code, which offers a revolutionary take on the keto diet that debunks common myths and shows readers how to reap the rewards of keto with less restriction.</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/stacy-horne</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-07-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/dc7ff5dc-80a7-4f0e-b948-a9254ac93ee7/Stacy.Horne.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Stacy Horne - Stacy Horne has over two decades of experience in the concert and event production business – starting in the late 1990’s working on the Tibetan Freedom Concerts and then at Festival Productions under the tutelage of legendary jazz promoter George Wein at Festival Productions.  Stacy then went on to produce the CMJ Music Marathon and founded the Hudson River Rocks concert series in New York City. From there, she moved to San Francisco to become the producer for the city’s most venerated independent music festival, Noise Pop and become a co-founder of the highly regarded Treasure Island Music Festival which began in 2007.   Stacy served as VP of Cultural Programs at the Battery, San Francisco’s premiere social club, where she curated cultural experiences with over 400 events a year hosting performers and presenters from Jane Fonda to Snoop Dogg. She is currently the Director of Programming for the esteemed Stern Grove Music Festival now in its’ 85th year, and back at Noise Pop Industries (serving as President) where she just launched the Mill Valley Music Festival headlined by Ben Harper.</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/emma-faye</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-07-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/3d8c2a8a-7d53-4d75-80b7-1b2568fa1df0/Emma.Faye.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Emma Faye - Emma Faye went profoundly deaf at the age of three. She has spent her life turning a disability into an ability. Emma Faye is an internationally known role model for the (D)deaf and hard-of-hearing (HOH) community and founder to nonprofit organization, Aid the Silent which is a system of support for economically disadvantaged deaf/HOH children and teens to reach their full potential and live life more richly by providing funds for resources, ministry, research and education.   Emma Faye was crowned Miss San Antonio twice and placed Top 4 in Miss Texas. She was named San Antonio’s Woman of the Year and Governor Greg Abbott has appointed her to serve three terms on the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities, a bi-partisan committee that writes policy recommendations for those with disabilities.   Emma Faye and trusty service dog, Hank, are on a show titled “Hank and Emma Faye” for KLRN PBS and other Texas markets focusing on sign language, inclusivity and kindness. The show won an Emmy in 2020. She was one of the five characters for the IMAX movie “Into America’s Wild” produce by Academy Award® nominated producers MacGillivray Freeman Films narrated by Morgan Freeman. This movie was released in February 2020 at the Smithsonian in DC and is being shown world-wide on IMAX and giant screens as well as sponsored by Go USA – the US National Tourism Department. She spent six months filming a pilot show for ABC called “Ordinary to Extraordinary.”   With over 70+ TV appearances as well as print and digital media, Emma was recently featured on Cosmopolitan Magazine. Emma Faye is the “go to” media expert for those with hearing loss and inclusion of those with disabilities.   Emma Faye through her non-profit Aid the Silent throws an all-day music festival called Good Vibrations Music &amp; Arts Festival (because deaf “feel” the music). This festival brings together the (D)deaf and Hard-of-Hearing(HOH) with the hearing world with a fully accessible experience through ten hours of live captioning, ASL Interpretation, t-coiling, vibrating backpacks, sound wave wall and an LED dance floor that syncs to the music. No deaf/HOH person is segregated out to a “special area” – they can be anywhere on the festival grounds and be included. This festival is attended by several thousand each year and won “Best of Fest for Charity Music Festival” at FestForum in 2019.   Emma Faye travels all around the country speaking at business conventions, school, ministries, churches and conferences sharing her story of hearing loss and letting others know about the programs Aid the Silent offers. She is the primary fundraiser and Executive Director of Aid the Silent as well as a mission staff member for Deaf Young Life.    For a full bio go to emmafayerudkin.com &amp; aidthesilent.com</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/morgan-margolis</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-07-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/7e405975-c9bf-409a-912d-8d8680e83946/Morgan.Margolis.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Morgan Margolis - Margolis joined Knitting Factory Entertainment in 2000 as Operations Manager of Los Angeles’ flagship Knitting Factory concert house. Later he took over as VP of West Coast Operations as the company expanded into the Pacific Northwest, where KFE opened concert houses in Boise and Spokane, and produced tours and concerts at other high-capacity venues nationally. In 2007, Margolis was promoted to VP National Operations. Within a year, he was named CEO of KFE and for the past fourteen years has helmed the company. Margolis has guided the corporation from a three-unit venue company to a twenty-unit, multiple tiered operation, and portfolio company with six hundred employees nationally and abroad. Today, KFE comprises multiple bars / restaurants and national Knitting Factory concert venues; partnerships with Boomtown Brewery, in DTLA and Arrive Hotel Palm Springs, CA; 2021 partnership with iconic venue / bar Pappy and Harriet’s , Joshua Tree, CA. A partnership with The Buckhead Group in several restaurants, in California and Colorado; KF Records’ ownership of Brooklyn-based indie label Partisan Records (Music Week UK Label of The Year 2020, with multiple Grammy nominations annually); Left Music Publishing; Knitting Factory Management; Selby Artist Management; Giant Step Marketing and Media, TBA theatrical agency, Fandiem, a digital fundraising platform; and the Connect Group culinary management. KFE also owns the tastemaker web and podcast property, Talkhouse. Margolis created a strategic partnership with Okay Media and a recent tie-in with Fillmore Capital group on a multi-use entertainment and hospitality complex in Denver, opened October 2022. KFE’s national touring and promotions arm tied the knot with CMoore Concerts in 2019 expanding its footprint. Booking national acts across multiple states including, but not limited to Outlaw Field, ID, Big Sky Brewery Amphitheatre in MO and Wine Country Amp in Walla Walla WA, these venues safely serve more than 150,000 fans outdoors annually. KFE holds and has held numerous promoter contracts including but not limited to Slowdown, NE; Elevation 27, VA; Alma in Tacoma WA and Hop Springs in Murfreesboro TN as a talent buyer. Partnerships have also included Rachel Ray’s Feedback in Chicago, Hortons Hayride in California, the iconic Desert Daze Festival in Moreno Valley, Maha Festival, NE, Bogus Fest, ID and Underground Music Showcase, CO. 2 KFE was a co producer of FELA on Broadway, receiving multiple Tony Awards (with Alex Gibney directing the film version); the documentary THEY WILL HAVE TO KILL US FIRST; and is currently a co-producer on Saul Williams’ critically acclaimed just released film, NEPTUNE FROST.</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/maria-brunner</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-07-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/246e2dea-8d07-40d1-aba3-7f3cd4bc3ed1/Maria+Brunner.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Maria Brunner - With a distinguished career spanning over 40 years in the entertainment industry, Insight’s clients are a hit list of legends including Eric Clapton, The Moody Blues, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, MCA Nashville, Clint Black, Donna Summer, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Country Cares, baseball luminary Tony LaRussa, Nickelodeon’s Yo Gabba Gabba, the Wiggles, and a variety of tours and festivals including Eric Clapton’s historic Crossroads Festival. Providing strategic marketing, tour promotion and artist management services, Insight Management is located in Scottsdale, AZ. Maria began her career working for over a decade for legendary promoters Jerry Weintraub and Tom Hulett at Concerts West, whose stellar client list included Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys, John Denver, Neil Diamond, Earth, Wind and Fire, and many more. Maria’s responsibilities included tour marketing, project marketing, record releases and a variety of entertainment events. Dedicated to giving back to the next generation of entertainment industry professionals, in 2002 Ms. Brunner helped found the entertainment business program at the University of Montana, where she continues to teach and hold an advisory role. Maria has additionally held an advisory board position at California State University’s Entertainment Business Program, where she was a visiting instructor. Maria’s lifelong commitment to working with the music industry to mobilize and improve the lives of others extends beyond education. Presently, Maria sits on the board for two regional St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital initiatives, plus their new rock music program, as well as Phoenix animal rescues, PAC911, Valley Dogs, and Veterans and their Pets. Maria additionally resided on the boards for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Country Cares for Kids for over 29 years, Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation’s ARF for ten years, and renowned musical instrument nonprofit, Ear Candy, for five years. Maria is the Founder and Director of Musically Fed, a non-profit dedicated to engaging the music industry to fight hunger through repurposing excess tour catering. With over 40 years of relationships and expertise in the entertainment industry, Maria brings invaluable experience and counsel to ensure the success and exposure of projects at both a grass roots and international level.</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/ramon-hervey</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-07-27</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d86f4c42-bea1-4cfd-b4d6-98d29e7df5be/Ramon+Harvey.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Ramon Hervey</image:title>
      <image:caption>Ramon Hervey II has been a resilient leader in the entertainment industry over the past four decades while helming his own imprint Hervey &amp; Company, one the most respected boutique entertainment management and brand consultant companies in the business. This summer Hervey debuts as an author with THE FAME GAME, An Insider’s Playbook for Earning Your 15 Minutes, scheduled for release by Harper/Collins/Amistad on August 16th. Throughout his career, Hervey has mined, molded, and managed, mopped up messes, and mounted major comebacks as a publicist and manager. The Fame Game is his uncensored, behind-the-scenes look at the rich and famous as they are rarely seen. He shares the hilarious, the absurd, the disappointing, and the surprising as he recalls how he became a trusted confidant to a Who’s Who in music, comedy, film to A-listers including Richard Pryor, Bette Midler, Quincy Jones, Don Cornelius, the Bee Gees, Andrae Crouch, Vanessa Williams, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Luther Vandross, Rick James, Paul McCartney, Peter Frampton, Andrae Crouch, Nick Nolte, James Caan, and Muhammad Ali. Hervey launched his musical career in London, England working as a writer/publicist for noted talent agents, Starlite Artistes, (Bay City Rollers, Marmalade, Kenny, Mac &amp; Katie Kissoon). Upon returning to the states, he filled the same role for Motown Records. While there, he collaborated on publicity campaigns for the label’s top artists, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, the Commodores, the Temptations, and Jackson 5. Following his stint with Motown, he joined the iconic PR firm Rogers &amp; Cowan and worked his way up from being a writer/publicist to director of music, and vice president of music and talent. During his tenure at the company his high-profile client list included Paul McCartney, Richard Pryor, Bette Midler, Herb Alpert, Natalie Cole, Ashford &amp; Simpson, Marilyn McCoo &amp; Billy Davis Jr, Nick Nolte, George Benson, The Bee Gees, and Peter Frampton, among others. Upon exiting Rogers &amp; Cowan, Hervey launched his own public relations company, The Group, with partner Bob Gibson. The company represented a bevy of prominent music artists including Little Richard, Crosby, Stills &amp; Nash, Mick Fleetwood, Rick James, Bette Midler, Natalie Cole, Rufus, Don Cornelius/Soul Train, and gospel legend Andrae Crouch. Hervey eventually left and launched his own public relations company, and later morphed it into a management firm. As a publicist, manager, and management consultant his client roster has included Little Richard, Andrae Crouch, Vanessa Williams, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Al Jarreau, Natalie Cole, Joe Sample, David Sanborn, Kenny Lattimore, Hervey has also produced major music events/projects, (NBA AT 50 Anniversary album, R &amp; B Live, live performance concept ) music specials for television (Andrae Crouch, Babyface) and award-winning documentary films. In 2004, he executive produced "Chisholm ’72- Unbought &amp; Unbossed” which won a Peabody Award. He later served as music supervisor on “Free Angela, And All Political Prisoners,”(winner of the NAACP Image Award for Best Documentary), and "Hot Flash Havoc" (winner of the AASECT Award for 'Best Audio Visual for Sexual Health').</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/john-petrocelli</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-07-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/707dafa9-b0fc-4cdc-af51-f1a38cd13c3a/John+Petrocelli.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - John Petrocelli - John Petrocelli is a pioneer of the livestream industry and Founder &amp; CEO of livestream studio Bulldog DM. He has built a career on connecting consumers to the most watched livestreams of all time. Always one to identify industry shifts early on, John collaborated with Prince to develop the first major artist direct-to-consumer digital music store. Following the acquisition of his company by AEG, John served as VP, Sales and Business Development, where he spearheaded live-streaming for Coachella, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Rock In Rio, The Royal Wedding, TED Conference, the Grammys, the Oscars, and the Masters. In 2012, he founded Bulldog DM, which has produced over one billion audience engagements across Fortune 500 clients.</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-detail/jamie-loeb</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2022-07-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/60e766e4-fc4f-4a96-948c-479d09105091/Jamie+Loeb.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2023 Speaker Bios - Jamie Loeb - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs</loc>
    <changefreq>daily</changefreq>
    <priority>0.75</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-04-01</lastmod>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/what-festforums-2026s-safety-security-panel-is-reminding-us-this-world-health-dayqruahd3nbtfvegqi19l3kojwpwpmps</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-04-01</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - What FestForums 2026's Safety &amp;amp; Security Panel Is Reminding Us This World Health Day - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Photo by Claire Hart, Safety &amp; Security Panel at FestForums 2026 featuring (left to right): Catherine Curtin, Ira Rosen, Joseph Pred, Kristin Flickinger, Maddier Ward, Ken Deans.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/ticketing-is-magic-insights-from-festforums-2026s-ticketing-for-success-panel</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-03-24</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - Ticketing Is Magic: Insights from FestForums 2026's Ticketing for Success Panel - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Photo by Chris Jensen of the Ticketing for Success Panel at FestForums 2026</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/green-is-the-new-gold-meet-the-sustainability-trailblazers-of-festforums-2026</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-03-18</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1773857919569-1S1DXFK8ETT752GV0PRL/CJ2_7805.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - Green is the New Gold: Meet the Sustainability Trailblazers of FestForums® 2026! - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Photo by Chris Jensen, Sustainability at Festivals Discussion at FestForums® 2026 | Santa Barbara, CA</image:caption>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/2147ae35-b8c9-4e9e-9b8f-2724eeec4224/CHP_2281.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - Green is the New Gold: Meet the Sustainability Trailblazers of FestForums® 2026! - Beyond the hardware, Skywell has also developed a cloud-based sustainability reporting platform that calculates and reports in real time the sustainability metrics associated with the use of their equipment, think of it as a live sustainability scoreboard for events. Ron also co-founded the International Safe Drinking Water Alliance, cementing his commitment to global water access far beyond the festival world.</image:title>
      <image:caption>At FestForums® 2026, Skywell parked their mobile hydration truck along with hydration stations collecting water from the air straight to your drinking cup! It can be powered by traditional grid power or renewable energy sources for enhanced sustainability practices and off-grid drinking water coverage. It’s also ideal for outdoor placements requiring high-volume drinking capacities and ease of mobility and movement.</image:caption>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d7bb6313-5792-4a15-b97a-ea940d74d36f/Ultra+Festival+Sustainabillity.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - Green is the New Gold: Meet the Sustainability Trailblazers of FestForums® 2026! - As Director of Sustainability at Ultra Music Festival, Vivian Belzaguy is the driving force behind one of the most decorated green programs in the live events industry.  Ultra Music Festival’s ‘Mission: Home’ sustainability program reaffirms its stature as a global leader in environmental responsibility, earning impressive accolades from both international and statewide organizations.</image:title>
      <image:caption>Mission: Home has educated 8.2 million people worldwide, diverted nearly 400,000 pounds of waste from landfills, and donated more than 84,000 pounds of food, beverages, and supplies back to the community. Ultra also became the first U.S. festival of its scale in over a decade to earn the prestigious "Greener Festival" certification, cementing the festival's place as a true global leader in sustainable events. Learn more about Mission: Home here.</image:caption>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/df53f5d3-4666-431c-be0d-d82e19ac95dd/Sound+Future.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - Green is the New Gold: Meet the Sustainability Trailblazers of FestForums® 2026! - Zoe Berman is the COO of Sound Future, a nonprofit that turns live events into a force for environmental good.</image:title>
      <image:caption>Their flagship program, Surf &amp; Turf, is a first-of-its-kind global initiative that makes it easy for events to fund local restoration projects that rebuild ecosystems and track progress through satellite imagery. Rather than waiting for environmental disasters to strike, Sound Future empowers events to take proactive climate action, proving that festivals don't just have the power to entertain, they have the power to heal the planet too.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/miami-film-festival-lineup-2026</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-03-11</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - 43rd Annual Miami Film Festival Announces Lineup for 2026 - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>The 43rd annual Miami Film Festival is held April 9-19, 2026 presented by Miami Dade College</image:caption>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1773254117800-L7VU1RVHP55ZSC14LYJ5/Adam+Scott+HS+-+Leigh+Keily.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - 43rd Annual Miami Film Festival Announces Lineup for 2026</image:title>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1773254095126-OT2MO8L6GT0079IQBLSA/Danielle+Brooks_Photographer+Mat+Hayward+.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - 43rd Annual Miami Film Festival Announces Lineup for 2026</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - 43rd Annual Miami Film Festival Announces Lineup for 2026</image:title>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1773254116813-2LAA78Y223QQG20OPOZ0/Lili+Reinhart+by+Sebastian+Nevols+FInal.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - 43rd Annual Miami Film Festival Announces Lineup for 2026</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - 43rd Annual Miami Film Festival Announces Lineup for 2026</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/livestreaming-is-the-new-festival-standard</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-14</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - Livestreaming is the New Festival Standard - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/5-festivals-coming-to-festforums-2026-to-talk-about-their-epic-2025-season</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-29</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - 5 Festivals Coming to FestForums 2026 to Talk About Their Epic 2025 Season - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Image: State of the Industry Panel at FestForums 12-14, 2025 | Featuring: ESSENCE Festival, Food Network New York City Wine &amp; Food Festival, &amp; Summerfest</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/weather-risk-on-the-radar-inside-sermas-live-entertainment-webinar</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-19</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - Weather Risk on the Radar: Inside SERMA®’s Live Entertainment Webinar&amp;nbsp; - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Source: SERMA®</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/holiday-events-to-get-you-in-the-festive-spirit-2025</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-04</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - 2025 ​​Holiday Events to Get You in the Festive Spirit - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Image: Exron Music</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/2025-festival-review-5-events-that-redefined-the-industry</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-04</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/0e8de16e-301a-49df-844a-b044a92ed6fc/FestForums+2025+Festival+Innovators+Blog.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - ​​2025 Festival Review: 5 Events That Redefined the Industry - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d270cbbe-4bf5-4bef-a86d-47300374b911/77556405007-wonderfruit.webp</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - ​​2025 Festival Review: 5 Events That Redefined the Industry - 1. Bonnaroo (Manchester, TN) – The Infinity Stage Experience</image:title>
      <image:caption>Photo: The Tennessean</image:caption>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/ed3af5be-aefe-48a8-8283-b169cfa114c3/coachella_2024_001.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - ​​2025 Festival Review: 5 Events That Redefined the Industry - 2. Coachella (Indio, CA) – Battery-Powered Stages &amp; AR Integration</image:title>
      <image:caption>Coachella took major steps toward sustainability by installing nine battery energy storage systems across the festival grounds. The Do LaB Stage ran entirely on zero-emissions batteries, cutting an estimated 691,286 kg of CO2 emissions. Beyond clean energy, the festival embraced technology through AR-enhanced installations that let attendees unlock digital content on their devices. The TRASHed: Art of Recycling program also turned waste management into interactive art. Together, these initiatives showed that even massive desert festivals can reduce their environmental impact while exploring new technology. Image: Meyer Sound</image:caption>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/cfa531c3-39e7-4eaf-81b9-0b34c27307bc/aINuaVGsbswqTP_2_1752895469145_39e98913-4b2e-4b10-87d7-073e432ec6d4.jpg_0_2969698091944465646.webp</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - ​​2025 Festival Review: 5 Events That Redefined the Industry - 3. Tomorrowland (Boom, Belgium) – Immersive Production at Global Scale</image:title>
      <image:caption>Tomorrowland earned the title of DJ Mag's #1 festival for the fifth year in a row by combining innovation with a focus on fans. The festival's elaborate themed stages and fantasy production transformed the grounds into immersive worlds where 200,000 attendees from over 200 countries experienced music as theatrical performance. Through its Lab of Tomorrow innovation hub, the festival tested new technologies while maintaining its signature immersive experience. Tomorrowland showed that massive festivals can still feel intimate when backed by thoughtful design. Image: Tomorrowland</image:caption>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/a32f9c67-fbe2-4b0d-80bd-6e78863bb791/ol2024_0809_114216-7281_alivecoverage.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - ​​2025 Festival Review: 5 Events That Redefined the Industry - 4. Outside Lands (San Francisco, CA) – The Waste Diversion Champion</image:title>
      <image:caption>Outside Lands achieved an 89% waste diversion rate,the highest of any major U.S. festival keeping over 284,000 pounds out of landfills. The festival also partnered with ExtraFood to redistribute extra meals to communities in need. By featuring local food vendors Outside Lands created a uniquely San Francisco experience while setting new environmental standards. Image: Outside Lands Music Festival</image:caption>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/25dfd400-42f4-4997-8a2f-86ca4f981804/IMG_5196.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - ​​2025 Festival Review: 5 Events That Redefined the Industry - 5. Highlands Food &amp; Wine (North Carolina) –Turning Events Into Community Support</image:title>
      <image:caption>For its 2025 event, Highlands Food &amp; Wine showed how festivals can truly give back. As a nonprofit, the festival has spent years funding scholarships and supporting local arts and cultural programs. By directing resources to the region's culinary, visual, and performing arts communities, Highlands Food &amp; Wine created a model where every ticket supports meaningful causes. Their approach proved that great programming and community impact go together, setting a standard for festivals that genuinely care about their home. Image: The Southern Scoop</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/when-festival-magic-meets-texas-spirit-chefs-for-farmers-dallas</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-11-06</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1762450062291-CPHIBL01I356FM5X7CJB/IMG_5450.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - When Festival Magic Meets Texas Spirit: Chefs for Farmers Dallas - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/eac5f050-7f39-4698-a49e-0f92f70b6877/IMG_2123.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - When Festival Magic Meets Texas Spirit: Chefs for Farmers Dallas - But the sponsor love didn't stop there (some highlights):</image:title>
      <image:caption>Patrón Tequila brought the Texas flair with a custom cowboy hat station where guests could personalize their own hats with pins. Everyone left with a wearable souvenir that screamed both brand and location. Maker's Mark elevated the experience with custom embroidered bandanas—talk about a keepsake people will actually use and remember. BMW sponsored the VIP Surf &amp; Turf Zone, combining luxury with indulgence. Picture this: premium drinks, fresh seafood, and an elevated atmosphere that made VIP ticket holders feel genuinely special. This is how you do tiered experiences right.</image:caption>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/2466fef1-2710-4b69-81e7-9fba8f9fbcfa/IMG_2117.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - When Festival Magic Meets Texas Spirit: Chefs for Farmers Dallas - The Tailgate Zone: A Texas Touchdown</image:title>
      <image:caption>The Tailgate Zone was an absolute standout. Multiple photo zones celebrating football culture? Check. A massive screen for the full game-day vibe? Check. It perfectly captured that quintessential Texas spirit where food and football aren't just hobbies—they're a way of life.</image:caption>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1762450263324-4KM9YRSOVUK6RQR3GFX2/IMG_2112.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - When Festival Magic Meets Texas Spirit: Chefs for Farmers Dallas</image:title>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1762450263008-OM9DUG19MRMONK5HQZNL/setty_397.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - When Festival Magic Meets Texas Spirit: Chefs for Farmers Dallas</image:title>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1762450266499-52OS4JU29ZDRMI3PNGUH/IMG_2103.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - When Festival Magic Meets Texas Spirit: Chefs for Farmers Dallas</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/the-authenticity-advantage-how-ai-is-driving-the-future-of-experiential-marketing</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-11-03</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1762194232642-46Z3PUR4CA2IAXHZIBIP/DSC_1763.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - The Authenticity Advantage: How AI is Driving the Future of Experiential Marketing - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Image taken by Claire Hart, FestForums 2025</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/meet-our-staff-the-team-behind-festforums</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-14</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/fd9f482a-2009-4003-877e-e8cfa48cb6f7/Phoebe+Choi+Headshot+1x1.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - ​​Meet Our Staff: The Team Behind FestForums - Phoebe Choi</image:title>
      <image:caption>Speaker and Marketing Director Phoebe is a marketing, media, and events expert who makes coordinating 100+ speakers annually look effortless. With over four years of experience orchestrating events and campaigns, she leads the conference's marketing initiatives while ensuring every detail—from speaker logistics to promotional rollouts—runs like clockwork. Her creative portfolio reads like a highlight reel: designing marketing materials for Francis Ford Coppola's MEGALOPOLIS, including the official Cannes Film Festival poster, and serving as Marketing &amp; Events Coordinator for the Sponsorship Marketing Association, where she helps organize the annual Sponsorship Mastery Summit for 500-600 industry professionals. But Phoebe's impact extends beyond corporate events. As a professional photographer running her own business, she's created over 4,000 visual assets for ANACAONA Community, a nonprofit supporting the Haitian community—proving that her talents are matched only by her commitment to meaningful work.</image:caption>
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    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/2055cfaf-b43c-46a9-a0e9-56e761325cb1/Eddie+Bernard.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - ​​Meet Our Staff: The Team Behind FestForums - Eddie Bernard</image:title>
      <image:caption>Events Manager Eddie brings the kind of entertainment marketing expertise that transforms events into experiences. As FestForums' special events manager, he's the driving force behind our benefit concerts, overseeing everything from overall logistics to production details that make the conference run seamlessly. In his current role, Eddie serves as Senior VP of Entertainment Marketing at TheSocialArchitects, a boutique agency where he crafts impactful campaigns and builds vibrant communities for top-tier brands. His specialty? The full spectrum of modern marketing—from explosive social media growth and strategic influencer campaigns to media buying and promotional strategies for major film and TV studio projects. When he's not orchestrating conferences or brand campaigns, you'll find Eddie serving as Digital Marketing Manager for Francis Ford Coppola—because apparently, one dream job wasn't enough. His unique blend of event production mastery and cutting-edge digital marketing makes him an invaluable architect of FestForums' continued growth and innovation.</image:caption>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/2c42c091-20bd-41ce-b716-d049e4c4120f/Dave+Demer.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - ​​Meet Our Staff: The Team Behind FestForums - Dave Demer</image:title>
      <image:caption>Sponsorship Relations Dave Demer brings over two decades of sponsorship expertise to FestForums, specializing in strategic partnerships between sponsors and events since 2001. Dave handles Sponsorship Sales for FestForums, giving opportunities and access to businesses who sell to events and festivals. He's been a sponsorship sales representative for events, venues, teams and influencers, and always works hard to ensure sponsors see a strong ROI. His collaborative mindset and passion for tailored engagement strategies strengthen the festival community and advance the industry forward. We're so excited to have him back at FestForums 2026, where he'll be onsite engaging and connecting sponsors and attendees throughout the conference.</image:caption>
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    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/9fcbd20f-d4cb-4912-a352-8788313bdca8/Traci+Collins+1.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - ​​Meet Our Staff: The Team Behind FestForums - Traci Collins</image:title>
      <image:caption>Conference Manager Traci Collins brings extensive knowledge in artist and tour management to her role as Conference Manager at FestForums. Since 1994, she has worked with Little Wing as an Artist &amp; Tour Manager, giving her unique insight into the operational challenges and opportunities facing festival professionals. As Conference Manager, Traci oversees the seamless execution of FestForums, ensuring every detail contributes to a valuable experience for attendees. Her hands-on understanding of the live events industry allows her to anticipate the needs of festival organizers and create programming that addresses real-world challenges. Traci's dedication to fostering meaningful connections and her commitment to operational excellence make her instrumental in bringing the festival community together. We're thrilled to have Traci leading the FestForums conference experience, where her expertise ensures every aspect runs smoothly.</image:caption>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/c75a0fa7-6ad5-4e6f-b0ed-2c81ab5050e7/Olivia+Sorgman.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - ​​Meet Our Staff: The Team Behind FestForums - Olivia Sorgman</image:title>
      <image:caption>Operations Manager Olivia is a seasoned event professional with a passion for creating experiences that bring people together. She currently serves as the Festival Director for the California Avocado Festival, Summer Solstice Celebration, and Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival, as well as the Show Manager for the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show. Her extensive background also includes serving as Local Operations Manager for major events such as the X Games, The Throwdown Cornhole Tournament, and Skull &amp; Roses. Before her festival career, Olivia spent a decade with Hornblower Cruises, where she served as Director of Marketing and Entertainment and Nightlife Manager. She later became the Director of Product and Implementation for Anchor Operating System, where she collaborated with engineers to develop an event software platform that now powers ticketing for iconic destinations including the Statue of Liberty, Niagara Falls, and Alcatraz Island. Driven by a deep love for live events, innovation, and community connection, Olivia is dedicated to creating moments of shared joy and celebration through her work.</image:caption>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/01f7fb38-3f08-44ac-8f7b-5cfa98585640/Holly+Owen+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - ​​Meet Our Staff: The Team Behind FestForums - Holly Owen</image:title>
      <image:caption>Media &amp; Events Coordinator Holly manages media and outreach for FestForums, overseeing the conference blog with content that highlights industry insights and conference updates. She actively seeks out new stories and innovative ways to connect with festival professionals, building strong relationships within the community. With a background in HR instructional design and management, she brings a strategic approach to communication and relationship-building. Her passion for live events drives her engagement with the festival industry, keeping the FestForums community informed and connected throughout the year.</image:caption>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/4dd735aa-3b61-4b57-863c-13257fedcaee/headshot+joy+squad+%281%29.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - ​​Meet Our Staff: The Team Behind FestForums - Nicole Rocha</image:title>
      <image:caption>Marketing &amp; Events Coordinator Nicole is a Music Industry student at the University of Southern California, where her passion for live events has evolved from enthusiastic fandom into focused industry expertise. She is currently serving as FestForums Marketing and Events Coordinating Intern, returning for her second year at FestForums after previously working in sponsorships. Nicole brings hands-on experience in brand partnerships from her work with BeachLife Festival and has contributed to the prestigious NAMM Parnelli Awards in Anaheim. She has also worked with Incite Management, gaining valuable experience in artist relations. Nicole is mentored by USC professor Kevin Lyman, founder of the iconic Vans Warped Tour, whose guidance continues to shape her path in the festival industry.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/sunburned-deaf-blistered-and-already-got-tickets-for-next-year-vans-warped-tour-is-back</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-09-25</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - Sunburned, Deaf, Blistered and already got tickets for next year: Vans Warped Tour is BACK - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Source: Vans Warped Tour</image:caption>
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    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/4819e430-b57c-4c5a-a751-68e3308a53ef/Vans+Warped+Tour+Blog+2.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - Sunburned, Deaf, Blistered and already got tickets for next year: Vans Warped Tour is BACK - Vans Warped Tour, founded in 1995 by Kevin Lyman, is a multi-stage traveling festival that celebrates a wide variety of genres like punk rock, pop punk, metalcore, emo, and ska. Known as the largest traveling music festival in the U.S., Warped Tour isn’t just about the music, it also features skateboarding and BMX demos, brand booths, and a strong DIY, countercultural spirit that makes it truly one-of-a-kind.</image:title>
      <image:caption>This year’s event in Long Beach marked a historic comeback: after a seven-year hiatus, Warped Tour celebrates its 30th anniversary! What began as a scrappy punk rock roadshow in the mid-’90s has grown into a full-blown cultural staple, shaping the soundtracks of generations. This year was my first time ever attending Warped Tour in Long Beach, and I went in with no clue what to expect. I’ve been to other major festivals, but this one was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It was more than just a festival; it was a community. First off, I quickly learned why everyone shows up early — set times are announced the day of the show. At first, that made me a little anxious (the planner in me was twitching), but once I was there, it all made sense. Warped Tour is about discovering new artists, letting the day unfold, and just experiencing the chaos. After taking a photo of the schedule (a Warped Tour rite of passage), I headed straight to the Vans merchandise booth.</image:caption>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/60f1664d-f370-4e2b-8d58-74c2363590e1/Vans+Warped+Tour+Blog+3.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - Sunburned, Deaf, Blistered and already got tickets for next year: Vans Warped Tour is BACK - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Source: Carlson, Patrick, Youtube</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/beat-scalpers-at-their-own-game-why-festival-owners-should-own-the-secondary-market</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-09-17</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1758140741647-K8AG72JO4B721VUK8O3H/Learning+from+Festivals+all+around+the+world+festforums+2025.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - Beat Scalpers at Their Own Game: Why Festival Owners Should Own the Secondary Market - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/who-youll-meet-at-festforums-and-why-they-matter</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-09-03</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/5ffada0d-a224-4b77-bb64-2337e1abdd98/FestForums+party+2025.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - Who You'll Meet at FestForums (and Why They Matter) - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/how-your-business-can-benefit-5-tips-from-a-festforums-success-story</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-08-07</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/ff7e0f06-0383-41bf-aef6-913d0fa5d494/conchairtofestival.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - How Your Business Can Benefit: 5 Tips from a FestForums Success Story - A Q&amp;A with a veteran attendee who transformed industry relationships through strategic networking</image:title>
      <image:caption>For business owners considering FestForums for the first time, hearing from someone who's been there can be invaluable. We sat down with a three-year FestForums veteran Brett Smiley, Founder and President of conCHAIRto, who shares how this unique event transformed his business relationships and opened doors across multiple industries.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/festforums-2026-pressrelease</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-07-14</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/244a802f-4680-49f4-a820-9fce056e7a0a/FestForums+2026+Attendees+Image.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - FestForums® Announces Expanded Speaker Lineup and Theme for 2026 Conference in Santa Barbara&amp;nbsp; - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Photo Credit: Evokra Visuals at FestForums 2025 in Santa Barbara, CA at the Mar Monte Hotel</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/concert-buddy-2025</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-06-30</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1751309596358-FS983N1TTGC1WI7EJAYW/concert+buddy+3.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - Concert Buddy, a New Tech Startup, Takes Four College Students On An All-Expense-Paid Trip To Coachella Music Festival</image:title>
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    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1751309596833-DZ4M0KSCG4DSSV4KXFBO/concert+buddy+2.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - Concert Buddy, a New Tech Startup, Takes Four College Students On An All-Expense-Paid Trip To Coachella Music Festival</image:title>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1751309600232-W61LOPE6F6M57WAMD06M/Concert+Buddy+pic.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - Concert Buddy, a New Tech Startup, Takes Four College Students On An All-Expense-Paid Trip To Coachella Music Festival</image:title>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/the-dinah-2025</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-06-06</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/880e7027-c092-4052-8aa3-0168b4391230/The+Dinah.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - The Dinah - More Than a Party, a Celebration of Joy and Liberation - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Photo from Thedinah.com</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/shabang-2025</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-05-14</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/94d0f375-c168-4e90-b80c-5e4e56865f92/Shabang+2025+Pic.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - Shabang 2025: Why San Luis Obispo County is the perfect backdrop!&amp;nbsp; - There's something magical about a festival that feels both intimate and expansive, local yet world-class. Shabang 2025, nestled in the hills of San Luis Obispo County, has mastered this balance, creating an experience that stands out in today's crowded festival landscape.</image:title>
      <image:caption>San Luis Obispo County, also known as SLO, offers a departure from the typical festival setting. Unlike desert festivals or urban music events, SLO presents a quaint, accessible backdrop that immediately puts you at ease. The county itself feels like a well-kept secret, with its panoramic views and coast line, it's hard to go wrong.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/lady-gaga-total-mayhem-in-rio-de-janeiro</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-07-15</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/8f01e009-7bf2-4d2c-92a9-10a337e1848b/IMG_8565.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - Lady Gaga Total Mayhem in Rio de Janeiro (Todo Mundo No Rio) - Born this Way: Pre-Show Excitement The energy in Rio was electric days before the show. As I made my way through the streets, I found myself surrounded by fellow "little monsters" (as we Gaga fans are lovingly called) singing her songs in perfect unison. The community that forms around music is something truly special, and nowhere was this more evident than in the passionate crowds of Rio. Lines began forming early – really early. What followed was a 10+ hour wait under the Brazilian sun, but every minute was worth it. The anticipation built with each passing hour as the crowd grew, united by our shared love for Gaga and her music.</image:title>
      <image:caption>More Than Just Music When Gaga finally took the stage, the beach erupted. The production was stunning, her vocals flawless, and her energy unmatched. This wasn't just another stop on a tour; this was Lady Gaga making history at Copacabana Beach. What struck me most was how genuinely moved she seemed by the massive turnout and the passionate response from the crowd. In a particularly touching moment, she addressed us with words I'll never forget: "We're making history, but no one makes history alone. Without all of you, the incredible people of Brazil, I wouldn't have this moment. Thank you for making history with me." And make history, she did. The performance was a masterclass in entertainment – a perfect blend of her greatest hits and spectacular showmanship that had the entire beach moving as one.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/celebrating-earth-day-sustainable-champions-in-the-festival-industry</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-04-22</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/ce729868-b726-4fa9-93e4-34172887012b/DSC_0357.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - Celebrating Earth Day: Sustainable Champions in the Festival Industry - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Photo by Claire Hart: Sustainability Panel at FestForums 2025, moderated by Julie Schneiderman (left), David Rovesk, Jennifer Brazill, Ken Deans and Paul Schurink (right) speaking.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/how-new-zealands-rhythm-and-vines-festival-fosters-a-culture-of-lifetime-membership</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-04-17</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1849a2bf-a064-4a67-8977-dcb2516ef27d/Screenshot+2025-04-14+185704.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>Blog - How New Zealand's "Rhythm and Vines" Festival Fosters a Culture of Lifetime Membership - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/the-power-of-ambassadors-transforming-festivals-with-surge</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-03-25</lastmod>
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      <image:caption>HARD Summer Music Festival 2024 Lineup; Credit: HARD Events</image:caption>
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      <image:title>Blog - Lightning in a Bottle 2023: A Festival With Heart - Make it stand out</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - Activations, Art, and Artists Abound at Coachella 2023 - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
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      <image:title>Blog - Activations, Art, and Artists Abound at Coachella 2023 - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
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      <image:title>Blog - Activations, Art, and Artists Abound at Coachella 2023</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - Activations, Art, and Artists Abound at Coachella 2023</image:title>
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    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/personal-development-as-a-foundation-of-lightning-in-a-bottle</loc>
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    <lastmod>2023-04-07</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - Personal Development as a Foundation of Lightning in a Bottle</image:title>
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      <image:title>Blog - Personal Development as a Foundation of Lightning in a Bottle</image:title>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/managing-independent-contractors-at-your-festival</loc>
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    <lastmod>2023-04-13</lastmod>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/laurie-kirby-on-the-state-of-the-festival-industry</loc>
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    <lastmod>2023-04-04</lastmod>
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      <image:title>Blog - Laurie Kirby on the State of the Festival Industry - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/lightning-in-a-bottle-sets-the-stage-for-sustainability</loc>
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    <lastmod>2023-03-07</lastmod>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/nonalcoholicrinksatfestivals</loc>
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    <lastmod>2023-03-07</lastmod>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/sustainabilityatfestivals</loc>
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    <lastmod>2023-03-07</lastmod>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/creatingfanengagementatfestivals</loc>
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    <lastmod>2023-03-07</lastmod>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/blogs/crowdcontrolatfestivals</loc>
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    <lastmod>2023-03-07</lastmod>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024</loc>
    <changefreq>daily</changefreq>
    <priority>0.75</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-07-22</lastmod>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/jennifer-jay</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-02-12</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/a9f845b6-cfaa-49a3-ba68-beee6fe72e4d/Jennifer+Jay.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Jennifer Jay - Senior Director, Sponsorship and Experiential Marketing at Saatchi &amp; Saatchi</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jennifer Jay is Senior Director, Sponsorship and Experiential Marketing at Saatchi &amp; Saatchi.  Beyond pioneering Toyota’s Culture strategy and partnerships, she led the strategic creation, development, and execution of the Toyota Music program over the past 17 years, including the Toyota Music Den, featuring engaging activations and emerging artists at major music festivals. She also has experience managing the Action Sports, NBA, Culinary and Integrated Media Programs such as Oprah Winfrey’s Live Your Best Life Tour and Martha Stewart’s Made in America. Her career began as an A&amp;R representative at a major record label, shifting to music media as a Marketing Director at SPIN and VIBE Magazines.  In her free time, she loves travel and anything POP culture.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/jenn-yacoubian</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-02-01</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/44c752c8-be3a-4eec-ae66-e4426100b27c/Jenn+Yacoubian_headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Jenn Yacoubian - Executive Vice President of Goldenvoice</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jenn Yacoubian is an Executive Vice President of the premiere Southern California live music promoter Goldenvoice. She started at Goldenvoice in 2009, and in her role as EVP oversees the booking department, as well as acts as a national touring talent buyer and the primary talent buyer for the Greek Theatre Los Angeles and Splash House festival. She is also one of the core members of the Coachella Valley Music &amp; Arts Festival booking team and the producer and booker for the Los Angeles festival Cruel World. Yacoubian has been featured on Billboard’s 40 Under 40 and Women in Music lists.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/henry-priest</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-30</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/c9ada05d-02db-4a8e-b953-c39531b6ba6b/Henry+Priest.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Henry Priest - Founder of the Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Henry Priest originally starred in Walt Disney's feature film titled "Spooner," alongside Robert Ulrich. In his 30 years in the industry, he has been an advocate for Latin filmmakers and filmmakers of color, championing diversity in the media. He has served the industry as an actor, writer, casting director, and producer of film, TV, live events, and has founded several film festivals. His projects have been presented at some of the most prestigious film festivals, such as Festival De Cannes in France, Tribeca Film Festival in New York, and AFI Fest in Hollywood. His work can be seen on networks including Showtime, Netflix, Amazon Prime, the Big Ten Network, and more. As a casting director, his clients have included Nike, Adidas, Lionsgate, America Online, and many others. Henry produced a feature film titled "Beyond the Mat," which was featured at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival's All Access program. Additionally, a film he produced titled "I Came Here for Love" was featured on Showtime. He is also slated to produce a feature film for HBO. He is often asked to serve on boards, committees, and panel discussions. Currently, he is incorporating technology by bridging the gap between the crypto community with NFTs and film with the Legends of Atlantis NFT collection and other similar projects. His latest venture involves producing a feature film with A-list actor Billy Baldwin as the Executive Producer. Additionally, he is developing a $100M film fund with advisors who are executives at studios such as Walt Disney, Universal, Paramount Studios, and more. The project aims to assist high-net-worth individuals in investing in the film community. As part of the consulting team working with Timely NIL, Timely Entertainment, and World Class Sports, Mr. Priest is raising $3M to help high school and college athletes secure sponsorships. Additionally, he is working as a talent manager to assist athletes in finding work in commercials, film, and television. Currently, he is working with over 10 UFC and MMA champions. Henry is the founder of the Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival, which has been awarded the Best Annual Event. The festival has presented thousands of films over its 15-year span. As the center of the film community, he has access to film distributors, networks, and studios such as Netflix, HBO, Showtime, and Disney. Additionally, the festival is one of the biggest entertainment industry networking events. The music programs include a music documentary program at the Grammy Museum at LA Live, featuring Wu-Tang's ODB with a special performance after and a screening of the legendary Bill Withers in a private engagement. Other partnerships include projects with Live Nation.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/leo-lavoro</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-25</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d8c4de7e-b8a2-437e-90bf-4d82557fba2b/Leo+Lavoro.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Leo Lavoro - Public Relations Executive</image:title>
      <image:caption>Leo Lavoro, most recently serving as Vice President of Public Relations for BMG, has proudly led frontline campaigns for artists such as Lenny Kravitz, Kylie Minogue, Cheap Trick, Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Diane Warren, Bush, The Zombies, David Crosby, Bryan Adams, Betty Who, Journey, Rufus Wainwright, and Anaïs Mitchell.  Over the span of his career, Leo has demonstrated a passionate, versatile, high-energy approach to the craft, and continues to be as receptive as ever to new forms of technology and expansion. Leo is a Recording Academy Member, GRAMMY U Mentor and is a 6x Marathon Finisher.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/signe-lopdrup</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-22</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/75f890eb-b860-4342-9a61-bde05cd6314a/Signe+Lopdrup_credit_Lasse+Mortensen.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Signe Lopdrup - CEO of the Roskilde Festival Group</image:title>
      <image:caption>With over 20 years of leadership experience in the European culture, music, and festival industry at both director and board levels, Signe Lopdrup is one of the industry's most seasoned professionals. Since 2016, she has been the CEO of the charitable organization The Roskilde Festival Group, which organizes the annual Roskilde Festival – one of Northern Europe's key cultural events for progressive music, art, and youth culture. The Roskilde Festival Group's ambition is to move and inspire people, whether this concerns producing the annual Roskilde Festival or helping other promoters and organizations in the fields of event safety, gastronomy, experience design, project management, and logistics. Signe Lopdrup possesses extensive knowledge of and a deep passion for music, culture, and various festival formats. Her key areas of focus include volunteering and fostering communities that inspire and mobilize people, combined with a firm conviction that art and culture can and should set the agenda and perspective on the world. This is particularly evident during the week-long Roskilde Festival, where Signe Lopdrup has been a key figure in sharpening the festival as a non-profit and progressive festival, which is supported by a strong sense of community among its 100,000 guests and 30,000 volunteers throughout the year. During Signe Lopdrup's tenure at the helm of the Roskilde Festival, the activist role of art has gained an increasingly strong position and now interacts even more closely with the music line-up. Thus, music, art, and communities among people should challenge and push the participants' ability to imagine, believe, and hope for a better future.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/jed-weitzman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-20</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/ae647874-d4f6-4402-a86f-b8bbd44da36e/Jed+Weitzman.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Jed Weitzman - Head of Music at Logitix</image:title>
      <image:caption>As the head of music for Logitix, Jed Weitzman has over 25 years of experience as a leader in the entertainment industry, specializing in talent management, technology, and ticketing. Weitzman's career started in television, working on shows like Saturday Night Live and Late Night with Conan O'Brien before becoming a sought-after talent manager and TV development executive. Weitzman spent nearly 10 years managing careers of comedic talents, including Zach Galifianakis, Stephen Colbert, Steven Carell, and Jill Soloway. During his time at Brillstein Grey Entertainment, he worked with the writing and production staff of The Larry Sanders Show, Mr. Show, and The Dana Carvey Show. In 2003, Weitzman jumped into the music industry as a talent manager for The Sanctuary Group, followed by a partner role with Warner Music Group. Working on the artist management side of the music industry, Weitzman oversaw and negotiated deals related to world tours, recordings, and licensing deals. He worked with many of the world's top artists, including Prince, Dave Matthews, Billy Joel, Tom Petty &amp; The Heartbreakers, James Taylor, Jane's Addiction, and Morrissey. After running his own company, Strummer Entertainment, Weitzman continued his rise through the music, media, and fashion industries through leadership positions at IAC, Buddy Media, and Fashion GPS. Through a partnership with Will Arnett, Weitzman became president and partner for Electric Ave in Los Angeles in 2014, where he produced and sourced traditional and digital content across multiple platforms, including broadcast television, Netflix, and Xbox. Before joining Logitix, Weitzman built the music division for DTI Management and consulted for over 60 major concert tours. He worked directly with agencies, promoters, venues, and managers to create revenue. As head of music for Logitix, Weitzman works with artists, promoters, and venues to maximize tickets sales for live events and to put money in the pockets of artists and tickets in the hands of fans. Logitix is the preeminent monetization engine and ticketing platform for the live event industry. They combine optimized pricing, distribution, and inventory management with real-time data insights to help sellers and buyers respond to a rapidly changing market environment. Weitzman joins a Logitix team that is carrying out a vision to automate the entire ticket life cycle and provide data-driven insights to serve the diverse needs of its clients.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/anthony-maddox</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-20</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/cd157ab1-0aa9-4b41-8603-6b62d7a06b8b/Anthony+Maddox.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Anthony Maddox - Executive Producer</image:title>
      <image:caption>Anthony Maddox is a distinguished figure in the world of live events and production, recognized as an Executive Producer across various platforms. His illustrious career has seen him at the helm of renowned events such as BEAUTYCON, AFROPUNK, and ESSENCE, where he has served as Executive Producer through his production shingle, MEDIA1010. With over two decades of experience in live events and television production, Anthony Maddox's journey in the entertainment industry is nothing short of extraordinary. One of the standout milestones in his career came in 2006 when he acquired the iconic Soul Train from impresario Don Cornelius, cementing his status as a visionary in the field. Maddox's extensive expertise and creative prowess have contributed to the development and oversight of some of the most iconic franchises in the United States. He has produced content for prestigious networks including SHOWTIME, HBO, NBC, MTV, VH1, and ESSENCE, leaving an indelible mark on the television landscape. In addition to his network productions, Anthony Maddox has also been a strategic producer on content initiatives for digital platforms such as Google, Soundcloud, Twitch, and Spotify. Notably, in 2011, Maddox played a pivotal role in collaborating with YouTube to create the BETA for a subscription model for the service, showcasing his forward-thinking approach to digital entertainment. Anthony Maddox's remarkable achievements in the industry have earned him an Emmy nomination, a testament to his commitment to producing high-quality and culturally significant content. He is also a proud graduate of The College of New Jersey, where he honed his skills and passion for the world of entertainment. With a career spanning more than 25 years, Anthony Maddox continues to be a driving force in the world of live production and television, consistently pushing boundaries and setting new standards for excellence. His dedication to innovation and his passion for storytelling continue to shape the entertainment industry, making him an invaluable asset and a true luminary in his field.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/marta-pallares</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-02-01</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/3c493078-fb3f-4178-aaec-4f19e53eaa78/Marta+Pallare%CC%80s+headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Marta Pallarès - Head of Press and PR, Primavera Sound</image:title>
      <image:caption>Marta Pallarès is a music journalist from Barcelona with a masters degree in cultural journalism, who has developed a career beyond media to dive into music business. Back home after some years in Mexico City, and following two editions coordinating the Primavera Sound festival livestream with Red Bull TV, Pallarès got in charge of the international comms for the event. In 2023 she became its Head of Press, a position where she continues handling the relationship with media partners, while building strategies with national and foreign press and leading Primavera’s press team. Pallarès is the company’s official spokesperson for initiatives such as the event’s pioneering commitment to gender balanced lineups. Since 2019, she coordinates the partnership with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals campaign. She is also one of five members of the board of YOUROPE, the European Festival Association that represents more than 120 festivals and associated members from about 30 European countries.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/lizette-gomez</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-18</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/a0f28fc7-d617-41c1-b4dd-0c23d9c413e3/Lizette+Gomez.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Lizette Gomez - Manager for Venues &amp; Live Events at CAPS Payroll (A Cast &amp; Crew Entertainment Company)</image:title>
      <image:caption>While exploring career options in entertainment, Lizette was intrigued to discover Cast &amp; Crew and the world of services that support the creation of entertainment. Her passion for building relationships and trust with clients drew her to sales and client support, and Lizette has found her role in the live entertainment sales space a perfect fit. Over ten years at the Cast &amp; Crew collection of brands, Lizette’s creative approach to finding solutions for a wide range of live entertainment clients has set her apart.  Her attention to detail has been especially impactful for clients from the fast-paced world of festivals. From playing in a family band in small venues to supporting major artists and working closely with renowned venues and festivals, Lizette brings her unique combination of industry knowledge, personal care and consultative guidance to each client she works with.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/nick-morgan</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-09</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/2a68829d-3cb6-4501-aa9f-0c44a1a2edf6/Nick+Moragn.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Nick Morgan - CEO of The Fair</image:title>
      <image:caption>Nick Morgan is CEO of The Fair, as well as our sister agencies, We Are Placemaking and We Are OPS. Nick, has over 25 years of experience across large-scale Event Production, Licensing and Health &amp; Safety within the public realm, large scale events and festivals. Nick sits on the NOEA Council (National Outdoor Events Association), is Chair of the UK Events Outdoor Group, Vice-Chair of UK Events, Vice-Chair of AIF (Association of Independent Festivals) and a member of the Festival DCMS Workforce. He strongly believes that the ‘informal events’ industry, an industry that brings in over £5 billion / year, should be championed, developed and supported by the government.  Nick often speaks on topics that include managing growth, independent festivals, the experience economy, government advocacy, placemaking, licensing and health &amp; safety, at industry events including the Event Production Show, LAEOG and The All Parliamentary Group for Events. The independent festival sector is close to Nick’s heart, and The Fair – as one of the largest independent festival production houses in the UK – works across 128 shows from GALA to Eastern Electrics.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/john-boyle</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-09</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/57a806fa-a204-43be-87c7-930062a04c4d/John+Boyle.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - John Boyle - Global Chief Content Officer at Official ASM Global</image:title>
      <image:caption>John Boyle has extensive work experience in various roles within the entertainment and media industry. John is currently the Global Chief Content Officer at Official ASM Global since 2021. Prior to this, they served as President, Japan at Live Nation Entertainment from 2018 to 2021. From 2012 to 2018, Boyle held the positions of Chief Financial Officer and Chief Growth Officer at Insomniac Events. John also served as Executive Producer and Co-Host at Insomniac's EDMbiz Conference from 2012 to 2016. Before joining Insomniac Events, Boyle was the CEO/Owner of The BAM Group, a talent management and new media/entertainment consulting company, from 2005 to 2013. John has also worked as a Consultant at Selby Ventures from 2009 to 2010 and as Co-Founder/Host at the Berkeley-Stanford Cleantech Conference Series from 2007 to 2009. Boyle's previous roles include Producer/Owner of The SnoCore Tour from 1995 to 2007, Senior Vice President, Artist Management at Sanctuary Music Group from 2002 to 2005, and Vice President, Marketing and A&amp;R at Warner Bros. Records from 1998 to 2001. John Boyle has a BA in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles. John also holds two MBA degrees, one from the Columbia Business School and another from the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business. No specific start or end years are provided for any of these educational experiences.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/evan-saxon</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-09</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/7f0b60bf-a5d8-493d-aec7-68fe848dd87e/Evan+Saxon.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Evan Saxon - President &amp; Head of International Distribution at Abramorama</image:title>
      <image:caption>Evan is one of a select few executives that have successfully navigated both the music and film worlds. While working in the music space he marketed concert tours for iconic artists including Sting, Ramones, B.B. King, Pantera, Lucinda Williams, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, and more. Due to his trusted relationships in the music business Evan was contacted by a major record label to represent them in discussions with a tech company about bringing music content to cinemas. From there he was entrusted to distribute films from The Beatles, Tom Petty, Rush, Iron Maiden, Bob Marley, and many others. Evan is our President and Head of International Distribution where he oversaw the distribution and marketing for films by Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Dolly Parton, Pearl Jam, Green Day, Melanie Martinez, Jimi Hendrix, John Lydon, Above &amp; Beyond, Duran Duran, and others.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/danielle-madeira</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-08</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/14d2c903-849e-40c4-8836-285c2617fe50/Danielle+Madeira+Black+and+white+v2.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Danielle Madeira - CEO/Founder of Madeira &amp; Partners</image:title>
      <image:caption>Danielle Madeira is the CEO/Founder of Madeira &amp; Partners. Danielle’s unmatched knowledge and experience at the highest levels of event marketing, production and talent buying. She previously spent 17 years as Vice President of Marketing and Special Events at Another Planet Entertainment, the largest independent concert promoter in the US, where she bound the company’s relationships with top-tier talent agents, managers, and artists to the private and corporate sectors with clients such as Dropbox, Apple, LucasFilm, Pixar, Pandora and the Democratic National Committee (Obama Fundraiser) and Google.  Danielle, an experienced talent buyer, has booked such renowned artists as Justin Timberlake, Eddie Vedder, P!nk, The Killers. James Taylor and many more. Well-connected in the industry, Danielle strategically binds her on-going relationships with talent agents, managers and artists to the private and corporate sector. She is responsible for cultivating the successful partnership between Another Planet Entertainment and the Las Vegas Downtown Project, who together produced the award-winning, Life Is Beautiful festival in Las Vegas.  Danielle’s experience also includes large-event, marketing campaigns. While at Another Planet Entertainment, she helped create campaigns for major festivals such as Outside Lands Music and Art Festival, Treasure Island Music Festival and Star Wars In Concert, a global tour that was created in partnership with LucasFilm.  In 2017, Danielle was recognized as “Billboard’s Women In Music: Five Executives on the Rise”.  With a special wealth of industry experience and connections, Danielle has quickly become one of the most admirable trailblazers in the music and event industry.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/david-moorman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-07</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/7d48d2e5-1876-4f22-b466-e062001e8532/David+Moorman.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - David Moorman - Patient Liason at VNA Health &amp; FestForums MC</image:title>
      <image:caption>Widely acknowledged as one of Santa Barbara’s best Master of Ceremonies, David Moorman creates a memorable experience for your guests to help ensure you event is a success. David’s natural charisma, off-the-cuff humor, and authentic wit make him the perfect host for a broad range of events and guests, and keeps an event entertaining and meaningful. As an experienced radio DJ, and an experienced emcee hosting multiple events, David is ready for any expected or unexpected circumstance, both on- and off-stage. David has hosted multiple events throughout Santa Barbara County including Fest Forums, Lotusland Exceptional Plants, SB Yacht Club Charity Regatta, SB Fermentation Festival, SB Museum of Natural History Folk &amp; Tribal Arts Marketplace, SB Senior Expo, VNA Health Annual Holiday Party, Fork &amp; Cork Classic, and SB Friendship Center Festival of Hearts.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/tim-fischer</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-07</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/9b52a3b0-01df-4390-b13c-858da50ae0cb/Tim+Fischer+headshot+12_23.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Tim Fischer - CEO at ADA Lift Rentals of America</image:title>
      <image:caption>Tim Fischer serves as CEO at ADA Lift Rentals of America, a leading provider of comprehensive wheelchair lift rental services for events throughout the United States. Over the past decade, the company has collaborated with event planners, producers, music festivals, convention centers, and major sporting events to ensure ADA compliance and deliver an outstanding fan experience. Boasting warehouses nationwide and a dedicated team of technicians, ADA Lift Rentals of America stands ready to elevate your event to new heights, providing both excellence and peace of mind. In addition to his role with ADA Lift Rentals of America, Fischer holds the position of CEO at Southeast Elevator, a leading home elevator manufacturer and installer in Florida. Originally from Boston and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Fischer also earned his MBA from Loyola University Chicago. Having called Central Florida home for the past 21 years, Fischer brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the industry.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/patrick-burns</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-05</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/a38d3ffe-4ad7-4b05-a775-197d18e7fc3c/Patrick+Burns.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Patrick Burns - Operations Manager / Director of Events at OTW Safety</image:title>
      <image:caption>Patrick has been with OTW Safety since 2018, running the warehouse, coordinating rentals, and now - heading OTW production services! Over the years, he's worked on events you may know like Kilby Block Party and Utah Arts Fest, drawing up site-maps, coordinating security efforts, managing production schedules, and taking care of more than 80,000 event attendees.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/peter-kimball</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-05</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d60251dc-83ac-437e-94c4-abf15988ca56/Peter+Kimball+Head+Shot+-+cropped.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Peter Kimball - Advisory Director on the Board of Directors of Program Productions Inc./ProCrewz®</image:title>
      <image:caption>With more than 35 years of experience in the television industry, Peter, in his most recent position, created and led a team that was responsible for the development, promotion, and account management of NEP US Mobile Units’ entertainment business, including numerous concerts, comedy/network entertainment shows and televised CrossFit events. Peter’s NEP group also provided broadcast television facilities, experienced tech support, as well as state of the art onsite festival security and safety networks to major North American music festivals including Bonnaroo, Coachella, Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, Life is Beautiful, TomorrowWorld and Austin City Limits. Prior to joining the mobile unit industry, Kimball directed national multicamera shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show (Kingworld), The Montel Williams Show (Paramount),The Joan Cusack Show (ABC Network), My Big Fat Greek Life (CBS),The Dr. Joy Browne Show (CBS-Eyemark), Investigative Reports with Bill Kurtis (A&amp;E Networks), as well as The John Stossel Show (Buena Vista pilot) and Crossing Over with John Edwards (Sci-Fi Channel pilot). Peter has received two national Emmy awards for Excellence in Television Direction/The Oprah Winfrey Show and is a member of the Director’s Guild of America. He is currently an Advisory Director on the Board of Directors of Program Productions Inc./ProCrewz® North America’s largest independent production crew and labor management firm.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/anthony-diaz</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-03</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/207befab-315b-4c4f-b2ca-ca255624f3af/Anthony+Diaz.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Anthony Diaz - Chief Operating Officer/Partner at Topeka</image:title>
      <image:caption>Anthony is Chief Operating Officer/Partner at Topeka, the pioneer in boutique Music Vacations at the Beach. Topeka produces a range of engaging Music Vacations each year under the Moon Crush brand in Miramar Beach, Florida headlined by artists such as the Black Crowes, Jason Isbell, Avett Brothers, My Morning Jacket, Noah Kahan, Needtobreathe, The Revivalists, Sheryl Crow and more. Topeka also curates hosted experiences such as Brandi Carlile’s Mothership Weekend, Tedeschi Trucks Band presents Sun, Sand and Soul, and Lauren Daigle’s Kaleidoscope Beach Weekend. Prior to joining Topeka, Anthony was Chief Executive Officer of Sixthman, the global leader in immersive festival experiences at sea and resorts responsible for overall strategy and day-to-day leadership of the organization on land, sand and sea. Sixthman, a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line, has completed 180 festivals on land and sea – serving fans and iconic artists, actors, comedians and athletes vacations in the Caribbean and Mediterranean over the past twenty+ years. Anthony joined Sixthman in December 2011 as Chief Marketing Officer and was elevated to Chief Operating Officer in 2013 prior to becoming Chief Executive Officer in 2016. In addition to his role as CEO of Sixthman, in the Summer of 2021 Anthony took on the position of SVP of Charters, Meetings, Incentives and Events for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings under the overall Experiences at Sea brand serving affinity, corporate, festival and incentive based large groups, full ship charters and internal events for NCLH’s cruise line portfolio (Regent Seven Seas, Oceania Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line). Prior to his positions with Sixthman and NCL, Anthony served in a series of Executive Marketing and Sales leadership roles over a 13 year career with Gannett, an international media and marketing solutions company, holding positions on Gannett Broadcast’s Executive Corporate team as Vice President of Sales Strategy and Talent Development. In this role he led Strategy, Talent programs and was responsible for overall execution of multi-media sales efforts for the division’s 23 television stations, websites and 250-person sales force. Before joining Gannett’s Corporate Team, Anthony held Vice President, General Sales Manager, Local Sales Manager and Account Executive roles with Gannett at W*USA CBS in Washington, D.C., WTSP CBS in Tampa, Florida, and WXIA NBC in Atlanta, GA. His career started with CBS Radio in Tampa. Florida. He is a graduate of University of Florida with a major in Telecommunications Management (and performed in and managed a touring rock band). Over his career he has participated in development programs such as Center for Creative Leadership Management Development Program, Graduate of the Kellogg School of Management National Association of Broadcasters Program, Berkeley Open Innovation Program, World 50 and led Transformation/Innovation engagements with consultants such as IDEO, Innosight and Boston Consulting Group. A native of Tampa, FL Anthony resides in Atlanta, Georgia his wife Bridget. They have a twenty-one year-old daughter Ansley, twenty year-old son Aidan and seventeen year old son, Brennan (and dog Fender).</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/tim-bramlette</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-02</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/4fd52c5a-138b-400f-a90b-9abc48d07c43/Tim.+Bramlette+-+photo+.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Tim Bramlette - Senior Director of Partnerships &amp; Marketing at HeadCount</image:title>
      <image:caption>Tim Bramlette is from Ventura, CA. He is a former music photographer and band manager with an extensive marketing career at the intersection of social impact, music, and live events. His passion lies in amplifying mission-driven nonprofits and brands through entertainment partnerships, innovative activations, and fan experiences.  Tim joined the HeadCount team to help register and turn out voters in the 2016 Election. He has since built an entire partnerships department with dozens of corporate brands in support, established the organization at hundreds of festivals around the country to help fans get ready to vote, produced fundraising and marketing campaigns, and was instrumental in helping register over a million voters on behalf of HeadCount. His background spans all facets of large-scale event production from creative concept to multi-channel marketing strategy, brand collaborations, fundraising, and artist relations. With over 20 years in the industry, Tim has amassed a wide network of visual artists, musicians, music managers, promoters, nonprofit leaders, corporate marketing directors, and philanthropists, creating meaningful partnerships and collaborations that make an impact.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/rico-tesio</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-30</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/89732ada-cfa6-4291-8fef-42e95fef2597/Rico.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Rico Tesio - CEO and Founder of Rico Solutions</image:title>
      <image:caption>Rico Tesio is the Founder and CEO of Rico Solutions, bringing over twenty years of expertise in the development of sustainability programs and event management. As the current Board Chair for the Council for Responsible Sport, Rico has earned numerous accolades for his outstanding contributions to advancing sustainability initiatives. His firm conviction is rooted in the belief that public events carry a unique responsibility to foster meaningful connections with both communities and the environment.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/ed-walsh</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-10</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/2738f0e9-5690-4010-b0be-05fcbea8fc61/Ed+Walsh.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Ed Walsh - Global Head of Sales for Easol.</image:title>
      <image:caption>As a festival promoter Ed was one of the original team at NVS Music that organized Outlook &amp; Dimensions Festival in Fort Punta Christo, Pula, Croatia. Since 2017 Ed has been working within the ticketing industry and has held various commercial roles within companies expanding their footprint globally. At Easol, Ed uses his wealth of experience to empower festival organizers to grow their businesses through cutting-edge technology.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/jose-montano</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-29</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/70dc2b48-e903-43cd-ad68-39d3a19e4000/Jose+Montano.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Jose Montano - CEO of Ascending 7 Productions</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jose Montano is a 30-year industry veteran specializing in site operations and festival logistics. Over the years he has directed Site Operations for Bottle Rock (Napa, CA), Life is Beautiful (Las Vegas, NV) and Outside Lands (San Francisco, CA) under his company Ascending 7 Productions which he launched in 2015. A native of San Salvador, Jose started early in the business, first as a stagehand, then as a rigger, and followed by his passion, site operations. His first big break was with the X Games (Los Angeles, CA) and Aspen Winter Games (Aspen, CO) which opened the door to festivals including Rothbury (Rothbury, MI), Electric Forest (Rothbury, MI), Bonnaroo (Manchester, TN) and Hangout Music Festival (Gulf Shores, AL). Known for his unique vision, ability to build in and navigate challenging environments as well as knack for proactive planning to reach max efficiency, Jose’s work has led to new innovative green procedures. He created a complex closed system for water and waste at Hangout Music Festival that removed all pumper trucks from the site and had all trailers, comfort stations, gray water collections going straight to the sewer. He also spearheaded the use of vac toilets into mainstream festivals. He enjoys the challenge of creating a safe and captivating space where guests can come together and enjoy an incredible experience. He is a graduate of the Los Angeles Music Academy for guitar where he studied jazz and still enjoys playing various styles including funk, blues and fusion. Jose currently resides in La Habra, CA with his four children and when not working at an event he is an avid outdoorsman and horticulturist.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/brad-sweet</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-29</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1703819107356-QSGH2GUHPLNULHXMWMJ4/Brad+Sweet.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Brad Sweet - Co-Founder &amp; CEO of Same Same But Different Music Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Brad Sweet is the co-founder and CEO of Same Same But Different Music Festival and Same Same Presents. With a background as a musician and producer, Brad's understanding of the industry has fueled the growth of Same Same But Different from a 400-person gathering to 6,500 daily campers in under five years. This achievement was recognized with a nomination for Best Emerging Festival by X-Live and winning Best New Festival by USA Today. Brad's approach to festival organization is rooted in empowering passionate, creative individuals with the tools to build and create with as little restrictions as possible. This has grown and fostered a passionate team around the festival and has led to incredibly rich and meaningful experiences for attendees. The team sets the tone and ethos for any festival and a team built directly from the community means that the attendees and the team become a unified force working together to the benefit of the festival.  His personal commitment to create a welcoming, inclusive environment are hallmarks of his leadership style. At the heart of Brad's work is a commitment to building a community that extends beyond the festival grounds, fostering lasting connections and memorable experiences for each attendee.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/eduardo-lebre</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-19</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d5d07901-34db-4a3c-89c1-f13fc3659aad/Eduardo+Lebre.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Eduardo Lebre - CEO and Founder of Circular Unity</image:title>
      <image:caption>Eduardo Lebre is the CEO and founder of Circular Unity, a company that helps co-create a sustainable future by providing solutions for Sustainability, ESG, SDGs, Technology, Circular and Regenerative Economies. He is an expert in automation, carbon accounting, public relations, operations, business development, business intelligence, product engineering, data analysis, quality assurance, and software engineering. He is passionate about solving complex problems that benefit the planet and the people, and he has multiple certifications in sustainability, design thinking, and programming. He is also the host and founder of Sustainable Events Podcast, a founding member of MUSE, member at tech2impact, an ambassador of Positive Impact Events, and a member of Leaders for Climate Action. He speaks English, Portuguese, Spanish, and some Polish, he has extensive experience in working with global teams and clients. His goal is to co-create a more sustainable and inclusive world through innovation and collaboration.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/andy-levine</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-08</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d6864036-500d-4ce3-b8c7-7ceefe229032/Andy+Levine.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Andy Levine - CEO and Founder of Tokepa LLC &amp; Founder of Sixthman</image:title>
      <image:caption>Andy Levine has carved a unique path in the music and hospitality industry, marked by innovation, empathy, and a deep commitment to community building. While attending the University of Florida, Levine’s journey began by joining a band and promoting local concerts until he was honored with the opportunity to manage the band, Sister Hazel. In this role, he nurtured a deep connection between the band and their fans, which inspired Levine and Sister Hazel to organize a cruise for 400 fans in 2001. After experiencing the power of shared experience amongst a community of music lovers united by their passion, Levine formed Sixthman and partnered with Sister Hazel to create the first annual Rock Boat, hosting over 1800 guests on a fully chartered cruise ship. Sixthman pioneered the music festival at sea, which caught the attention of Norwegian Cruise Lines leading to its acquisition in 2012. Levine stepped down as CEO in 2016 and began dedicating his time to mentoring social entrepreneurs and walking alongside families experiencing generational poverty. In 2019, Levine founded Topeka, inspired by a scene in the movie “Almost Famous”, which offered virtual experiences between artists and fans. This venture, marked by its focus on employing minorities, was able to bring hundreds of artists and fans together for virtual “serenades” and “hangouts” prior to and during the pandemic.  While quarantining in Miramar Beach, FL, during 2020, Levine identified a location to host a land-based destination music vacation. More than just a vacation, Moon Crush is a new experience where guests rent a home or condo just a short walk to the beach and the venue. It’s designed as a retreat where music, relaxation, and community converge. Today, Topeka continues to mature the Moon Crush music vacations and has established partnership collaborations with Brandi Carlile, The Tedeschi Trucks Band and Lauren Daigle to craft specialized music vacations for their fans.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/justin-kreutzmann</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-19</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/f5e32705-4759-41cd-a82b-9cd70ea11afd/Justin+Kreutzmann.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Justin Kreutzmann - Director, Producer, Editor</image:title>
      <image:caption>Justin has worked on a number of high profile projects with music legends such as U2, Motley Crue, Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Dhani Harrison, Perry Farrell, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Don Was, John Doe, Lou Reed, John Mayer, Emmylou Harris, Mavis Staples, Dr. John, Grateful Dead, Mike Campbell, Stone Temple Pilots, Pete Townshend and The Who. Justin was executive producer on the feature film, The Other One: The Long Strange Trip of Bob Weir and is a producer, along with Martin Scorsese, on the Grateful Dead documentary, Long Strange Trip. Justin's film, Break On Thru: A Celebration Of Ray Manzarek And The Doors which won the Best Feature Film at the Asbury Park Music And Film Festival. LET THERE BE DRUMS! starring Ringo Starr, Taylor Hawkins, Stewart Copeland, Chad Smith as well as his father Bill Kreutzmann and fellow Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart came out in 2022 which Justin directed, co-edited, co-wrote and produced. Currently Justin is directing the definitive feature documentary on the life of Jerry Garcia.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/christopher-breedlove</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-22</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/75ac17a4-758a-4461-82f8-c52487d633e7/Christopher+Breedlove.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Christopher Breedlove - Director of Civic Activation at Burning Man Project</image:title>
      <image:caption>Christopher Breedlove is an American designer, community builder, and experiential producer. As the Director of Civic Activation at the Burning Man Project in San Francisco, California, he oversees several programs, including Burners Without Borders (BWB), the Regional Network, and Art Activation programs. He also supports the Burning Man Environmental Sustainability Roadmap. Through these initiatives, Christopher focuses on participant engagement strategies at the Black Rock City event and beyond, bringing the culture and principles of Burning Man to life through arts, events, community development, and civic impact. This work encompasses in-person and online meetups, conferences, summits, grantmaking, prototyping, and toolkit creation. As an educator, Christopher speaks on topics such as Burning Man culture, design thinking for social impact, community building, sustainability &amp; regenerative culture, and art as a medium for social dialogue. He also conducts workshops on democratic grant giving, human-centered design (HCD), and collaborative effigy building. Christopher has previously worked with other festivals, including Electric Forest, Rothbury, Symbiosis, Envision and Infrasound, focusing on arts, community engagement, and educational offerings.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/robert-redfield</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-27</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/f70c247b-15dc-421e-886f-af52ce9b4e9f/Robert+Redfield.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Robert Redfield - Owner of Redfield Pictures</image:title>
      <image:caption>Robert Redfield is a filmmaker based in Santa Barbara California. His latest film is the documentary feature More Than Just A Party Band which is currently in the film festival circuit. He’s currently developing story concepts for 3 narrative films. Robert’s work can be seen at www.robertredfield.com and he can be reached at robert@redfieldpictures.com. Check out More Than Just A Party Band here: https://morethanjustapartybandfilm.com/</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/shaun-verreault</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-22</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/02f81d75-2522-4329-b61f-1759baa31088/Shaun+Verreault.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Shaun Verreault - Business Development Manager, Music at Tradable Bits</image:title>
      <image:caption>As frontman of the legendary Canadian blues-rock band Wide Mouth Mason, Shaun Verreault is renowned as much for his three-slide lap steel guitar playing as his fiery vocals. Verreault’s tenured career has seen him play with the likes of The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, and ZZ Top, in addition to headlining countless concert tours and music festivals worldwide. In parallel, Verreault serves as business development manager for fan engagement technology company Tradable Bits where he leans into his unique background as a performer to help promoters like AEG Presents, Disco Donnie Presents, Blue Note Festivals and Clubs, The Country Music Association, and more, grow their fanbases.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/mike-mauer</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-18</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/5511a0f1-1e1d-48d0-a90b-4db16a4cde52/Mike+Mauer.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Mike Mauer - Founder @Sparrow, VP of Marketing/Data/Tech @SaveLive</image:title>
      <image:caption>I'm a marketer of 16+ years that's helped events across North America achieve unprecedented revenue growth. I've been lucky enough to be featured in Billboard, Pollstar and earn recognition as "Most Data-Driven Marketer” from FlyCon. Brands I've worked with include Tortuga Music Festival, Warped Tour, White Oak Music Hall, BUKU Music + Art Project, Hogs for the Cause, Enchant Christmas, BeachLife, Gridlife, Pemberton Music Festival &amp; many others. Skills and keywords for the - Acquisition and Performance Marketing, Digital Advertising, Data &amp; Analytics, Marketing Strategy, Ticketing, Pricing Strategy, Access Control, RFID, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Team and Project Management and Business Development.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/dianne-copeland</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-18</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/ffd8913b-bac7-4ba2-9dc8-21f5d7be9b17/Dianne+Copeland.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Dianne Copeland - CEO of Copeland Entertainment</image:title>
      <image:caption>With twenty years of experience managing renowned hip-hop artists such as Mix Master Mike of the Beastie Boys, Rahzel of the Roots, Dj Muggs of Cypress Hill and many more, I have expanded my leadership to inspire more artists by founding Copeland Entertainment in 2007. A major element of Copeland Entertainment is artist development, focusing exclusively on underrepresented and up-and-coming singers. I hand picks artists from around the world and offers them a platform upon which to flourish as artist singer/songwriters. I also work closely with her artists to help them clarify their desires, ambitions, and dreams, and place them in front of the right people at the right time, forging spectacular opportunities with industry mainstays. With my direction and extensive background in A&amp;R, management, modeling, acting, and creative directing, Copeland Entertainment prioritizes artistic growth and creative strength, assuring that each of our clients are nurtured in the direction they require. An artist myself, I understand the artist’s needs first-hand, making the management experience that much more collaborative and mutually-inspiring.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/jacob-tell</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-02-14</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/acd778c3-8fa9-418f-a2bc-30b88479eef0/Jacob+Tell+2024.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Jacob Tell - Chief Executive Officer of LoDo Studios and Founder of District216</image:title>
      <image:caption>Uniting Creativity &amp; Culture for Two Decades Jacob Tell, the driving force behind the branding and creative marketing agency, Oniracom (founded 2001), has spent more than two decades pioneering a culture of positive disruption. His journey is not merely a career but a tapestry of authentic relationships, a commitment to team building, and a steadfast dedication to shaping culture. With an educational background in film and politics, Jacob seeks world-changing solutions for positive and creative people. He carries with him a deep appreciation for nature and a hopeful vision for the future of human ecology. Jacob actively supports forward-thinking environmental and political leaders and aims to further meld the realms of artistry and science. Within the realm of Oniracom, Jacob has birthed innovation after innovation: a reality TV pilot, a film production company, a record label, a thought-provoking print zine, a trio of nonprofit compilation music albums, a vibrant music &amp; arts festival in Santa Barbara, a cutting-edge digital signage technology platform, insightful cannabis symposium series, a neighborhood branding initiative, and a proprietary branding process. He has orchestrated dozens of community events, managed production rental operations, curated art installations, overseen major construction projects for creative office spaces, and most recently, he embarked on a journey to launch a pioneering psychedelic social club. Notably, for several years he traveled the world with rockstar Jack Johnson, expertly managing an international eco-friendly merchandise operation. Oniracom was the agency of record for the major record labels during the 2000s, solidifying its position as a trusted partner in the world of creative marketing. Amidst challenges like the pandemic, Jacob has demonstrated resilience and adaptability. Leveraging Oniracom's resources, he transformed a previously vacant building into LoDo Studios, a thriving production and event rental venue serving the creative community of Santa Barbara. This initiative not only now generates its own revenue but also provides a space for meaningful connections and community engagement. Jacob's latest venture, District216, embodies his ethos of fostering meaningful relationships and positive disruption. Grounded in a manifesto outlining core values, this membership-driven social club aims to challenge societal taboos surrounding cannabis and psychedelics through education, healing, discourse, and advocacy. Jacob is more than a producer; he's a relentless creator of communities, championing values over profits, and ensuring that the moment's purpose is never lost. And if you'd like to dive into the world of Phish, his experiences number over 150 shows – a conversation you’ll want to pull up a stool for. Jacob Tell is a dynamic force connecting creativity and culture.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/kevin-lyman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-18</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/00a7e58f-c017-4da8-9014-361c744a04f9/Kevin+Lyman.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Kevin Lyman - Founder and Operator of the Kevin Lyman Group</image:title>
      <image:caption>Kevin Lyman is the founder and operator of the Kevin Lyman Group, formerly known as 4Fini, Inc., a live event production company and brand strategy firm. His most notable live production is the live music festival series Vans Warped Tour, which attracted about 750,000 people annually and was the longest-running North American festival concert tour. In the Fall Semester of 2018, Lyman started teaching at USC's Thornton School of Music as an Associate Professor.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/maureen-valker-barlow</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/0b8a7791-aa0d-4462-bfc8-ad5fe4f37837/Maureen+Valker-Barlow.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Maureen Valker-Barlow - Senior Vice President of Insomniac Events</image:title>
      <image:caption>With 20+ years of industry experience, Maureen is at the helm of negotiating brand partnerships for talent and music festivals across a variety of genres and interests. Maureen has conceived highly developed programs for a wide variety of clients and while she is known for creating symbiotic and beneficial partnerships, she is also highly regarded for her ability to create original experiential marketing activations which resonate with fans and create lasting brand loyalty.  Maureen's music industry experience began over 20 years ago when in 2002 she was a Chef on Vans Warped Tour catering to touring musicians and staff. After quickly realizing the business of music was her path to personal growth and success, she transitioned through various sales roles at record labels and agencies before landing in her current role at Insomniac Events.  Maureen is from Bridgewater, New Jersey and graduated from the French Pastry School in Chicago, Illinois.  Maureen and is happily married to her husband Chris Barlow who is also an industry Executive. They currently live in Los Angeles, with Joanie and Marcello, their two beloved felines.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/bruce-flohr</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-15</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/ead6caae-1cec-46c3-9c76-da11696bc1b8/BruceFlohr.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Bruce Flohr - Executive Chief Strategy Officer / Vice President of Red Light Management, Partner of 100x, Hospitality  Partner of ATO Records, and Partner of FIMI</image:title>
      <image:caption>During his 25+ years working in the music business, Bruce Flohr has continued to evolve. While attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Bruce ran the nationally recognized college radio station KCPR. From there, he went directly into a National Promotions position at RCA Records as head of Alternative Promotion, where he guided the careers of numerous bands.  He then moved into a dual A&amp;R/Marketing position at RCA where he signed two iconic Rock bands, Dave Matthews Band and Foo Fighters. In 2002, he switched gears and joined Coran Capshaw and Dave Matthews Band at Red Light Management and ATO Records which roster includes Alabama Shakes, The Strokes, Luke Bryan, and Brandi Carlile to name a few. Recently, Bruce has been directly involved in the management of Dave Matthews Band, Heart, Allen Stone, OAR, Switchfoot, and newcomer Cassandra Lewis.   Bruce is also a founding partner in the music media company GreenLight Media &amp; Marketing. GreenLight’s mission is to put together an experience that creates a culture between brands and music. Recently awarded best small agency of the year, Green Light has worked with such brands as: Spotify, Intel, Under Armour, Sierra Nevada Beer, The Hutton Hotel in Nashville and Hyundai. GreenLight recently sold a majority stake to Live Nation. Bruce is also heavily involved in technology, helping start-ups gain traction in the music space. Bruce has worked closely with companies such as Dubset, SoundHound, MixHalo, and Stem.  Bruce’s previous speaking engagements include Red Bull, Under Armour, Birch Box, RCA records, Midem, SXSW, MuseExpo, Summit Series Dublin, and many Universities, &amp; PTTOW Series.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/laurie-kirby</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-14</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/102758cc-cb62-424d-be8b-a36a58dc6bd6/laurie+kirby+.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Laurie Kirby - Founder/Owner of FestForums</image:title>
      <image:caption>Laurie B. Kirby, Esq. owns and produces FestForums.com in NYC, San Francisco and its flagship show in Santa Barbara. FestForums is a B2B conference and awards event for music, film, food and wine festival organizers.  The conference addresses how to improve the fan/attendee/talent experience at festivals. Laurie was the former President and Chief Creative Officer of the IFFS (International Film Festival Summit) and the IMFCON (International Music Festival Conference &amp; Lineup Magazine. She has also managed and consulted for dozens of film festivals and filmmakers as well as served as a producer and consultant on many independent films. Laurie was an attorney for over twenty years and established The Legends Tour, the senior division of the LPGA. She was General Counsel to The Audubon Society of RI. She has represented professional athletes, newscasters, musicians, golf properties and nonprofits. She began her career as the assistant prosecutor and trial attorney in Middletown, RI. Laurie is a frequent speaker, interviewer and moderator at dozens of festivals and corporate conferences, including IFEA, BizBash, TourLink, San Francisco Music Tech Conference, Maui Music Tech Conference, Sponsor Secrets, Canadian Music Week, IEG, Event Expo, The Mill Valley Film Festival, Pollstar, The Catalina Island Film Festival, Film Festival Flix, The Napa Valley Film Festival, The Wolff Den, and The Lady’s Filmmaker Festival on all aspects of the industry. Additionally, she is often quoted as an industry thought leader in publications such as Variety, Indiewire, Forbes, The Street, AMP and Music Festival Business. She has also been a contributor to Indiewire, Eventbrite &amp; Sonic Bids. She has served on, and presided over several non-profit boards throughout her career, including The Newport International Film Festival and The Newport County YMCA. She currently resides in Montecito, California and has three grown children and one adorable granddaughter. For more information go to: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurie-kirby-esq-a830b517/</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/brando-rich</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-14</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/24d22511-4b0b-41e3-baf8-4d712865c501/BrandoRich.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Brando Rich - CEO / Co-Founder of CashorTrade</image:title>
      <image:caption>Story In 2008, my brother and I returned to the live music scene after five years as the band Phish came out of hiatus. Tickets to their reunion show sold out immediately and were $2000 on the secondary market. This was frustrating. There was no more standing in line at a brick-and-mortar box office anymore. Brokers were now sophisticated with high-tech software and scalper-bot programs helping them buy up a large volume of tickets and relist them for exorbitant prices with online secondary platforms.  As web developers for 17 years and live music fans, we felt there had to be a better option.  The idea of CashorTrade was born, a social network where fans would come together to buy, sell and trade tickets at face value and avoid scalping. We packed our bags and went on tour that summer with Phish and built the CashorTrade.org app on the road with laptops stopping at Starbucks coffees shops for the free WIFI on the way.  We set up a tent in the parking lot of each event and promoted the app. At the end of the summer we had 5,000 users and the fan base loved the idea.  Fast forward to today, CashorTrade has built a global face value movement expanding across many social platforms as well as the app. Members are from every state in the country and from 46 countries. As we’ve helped real fans make friends and score millions of tickets at face value for their favorite artist or event, the time has come to integrate CashorTrade with events and partner directly with events and their primary ticket companies, as well as to participate in a reform of ticket legislation that protects fans and events. Fix The Tix CashorTrade has been added to the steering committee of NIVA’s FIX THE TIX campaign. As the only face value secondary ticket platform in the USA, we are in a unique position to represent real fans and convey the pain points they feel about the ticket industry, both the structure of primary ticketing as well as secondary.  Value CashorTrade has partnered with 50 artists, festivals and events in 2023. We are in discussion with several primary ticket companies to directly integrate with an API to help keep tickets at face value and move tickets to fans. We’ve worked directly with events in helping them increase their fan experience by offering a refundable option for their tickets when they find our they cannot attend, while filling their empty seats and increasing revenue from concessions as well as add a strong level of marketing exposure across a super base of fanatical fans.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/josh-bernstein</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-14</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/6bf6bbd1-6d24-4d8d-b3e3-9de628a05d27/Josh+Bernstein.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Josh Bernstein - President and Co-Owner of Z2 Comics</image:title>
      <image:caption>With 20+ years in the music, media and live event industries, Josh Bernstein has established himself as a respected, passionate and knowledgeable power player with achievements across television, film, live production, graphic design, publishing, marketing and digital realms. Currently the President and co-owner of Z2, the world’s leading publisher of graphic novels, whose collaborations include the Gorillaz, Elvis Presley, Iron Maiden, "Weird Al” Yankovic and the Grateful Dead. Bernstein has been widely recognized as the cofounder, producer and creative engine behind several globally recognized events and brands including the Revolver Golden Gods Awards, XXL Freshmen Shows, The AP Music Awards, The Loudwire Awards, The Rock &amp; Roll Roast Series and Hit Parader’s No Cover TV show. Bernstein further established himself working with various partnerships throughout the years including Apple, Amazon Music, Viacom, Twitch, WWE, The Grammys® and Danny Wimmer Presents. He currently co-hosts The Power Hour show every Thursday night on AXS TV, which has welcomed Metallica, Guns ‘N Roses, Foo Fighters, Green Day and the Black Keys as guests.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/casie-latimer</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-06</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/85cec733-8b8a-41ec-a901-ece44b1de096/Casie.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Casie Latimer - Brand Parnterships at C3 Presents</image:title>
      <image:caption>Casie Latimer works in brand partnerships at C3 Presents, one of the largest festival producers in the world. With over 10 years of experience building brands and producing events, Casie ideates opportunities for brands to activate virtually and onsite at large-scale events including Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits Music Festival.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/ira-akers</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-14</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/5ab75171-6aa3-4c8e-8646-22dd2a905f13/Ira+Akers.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Ira Akers - Co-Founder of CUE Audio</image:title>
      <image:caption>Ira is a dynamic entrepreneur who has spent the last decade innovating in the live events industry. As the co-founder of CUE, he's collaborated with top sports organizations, leading festivals, and major sponsors like Coca-Cola and Anheuser-Busch. His strategic partnerships with communications giants Comcast, T-Mobile, and Verizon have further solidified CUE's role in the U.S. sports and live event markets. Combining innovative solutions with a robust sales and marketing strategy, Ira has been instrumental in establishing CUE as a key player in its sector.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/ben-dunton</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-15</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/2b98d282-3fa0-4761-991a-1d4c1718d37f/Ben+Dunton.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Ben Dunton - Managing Director at Cinchio Solutions</image:title>
      <image:caption>As a seasoned Senior Technology Leader with over 25 years of experience, Ben Dunton brings a wealth of knowledge in software engineering, mobile technologies, and digital media, with a recent focus on the digital transformation of cultural attractions. Beginning his career as a software engineer, he quickly emerged as a pioneering force in the telecommunications sector, advancing mobile technology applications. Transitioning to digital media, Ben led initiatives that reshaped content delivery platforms, setting new standards in the industry. In his current role, Ben is at the forefront of integrating digital solutions into the operations and guest experiences of cultural attractions. His innovative approach has not only enhanced operational efficiencies but has also transformed how visitors interact and engage with cultural spaces. This blend of technical expertise and creative vision makes Ben a valuable contributor to discussions on leveraging technology to elevate festival experiences. At FestForums, Ben aims to share insights on the intersection of technology and guest experience, offering valuable strategies for festival organizers to adapt and thrive in the digital age. His experience in harnessing technology to enhance both operational effectiveness and visitor engagement provides a unique perspective on how festivals can innovate and create memorable experiences for attendees.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/marina-pastrana-rios</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-02</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/4cc949f1-6d77-47be-ac69-7e7c56294c1c/Marina+Pastrana+Rios.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Marina Pastrana Rios - Chief Revenue Officer at OTW Safety</image:title>
      <image:caption>I am a social-impact entrepreneur with over fifteen years of experience using data and strategic partnerships to develop programs that improve operational efficiency, increase sales, and further business and mission success. I am fueled by new experiences and have pushed my career into diverse industries ranging from higher education to DTC social impact start-ups.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/nathan-firer</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-08</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/62f88571-c793-435e-8390-a8dbd43ad919/Nathan+Firer.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Nathan Firer - Founder/CEO of Video-Engagement Software Company Megilla</image:title>
      <image:caption>Former attorney &amp; TV/writer &amp; digital producer, Nathan combined his passion for storytelling &amp; live events to create a video-first tool intentionally built for understaffed marketing teams to help them easily modernize fan engagement with the undeniable power of video-storytelling. Megilla is a user-friendly, white-label, web-based video-collection software helping marketing teams reduce bandwidth while increasing engagement. Megilla's customizable software helps clients collect &amp; leverage user-generated content (UGC) to expand social media, increase sales, collect marketing data &amp; modernize fan engagement. Clients include: festivals, museums, nonprofits, films, media agencies, Broadway shows, staffing agencies, brands &amp; more. Nathan lives in Los Angeles and once lied his way into teaching comedy improv at a senior living community.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/sandy-abrams</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-01</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/32da3762-97bf-49c9-a5a5-b3b2ed72576c/Sandy+Abrams_PC_Jessie+Lee+Cederblom..jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Sandy Abrams - Entrepreneur and author</image:title>
      <image:caption>Sandy Abrams is a longtime entrepreneur, 2x author, 2022 TEDx Speaker, Chair of the Global Wellness Institute’s Breathe Initiative and a Board Member of Health &amp; Human Performance Foundation. She’s now focused on Well-Being and Mental Health; sharing 30+ years of experience utilizing the power of breath &amp; mindfulness in business and life. Her book, Breathe to Succeed  (2019) is endorsed by Arianna Huffington, Mark Bertolini/Former CEO Aetna, execs at Google, SAP, Sage software and the US Air Force.  Sandy has shared her C.E.Om Breath &amp; Mindset experiences with several Google offices, WW, frequent featured speaker at Canyon Ranch resorts, McKinsey &amp; Co., Facebook HQ, Pepsi, YPO,Women Presidents Org., Sage software, LinkedIn HQ, Lululemon, Goldie Hawn's MindUP Foundation, Brain Tap app and a speaker at women's and entrepreneurial groups, conferences, leadership retreats etc. Sandy's business sensibility about "breath as meditation at the speed of life" resonates with the fast pace of modern life. She’s on a mission to empower people to create their optimal energy for well-being &amp; success...one deep, mindful breath at a time.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/eden-raskin</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-10</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1c97d062-ca26-4700-98a5-5706f28f1f83/Eden+Raskin.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Eden Raskin Jenkins - Founder &amp; CEO of Chasing the Moon Productions</image:title>
      <image:caption>"Notes of a Citizen: The Marcus Raskin Story” is Eden’s feature directorial and producing debut. Formerly, in the nonprofit arena, Eden produced, directed and wrote promotional video shorts and news reports. Eden managed creative and high impact campaigns for issue campaigns and a trade association, showcasing her ability to connect with audiences and garner support for meaningful causes. Before entering the world of filmmaking, Eden served as an investigator with the Public Defender Service. This transformative experience has not only informed but fortified her storytelling approach, infusing her work with a rare blend of inquiry, justice, and authenticity. Her narratives echo the voices often unheard, bringing to light stories that demand attention. Eden Raskin Jenkins is a product of Washington, DC, having grown up in the heart of the city's progressive political circles.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/teddy-raskin</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-17</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/e094b63b-d1c9-4c31-abe7-a61c8ffceda9/Teddy+Headshot.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Teddy Raskin - Co-Founder of KOACORE and CEO of KOA-LIVE</image:title>
      <image:caption>KOACORE is a team of operators deeply committed to business development, implementation, and data-driven operations. With expertise in entertainment, supply chain, and data science, KOACORE’s units operate collectively to maximize value for its clients. Focusing on service, remaining pot-committed to data driven actions, and leveraging an established global network, KOACORE has been trusted time and time again for the world’s most trusted brands, corporations, and entertainment entities to navigate a COVID and Post-COVID era. We do the work so you don’t have to.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/cj-milan</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-30</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/03032258-9e8e-465d-9dc8-c283e028d87a/CJ+Milan.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - CJ Milan - Founder &amp; CEO of Reggae Fest &amp; Epic League Entertainment</image:title>
      <image:caption>Described by The New York Times as a different type of turn up,” Milan’s Reggae Fest empire — which includes spin-off events, such as Reggae Fest Live, Reggae Fest Blaze, and Yacht Fete — has built a name for itself through its inclusive and sold-out experiences. In the last eight years, the New York-based promoter has expanded her nightlife events from underground Brooklyn warehouse parties in the mid-2000s into an international nightlife movement, dubbed by Eventbrite as “the largest and fastest growing dance parties in the U.S.”  Milan estimates that she has drawn roughly 300,000 people to Reggae Fest events since 2016 when she first introduced the brand onto the New York nightlife scene. It quickly expanded  from local venues such as Times Square's BB King’s into major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Washington, D.C., Boston, and Orlando.  Milan launched Yacht Fete in 2018, a series of dance parties aboard the Hornblower Infinity, New York City’s most exclusive and largest capacity yacht on the Hudson River. In the last two years, she added Reggae Fest Blaze, an outdoor dance festival, and Reggae Fest Live, which features live performances from some of the biggest reggae, dancehall, soca, and afrobeats artists. Private and collegiate events are also part of Milan’s brand. In 2019, her company Epic League Entertainment produced the Miyake Mugler Porcelain Ball at Time Square’s Playstation Theater, sponsored by Fenty Beauty with Rihanna in attendance.  Epic League Entertainment also regularly produces concerts and events for elite universities, notably New York University and Yale University, the latter for which Milan has organized three annual Black Solidarity Conferences in 2018, 2019, and 2023. Leveraging the culture of reggae and dancehall for an unforgettable experience, Milan has built a brand that consistently sells out venues with capacities ranging from 2000 to 5000, including NYC’s Rooftop at Pier 17, MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston, and the Pier Six Pavilion in Baltimore. Milan’s hard work and dedication further paid off in 2023 when Reggae Fest received its first-ever sponsorship by none other than ADIDAS, with plans of future sponsorships in the works.   After years of hosting sold-out events stateside, Reggae Fest crossed international borders in 2023, bringing the vibes to Toronto’s acclaimed live music venue HISTORY, and quickly selling out the 2500 capacity location.  Next up for Reggae Fest is the brand’s first-ever arena event over Labor Day weekend in 2024 at NYC’s Barclays Center; a feat accomplished in less than a decade after Reggae Fest’s incorporation. In July of 2024, Milan is collaborating with Culture Fest to put on a massive outdoor music festival in Washington, D.C., with an estimation of at least 15,000 attendees over the course of one day. Also in the works is the brand’s breakthrough into Europe next summer at London’s famed music venue, Electric Brixton.  As a female in a male-dominated industry, Milan’s journey is a testament to her unwavering determination and leadership, proving that skill, ambition, and dedication knows no boundaries. The future is indeed bright for Reggae Fest and any endeavor that Milan gets involved with.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/morgan-margolis</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-29</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/ced81cea-d926-4585-ae46-a050007a0ec3/Morgan+Margolis+corporate+shot.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Morgan Margolis - CEO of Knitting Factory Entertainment</image:title>
      <image:caption>Margolis joined Knitting Factory Entertainment in 2000 as Operations Manager of Los Angeles’ flagship Knitting Factory concert house. Later he took over as VP of West Coast Operations as the company expanded into the Pacific Northwest, where KFE opened concert houses in Boise and Spokane, and produced tours and concerts at other high-capacity venues nationally. In 2007, Margolis was promoted to VP National Operations. Within a year, he was named CEO of KFE and for the past fourteen years has helmed the company. Margolis has guided the corporation from a three-unit venue company to a twenty-unit, multiple tiered operation, and portfolio company with six hundred employees nationally and abroad. Today, KFE comprises multiple bars / restaurants and national Knitting Factory concert venues; partnerships with Boomtown Brewery, in DTLA and Arrive Hotel Palm Springs, CA; 2021 partnership with iconic venue / bar Pappy and Harriet’s , Joshua Tree, CA. A partnership with The Buckhead Group in several restaurants in California; The Regent Theatre Los Angeles; KF Records’ ownership of Brooklyn / UK-based indie label Partisan Records (Music Week UK Label of The Year 2020, with multiple Grammy nominations annually); Left Music Publishing; Knitting Factory Management; Selby Artist Management; Giant Step Marketing and Media, TBA theatrical agency, Fandiem, a digital fundraising platform; and Sweet Management culinary management. KFE also owns the tastemaker web and podcast property, Talkhouse. Margolis created a strategic partnership with world Afro Beat star, Seun Kuti in 2022 with Dundee Partners. KFE’s national touring and promotions arm tied the knot with CMoore Concerts in 2019 expanding its footprint. Booking national acts across multiple states including, but not limited to Outlaw Field, ID, Big Sky Brewery Amphitheatre in MO and Wine Country Amp in Walla Walla WA, these venues safely serve more than 200,000 fans outdoors annually. KFE holds and has held numerous promoter contracts including but not limited to The Slowdown, NE; Elevation 27, VA; Alma in Tacoma WA, The Olympic ID, Hop Springs, TN and The Myth, MI as a talent buyer. Partnerships have also included Rachel Ray’s Feedback in Chicago, Hortons Hayride in California, the iconic Desert Daze Festival in Moreno Valley, Maha Festival, NE, Bogus Fest, ID and Underground Music Showcase, CO.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/neel-vasavada</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-28</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/7f8616b2-9eff-46e5-86f5-9e0f7009bc7a/Neel+Vasavada.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Neel Vasavada - Founder &amp; President of Overdrive Energy Solutions</image:title>
      <image:caption>Neel Vasavada is a driving force in the movement to bring green technology to the events industry. His engineering background and experience with both sustainable energy and live entertainment led him to found Overdrive Energy Solutions, a leader in sustainable energy systems. After completing his mechanical engineering degree at The University of Wisconsin, Neel created Apex Speed Technology, a company working on control systems and engineering consulting for prototype, research &amp; development electric vehicle projects. Customers included early-stage Telsa, Zero Electric Motorcycles &amp; The US Department of Energy. With time, his focus turned to business development, and in 2012 he was asked to help develop the US market for European live event equipment supplier eps. This led to leadership roles at other Live Event companies. The same analytical/data backed approach to sustainability worked well in growing these businesses, and during the pandemic downtime, these skillsets came together to form Overdrive Energy Solutions. Overdrive has become a leader in sustainable energy for live events. In 2023 a partnership with sustainability non-profit Reverb.org resulted in the 2 largest solar powered stages in US history. The first was Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion, which reduced fossil fuel use for stage power by 95%. In August, Overdrive made history with the largest temporary solar field ever for a US festival, powering parts of Billie Elish’s headlining set at Lollapalooza Chicago.  Overdrive has also provided power at notable events and venues such as Coachella, Google's I/O developer conference and Dodger Stadium, with over 2.5MWh of energy deployed.  Moving forward, Neel is committed to developing cost-efficient, reliable and clean energy systems for live events - and beyond.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/paula-beadle</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-27</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/8fd38147-f924-4e7d-bc41-d4cf12f0b215/PaulaBeadle+Image.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Paula Beadle - Founder and CEO of the Sponsorship Marketing Association</image:title>
      <image:caption>Paula Beadle is a partnership marketing thought leader and sponsorship industry trailblazer. Over her 30+ year career in sports, entertainment and life-style events Paula has been recognized as a transformative leader who drives revenue growth and builds high performing teams. She is well-regarded for her business tenacity and ability to inspire, motivate and create meaningful change. She is a mentor with a style that energizes and empowers individuals and organizations to thrive.   Paula is the Founder &amp; CEO of the Sponsorship Marketing Association. Paula is a visionary leader and an avid champion of the industry. She founded SMA to strengthen, unify and advocate for the industry’s continued growth. Paula is on a mission to help marketers master the art and science of sponsorship.  Paula is also the CEO of Caravel, a national sponsorship marketing company. Caravel develops winning strategies, fosters bold ideas, increases revenue, and creatively connects the right partners. Paula’s reputation as a results-driven leader stems from success buying and selling a range of diverse sponsorships, including securing multi-million-dollar naming rights partnerships, forging renown purpose driven partnerships, and a track record for developing long-term signature partnerships with iconic events and global brands.  Paula is a Mentor for Women in Sports &amp; Entertainment (WISE), a board member for the Washington Festivals and Events Association, a commissioner for the Seattle Sports Commission, and has served as a Board Member for the Red Cross of King County and Bainbridge Island Arts Museum.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/greg-neverka</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-27</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/81c7bc49-badc-4927-9810-7d11fd4fef56/Greg+Neverka.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Greg Neverka - Vice President of Brand Partnerships at Live Nation Entertainment</image:title>
      <image:caption>Greg Neverka is a VP of Brand Partnerships at Live Nation Entertainment, leading relationships with both established and emerging technology brands.   His work focuses on developing strategic partnerships which drive both brand value as well as real work product adoption. Greg has a 15-year history in the sponsorship industry, working across both the sports and music landscapes. Him, his wife Bridget, and their two children live in Sonoma County, California.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/caroline-burruss</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-27</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/429b9848-b11a-46f2-8fba-2a9832ce5f5a/Caroline+Burruss.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Caroline Burruss - CEO and Founder of Good Things</image:title>
      <image:caption>Caroline Burruss is a sophisticated brand marketer inside a killer sales executive. She brings 25+ years’ experience pioneering connections across live events, audience experiences, sponsorship, and carefully curated branded integration that generate growth revenue built to scale. Her nuanced approach is rooted deep within her layered understanding of the artists, audiences, and community that cloak the brand-event ecosystem. Caroline develops savvy sales methods and robust pipelines with ambitious monetization strategies. She builds consensus across diverse stakeholders to usher deeper relationships that create the runway for longstanding client partnerships. As an industry front-runner, Caroline brings a demonstrated commitment to environmental sustainability, social good, and DEI across internal teams, external brand partners, and artists.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/bryan-brand-2024</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-27</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/499aa9c0-913c-4d81-87c4-9cb71b3f5734/Bryan+Brand.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Bryan Brand - Bryan Brand, VP of Business Development at Ticketsauce</image:title>
      <image:caption>Bryan's background includes over 13 years of entrepreneurship, business development, operations and leadership. Bryan co-founded NIGHTOUT, an online ticketing and event discovery platform for the live entertainment space in 2012, which merged with Ticketsauce, the leading white labeled ticketing software for live events in Q2 of 2021. Bryan leads the business development team at Ticketsauce focused on providing event producers with robust white labeled ticketing + marketing software backed by world class support.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/gail-kvistad-2024</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-10</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/22b0cbf9-cf2f-4132-9c57-00f32ebdf266/Gail+Kvistad.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Gail Kvistad - Host and Producer of "Living Local" TV show</image:title>
      <image:caption>Gail Kvistad is a gifted connector and global community builder in the areas of Media, Entertainment, Art, Hospitality and Travel. Her show "Living Local" airing since 2010 focuses on people and their passions. Gail's work for National Geographic, SCUBA diving, ISLANDS &amp; Resorts and Great Hotels contribute to her lifelong interests in the environment, arts &amp; culture and non-profit sectors and her ultimate goal to make this world a better place &amp; a lot more fun.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/gillian-zettler</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-28</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/7f32b64b-5b22-42ed-a8e3-5af79d6ae5bf/Gillian+Zettler.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Gillian Zettler - Founder of G. Zettler Collective</image:title>
      <image:caption>A non-profit executive and creator economy leadership veteran, Gillian Zettler is currently Founder of G. Zettler Collective, a consultancy located in Mt. Pleasant, SC. offering executive-level strategy and fractional C-Suite support. Zettler began her professional career in radio which would foray into an A&amp;R role with Universal Music Group, creating opportunities, buzz, and impact for an array of recording artists. In her next role as Director of Events for The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, she led operations and teams that garnered accolades and increased revenue. As Executive Director for Euphoria, Greenville, South Carolina’s food, wine and music festival, she led teams and operations that boosted revenue and built the festival’s national reputation. Gillian has a storied career in leadership spanning a variety of industries - hospitality, music, retail, wellness, experiential, and nonprofits. As the Executive Director &amp; CEO of Charleston Wine + Food for nearly a decade—she flexed her creative and business acumen designing more than 200 programs and events annually. She catapulted festival ticket sales, grew the organizational budget to $10MM+ and increased profits, and sponsorship revenue year over year—despite a global pandemic which halted the multi-day event for well over a season. During her tenure Charleston Wine + Food was named one of the top five wine + food festivals in the US by Forbes Traveler and solidified a first-of-its-kind partnership with NBC’s TODAY, culminating in a multi-day, on-site syndicated broadcast. Additionally, Zettler has served as a Professor of Events Management at the College of Charleston, a member of CHIEF, lululemon Ambassador, and mentor for the College of Charleston’s prestigious Schottland Scholars Program. A devoted mother of two (Ethan and Liv), and partner to her husband, Spencer, Gillian loves to travel and is cultivating that same love in her children. As both a Master Spin Instructor and a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200) she begins every morning on a yoga mat or in the Cycle studio.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/mike-ziemer</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/e8a9bec1-6e08-418d-a0b7-b85481322f59/Mike+Ziemer.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Mike Ziemer - Founder of Third String Entertainment + So What?! Festival and Partner of Furnace Fest</image:title>
      <image:caption>A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF 20 YEARS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY When it comes to the music industry, Mike Ziemer is a man of many hats! Starting in 2002, Ziemer began interviewing bands and reviewing albums for online magazines in order to get into shows for free and meet his favorite artists. After building up a large list of contacts, he was asked by a local band to manage them. The band’s first request was for Ziemer to help them put together a concert in the suburbs, the rest was history.  In March 2004, Third String Productions was born at The Plano Centre where Ziemer would hold shows in multiple rooms from 2004 - 2009 with attendance ranging from 500 - 4800! The Plano Centre was the birth place of Unsilent Night and So What?! Music Fest (previously known as South By So What?!). After outgrowing the Plano Centre, Ziemer began booking live events across Texas, and beyond, averaging as many as 400 events annually between multiple markets from 2021 - 2023. In 2022, Third String Entertainment formed a strategic join venture with Disco Donnie Presents, named Disco Punk, to further grow the So What?! Music Festival brand. 2023’s festival was the largest in the festival’s history bringing in over 22,000 people across 2 days in Dallas, TX. So What?! Music Festival has established itself as the “go to” festival for catching multiple stages of up and coming talent mixed with legacy acts for metal / hardcore / pop punk /  emo fans, filling the void left from the end of Warped Tour and Mayhem Festival. Ziemer is also a partner in Furnace Fest, taking place annually in Birmingham, AL featuring a wave of bands primarily from the late 90s and early 2000s hardcore and post-hardcore scene while still being inclusive of current up and coming bands in those genres. Over the last 20 years, Ziemer has been instrumental in helping introduce and build artists through his festivals including A Day To Remember, Enter Shikari, Forever The Sickest Kids, Dance Gavin Dance, Beartooth, Of Mice &amp; Men, Polyphia, and many more.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/conway-solomon</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/e1cdb70b-d70b-4458-aada-b0de818bcc18/Conway-HeadShot-1.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Conway Solomon - CEO/Co-founder of WRSTBND</image:title>
      <image:caption>Conway Solomon is the CEO/Co-founder of WRSTBND, based in New Orleans, LA. He had a passion for the event industry and had been working in it for over a decade before starting WRSTBND in 2019. Conway started WRSTBND with his cofounder after years of being frustrated with other solutions. Somewhere along the way, festivals turned into concerts, sporting events, conferences, and more.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/dina-samson</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-10</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/4438a0db-e327-4d97-bc8d-e4074bc6cbc9/Dina+Samson.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Dina Samson - Co-Founder/Owner of Rossoblu, Superfine Playa, and Superfine Pizza in Los Angeles</image:title>
      <image:caption>She has also co-founded the Independent Hospitality Coalition, RE:Her, and FeedLoveLA, all organizations which focus on supporting and uplifting the Los Angeles restaurant community. Before joining the restaurant industry, Dina developed her business acumen by spending years in the financial world, both as an investment banker in San Francisco and New York. She also served in Chief of Staff roles to several financial CEOs and celebrity entrepreneurs P. Diddy and MTV’s Rob Dyrdek. She even had a stint as a video game producer at Brash Entertainment/Wall Street Games. Samson is both a James Beard Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (WEL) and C200 Champion WinLab fellow. She is also on various advisory boards such as LA Tourism DEI Committee, Dine LA Committee, and James Beard WEL Committee. She also miraculously finds time to raise her young twins.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/gareth-gallagher</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-19</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/9ac38102-421d-484a-af85-f06f1a083b7d/Gareth+Gallagher.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Gareth Gallagher - Senior Executive, Celebrity Event Planner and CEO EVT Media</image:title>
      <image:caption>Gareth is an accomplished Senior Event and Marketing Executive with over 22 years of experience under his belt. He has worked all over the world in multiple events industries. His expertise includes event management, marketing, advertising and technology. Trusted by clients like Google, Facebook and Apple, Gareth brings razor sharp analytical skills to his global event management brand. A visionary in business operations and event strategy, his experience is valued highly by small businesses and Fortune 500 companies alike. Gareth has grown his event management brand globally to over 150 staff. He has recently become an author and trainer with a passion to help others learn more about event planning.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/amaya-j-fernandez</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/61d011c0-0bdf-4f18-b269-1095f6098255/Amaya.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Amaya J. Fernandez - Owner/creator of artistas creativos int'l LLC</image:title>
      <image:caption>Founded in Miami in 1998 and currently based in Marina Del Rey, California. a.c.i is a leader in event production in South America. Producing everything from headline stadium concerts to boutique exotic festivals a.c.i's experience creation on a worldwide level is well stablished, working with a variety of Artists such as: Guns &amp; Roses, Def Leppard, Cirque Dreams, Imperial Circus of China, Julio Iglesias, Tiesto, The Wailers, Julian Marley, Erasure, Men at Work, Sebastian Ingrosso, Claptone, Timmy Trumpet, Roger Sanchez, Sharam, Aterciopelados, Molotov, Heroes del Silencio, Cerati, Mayan Heart Festival events and many many more. Amaya's experience moving around the world, delivering top notch entertainment has been a dream come true.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/joseph-p-smith</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/3afa05e0-ae69-4eb5-9636-9d909cdf3bc3/Joseph+P.+Smith.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Joseph P. Smith - Founder of Atlas Health, Integrative Practitioner, Board Certified in Chiropractic Neurology and Applied Kinesiology</image:title>
      <image:caption>Dr. Joseph P. Smith, founder of Atlas Health in Fairfax, California, is a board-certified chiropractic neurologist through the American Chiropractic Neurology Board and American College of Functional Neurology, with emphasis on neuroendocrine immunology, neurodevelopmental conditions, neurodegenerative conditions and neurochemistry.  He obtained doctorate of chiropractic degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University and his bachelor of science in psychology from North Dakota State University. He has been speaking internationally on the topics of chronic case management, clinical nutrition and neuroendocrine immunology since 2008 He held an adjunct faculty position at the University of Mary in Fargo, North Dakota until 2008. He currently a speaker for Apex Energetics speaking on the topics of clinical nutrition and laboratory analysis. Dr. Joe is also the founder and Executive Director of Atlas Institute a nonprofit organization that educates the public on nutritional concepts and controversies and is a brain health consultant for The  Hummingbirds' Collaborative School in the San Francisco Bay Area of California.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/skip-martin-2024</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-02-02</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/b84f08b0-d62d-4d45-8097-b63c00fe8e79/Skip+Martin.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Skip Martin - American Musician</image:title>
      <image:caption>Skip Martin is a Grammy Award winning artist, songwriter, producer and author, best known for his tenure as a lead singer and trumpeter for two legendary groups, Kool &amp; the Gang and The Dazz Band. His achievements include MOBO Outstanding Achievement Award, Platinum &amp; Gold Record recipient, R&amp;B Song of the Year, six consecutive Top 100 albums, two Top 100 singles, to name a few. He is also a music savant as Skip was the youngest person ever to perform at Monterey Jazz. With his newest project, “People Get Ready”, Skip asked 28 of his musician friends to be a part of this heartfelt crusade to aid the children of St. Jude Research Hospital during COVID – artists include Stevie Wonder, Taylor Dayne, Neal McCoy, Ray Parker Jr., John Elefante, Kevin Chalfant, Doug E Fresh, Robert Kool Bell, Pastor John P Kee and more.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/alicia-silverstone</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/6646c9b3-64b5-4ad1-8ca0-096df2205164/Alicia+Silverstone.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Alicia Silverstone - American Actress &amp; Activist</image:title>
      <image:caption>She made her film debut in the thriller The Crush, earning the 1994 MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance, and gained further prominence as a teen idol when she appeared in the music videos for Aerosmith's songs "Cryin', "Amazing" and "Crazy". She also starred in the cult film "Clueless", based on Jane Austen's "Emma", often lauded as one of the best teen films.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/dane-cook</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/c03f7e75-2bea-4f3e-ac65-3e18f0e8b235/Dane+Cook.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Dane Cook - American stand-up comedian and film actor</image:title>
      <image:caption>He has released six comedy albums: "Harmful If Swallowed"; "Retaliation"; "Vicious Circle"; "Rough Around the Edges: Live from Madison Square Garden"; and "Isolated Incident".</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/jesse-lawrence</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/dd75b6cb-5c72-4fc4-972a-f095556f30b0/JSL+Headshot.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Jesse Lawrence - Founder of FanIQ</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jesse Lawrence is the founder of FanIQ, a performance-based paid social marketing and analytics platform for festivals, teams, venues and other music promoters. The company uses audience-focused content to engage new fans and re-engage existing fans on vertical video platforms like Snap, Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.  Music partners include Danny Wimmer, Live Nation, Another Planet, Breakaway, Southern Entertainment, Boots in the Park, and Levitate Music Festival.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/dre-durant-jr2024</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/021d5606-84bb-49be-98eb-7334d44e38be/Dre+Durant+Jr..jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Dré Durant &amp;nbsp; - VIP of Operations for Rolling Loud Festival and Live Nation Entertainment</image:title>
      <image:caption>With over 13 years of experience in festival operations, Dré Durant has helped shaped premium programming at various music, film, interactive events, and concert venues across the United States including Coachella Valley Music &amp; Arts Festival, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo Music &amp; Arts Experience, ESSENCE Festival of Culture, Voodoo Festival, Rolling Loud and House of Blues among myriad of other projects.  In addition to his experience in the music industry, Dré Durant has worked as a Documentary Features Programmer for the New Orleans Film Society and Festival.  He is a graduate of Tulane University and currently resides in New York with his husband.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/eugenie-ej-encalarde</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/16282177-742b-4ee9-a5b0-2347df434155/Eugenie_EJ_Encalarde_Pic1.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Eugenié "EJ" Encalarde - Chief Operating Officer of Festival Productions, Inc.</image:title>
      <image:caption>As President and Chief Operating Officer of Festival Productions, Inc. of New Orleans, Eugenié Jones Encalarde works with one of the country’s most successful entertainment production companies. Her role as senior coordinating producer has gained her experience with some of the world's foremost, one-of-a-kind, large-scale music events. The New Orleans Jazz &amp; Heritage Festival, The Essence Music Festival, Bayou &amp; Buckeye Country Superfests, NFL Kickoff in Jackson Square, Super Bowl Boulevard, and Presidential Inaugural Celebrations are but a few of the events Encalarde has accomplished. Encalarde’s festival-producing management skills have taken her nationwide and globally. “EJ,” as she’s known to her business colleagues, is the executive operations arm of Festival Productions. The organization is turn-key-intensive. Her job description is diverse, heading the Administrative, Human Resources, Intern and mentoring, Volunteer, and Sustainability departments. Encalarde also has her managerial hand in the Music Production and Heritage Fair departments. Her responsibilities are extraordinarily situational, from leading the execution of initiatives the top management team develops, providing hands-on coaching and teaming plans across departments, to practicing day-to-day agility structurally and strategically. EJ Encalarde is a certified coach and facilitator who uses her 30+ years of project management experience and oversight to build, develop, and retain high-performing teams and leaders. She’s highly effective and comfortable working with multigenerations at all organizational levels. Encalarde is a meticulous leader with outstanding relationship-building, team training, and project coaching skills. Her work has been recognized and received many awards, including City Business Women of the Year, Gambit’s 40 under 40, and a Louisiana Diversity &amp; Leadership Glass Ceiling Award for outstanding leadership, making it possible for others to follow in her footsteps. EJ’s mission is helping high-performing leaders and world-class team builders experience transformation, fulfillment, and peace in their relationships and work</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/michelle-harmon-madsen</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/02896fb4-eec8-40c7-9307-781858e0ea4f/Headshot+Michelle+HarmonMadsen.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Michelle Harmon-Madsen - Chief Marketing Officer at SponsorUnited</image:title>
      <image:caption>As Chief Marketing Officer at SponsorUnited, Michelle Harmon-Madsen is responsible for creating and accelerating the company’s marketing strategy and building its brand equity. She leads all marketing functions, including brand marketing, content marketing, demand generation, marketing research and insights, and public relations. For more than 25 years, she has led marketing and business transformation at industry-leading companies, where she was known for launching and building customer-centric businesses and new revenue streams. Michelle joined SponsorUnited after most recently serving as Chief Marketing Officer at AccuWeather. Her other former roles include Executive Vice President, Marketing for ShopperX Lab; Senior Vice President, Brand Partnerships for FreshDirect; and Vice President of Branded Entertainment for 19 Entertainment, where she led sponsorships for American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance. She also serves as co-chair of the Executive Achievement Committee at She Runs It, an organization dedicated to paving the way for more women to lead in marketing, media, and tech. A proud alumna of The Pennsylvania State University, Michelle has served on the Board of the Alumni Council, Smeal College of Business, and Lion’s Paw Alumni Society. She resides in New York, NY, with her husband and daughter</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/mariah-hanson</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/b2588d66-3d14-46f8-9b80-25a5eaf3a2a3/Mariah+professional.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Mariah Hanson - Founder and creator of the legendary “Dinah,” aka The Dinah Fest</image:title>
      <image:caption>More than just an event producer extraordinaire, Hanson is first and foremost an avant-garde business entrepreneur who, in the span of three decades, has created an unsurpassed cultural and social phenomenon. Hanson has built an impressive empire, from a small, one-night event at The Palm Springs Museum with 1,500 participants to booking lavish locations at deluxe hotels over the course of five days and nights, with some 10,000-plus attendees and major corporate sponsors under her belt. The Dinah has become a rite of passage for queer women and allies, where during five event-filled days of music and community, women from all walks of life experience profound connection in a diverse and multi-cultural setting. The Dinah inspires all women to boldly live out loud while openly celebrating both our differences and commonalities, alike. Hanson served two terms on the Board of Equality California, during the pivotal time when the board had to decide whether or not to pursue the Gay Marriage fight and no longer wait until the time “was right.” Always a pioneer, she voted in favor of moving forward, and helped the board achieve history in successfully championing the right to marry. Hanson served on the Aspen Gay and Lesbian Ski Week Board of Directors, and held the dual role of Development Director, raising critical funds to help produce the international event and at the same time to bridge the relationship between corporate donors and the LGBT community. Hanson also served on the Board of Directors of The San Francisco Community Center, joining to create the vision and raise the money needed to help the community center dream become reality. The SF Community Center now serves as a model for community centers around the country. Hanson has also served on the Cable Car Awards Board, an organization whose mission was to recognize and celebrate events in The San Francisco LGBT community and in the process helped raise the visibility of LGBT events and contributions to San Francisco culture. Mariah continues to utilize The world renowned Dinah as a powerful platform to mobilize the LGBTQIA community around humanitarian projects and social issues</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/candice-belton</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/3e7a9ade-8f0e-4a3c-843f-66c966ff7d12/Candice+Belton.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Candice Belton - Lead Crew at Sofar Sounds | Event Production Expert | Artist &amp; Artist Relations Manager</image:title>
      <image:caption>Candice Belton is a visionary force in the realm of live events and music festivals, boasting a rich tapestry of experiences spanning nearly a decade. From orchestrating seamless venue management to commanding the intricate dance of front-of-house and back-of-house logistics, her expertise knows no bounds. With an unwavering belief in the mantra 'artists support artists,' Candice has woven a career steeped in this very ethos. As an accomplished artist in her own right, she understands the heartbeat of creation and channels this understanding to manifest her clients' visions. Candice is a masterful curator of art direction, possessing an innate ability to source the perfect spaces for events, and forging connections that breathe life into ambitions. Her portfolio reads like a who's who of industry giants—Wasserman Media, Sprint, Disney, Meta, Fortress, Bulldog DM, YouTube, and Patreon have all benefited from her touch. A published poet and a muse to many, Candice is a beacon for local and international artists, a champion of their dreams and visions. Her collaborations span genres and mediums, a testament to her boundless creativity. With a track record that glistens with successful networking, adept problem-solving, and spellbinding performances, Candice Belton is a true luminary. Her compass is authenticity, seeking opportunities that resonate with her soul—a journey defined by originality and flair.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/matthew-reich</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/f72224bb-2634-4aba-bc51-17faab84c2d2/Matthew+Reich+Headshot.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Matthew Reich - Co-Founder of Artist For Artist</image:title>
      <image:caption>AFA is a NYC based talent and marketing agency with a focus on social impact events run BY artists FOR artists.  Beginning his career in the industry as an artist/songwriter/performer, Matthew and his Co-Founder/bandmate Neal Saini identified a gap in the market for creative business leaders that had both the knowledge and empathy to navigate the increasingly complex, changing landscapes of music, live events and social impact. With clientele as diverse as breakthrough artists, world leaders, CEOs, innovative music companies, films and causes, AFA has carved out its niche in bringing the worlds of talent, marketing and social impact together. In his latest venture, Artist For Action, Matthew partnered with fellow musician and Sandy Hook Promise Co-Founder/CEO Mark Barden to create a platform, concert series and growing coalition of artists (including Billie Eilish, Peter Gabriel and Sheryl Crow) to address the gun violence epidemic in the US. Prior to founding AFA Matthew was the Vice President of DASVentures where he oversaw The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and John Lennon Songwriting Contest with a focus on developing partnerships, programming and producing live events/festival experiences with companies such as Apple, Canon, Gibson and Juniper Networks. At his core Matthew is a fierce advocate for driving positive change in the world through creativity.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/mell-leis</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/9acf0a2e-d922-40ca-a0f5-fe25f032b9da/Mell+FF23+copy.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Mell Leis - SVP of Sales, North America at Tappit</image:title>
      <image:caption>A native New Yorker and starting to play music at the age of 6, Music quickly became Mell’s focal point. This passion landed her at Berklee College of Music, where she graduated with a BA in Performance and Music Business. Years later, working in the Events Industry in ticketing, crowd control and now Cashless Fan Engagement with Tappit, as well as being a lifelong musician, Mell is a true believer in the power of music and its profound impact on our world. Whether it is engaging new business, identifying partnership opportunities, or coaching a team to do the same, she drives to not only hit her mark, but consistently go beyond. With a solid track record in sales, leadership, and partnership strategy, She brings 20 years of experience, enthusiasm, and unmatched energy to the Live Music space.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/austin-whitney</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1cd94d3d-5aba-4ee0-955c-4a8430a9549a/Austin+Whitney.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Austin Whitney - President of Ten Fifty Entertainment</image:title>
      <image:caption>The company has consulted on over 400 live events since its creation in 2015. Austin has been in a wheelchair since 2007. He received his BA from UC Berkeley and his JD from UC Berkeley School of Law. He received his certification as an ADA Coordinator last year. He currently serves as the ADA Compliance Director for Coachella Music and Arts Festival, EDC, BottleRock Music Festival, Star Wars Celebration, and for the PGA of America. He has written on Personal Care Attendants and is routinely consulted by the entertainment industry on accessibility matters. He also founded Accessible Festivals — a 501-C-3 organization dedicated to improving accessibility in the live entertainment industry. More information can be found at accessibility.com and accessiblefestivals.com</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/eddie-bernard</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/811bdbff-2265-45f8-80a9-1d2261c0973d/Eddie+Bernard.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Eddie Bernard - Vice President of Entertainment Marketing for The Social Architects</image:title>
      <image:caption>The Social Architects is a digital and event marketing agency that specializes in social campaigns fortune 100 companies including Google, Meta, Sony, Bloomberg, Boeing, UBS, AT&amp;T, Spectrum, as well as Tribeca Film Festival, ESPN, A&amp;E Networks, IKEA, and more… Eddie currently manages the social media presence for key entertainment properties and individuals including: Francis Ford Coppola, David Aaron Cohen, Sony Pictures Classics, The Daily Mail, and previously assisted in building the social media presence for Paris Hilton, DJ Tiesto, Porter Robinson, among many others. Eddie is currently the lead producer for The Asbury Park Music and Film Festival (in its 6th year) which has featured annual performances by Bruce Springsteen, as well as acts like David Crosby, Michael Franti, Sublime w/ Rome, Wycleff Jean, Government Mule, Jakob Dylan, Melissa Etheridge, Annual Appearances by Danny Devito, The Bob Dylan Archives, Southside Johnny, and many more. The festival premieres best in class music documentaries like “David Crosby: Remember My Name”, “Echo In The Canyon”, “It Might Get Loud” and more. Eddie was a marketing and sponsorship coordinator for the world’s largest touring hip-hop music festival, Rock The Bells, which featured the world’s largest hip hop acts of all time along with key brands like Blackberry Monster, Budweiser, and Kingston Technology. Eddie also held these positions at Guerilla Union’s sister festival properties, “The Cypress Hill Smokeout” and the “Paid Dues”. Eddie arranged over 100+ after parties and celebrity attended events at The Sundance Film Festival for over 11 years, and produced the Luc Robitaille Celebrity Hockey game that occurred at The Sundance Film Festival for 8 consecutive years. On behalf of High Times magazine, Eddie produced the first ever High Times Cannabis Cup which occurred in 2011 featuring Kid Cudi, and the first of many annual Cannabis competitions which now occur annually in over 10 markets.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/benjamin-oberman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/901eb0e8-33af-4423-b15f-3974dd8a8aef/Benjy+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Benjamin Oberman - President / CEO of MouseTrap Films, LLC | Film Festival Flix</image:title>
      <image:caption>Benjamin "Benjy" Oberman is an innovator and leader in the virtual event industry. As the founder and CEO of Film Festival Flix and Guild Screeners. His company provides the streaming technology, services, and support empowering festivals and special events to reach a global audience directly through your own secure and private channel with total control over your content, audience, sponsors, and advertisers</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/serena-flowers</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/2c7e833e-7c93-4bf1-8b8d-a4d88059d35a/Serena+Flowers.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Serena Flowers - Owner of The Festival General Store</image:title>
      <image:caption>Serena Flowers, Owner of The Festival General Store, has serviced over 80+ music festivals from coast to coast over 20+ years. The success of The Festival General Store is due to Serena’s ability to adapt, build relations, create a team environment, sourcing skills, and time management is what put The Festival General Store on the map. Now, Serena is embarking on a new chapter with The Festi Essentials.  With Serena’s skills and knowledge from the festival world, her curated FestiKits will help B.O.H. production prepare their workers and enhance artist relations by offering amenities that will overall improve workers longevity and add a special experience for guests.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/irene-soriano</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-30</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/135328a6-2239-4411-913e-c53b01a080be/Irene+Soriano.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Irene Soriano - Film Programmer at Sundance Institute</image:title>
      <image:caption>Irene Soriano is a Los Angeles-based writer, film curator, and festival programmer. She programs short films for the Sundance Film Festival and has also programmed for the Outfest Fusion QTBIPOC Film Festival and AFI Film Fest. Irene was Film Independent/Project Involve's first Fellow to initiate a Film Programming Industry Track in 2003. In 2022, Irene moderated an industry podcast about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the film programming space for DOC Leipzig with the Programmers of Colour Collective and curated an art and film exhibition for Outfest’s LGBTQ+ arts and virtual media OUTMUSEUM titled “The Filipinx Edition: Queer and Trans Visions from Women and Non-Binary Artists.” She will curate the "Creative Recovery LA"-funded community screening series "I SEE YOU" Queer Filipinx Short Films in 2024, a new program dedicated to community building and exploring the rich and diverse LBGTQ narratives within Filipinx storytelling through short films.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/asya-shein</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/6d30c1b6-33d1-4cd9-81fc-4a0dfbfe2340/Asya+Shein+03.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Asya Shein - Founder and Publisher of Fusicology</image:title>
      <image:caption>Asya Shein is the Founder and Publisher of Fusicology, a renowned lifestyle marketing platform and boutique agency, with curated calendar listings and news for the Global Soul Music Community.  Since 2003, the hub has served the niche markets serving the RnB, house, hip hop, and jazz scenes in over 20 markets, having commemorated its 20th Anniversary in 2023. As a digital marketing entrepreneur, cultural curator and event producer, Asya has been a part of the Prince Tribute, Miles Davis' Birthday Celebration, is the Co-Producer of the J Dilla Fest and various Grammy productions alongside being a 3-time executive event producer for LA Department of Cultural Affairs. Working in the music business since the age of 15, as a promoter then later talent agent for various house music DJs, Asya was raised in Toronto, attended Wayne State University in Detroit, started her career in Chicago and currently resides in Los Angeles. Along with running Fusicology, Asya is embarking on a new experiential health &amp; wellness startup, FuseLife.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/steve-clayton</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/04b681f7-efce-40f7-a8d5-03fb1a872814/Steve+Clayton.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Steve Clayton - President of Live Stages and The Soundskilz Group</image:title>
      <image:caption>With a distinguished career as a seasoned event producer, Steve brings an unparalleled wealth of expertise to the world of event management. Renowned for orchestrating captivating experiences, Steve has curated an impressive portfolio of successes, having catered to fairs, festivals, municipal clients and even cannabis clients.  Steve has worked with A-List performers and collaborated with Fortune 100 brands. Leveraging a rich background in event production, Steve has also served as a consultant, extending valuable guidance to aspiring event producers as they embark on their own journeys.  Steve’s influence extends beyond event production, as an educator and curriculum developer. Having taught event management classes at the University of San Diego, Steve has imparted knowledge to countless students, nurturing the next generation of event professionals. A true trailblazer, Steve also crafted the entirety of the Event Management Curriculum for the University of California at Riverside, showcasing an unwavering commitment to advancing the field. With a legacy defined by innovation, education, and a passion for crafting unforgettable moments, Steve continues to redefine the landscape of event production and management.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/jabari-johnson</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/9e47db9a-17ce-4125-9d4e-c842491d32e5/Jabari+Johnson.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Jabari Johnson - Founder of COLORS Worldwide, Inc. and R&amp;B ONLY Since the beginning of his career, Jabari Johnson, the Founder and C.E.O. of entertainment company COLORS Worldwide, Inc., has maintained a steady foothold at the forefront of popular culture. With experiences spanning everything from identifying up and coming talent and conducting high-profile celebrity interviews to directing documentaries and plotting large-scale events and executing marketing campaigns, Jabari remains a leader in the music and general entertainment field.   In 2014, Jabari had the idea for a genre amplification company and launched COLORS Worldwide, Inc., an ecosystem designed to incorporate multiple underserved genres through live events, festivals, and content creation.   Recognizing a void in R&amp;B music, which has an impassioned community of millions of fans around the world, Johnson launched COLORS Worldwide’s flagship property and live event series R&amp;B ONLY. Even with humble beginnings and small gatherings, word  spread quickly, and the series grew in prominence.  To date, R&amp;B ONLY has produced over 350 events in more than 40 cities and has sold over 400,000 tickets. This year R&amp;B ONLY will expand globally through content creation, podcasts, ongoing digital and in-person live event series, and an educational component designed to help R&amp;B creators expand and further their careers. In addition, COLORS Worldwide will be adding other underserved genres, including varied forms of music and comedy, to its genre amplification offerings. Prior to founding COLORS Worldwide, Inc., Jabari worked in the digital video department at Capitol Music Group and hosted and produced Face to Face, a music show on BET. He also directed the documentary Discovering Destiny: Tinie Tempah, which chronicled the meteoric rise of the first rapper ever to sell out an arena tour in the United Kingdom. In addition, Jabari produced the online series  JABARI PRESENTS, featuring emerging artists such as  Macklemore &amp; Ryan Lewis, Wiz Khalifa, Issa Rae, and many more. At Howard University, where he graduated with a degree in Advertising, Jabari interviewed a number of high-profile artists at the dawn of their careers, including Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, 50 Cent and many more.</image:title>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/marty-callner</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/62e59d10-9f3f-45b6-b71d-1e5491575633/Marty+Callner.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Marty Callner - Director, Writer &amp; Producer</image:title>
      <image:caption>Marty directed the first specials of Robin Williams, Steve Martin and George Carlin, who became a good friend and the best man at his wedding. His diverse resume includes directing Chris Rock, The Rolling Stones, Cher, Aerosmith, Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Bette Midler, Jerry Seinfeld, Will Ferrell, Garth Brooks, Diana Ross, Britney Spears, and Robin Williams, to name a few. He is also the creator of the immensely popular and Emmy award winning HBO series, Hard Knocks, which gives viewers a look into the inner workings of NFL training camp. Marty has directed over 200 music videos, including such classics as Aerosmith’s ‘Crazy’ starring Alicia Silverstone and Cher’s ‘If I Could Turn Back Time’ filmed aboard the historic USS Missouri. He’s earned five MTV Music Awards including ‘Video of the Year’ and forty-three Emmy nominations including Callner’s back-to-back directorial nods for “Bette Midler: Diva Las Vegas” and “Garth Brooks: Live From Central Park”.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/michelle-metter</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/3d2a2890-85eb-4b63-8dc5-a2732f8e1201/Michelle+Metter+Headshot+%281%29.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - Michelle Metter - Owner &amp; Co-Founder of Fast Forward</image:title>
      <image:caption>With 26 years’ experience in event production and launches, sales, marketing, operations and logistics, Michelle's leadership, vision, and focus on innovation have led Fast Forward to become one of the most widely respected businesses of its kind in the alcohol beverage and culinary events industry. She is often recruited as a speaker at industry conferences and quoted often as a thought leader in the live event industry. She is currently a board member for SISO chairing the B2C Special Interest Group, ex-officio board member for IAEE and chair of the public events council, board member for SDEC (San Diego Events Coalition), and a board member for the San Diego Tourism Authority. As owner of Fast Forward she specializes in consumer and trade events for the alcohol beverage industry including the 19th Annual San Diego Bay Wine &amp; Food Festival, SommCon, Proof Beverage Expo, Craft Beverage Experience, Craft Beverage Expo and Women in Craft.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2024/j-kevin-swain</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/7f878855-c0ad-43fb-a228-4fa3f5dbce4b/J.+Kevin+Swain+Headshot.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Speaker Bios - J. Kevin Swain - Emmy and Grammy Nominated Director/Producer</image:title>
      <image:caption>Grammy and Emmy nominated; J. Kevin Swain has had the honor capturing history as it is happening. His documentary on the landmark series “Soul Train” led him to his present endeavor in presenting the African American Cultural Legacy in Paris, a four-part documentary on The King of R&amp;B Bobby Brown and the chronicles of a Go-Go band in Ghana. A celebrated contributor to the history of Hip Hop, he is responsible for some the most iconic images to date. Starting with Eazy-E’s “We Want Eazy!”, The infamous Source Awards (yes “The South Has Something to Say!” &amp; “Y’all Ain’t Got No Love for Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg?”), the concert film “The Show”, The “Up in Smoke” concert DVD, most of Tupac’s Death Row Videos, Kanye West’s “Sunday Service” just to name a few. Swain’s catalogue of work includes Quincy Jones, Outkast, Snoop, Tyler The Creator, Dr Dre, Steve Aoki, Robert Glasper, Aretha Franklin, D-Smoke, Chaka Khan, Kanye West, Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock, Patti LaBelle, George Benson, Biggie Smalls, Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, Queen Latifah, Stevie Wonder and many others. Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, his travels have taken him throughout Europe, South America, The Caribbean, and Africa.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/performer-bios-2024</loc>
    <changefreq>daily</changefreq>
    <priority>0.75</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-07-22</lastmod>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/performer-bios-2024/david-segall</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-29</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/65da3799-2c7c-47aa-9396-e6d351ac5d50/David+Segall.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Performer Bios - David Segall - Musician</image:title>
      <image:caption>David Segall is a singer, guitarist and songwriter from Santa Barbara whose specialty is Acoustic Rock, Soul, Jazz, and Latin Rock/World Fusion. David's strength is his versatility - he often performs solo acoustic for mellow or intimate events, and also as trio or a quartet band for lively concerts. David has a repertoire of over 30 original songs and plays regularly at festivals around the Central Coast and Southern California, including the Summer Solstice Festival, Earth Day Festival, and the Santa Barbara Harbor Festival.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/performer-bios-2024/wyatt-rodgers</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-29</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/f033a55a-70f2-4636-9d42-4d7ba48386fd/Wyatt+Rodgers.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Performer Bios - Wyatt Rodgers - Musician</image:title>
      <image:caption>Wyatt drinks a gallon of effervescent life each day Six-foot-infinity One-hundred-and-perfection pounds He misses nothing Neither the minutiae of his goals Nor the memories of past loves He misses nothing He is everything He lives in a never ending crescendo Of utter consonance Riding upon the fulcrum of jubilance His circles are expansive and amoebic His diction shrewd and subtle His perspicacity is astonishing Yet comes as no surprise He works for neither compensation nor fulfillment However he is exceptionally well-off His weaknesses are the gold That backs the currency of his profound authenticity Never wondering nor wandering in the playground of life He is an architect of the landscape of human experience Everything he wants, he manifests Everything he needs, he already has</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/performer-bios-2024/la-boheme-dancers</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/5677606f-6775-41d3-8a12-15e3776c9bf9/La+Boheme+Group.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Performer Bios - La Boheme Dancers - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>La Boheme is Santa Barbara's Hottest Cabaret Fusion Performance Group -- performing multiple times per month at various community, fundraising, charitable, and private events. We offer classes that are performance-based, and provide many opportunities to hone your performance skills, and ALL ARE WELCOME. La Boheme is an inclusive community of women and men, of various ages, ethnicity, dance backgrounds, and abilities. We welcome everyone into our community who loves to dance and is open to learning in a non-judgmental and supportive environment. Browse our site to find out about classes, performances and rehearsal schedule.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/performer-bios-2024/gary-jules</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/adbc7c2b-ddb9-40da-a938-458dfb807530/Gary+Jules.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Performer Bios - Gary Jules - Singer &amp; Songwriter</image:title>
      <image:caption>Gary Jules is an acclaimed singer-songwriter best known for his hauntingly beautiful rendition of "Mad World," which has amassed over 228 million streams on Spotify, was featured prominently in both the film Donnie Darko &amp; Epic Games' Gears of War, and made Jules only the 6th American act ever to win the coveted UK Christmas #1 single in 2003.  His music has continued to be heard in films and on television, notably “Falling Awake,” which was featured in an especially gripping, fan-favorite episode of “Grey’s Anatomy.” Artists including Adam Lambert (American Idol, Queen) and 3x Grammy-Winning group Pentatonix have also performed covers of his work  Born in Fresno, California and raised in the surf culture of San Diego, Jules began his journey as a singer-songwriter in the late 90s. Throughout his career, Jules has graced stages worldwide including Glastonbury, T in the Park, London’s Astoria, SXSW, The Green Man Festival, Latitude Festival, The Troubadour and El Rey theaters in Los Angeles, New York’s Bowery Ballroom, as well as features on Top of the Pops and BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge and a 3-week run with Bob Dylan, from Ireland to Portugal. Jules remains a timeless beacon of authenticity, capturing the hearts of listeners with his evocative voice and poignant songwriting. With a rich musical history and an ever-evolving repertoire, he remains a vital force in the industry, inspiring and touching the lives of countless listeners around the world.  2024 will see the release of his first new music since 2006, with the single "Horses" set for a Q1 debut, the full-length Alive in Los Angeles album coming shortly thereafter, and a EP of new music planned for the end of 2024.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/performer-bios-2024/christian-pelonis</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-19</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/6899e194-e17d-41ee-ba46-e616872c35e5/Christian+Pelonis.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Performer Bios - Christian Pelonis - Multi-instrumentalist Songwriter</image:title>
      <image:caption>Stolen Thunder and the Shaun Cassidy Band), who wrote, played, and recorded all the parts of four songs. Pelonis recorded at Lost Coast Records LLC during lockdown to deal with the stress of that situation. In 2021 he reached out to two friends to form a band, himself on lead guitar and vocals, and added a bass player and drummer.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/performer-bios-2024/peter-levin</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-27</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/76b37e6f-9470-40ce-8480-19ebe3b8a88b/Peter+Levin.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Performer Bios - Peter Levin - Music Artist</image:title>
      <image:caption>Equally at home on the Hammond Organ as he is on a Fender Rhodes or various synths, you’ll find Peter Levin currently on tour with the Gregg Allman Band and The Blind Boys of Alabama. Peter’s most recent studio work includes Piano, Hammond B3, Clavinet, and Wurlitzer Electric Piano performances on Aaron Neville’s 2016 album release “Apache,” and Piano, Wurlitzer and Clavinet credits on Gregg Allman’s new album, to be released in 2017.  Allman’s forth coming record was recorded at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and produced by legendary producer Don Was. Peter has performed with a genre-busting who’s who of music:  The Allman Brother’s Band, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Aaron Neville, The Doobie Brothers, Allen Toussaint and Lou Reed. Peter has also toured in support of such mega-artists as Tom Petty, Robert Plant, and George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars.  When not on tour with the Gregg Allman Band or the Blind Boys of Alabama, Peter performs nationally with his own band, the Peter Levin Band.  P.L.B.  plays a unique blend of blues inspired funk and soul music.  Peter writes, records, and produces the music for his band at his recording studio in Brooklyn, NY, called Moon Palace NYC. Peter’s production credits at Moon Palace NYC include artists such as Public Enemy, Korn, Train, The Beastie Boys, The Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Gym Class Heroes, and The Blind Boys of Alabama. Peter recieved a Platinum record in 2014 for his collaboration with the band Train on the album “Save Me, San Francisco,” and a Gold record in 2012 for his collaboration with Gym Class Heroes. Whether playing keyboards, drums, singing, producing, or programming, Peter is an asset to have on any stage or in any studio.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/performer-bios-2024/the-tribe</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-27</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d8c8eb66-6b41-450e-9440-91d987ac5a21/The+Tribe.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Performer Bios - THE TRIBE - Music Group</image:title>
      <image:caption>THE TRIBE is a collective of LA-based musicians who are socially inspired and perform concerts for important causes to help make a difference in our community. Through the power of music, we use our creative skills to raise money and awareness. We support the Get Together Foundation’s efforts, dedicated to providing food, shelter, extracurricular programs in the arts, and support services to children and families in need.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/performer-bios-2024/spencer-the-gardener</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-11-27</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/05b40b38-9085-407d-9d1c-8c2e74a1760b/Spencer+the+Gardener.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Performer Bios - Spencer the Gardener - Musical Band</image:title>
      <image:caption>Spencer the Gardener has been described in many ways, "Surf Mariachi", "Indie Pop Surf Salsa" or the self described," Latin Big Band Spy Movie set on a Moody Tropical Beach" - Existing in the 805 since the 90's and traversing through California , the band has released 8 records (2 From the Family  Friendly Kid series, "Organic Gangster") and is currently set to deliver their newest, "Shine On", on November 24 also known as Black Friday - A documentary Film , "More than just a Party Band", about the travels and travails of Spencer the Gardener, and Spencer himself, has just recently been let go into the world and while busy working on all these things, the band plans to tour again next summer and fall.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/performer-bios-2024/skip-martin</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-01-29</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/c93c8fc9-9bcf-43ae-9c75-fb501a0dfb76/Skip+Martin.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Performer Bios - Skip Martin - American Musician</image:title>
      <image:caption>Skip Martin is a Grammy Award winning artist, songwriter, producer and author, best known for his tenure as a lead singer and trumpeter for two legendary groups, Kool &amp; the Gang and The Dazz Band. His achievements include MOBO Outstanding Achievement Award, Platinum &amp; Gold Record recipient, R&amp;B Song of the Year, six consecutive Top 100 albums, two Top 100 singles, to name a few. He is also a music savant as Skip was the youngest person ever to perform at Monterey Jazz. With his newest project, “People Get Ready”, Skip asked 28 of his musician friends to be a part of this heartfelt crusade to aid the children of St. Jude Research Hospital during COVID – artists include Stevie Wonder, Taylor Dayne, Neal McCoy, Ray Parker Jr., John Elefante, Kevin Chalfant, Doug E Fresh, Robert Kool Bell, Pastor John P Kee and more.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/performer-bios-2024/mix-master-mike</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-22</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/723849bc-7e3d-4809-8cb9-ee4c8ee30065/Mix+Master+Mike.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Performer Bios - Mix Master Mike - World Famous DJ</image:title>
      <image:caption>Named as “the world’s greatest DJ” by USA Today, Mix Master Mike’s status as a premier, award-winning DJ and producer has allowed him to maintain his rank as an influential musician, and become a household name. Grammy Award winner Mix Master Mike’s many accomplishments include a 3 time consecutive win of the DMC World title, a win of the 1992 New Music Seminar DJ Battle (where he became the first West Coast DJ to win the title of World Champion), and being inducted into the Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 with the Beastie Boys. His skillful, hard-hitting scratch work has rightfully earned him the status of a pioneer in the hip-hop and DJ communities.  Recently, Mike has been found opening for the Vancouver Winter Olympics, joining the official Emmy’s orchestra with the legendary Michael Bearden (Lady Gaga's/Michael Jackson's music director), creating music that has been featured on major television networks (i.e. producing the theme music for Teen Titans Go on Cartoon Network), performing on Yo Gabba Gabba, producing the theme music for the FIFA World Cup, working on Andra Day's Grammy nominated album, "Cheers to the Fall”, and more. In 2016, he was invited to the White House by former President Barack Obama to perform at the Kennedy Center Honors 36th Gala honoring Herbie Hancock.  2017 was a whirlwind year for Mix Master Mike, touring stadiums with Metallica, trailblazing the VR world, working on music with the Invisibl Skratch Piklz, DJing A$AP Rocky’s latest album release party, and more. Mike’s Virtual Reality project, “Magma Chamber”, has been winning awards internationally, including the 2017 VR Fest Award for “Best Animated VR Music Video” and two awards from Vega Digital Awards. “Magma Chamber” is being recognized as one of the best and most innovative videos in the VR world. As a result of all the attention “Magma Chamber” has received, Sir Richard Branson extended an invitation for Mix Master Mike to attend the Extreme Tech Challenge awards at the famous Necker Island. His second VR music video, “Moonbase Invasion,” was released to critical acclaim as well, winning honors from Cannes Film Festival, Austin Music Video Festival and Globaltrend Video Awards. 2018 and 2019 were just as busy for Mix Master Mike. He toured the world with Cypress Hill, the Beastie Boys reunited for a book tour, and he is currently in the midst of his “Conquest Tour”, touring the world to support the release of his upcoming album, “Conquest”. The album will be released in its entirety December 6, 2019. In the meantime, fans can stream his current releases, including his “Fuck Em All FM” Official Tour Mixtape here. 2020 is looking to be a busy year as well. New music will be released in early 2020 and fans can catch him live as he continues to tour the world, playing festivals and more. Additionally, Mix Master Mike has a new lifestyle line, 15THIRD, and a custom CBD vape line, Sour Tsunami Church, that will all be released in Spring 2020. From his early days in the Bay Area until now, Mix Master Mike has always been looking for new ways to create art that challenges the status quo, keeping his brand relevant and exciting for older fans and millennials alike.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/performer-bios-2024/dj-darla</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-07</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/edf9295f-c589-4384-90df-9ee020a4f3f0/DJ+Darla.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Performer Bios - DJ Darla Bea - Event DJ</image:title>
      <image:caption>It’s pretty simple why DJ Darla Bea has swept this award for eight years and counting: “I love music,” she said. “I love people. I love making people happy through the magic of music!” An SBHS Don and UCSB alum, Bea has a knack for reading the room and picking just the right playlist to keep those bodies moving. She’s opened for acts like Poolside, English Beat, DMC of Run-DMC and the Egyptian Lover, performed ahead of Diana Ross at the Bowl this June, and is a hot ticket on the local wedding and event circuit. Her background is in radio broadcasting, meaning her microphone skills and emcee abilities are also perfectly tuned.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/performer-bios-2024/johnny-irion</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2023-12-27</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/8e850013-0bff-497c-a2be-5d23c089c536/johnny+wine+glass.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2024 Performer Bios - Johnny Irion - Musician</image:title>
      <image:caption>Troubadour Rocker, Johnny Irion has earned a reputation as one of the most exciting artists across the folk-rock spectrum.   Johnny comes by his American roots bona fides honestly. In addition to being married to Sarah Lee Guthrie for 20 years, he has performed and collaborated with icons such as Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Jeff Bridges and John Goodwin (Crazy Heart), Superchunk, The Jayhawks, Wilco, Glen Phillips, and Ramblin Jack Elliot.  In 2018 Johnny released his acclaimed solo album “Driving Friend” produced by Tim Bluhm and features members of Wilco and Dawes. It was rated “4 Stars” by Sylvie Simmons at Mojo Magazine. In 2011 Jackson Browne invited Johnny to perform his song “Hard Working People” in Washington DC. In 2019 “Hard Working People” was featured on Amazon’s Fresh Folk &amp; Americana Playlist which is a testament to the staying power of his music. Johnny has been seen on stages around the world such as Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Newport Folk Festival, the Winnipeg Folk festival, Royce Hall, and the Byron Bay Blues Festival.  In addition to his music Johnny has appeared in Twin Peaks, Ghost World, The Job &amp; The new indie Short LOUIE. His songs have also been heard in shows such as, Astronaut Wives Club, Archer &amp; Empire Records. Born in Columbia, South Carolina, Irion grew up in the restaurant business hearing the sweet songs of his grandfather, a singer-pizzaiolo and first-generation American who crooned as he cooked. As a teen, he cut his teeth on bass in a punk group with Zeke Hutchins (Sharon Van Etten, Leon Bridges) before going on to develop a unique voice all his own.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025</loc>
    <changefreq>daily</changefreq>
    <priority>0.75</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-02-07</lastmod>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/darshan-kaler</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-02-05</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/c5eea30c-d91f-42eb-b58b-59676222f483/Darshan+Kaler.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Darshan Kaler - Co-founder and CEO of Tradable Bits</image:title>
      <image:caption>Darshan Kaler is co-founder and CEO of Tradable Bits, a leading provider of fan data activation technology for live sports and entertainment events. Darshan oversees all aspects of global operations for Tradable Bits, which is focused on data acquisition, analysis, and activation for clients including Ticketmaster, Spotify, AEG Presents’ GoldenVoice, BMG, Danny Wimmer Presents, Live Nation Canada, Front Gate Tickets, Country Music Association, Universe Tickets, BlueNote, Outside Lands, and countless others. Throughout his career, Darshan has been dedicated to fostering human connections through technology, beginning with mobile company Primus where he pioneered VOIP services that would be used by Sprint, AT&amp;T, and MSN. He also oversaw communication infrastructure for Bell Canada ahead of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. Because of his efforts, every Olympic image seen on television, every real-time score transmitted, and every story read around the world traversed the integrated Vancouver 2010 Bell Canada network.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/heather-rasmussen</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-02-07</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/69b60839-85b6-4040-aa57-839e7e45e258/Heather+Rasmussen.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Heather Rasmussen - Vice President of Creative at Redrock Entertainment</image:title>
      <image:caption>Heather shares over two decades of expertise in curated destination, touring and pop-up event production. Starting her career on the road as a summer staffer for Kevin Lyman’s renowned Vans Warped Tour, she graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Japanese and minor in Economics. She moved to San Francisco then later Tokyo, Japan to work for a US record label, Fat Wreck Chords, then on to Myspace Japan to lead their foreign music events team.  Returning to the states, she rehashed her love of the road, touring for Kevin Lyman as the Japanese Tour Manager for Rocker’s Taste of Chaos, progressing to festival production coordinator for the Rockstar Mayhem Festival and Uproar Festival, taking flight from there… For over a decade, Heather served as the General Manager at Synergy Global Entertainment (SGE), Southern California's premier live event production company specializing in artist-driven, niche festivals with a strong curative focus. Her proficiency lies in creative ideation coupled with rigorous production, enabling her to collaborate seamlessly with safeguarded intellectual property and brand teams, treating clients as valued partners. She now resides as the Vice President of Creative and leads the department for Redrock Entertainment, which is Live Nation’s Global Projects Company .  Noteworthy among Heather's recent accomplishments at Redrock was being tapped as the Creative Producer for the Event Marketer Grand Ex Award-Winning program, RiotX Arcane- overseeing three massive, concurrent experiences and managing multimillion dollar budgets that were the anchor events leading up to the highly anticipated premiere of Riot Games' acclaimed animated series, Arcane. During Covid, Heather navigated unknown times as the Lead Producer for the groundbreaking Stranger Things Drive-Into Experience for Netflix, currently leads Fenty’s experiences and activations, was the executive producer and show caller for Riot Games World’s Media Day in Seoul, South Korea and most recently was the executive producer of creative production for the award winning Chain Fest which is a gourmet fast-food, food festival with a sharp twist of nostalgia colliding with celebrity culture. Heather is from a small town in Northern Oregon, one of four kids, a mom of a rowdy 6-year-old, dog mom to two dogs and married for almost ten years to her husband, whom she met working at a festival.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/david-rovsek</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-02-04</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/db6948f6-e989-4ea8-b95e-294a143fecba/David+Rovsek.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - David Rovsek - President of King Kong Production Vehicles</image:title>
      <image:caption>David Rovsek is a visionary entrepreneur and an industry leader in portable Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), driving innovation in sustainable energy solutions for entertainment and live events. As the President of King Kong Production Vehicles, he has set the standard for luxury trailers and transportation in the entertainment industry. He also leads #setlife, a production supply rental house that specializes in cutting-edge tools, including BESS, to meet the evolving needs of modern productions. In 2024, David's leadership facilitated sustainable power solutions for over 80 high-profile events and productions. His work has powered iconic events such as the LA Music Center New Year’s Eve Countdown, the Yamaha Grand Stage at NAMM, and the San Diego Wine and Food Festival. Collaborating with the US Forest Service Eaton Fire Camp, he provided large-scale battery power to a live disaster response effort. His contributions extend to commercials, music videos for artists like Billie Eilish and Cardi B, and productions for leading studios including Apple Studios, Netflix, Amazon, NBC Universal, Warner Brothers, and Sony. Headquartered in Sun Valley, California, David is known for his unwavering commitment to innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. His companies have become trusted partners in the entertainment and production sectors, consistently delivering exceptional service and groundbreaking solutions. Outside of his professional endeavors, David is an avid skier, boater, and outdoor enthusiast who thrives on adventure and connection with nature. A devoted husband, he celebrates 25 years of marriage, and as a proud father, he supports his daughter Piper’s accomplishments as a commercial dance student and non-profit founder. David Rovsek continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible, driving excellence and sustainability in every facet of his work while staying deeply connected to his values and community.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/jaime-nack</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-02-03</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d7d2fa3f-3860-4ff3-87ef-72ab449d3cce/Jaime+Nack+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Jaime Nack - President of Three Squares Inc.</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jaime Nack is the President of Three Squares Inc. (TSI) - an award-winning sustainability consulting firm specializing in creating strategies for corporations, events, and communities.  Nack is one of the nation’s most prominent environmental experts and has advised many Fortune 500 companies, cities, and large-scale events. Most notably, Nack served as the Director of Sustainability for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, marking the first time in history where measures were taken to reduce the environmental impact of the $100M event on the host city. Nack went on to implement sustainability plans for the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Democratic National Conventions, as well as, many other high-profile events, festivals, and live broadcasts. Nack led TSI’s efforts to become one of the first in the world to earn certification to ISO 20121. In 2018, Nack served as the Director of Sustainability for the Global Climate Action Summit - co-chaired by CA Governor Jerry Brown, Michael Bloomberg, UNFCCC's Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa, and Anand Mahindra. In 2011, Nack was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. She also received an appointment under the Obama administration to serve on the National Women’s Business Council, an advisory council to the President, Congress and the SBA on economic issues of importance to women business owners. In 2013, Nack was named the "Environmental Conservator of the Year" by the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce. Nack speaks to audiences around the world about the business case for sustainability and its impact on the future of the global marketplace. She proudly serves as one of Al Gore’s presenters for The Climate Reality Project.  Nack has a Master’s in Public Policy from UCLA, where she also earned her Bachelor’s in International Economics, with a specialization in Latin America.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/jennie-reinish</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-02-02</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/a3a5695e-dc1a-474a-8123-d370af317015/Jennie+Reinish.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Jennie Reinish - Documentary Filmmaker</image:title>
      <image:caption>Documentary Filmmaker Jennie Reinish began her production career in 1993 working for CNBC. She has extensive experience working on both feature and documentary films as well as commercial projects. Jennie spent six years working with legendary Producer Tom Pollock and Director Ivan Reitman at the Montecito Picture Company. Since 2006, Jennie has focused full-time on her production company, Tidepool Pictures. Drawing on her master’s in education, received from Northwestern University in 1994, Jennie designed and taught a hands-on filmmaking course to teens, teaching them skills to film and edit projects of their own. Jennie taught for 15 years, while simultaneously working on a variety of feature and documentary films as well as client projects.  Jennie served as a juror for Adobe’s Design &amp; Achievement Awards for 9 years, providing feedback and mentorship to film students. Jennie directed and produced the award-winning documentary “Behind the Lines: Fighting a Wildland Fire” and co-produced/directed “The Aphrodite Project” about cancer survivors.  She has also produced two Holocaust-centered documentaries “We Played Marbles” and “Margaret Singer: Seeking Light.”  Jennie’s current film  “I Cannot Be a Bystander,” addresses identity-based hate and offers ways can all stand together as allies to make the world a better place. Jennie was honored in 2023 with a prestigious California Arts Council Fellowship, a program designed to recognize excellence in the arts. Jennie's hobbies include nature photography, hiking and travel.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/jennifer-brazill</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-02-01</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/7eeb81f8-fbd8-4ec5-9d25-bde7cedab8b7/Jennifer+Brazill.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Jennifer Brazill - Music and entertainment festival promoter, producer and consultant</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jennifer Brazill is a music and entertainment festival promoter, producer and consultant. She lends her expertise to events and festivals of all types and sizes, with an underlying focus on sustainability.  With over 25 years in the music industry, her background encompasses everything from working at an independent record label, managing artists and tours, producing records, and bringing the vision of a music festivals to life in unique environments. Early in her career, Jennifer was part of Red Light Management – an experience she considers her “grad school” in the music industry. There, she worked on the Dave Matthews Band team while soaking up experience from the best in the business.  Her personal journey is as eclectic as her resume. She has lived in New York, Virginia, Costa Rica, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Colorado. At each stint, she cultivated relationships and gathered experiences that have shaped her outlook and professional aspirations. Jennifer was a partner and co-creator of WinterWonderGrass Festival, a boutique winter festival. Her journey came full circle when she moved back to her home city in Western New York to start a music festival which is entering its 7th year, Borderland Music + Arts Festival.  The festival has received the Environmental Stewardship Award from the State of New York, as environmental leaders in the region. As a sustainability consultant, Jennifer prioritizes minimizing environmental impact and promoting social responsibility, including partnering and supporting many non profit organizations and missions.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/skye-mclennan</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-31</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/f96ad491-1c52-4646-9d8a-09c169fc540a/Skye+McLennan.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Skye McLennan - Executive Director of the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival &amp; SLO Film Center</image:title>
      <image:caption>Skye McLennan is the Executive Director of the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, based in San Luis Obispo, California. With over 15 years of experience in film festivals, she has held various roles at prestigious events such as the Sundance Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, and Tribeca Film Festival. In addition to her festival work, she has an extensive background in production design, contributing to short films, feature films, advertisements, music videos, and documentaries. Passionate about the transformative power of film and community engagement, Skye has led the festival to new heights. Under her leadership, it has been recognized as one of the world’s coolest film festivals and has become an Academy Award-qualifying festival for documentary shorts. In July 2024, she played a key role in launching the Palm Theatre as the SLO Film Center, the only nonprofit independent movie house in San Luis Obispo County dedicated to celebrating film and supporting filmmakers. Skye holds a B.A. in Cinema from San Francisco State University.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/beau-blanchard</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-31</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/169a5de5-4b98-4402-a362-644fc349b24f/Beau+Blanchard.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Beau Blanchard - Associate Director of Institutional Giving, California Film Institute (CAFILM)</image:title>
      <image:caption>Beau started at the nonprofit California Film Institute in 2009 with the 32nd Mill Valley Film Festival and has risen to his current position of Associate Director of Institutional Giving, now responsible for over $4M annually in sponsorships and grants.A graduate of the University of Southern California, Beau studied Journalism and Cinema which led to a producing position with Sony Pictures Entertainment &amp; Columbia Pictures. After a decade on the studio-side of the Hollywood film industry, Beau returned to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2008 with the San Francisco Film Society (now SFFILM) to rediscover his 'cinephile roots' through independent, foreign, and documentary film exposition &amp; distribution.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/julie-schneiderman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-30</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/9720a888-1f1f-4dc8-9249-54f10df5c65d/Julie+Schneiderman+EcoStiks+Founder+%26+CEO.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Julie Schneiderman - Founder of EcoStiks</image:title>
      <image:caption>Julie Schneiderman is the founder of EcoStiks, a company dedicated to transforming the promotional products and merchandising industries through sustainability, creativity, and community impact. Inspired by her love of surfing, the ocean, the arts, and connection, Julie launched EcoStiks with the vision of “Merching Better”—helping brands, organizations, and events integrate sustainability into their storytelling through eco-friendly, high-quality peel and stick fabric patches upcycled from plastic water bottles. Under Julie’s leadership, EcoStiks is redefining how promotional merchandise can serve a greater purpose. By aligning with the principles of the 10R’s of sustainability, she has created a platform that not only reduces waste but also amplifies brand messaging in a way that fosters engagement, advocacy, and measurable impact.  Julie’s influence extends beyond product innovation. She is an emerging leader in driving sustainable change within the industry, working closely with partners and organizations to set new standards for responsible merchandising. Through education, collaboration, and creative solutions, she is playing a part in what’s possible in sustainable branding, by working together to ensure that events and businesses can connect with their audiences in meaningful, lasting ways with less impact on our planet.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/jon-phillips</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-29</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/0d9dd11e-bffe-4b20-b408-ffb645647146/Jon+Phillips.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Jon Phillips - Silverback Music/ Silverback Live/ Red Light Management</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jon Phillips started his professional career in the music business in the early 90’s after graduating from UCLA in 1991, where he booked talent on campus for UCLA’s Cultural Affairs Commission and was a contributor to UCLA’s long standing Jazz &amp; Reggae Festival in 1992-93.  Upon graduating Jon became a young A&amp;R talent scout for the upstart label Gasoline Alley, a co-venture with MCA/Universal where he is credited for the signing of legendary band Sublime in 1994.  In 1998 Jon formed Silverback Management along with his younger brother Matt Phillips.  Over the last 25 years Silverback has been recognized as a pioneering force in building a musical sub-culture originating from California. Silverback’s current roster includes Slightly Stoopid, Stephen Marley, Fortunate Youth, DENM, Dumpstaphunk, George Porter jr, Landon McNamara , Ethan Tucker, Artikal Sound System, and was instrumental in the early success of Rebelution, Pepper, Long Beach Dub Allstars and the original Sublime to name a few .  Silverback also has a record label called Controlled Substance Sound Labs.  More recently Silverback formed Silverback Live, a company specialized in the formation and curation of live music festivals including partnerships on Cali Vibes in Long Beach CA (AEG/ Goldenvoice), Closer to the Sun in Riviera Maya Mexico (Cloud 9 and Slightly Stoopid) and Point Break Festival in Virginia Beach,VA.  In 2019 Silverback Music formed a strategic partnership with Red Light Management after achieving a wide range of success as a fully independent family business started in the living room nearly three decades ago.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/shaun-tomson</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-29</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/bdfbb7c4-6720-493e-9de1-198c7d87bc2e/Shaun+Tomson.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Shaun Tomson - Shaun is a leadership expert and lectures widely on the Code Method, a high-impact and transformational self-development program that activates the power of purpose to improve wellbeing, engagement and performance.</image:title>
      <image:caption>As an entrepreneur he founded two market leading, international clothing brands – Instinct in the 80’s and Solitude, which he co-founded with his wife Carla, in the 90’s. He is a former World Surfing Champion, has been described as one of the 10 greatest surfers of all time and one of the most influential surfers of the century. During his professional career he won 19 major pro events and is recognized as one of the world’s most innovative tube riders. Shaun is the author of the best-sellers Surfer’s Code, The Code -The Power of “I Will”, and the recent #1 Amazon best seller The Surfer and the Sage. He produced and co-wrote the award-winning documentary film Bustin’ down the Door, a dramatic story of how a group of young Australians and South Africans created professional surfing and built a multi-billion-dollar industry. He is has a Bachelors in Business Administration and Economics, holds a Master of Science in Leadership from Northeastern University, and is an inductee in the US, Jewish and South African Sports Halls of Fame. Shaun has lectured across the world and inspired corporations like General Motors, Cisco, Price Waterhouse, Google, Disney and The Gap. He is a former board member for Surfrider Foundation and Santa Barbara Boys &amp; Girls Club, an ambassador for Boys to Men Mentoring, and a current board member of Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. He lives in Santa Barbara, California with his wife Carla and fourteen-year-old son Luke. His simple mission is to help individuals activate their own personal Code to live a better and more purposeful life.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/jessica-encell-coleman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-29</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/0f99e7a0-86a8-4162-9eae-f4c3f3eb09da/Jessica+Encell+Coleman.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Jessica Encell Coleman - Founder of The Magic Human Connection</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jessica is considered one of the world's leading experts in creating keynote experiences that build community and deepen connection. She has sparked over 900,000 connections through her keynotes worldwide and has a reputation as THE go-to person for creating transformational group experiences that are highly empowering, inspirational, and wildly popular crowd favorites that are consistently described as "life-changing."  She works with the world's top conferences, events and companies to create transformational keynote experiences and corporate workshops that have been enjoyed by tens of thousands of leaders, entrepreneurs and heart-centered people all over the world.  Jessica has been honored to be a keynote presenter alongside some of the world's top visionaries and thought leaders, including Oprah, Al Gore, Jeff Bezos, Sir Ken Robinson, Deepak Chopra, Ariana Huffington, Jay Shetty, Simon Sinek, Eckhart Tolle and more.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/avi-reichental</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-30</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/54f3c6b3-49b9-4218-9063-cbf493c3697b/Avi%27s+Headshot.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Avi Reichental - Chairman of XponentialWorks</image:title>
      <image:caption>Avi Reichental is a globally recognized authority on digital transformation and the convergence of exponential technologies.  As Chairman of XponentialWorks, a strategic growth, mergers and acquisition advisory, Reichental drives advancements in AI-enabled digital manufacturing, mobility, and sustainable innovation.  He concurrently serves as the CEO and Board Director of Quickparts, a market leader in on-demand manufacturing solutions for aerospace, automotive, consumer products and medical devices. During his tenure as President and CEO of 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD), Reichental spearheaded a 12-year transformation that positioned the company as the dominant force in additive manufacturing.  Prior to this role, he spent 22 years as a leading executive and corporate oﬃcer at Sealed Air (NYSE:SEE), where he played an integral role in operational excellence and strategic growth. Reichental has held pivotal leadership roles, including Chairman of Nano Dimension (NASDAQ:NNDM), Vice Chairman of Techniplas, and Board Director at Harman International (NYSE:HAR) prior to its acquisition by Samsung. He currently serves as a Board Member of CaresoI Global, a global automotive value engineering and technology solution provider. A serial entrepreneur and inventor, Reichental co-founded and developed groundbreaking tech companies including Invertex, Nexa3D, Centaur Analytics, SmartDrone, Variant3D, and ParaMatters, each at the forefront of disruptive innovations in robotics, additive manufacturing, generative design, and IoT technologies. Reichental’s industry impact has been widely recognized. Fortune Magazine listed him among the top 50 business leaders in 2013, and Popular Mechanics honored him as one of the 25 Makers Reinventing the American Dream in 2014.  His TED Talk on 3D printing has garnered over 2.8 million views, and his thought leadership is frequently featured in prominent publications such as Fortune, Forbes, TechCrunch, and The Next Web. He has also served as a faculty co-chair at Singularity University, a Board Member of XPRIZE, and a trustee of the Smithsonian Design Museum.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/lawrence-bartley</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-28</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/44362d6c-674c-4b78-a07b-724ccbd3a938/Lawrence+Bartley.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Lawrence Bartley - Publisher of The Marshall Project Inside</image:title>
      <image:caption>Lawrence Bartley is the publisher of The Marshall Project Inside, the organization’s publications intended specifically for incarcerated audiences. He is also the host and executive producer of Inside Story, a new video series delivering trustworthy reporting to incarcerated people and the broader public. He has served as founder and director of News Inside, the print publication of The Marshall Project, which is distributed in hundreds of prisons and jails throughout the United States. News Inside received the 2020 Izzy Award for outstanding achievement in independent media. Lawrence was a member of the team behind “The Zo,” winner of the 2021 Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence and Innovation and recipient of an Emmy nod in the area of News &amp; Documentary. He is also an accomplished public speaker and has provided multimedia content for CNN, PBS, NBC Nightly News, MSNBC and more.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/kristin-martinez</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-28</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/ca7419e7-b2a2-47f1-b19b-2cc0c718fb5b/Kristin+Martinez.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Kristin Martinez - Director of Events at Fast Forward Events</image:title>
      <image:caption>Kristin Martinez is an accomplished festival producer with over 17 years of experience designing consumer-focused events that connect people, brands, and culture. With a passion for creating meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships, Kristin is dedicated to ensuring every event delivers value not just for attendees but for all stakeholders involved. Known for her innovative approach, Kristin has transformed struggling events into thriving successes—like turning a $20K loss into a $254K profit. I the devil is in the details, she will find him and set him straight. Whether it’s crafting unique attendee experiences, building impactful partnerships, finding efficiencies in processes through tech, or seamlessly managing logistics and budgets, Kristin is all about making sure every element of an event works together to leave a lasting impression. Kristin believes collaboration is at the heart of every successful festival, and her work reflects a commitment to building connections that benefit everyone—attendees, partners, and brands alike. At Fest Forums, she’ll join the “Elevating Experiences Through Festival Collaborations” roundtable to share her insights on designing events that inspire, engage, and deliver value across the board.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/casey-clements</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-28</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/7c2a4258-af3e-4481-8a16-8204fad063d2/Casey+Clements.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Casey Clements - Senior Marketing Director at Fast Forward Events</image:title>
      <image:caption>Casey Clements, MS, is the Senior Marketing Director at Fast Forward Events where she oversees marketing across the organization's business and consumer event portfolio. Casey's experience leading marketing programs for conferences, trade shows, and festivals includes the San Diego Food + Wine Festival, recognized as the best wine festival in the United States by USA Today, Creator Live, SommCon, Gator By The Bay, Fit Foodie Festival &amp; 5K. Casey holds a Master of Science in Digital Communication from S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, serves on the education committee for IAEE, and is a member of the marketing committee for the Southwest Chapter of IAEE.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/heidi-zwicker</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-20</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d8004edc-d4b4-4a93-9272-55785ece21ba/Heidi+Zwicker.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Heidi Zwicker - Senior Programmer for the Sundance Film Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Heidi Zwicker is a Senior Programmer for the Sundance Film Festival, focusing on international and U.S. Narrative Feature Films, Midnight and Shorts. She has been contributing to various Sundance Institute programs for over fifteen years and frequently travels internationally, representing the Sundance programming team at festivals and markets, meeting emerging filmmakers, and serving on juries. Heidi was a Programmer at Palm Springs International Shortfest from 2011-2014 and is Senior Programmer at the Provincetown International Film Festival. Originally from the north shore of Boston, she has a degree in English from University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth and an M.A. in Critical Studies of Film and Television from UCLA.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/paul-schurink</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-20</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/939e79ff-f8b6-4dc3-a8f1-081a59cdfcf6/Paul+Schurink.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Paul Schurink - Founder / Co-CEO of Showpower Global</image:title>
      <image:caption>Paul Schurink founded ZAP Concepts in The Netherlands in 2011. He holds the degree Master of Business in Energy systems (MBE) and has over 30 years event power experience in international projects (Olympics Athens &amp; Torino, UEFA Championships, Volvo Ocean Race and many large scale international music festivals). Paul is a specialist in grid connected systems, battery systems and zero/low emissions power and works across the globe on high profile live events of all types. In 2014, Paul co-founded Green Events Netherlands. This organisation inspires organizers to take sustainable measures and gives them independent and competent advice. Paul led the International Green Deal Circular Festivals.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/matt-phillips</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-17</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/49302eec-5c21-4b61-9ec4-d74fdeea807d/Matt+Phillips.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Matt Phillips - Silverback Live/Red Light Management</image:title>
      <image:caption>Coming Soon!</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/shelleylyn-brandler</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/97816e11-52f1-4f2f-b2bb-e28239b48cc6/Shelleylyn+Brandler.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Shelleylyn Brandler - Founder, TADA Catering</image:title>
      <image:caption>Shelleylyn Brandler began her career in the music and live event industry as a runner and production assistant for Goldenvoice’s punk shows in Los Angeles during the 1990s. In 1995, she joined Kevin Lyman’s groundbreaking Warped Tour as the box office and press coordinator. While traveling the country with the tour, Shelleylyn noticed a glaring need for high-quality, nutritious backstage catering. At the time, artists, athletes, and production crews were met with subpar food options that failed to meet their needs. Motivated to fill this void, Shelleylyn launched her own catering company in 1999 and approached Kevin Lyman for the opportunity to cater the Warped Tour. That same year, she catered her first tour, serving headliners like Ice-T, Blink-182, Black Eyed Peas, Eminem, Dr. Dre, and countless other iconic artists. Her success on the Warped Tour soon caught the attention of Coachella’s promoters, who sought her expertise. Kevin Lyman famously vouched for her, saying, “If Shelleylyn can handle the Warped Tour, she can handle anything.” Since 2006, Shelleylyn has been the go-to caterer for Coachella, a role she continues to hold with pride. For 20 years, Shelleylyn toured the world, catering backstage for some of the biggest artists in the music industry. Her experience includes Taylor Swift’s Red Tour and Katy Perry’s Prismatic Tour, among many others, where she set a gold standard for tour catering. Beyond festivals and touring, Shelleylyn established herself in Los Angeles, becoming the house caterer for premier venues like the Intuit Dome, Hollywood Bowl, The Forum, and the Greek Theatre. With over 25 years of experience, Shelleylyn Brandler remains a trailblazer in the industry, combining her passion for food with her deep understanding of the entertainment world.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/tia-marshall</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/bff31777-30b3-48be-84ef-d5952049df9d/Tia+Marshall_headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Tia Marshall - Senior Account Executive at Hive</image:title>
      <image:caption>Tia Marshall is a Senior Account Executive at Hive, the go-to marketing platform for event promoters. Hive makes it easy to turn your ticketing data into action by connecting with your ticketing platform and allowing you to segment by purchase history, ticket tier, and more to create email and SMS campaigns your fans will love. Tia has a sharp eye for spotting gaps in marketing strategies and works with festivals and live event promoters to fine-tune their approach, connect with more fans, and ultimately sell more tickets.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/brandon-mceachern</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-14</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/fc2e18a5-dc06-47d7-95b0-30037f7a7610/Brandon+McEachern+Headshot+2.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Brandon McEachern - Founder and CEO of the Broccoli City Festival and Think Broccoli, LLC.</image:title>
      <image:caption>The BC Festival, started in 2013, has grown significantly every year. In addition to the festival that takes place every year in Washington, D.C., the team has raised awareness of community service and has promoted over 60,000 hours of community service with their mobile application We Chip’N.  Brandon has also overseen the development of projects which seek to create socially impactful solutions to alleviate the problem of food deserts in urban communities, and provide access to fresh local produce to build health equity in urban sections of Washington D.C. In 2018, Brandon and his team opened the Broccoli City Bar, a partnership with &amp;pizza in the Shaw District in Washington, DC.  While many of Broccoli City’s major projects are facilitated in the D.C. area, Brandon has created a major impact on the west coast. He consulted with Aja Brown, Mayor of Compton, CA, to help create the first Healthy Compton Initiative. As a North Carolina native and resident of Los Angeles, Brandon has been featured and honored in publications such as Forbes, Billboard, Black Enterprise, Essence, Revolt, and Boardroom. He served as the Fall 2022 Commencement Speaker of his alma mater, North Carolina Central University.  In January 2019, Broccoli City took another huge step by partnering with Live Nation to expand the production of various events. The venture is Think Broccoli LIVE. Brandon has booked and led production for events such as Lights On Festival, ROOTS Picnic, Jazz in the Garden, BET EXPERIENCE, and more.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/ken-deans</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-14</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/887f7063-75c7-4c15-910d-b89fefff7f30/Ken+Deans.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Ken Deans - President KD Production Services LLC</image:title>
      <image:caption>A seasoned veteran in producing live events, Ken consults and performs operations management annually at many Festivals including Coachella, Stagecoach, Bottle Rock, Thunder on The Ohio and the World’s largest grossing multiday festival, Desert Trip. Highly experienced in financial &amp; touring management, Ken spent several years on the road overseeing concerts and producing tours.  In addition, Ken has been on the forefront of sustainability efforts as a partner in one of the first venues to feature fully compostable food &amp; beverage serving containers.  In 2017, Ken led the industry charge in battery hybrid power systems.  A passion he continues to champion today. In addition to his busy schedule, Ken finds time to give back to those looking to be a part of this great industry.  For several years, Ken has been a visiting lecturer and seminar leader for the highly successful Entertainment School of Business programs at NYU and the University of Montana.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/sam-meyers</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-14</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/9171f2aa-5bd1-4e7c-86fd-0c8f663757af/Sam+Meyers.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Sam Meyers - Festival Director at the BeachLife Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>As the Festival Director at the BeachLife Festival in Redondo Beach, CA, Sam brings over four years of experience in orchestrating 8 large-scale events that inspire connection and celebration. His journey began as a Talent Buyer and evolved into a leadership role, where he has honed his skills in event management, entrepreneurship, and community engagement. Under Sam's leadership, BeachLife Festival has evolved into a year-round brand, offering a one-of-a-kind experience that seamlessly blends music, culture, and cuisine, all while catering to a diverse and dynamic audience. He has also spearheaded the launch of new ventures, including BeachLife Ranch and BeachLife Nights, further expanding the festival's reach and diversity. Previously, as the Founder and CEO of Expectations Music Group, he spearheaded initiatives to support local talent and organized the Fresh Layers Music Festival, which raised proceeds for the foster care system while featuring legendary artists. His early career included roles with industry leaders like WME, Pollstar, and Nederlander Concerts, where he further developed expertise in ticketing strategies, artist relations, and market analysis. A Los Angeles native and proud graduate of the USC Marshall School of Business’ prestigious Business of Cinematic Arts Program (BCA), Sam is dedicated to fostering creative collaborations, elevating live experiences, and driving meaningful connections through music and entertainment.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/tiffany-baez</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-07</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/01de84c2-7fbd-449b-9b5e-124f53e14300/Tiffany+Baez.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Tiffany Baez - Founder of TikTrendz Digital</image:title>
      <image:caption>Tiffany, the founder of TikTrendz Digital—a leading Music Festival Social Media Agency—is a skilled storyteller with over eight years of experience cultivating vibrant online communities across major social media platforms. Her expertise has driven over 100 million views through collaborations with top-tier music festivals, innovative startups, and a Fortune 500 company. Tiffany's success stems from a strategic blend of organic and paid short-form content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, Snapchat, and YouTube Shorts. Tiffany has worked with some of the most notable festivals in the world, including Daybreaker—the largest sober yoga dance party globally, with over 850,000 attendees across multiple cities; Insomniac’s Escape Halloween—the world’s largest Halloween music festival, attracting 125,000 attendees annually; and Reggae Sumfest—the Caribbean’s largest music festival, drawing over 50,000 attendees each weekend. What sets Tiffany apart is her firsthand experience in scaling her own social media presence. She has organically grown her following from zero to over 360,000 across TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube Shorts, and Twitch, generating over $450,000 in revenue for her personal brand through content creation. Her success stems from a relentless commitment to learning and innovation. Tiffany continually hones her skills in video editing, research explores cutting-edge AI tools to boost efficiency, and stays ahead of the curve by researching the latest trends in short-form content creation.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/erica-fee</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-07</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/893cf316-f332-4aa1-89b4-f0a1a8b50808/Erica+Fee.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Erica Fee - Founding Producer, CEO, and Board President of the Rochester Fringe Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>ERICA FEE is the founding producer, CEO, and board president of the annual Rochester Fringe Festival, which celebrates its 14th festival in 2025. Under her stewardship, the non-profit Fringe has blossomed from the mere seed of an idea to the largest multidisciplinary performing arts festival in New York State. It has become an internationally-known powerhouse festival for theatre, comedy, music, dance, children’s entertainment, spoken word, and multi-disciplinary work. Over 850,000 people have attended the more than 6700 performances and events since its inception.  In 2023, The New York Times named the Rochester Fringe Festival “one of the country’s more prominent multidisciplinary events.” Fee is a classically trained professional stage and screen actor with an M.A. from ArtsEd London. She first became involved in fringe festivals after performing at the Edinburgh Fringe to nightly sell-out crowds.  Fee lived in the United Kingdom for ten years, running her own London-based theatrical production and general management company. Her many producing, directing, and performance credits include U.K. premieres, and productions in London as well as at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. She was the first American to receive the prestigious New Producer’s Award from StageOne (Society of London Theatres/TMA), winning it twice, which is the maximum amount. She was mentored by acclaimed Broadway and West End producer, Paul Elliott. In addition to her M.A., graduated with a B.A. (magna cum laude) from the University of Rochester, where she was elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa.  She also holds certificates in Commercial Theatrical Production from StageOne, Festival Production from the University of Minnesota,  Non-Profit Leadership and Finance from Cornell University, and in Art in Public Space from the In-Situ European Platform for Artistic Creation in Public Space in Marseille, France.   She is a frequent speaker, panelist, and invited delegate to numerous educational and arts and culture forums worldwide.  She is also an International Advisory Board member for the Master of Management International Arts Management (MMIAM) through HEC Montreal and SMU. In addition to running the Rochester Fringe Festival, Fee runs her own theatre and TV production company. In 2016, Fee was honored by her alma mater, the University of Rochester, as their Commencement Speaker.  In 2024, she was inducted into Who’s Who in America.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/jamie-knee</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-06</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/0de0ab78-8942-4cfb-adfd-049b6e0f0bce/Jamie+Knee.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Jamie Knee - Petite Wine Traveler</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jamie Knee, known globally as the Petite Wine Traveler, is an award-winning wine expert, communicator, and wine lifestyle influencer. With over a decade of experience, she has become a trusted authority in the wine and hospitality industry, specializing in California and Spanish wines. Recognized as one of the "Top 50 Most Influential Women in the Wine Hospitality Industry," Jamie combines her passion for wine, travel, and storytelling to connect audiences to the people, places, and stories behind every bottle. As the founder of PetiteWineTraveler.com, Jamie offers curated wine experiences, educational seminars, and tasting events for private clients, luxury resorts, and global audiences. Her engaging presentations bring wine to life, blending education with the art of storytelling. She also serves as the Director of the Santa Barbara Culinary Experience, a nonprofit in partnership with the Julia Child Foundation that highlights Santa Barbara’s culinary and viticultural excellence. Jamie is an accomplished wine judge, frequently serving on panels for esteemed competitions such as the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Berliner Wein Trophy, and Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. Her expertise has made her a Regional Ambassador for Santa Barbara and Spanish wines at the Sommeliers Choice Awards. Her robust credentials include Certified Specialist of Wine, WSET, Somm I, Spanish Wine Scholar, Rioja Wine Educator, and Cava Wine Educator. A prolific writer, Jamie authors a weekly wine column for the Montecito Journal and contributes to publications such as Somm Journal, Tasting Panel, Santa Barbara Independent, and Slow Wine Guide. She has hosted hundreds of winemaker interviews and frequently appears on Santa Barbara local TV to present wine pairings, lifestyle tips, and regional highlights. Jamie is the founder of the Montecito Wine Society, a social club that fosters community among wine enthusiasts. She is also a member of the Circle of Wine Writers, the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association, and Women of the Vine &amp; Spirits. Beyond wine, Jamie actively supports the power of communication as a board member of the Association for Women in Communications. Through her global ventures and inspirational storytelling, Jamie Knee continues to bridge cultures and communities, one glass of wine at a time.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/joel-steel</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-12-31</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/aa9453c7-ab52-4a8d-a687-42b2effa763b/Joel+Steel.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Joel Steel - Co-founder and CEO of Komo Technologies</image:title>
      <image:caption>Joel Steel is the Co-founder and CEO of Komo Technologies, with over 20 years of experience leading and empowering teams across a range of industries. Since founding Komo Technologies in 2014, Joel has been unwavering in his commitment to positioning the company as a global leader in customer engagement. Joel is driven by a mission to revolutionize how brands connect with, engage, and build meaningful relationships with their customers. His leadership has propelled Komo’s global expansion, enabling the company to partner with some of the world’s most prestigious brands and establish itself as a leader in innovative customer engagement technology on a global scale.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/kat-cody</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-12-19</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/fe81a2b8-1e00-41f3-9fbe-bd3cd3706fab/Kat+Cody+Headshot+Main-Small.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Kat Cody - Freelance Event Professional</image:title>
      <image:caption>Kat Cody is a freelance event professional passionate about music, community, and creating unforgettable experiences. With expertise in managing complex logistics, leading teams, and turning ideas into reality, Kat specializes in producing high-impact events that leave lasting impressions on fans, artists, and crews. She leads by fostering creativity, collaboration, organization, and adaptability in every project. Kat’s diverse career spans concerts, festivals, private events, rodeos, esports, conferences, fashion shows, brand activations, and online events where she helps to produce experiences with top-tier artists, venues, promoters, and brands. She’s currently a full-time freelancer and has held key roles at major festivals, including Operations Manager for the Outdoor Theatre Stage at Coachella, Artist Relations Manager &amp; Production Coordinator at Ohana and Palm Tree Music Festivals, Event Manager for Orville Peck’s Rodeo, Project Manager (Booking) at Vans Warped Tour 2025, and Production Coordinator at Camp Flog Gnaw. She has a proven track record as an elite local and touring production coordinator working with promoters and artists at theaters, arenas, and stadiums. Kat's experience extends to roles in box office, guest list, security, merchandise, hospitality, and working with major companies like Her Universe, 50/50 Women on Boards, TwitchCon, and TikTok producing in-person and online events. She started her career in Michigan as a freelancer doing anything in music, then moved to California to intern for the Vans Warped Tour and Live Nation before landing a full-time position at Danny Wimmer Presents. There, she honed her marketing skills before discovering her true passion for live event production. Kat transitioned to the Kevin Lyman Group, where she worked across multiple roles, contributing to major projects like the Vans Warped Tour 25th Anniversary, the World Surf League’s Freshwater Pro, Punk Rock Bowling, 320 Festival, Player Omega, and more. When the pandemic began in 2020, Kat pivoted to freelancing full-time producing online events and working as a COVID compliance officer for film and live events. Since then, she’s remained a full-time freelancer working with Live Nation, AEG, Goldenvoice, Independent Promoters, A-list artists, iconic venues, and various production/event companies. A firm believer in the power of music to change the world, Kat hopes to create events that inspire, connect, and leave lasting memories. She is dedicated to constantly learning from everyone around her and helping develop a new generation of event professionals. https://www.linkedin.com/in/katarinacody/</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/mike-wald</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-14</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/7aeb6c2d-263f-446b-81f8-0623bd77fe37/Mike+Wald+Headshot+750+White+BKG.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Mike Wald - Chief Marketing Officer at Oniracom</image:title>
      <image:caption>Mike Wald is an executive coach for growth-minded leaders and Oniracom’s Chief Marketing Officer with over 20 years experience developing campaigns and launching products for a wide-breadth of verticals. He is both futurist and technologist, with an expertise and affection in ecological anthropology. This combination brings an innovative and thoughtful blend of science-tech-sociology to Oniracom’s work. Mike’s background in driving successful conversions across mixed media ensures effective solutions through a wide array of industries and platforms for nimble, first-mover companies, mass-focused businesses, and international governments. Mike’s work can be seen everywhere from Disney movie campaigns, all the way to government infrastructure dashboards in Australia.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/tim-bramlette</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-12-13</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/66d23865-a826-417d-9af7-d7c4cf4d18d0/Tim.+Bramlette+-+photo+.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Tim Bramlette - Senior Director of Partnerships &amp; Marketing at HeadCount.org</image:title>
      <image:caption>Tim Bramlette is from Ventura, CA. He is a former music photographer and band manager with an extensive marketing career at the intersection of social impact, music, and live events. His passion lies in amplifying mission-driven nonprofits and brands through entertainment partnerships, innovative activations, and fan experiences.  Tim joined the HeadCount team to help register and turn out voters in the 2016 Election. He has since built an entire partnerships department with dozens of corporate brands in support, established the organization at hundreds of festivals around the country to help fans get ready to vote, produced fundraising and marketing campaigns, and was instrumental in helping register over a million voters on behalf of HeadCount. His background spans all facets of large-scale event production from creative concept to multi-channel marketing strategy, brand collaborations, fundraising, and artist relations. With over 20 years in the industry, Tim has amassed a wide network of visual artists, musicians, music managers, promoters, nonprofit leaders, corporate marketing directors, and philanthropists, creating meaningful partnerships and collaborations that make an impact.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/jordana-oberman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-12-12</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/bf73b1b0-7808-4f97-becb-84a382985d04/Jordana+Oberman+P1022951+%281%29.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Jordana Oberman - COO for Film Festival Flix</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jordana Oberman, a Pitch and Development Specialist, comes from a diverse background in the entertainment industry as COO for Film Festival Flix, Producer with Apple Cart Productions, and 15 years as an Acting Teacher of the Meisner Technique for the Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio. Maximizing her skills in innovative collaboration, problem solving, and adaptive communication – combining her Production and Operations background - she distills your concepts into the exact story you want to tell. Transforming the beating heart of your project into a clear, focused and passionate pitch for clients and partners. Oberman received her Masters from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and brings an additional 25 year acting career on Stage, TV and Film – in both NY and LA – to her experience. Current Clients include: Red Bull Media, 5x Media, Posing Productions, Film Festival Flix.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/bradley-tucker</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-12-17</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/9cad51e3-7c1f-4ac3-af85-abcd1a26f887/Bradley+Tucker+14889_Soulshine_NYC_11242024_DannyClinch_14889_Soulshine_NYC_2024_00458.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Bradley Tucker - Director of Business at Dayglo Presents</image:title>
      <image:caption>With over a decade of experience in live entertainment, event production, and business development, Bradley Tucker has pla\ed a central role in shaping some of the industry\'s most iconic venues, festivals, and media properties. Currently serving as Director of Business at Dayglo Presents, Tucker is responsible for business and growth for a diverse portfolio, including Bearsville Theater, Brooklyn Bowl (New York, Las Vegas, Nashville, Philadelphia), The Capitol Theatre, Garcia's (NYC, Chicago, Port Chester, NY), Lockn’ Farm, several high-profile festivals and events, and e-commerce.  Tucker began his career as the trusted right hand to Dayglo Founder &amp; CEO and renowned entrepreneur Peter Shapiro. Their strong professional partnership continues to this day, reflecting a shared dedication to innovation and excellence.  Tucker is the Creator and Producer of the Relix Music Conference, a premier industry event founded in 2017 that brings together leaders, innovators, and creatives to advance the music business. The Relix Music Conference has taken place in New York, NY and Nashville, TN. Tucker’s tenure at Relix Media Group also included serving as Director of Marketing, where he led editorial initiatives, brand development, and strategic campaigns, including developing and writing the popular music industry focused column "Behind The Scene" for Relix Magazine, and launching the e-commerce business Relix.shop. Through Relix.shop, Tucker has created and led partnerships that have generated over $2m in merchandise and memorabilia sales.  In the Spring of 2024, Tucker oversaw the rebranding and reopening of the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY, where he led a comprehensive overhaul, including staffing, construction, and programming. Under his leadership, concerts at Bearsville Theater increased 75% / month and total tickets sold are up 85% since launch.  In 2015, Tucker served as Associate Producer for Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of Grateful Dead, a historic event spanning five sold-out shows at Levi’s Stadium and Soldier Field. The tour set a record-breaking box office total of $52,232,413, cementing its legacy as a landmark moment in live music history. Tucker also served as Producer of the Soulshine Benefit held at Madison Square Garden in November 2024, selling out 20k tickets and raising $4.5m for Hurricane relief.  In addition to leading venue, festival and event development and operations, Tucker has served as Associate Producer for the Lockn' Music Festival &amp; Lockn' Farm in Arrington, VA, where he has contributed to the festival's sustained success since 2013. This role involves overseeing large-scale logistics, talent coordination, and the seamless execution of multi-day live events.  Tucker also spearheaded a multi-year licensing deal with Warner Music Group and the Grateful Dead to produce exclusive merchandise, further solidifying his reputation for building impactful brand partnerships.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/john-boyle</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-12-18</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/b3bda331-0efe-494f-a9ee-05695a682435/John+Boyle.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - John Boyle</image:title>
      <image:caption>John Boyle was most recently the Global Chief Content Officer of ASM Global, the largest venue management company in the world with more than 350 stadiums, arenas, theaters, and convention centers around the world.  ASM Global hosts more than 20,000 live events a year across sports, music, and entertainment, welcomes more than 164 million annual guests, and manages more than $50 billion in assets.  The company was sold to Legends in 2024 for $2.35B.   Prior to ASM Global, Boyle served as President of Live Nation Japan.  Since taking the reins of that business in 2017, Boyle promoted concerts in Tokyo for U2, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, John Mayer, and Backstreet Boys among others and launched a Japanese edition of Download, the renown British hard rock festival brand, that featured Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, and Slayer.    Prior to that, as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Growth Officer of Insomniac Events, Boyle led the company’s business development and international expansion efforts, in addition to managing the company’s balance sheet and investment portfolio.  Upon joining Insomniac in early 2012, Boyle began and led the process of packaging Insomniac for what would become a massive bidding war to buy the company.  Ultimately, Boyle orchestrated the sale of 50.1% of Insomniac to Live Nation and continued to lead the transition and integration efforts between Insomniac and Live Nation post acquisition.   After the Live Nation acquisition, Boyle mainly focused on Insomniac’s international growth, launching the Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) festival brand in markets including the UK, Mexico, Brazil, India, Japan, China, and Korea.   Boyle began his music career while a UCLA undergrad promoting and producing concerts and also as a drummer and manager of LA rock band TomFoolery.  Realizing he was better in business than with drum sticks, he launched Extreme Consulting, a music marketing and special events production company whose clients included the ESPN X-Games, the US Open of Surfing, and MAGIC (fashion trade expo), and produced concerts featuring Foo Fighters, No Doubt, Sublime, Blink-182, Run DMC, and The Offspring. Boyle then became part of the team to launch The Warped Tour, overseeing sponsorship and marketing for its first two years.  Following that, he launched the SnoCore Tour, and for the next 12 years, Boyle owned and produced SnoCore whose touring acts including Black Eyed Peas, Sublime, Incubus, System of a Down, Blink-182, and Primus among many others.  He sold SnoCore to Wind-Up Records in 2007.  Simultaneous to Warped Tour, Boyle began his tenure as a record label executive.  Boyle was first hired as Director of Marketing for Giant Records working for Irving Azoff.  He then segued to Virgin Records as Senior Director of A&amp;R and Marketing, and ultimately landed at Warner Bros. Records as VP of A&amp;R &amp; Marketing. Boyle then began managing acts, discovering then unknown Alien Ant Farm who he signed to DreamWorks Records and went double platinum on their debut album.  Following this, he joined Sanctuary Artist Management, signing rapper Xzibit.  He led Xzibit to multi-platinum success and launched his acting career as star of MTV’s Pimp My Ride in addition to many film and TV roles.    Boyle holds a dual MBA from Columbia Business School in New York and the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, as well as a BA in Economics from UCLA.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/jasa-laliberte</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-12-11</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/17ce04a7-1cc2-4950-b0bc-37c0a2bb9cae/Jasa+Laliberte+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Jasa Laliberte - Marketing Director for Latitude 38 Entertainment</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jasa Laliberte is the Marketing Director for Latitude 38 Entertainment, producers of the BottleRock Napa Valley and La Onda music festivals. As a seasoned marketing professional with a decade of experience in the music festival industry, she has successfully spearheaded numerous campaigns that have helped grow the BottleRock brand into the notable festival it is today. She is currently working on the growth of the newly introduced La Onda Festival after conducting its successful launch in 2024.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/arthur-fogel</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-12-10</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/71f1cfb7-61bb-422d-88ff-3b7cd7899e40/Arthur+Fogel.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Arthur Fogel - President - Global Touring and Chairman - Concerts at Live Nation</image:title>
      <image:caption>Over a storied, 40+ year career, Fogel has earned his reputation as a fierce ally to some of the biggest names in music, working behind the scenes to build worldwide tours that are among the most memorable and highest-grossing in history. Fogel personally oversees many of Live Nation's largest tours, connecting artists with millions of fans around the globe. Current tours include Oasis’ highly anticipated 2025 stadium tour which has sold out all dates across Europe and North America and just announced Australia and New Zealand shows, Justin Timberlake’s The Forget Tomorrow World Tour, Sting’s 3.0 Tour, and more. Recent notable tours include the launch of ‘U2 Achtung Baby Live at Sphere’ in Las Vegas, the first residency at the cutting-edge venue, Madonna’s 78-date ‘The Celebration Tour,’ which concluded with a record-breaking 1.6 million people at Copacabana Beach in Brazil, becoming the largest concert in history from a solo artist, and Beyoncé’s massive ‘Renaissance World Tour,’ which grossed nearly $580 million. He is also the promoter for Lady Gaga, Peter Gabriel, and Neil Young.  His achievements have been recognized throughout the music industry with honors and awards including: awarded the Order of Canada (2018), induction to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame (2017), inclusion on Billboard Power 100 list for the last decade, the TJ Martell Entertainment Visionary Award (2014), and Pollstar Promoter of the Year (2007). In 2024, he was listed as #1 on Billboard Canada’s Power Player list. He was also the subject of the acclaimed documentary, Who The F**k Is Arthur Fogel – a backstage view into his career in which U2 front man, Bono, calls him “clearly the most important person in live music in the world.” Fogel began his promoting career in 1981 with Toronto-based Concert Productions International (CPI), where he promoted artists and tours across Canada. In 1986, he was appointed President of the Concert Division at CPI, a position he held until 1995. He subsequently became President of The Next Adventure (TNA), a global touring company formed by the principals of CPI. In 1998, following the acquisition of the company by SFX, he oversaw the global touring division. In 2002, SFX was acquired by Clear Channel Communications, where Fogel ran the Global Touring division. In 2005, the live entertainment division was spun off as Live Nation where he continues as President of Global Touring and Chairman of Concerts.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/jose-montano</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-12-09</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/6ebc0ac3-9e58-488d-be10-b8e7151679e1/Jose+Montano.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Jose Montano - CEO of Ascending 7 Productions</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jose Montano is a 30-year industry veteran specializing in site operations and festival logistics. Over the years he has directed Site Operations for Bottle Rock (Napa, CA), Life is Beautiful (Las Vegas, NV) and Outside Lands (San Francisco, CA) under his company Ascending 7 Productions which he launched in 2015. A native of San Salvador, Jose started early in the business, first as a stagehand, then as a rigger, and followed by his passion, site operations. His first big break was with the X Games (Los Angeles, CA) and Aspen Winter Games (Aspen, CO) which opened the door to festivals including Rothbury (Rothbury, MI), Electric Forest (Rothbury, MI), Bonnaroo (Manchester, TN) and Hangout Music Festival (Gulf Shores, AL). Known for his unique vision, ability to build in and navigate challenging environments as well as knack for proactive planning to reach max efficiency, Jose’s work has led to new innovative green procedures. He created a complex closed system for water and waste at Hangout Music Festival that removed all pumper trucks from the site and had all trailers, comfort stations, gray water collections going straight to the sewer. He also spearheaded the use of vac toilets into mainstream festivals. He enjoys the challenge of creating a safe and captivating space where guests can come together and enjoy an incredible experience. He is a graduate of the Los Angeles Music Academy for guitar where he studied jazz and still enjoys playing various styles including funk, blues and fusion. Jose currently resides in La Habra, CA with his four children and when not working at an event he is an avid outdoorsman and horticulturist.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/danielle-madeira</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-12-10</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/5a96c3f5-843f-4345-b220-a8a7bfb90ae9/Danielle+Madeira.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Danielle Madeira - CEO and Founder of Madeira &amp; Partners</image:title>
      <image:caption>Danielle Madeira: Visionary Leader in Live Events  As the innovative CEO and Founder of Madeira &amp; Partners, a dynamic Live Events Agency established in 2020,  Danielle Madeira stands at the forefront of the event marketing landscape. With a wealth of experience and an  impressive track record, Danielle has redefined what it means to create unforgettable experiences.   Before founding her agency, Danielle made her mark over 17 remarkable years as the Vice President of  Marketing and Special Events at Another Planet Entertainment, the largest independent concert promoter in the  United States. There, she forged powerful relationships with elite talent agents, managers, and artists, connecting  the private and corporate sectors with prestigious clients including Dropbox, Apple, LucasFilm, Pixar, Genentech,  Netflix, the Democratic National Committee, and Google.   Danielle is an accomplished talent buyer, having secured iconic artists such as Justin Timberlake, Eddie Vedder,  P!nk, The Killers, and James Taylor for major events. She was also instrumental in launching the award-winning  Life Is Beautiful Festival in Downtown Las Vegas, collaborating closely with her longtime friend and visionary,  Tony Hsieh, the former CEO of Zappos.  Her marketing prowess extends to monumental campaigns for high-profile events like the Outside Lands  Festival, the Treasure Island Music Festival in San Francisco, and the global tour of Star Wars In Concert, created  in partnership with LucasFilm.  In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Danielle was celebrated as one of “Billboard’s Women In Music:  Five Executives on the Rise” in 2017. Since founding Madeira &amp; Partners, she has orchestrated a diverse range of  events, from intimate birthday celebrations to large-scale corporate summits, and proudly worked with an array  of top-tier talent, including a speaking engagement featuring President Barack Obama.   With her profound industry insights and an unparalleled network of connections, Danielle Madeira is not just a  leader; she is a trailblazer, pushing the boundaries of the live event industry and inspiring the next wave of event  professionals.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/rebecca-cicione</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-12-03</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/f5aa6ec5-664b-4d7f-a6af-f126c48f1543/Rebecca+Cicione.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Rebecca Cicione - Festival Marketing Manager at Goldenvoice</image:title>
      <image:caption>Rebecca Cicione, Festival Marketing Manager at Goldenvoice, leads brand marketing initiatives for renowned festivals such as Stagecoach, Tyler, the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw, and Cruel World. Her portfolio also includes past successes including Just Like Heaven and Head in the Clouds. Rebecca’s journey in the music industry began in the Northeast, where she honed her skills booking and marketing DIY shows. She spent eight years in Nashville refining her expertise before moving to Los Angeles, where she expanded her career with roles at Danny Wimmer Presents and Z2 Comics, broadening her impact across festival and retail marketing. As a brand marketer, Rebecca is passionate about creating authentic connections between festival communities and Goldenvoice’s world-class events. Her strategic vision not only drives ticket sales but also ensures cohesive brand storytelling, from initial announcements to the on-site experience, delivering meaningful content and unforgettable memories for fans.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/austin-whitney</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-12-03</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/dab14a8e-f9c9-4c12-b1a7-16fa9ee261f4/Austin+Whitney.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Austin Whitney - Founder of Ten Fifty Entertainment</image:title>
      <image:caption>Austin Whitney, Esq the Founder of Ten Fifty Entertainment, the leading ADA Compliance consultants in the entertainment and sports industries,  Austin has been in a wheelchair since 2007 and received his JD from UC Berkeley School of Law. He currently serves as the ADA Compliance Director for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Bonnaroo, PGA Championship and has worked on over 600 large-scale events in his career.  Austin is a recognized expert in the field, having presented on "ADA Compliance at Temporary Events" at the National ADA Symposium in 2022, and has also been a speaker on the topic at Fest Forums, XLive, the Municipal Special Events Conference, and for the International Association of Venue Managers. He also founded Accessible Festivals – a 501-C-3 organization dedicated to improving accessibility in the live entertainment industry. More information can be found at accessibilitylive.com and accessiblefestivals.com Accessibility Live prides itself on being at the forefront of providing comprehensive accessibility and inclusion programs across the country. The company is dedicated to ensuring equal opportunities for all patrons, regardless of their abilities. What sets Accessibility Live apart is our team of a dozen ACTCP certified coordinators, who bring unparalleled legal knowledge of Title III ADA compliance to the table. Since our inception in 2014, we have successfully collaborated with over six hundred events across the US and Canada. With a presence in over 30 states and local staff in all regions, we work closely with over 100 live events each year. Our client portfolio is diverse, and includes some of the most prominent names in the sports and entertainment industry, such as F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, EDC, the PGA of America, and many more.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/hannah-falkosky</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-11-25</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/c1361f89-0c96-4948-9f95-42bfd3784922/Hannah+Falkosky-Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Hannah Falkosky - Growth Manager and Software Specialist at Eventeny</image:title>
      <image:caption>Based in Los Angeles, Hannah is a Growth Manager and Software Specialist at Eventeny, an all-in-one festival &amp; event management software used by 16,000 events and counting. She's worked in the events industry for over 12 years, handling planning and operations alike. Most recently, Hannah has turned her attention to helping festival organizers save time and grow their events using software solutions. She's helped an abundance of California festival groups streamline their process with Eventeny including the CA Garlic Festival, City of Murrieta, Palm Springs Pride and even Carnaval San Francisco with over 400,000 attendees each year.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/cassie-dispenza</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-11-25</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/892caaf1-c002-4045-9143-d20ebb8a7e14/Cassie+Dispenza+-+Saffire.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Cassie Dispenza - Vice President Strategic Partnerships at Saffire, LLC</image:title>
      <image:caption>Cassie has extensive experience with online marketing and event planning. She has planned events with the Austin Sports Commission, United States Olympic Committee &amp; more. She started working with Saffire in 2011 and since then, the company has grown from supporting a few great organizations in Texas to partnering with hundreds of events and venues across the country. She has served on numerous boards and volunteer groups throughout these industries and currently sits on a fundraising board for the International Festivals and Events Association. Cassie graduated from the University of Texas, is a proud Longhorn and lives in Austin, TX with her husband, Adam, her daughter Ruby &amp; her Border Collie, Layla. Cassie has extensive experience with ticketing, online marketing and event planning. She began her career in live entertainment by producing high profile events  with the Austin Sports Commission and the United States Olympic Committee. She started working with Saffire in 2011 and since then, has helped the company grow from supporting a few organizations in Texas to partnering with hundreds of events and venues across the country. She has served on numerous committees, boards and volunteer groups throughout these industries and is a Past Chair for the International Festivals &amp; Events Association Foundation Board.  Cassie stays busy at home with her two year old daughter Ruby, husband, Adam &amp; Border Collie, Layla.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/wes-perry</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-11-15</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/e1510145-49b8-4063-a3df-2f5ba153e33b/WesPerry+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Wes Perry - Senior Director of Festival Development, Live Nation</image:title>
      <image:caption>Wes Perry is the Senior Director of Festival Development for Live Nation’s Media and Sponsorship division, connecting brands to fans through memorable live music events. Live Nation, the world’s leading live entertainment company, engages 150+ million fans at 50,000+ events annually.    In his role, Wes develops new festival properties and onsite programs that enhance the live music experience for artists, fans and brands. Over his past decade with Live Nation, he has built innovative, highly impactful brand partnerships and onsite activations with industry leaders like T-Mobile, Corona and Chase, among many others. He has also been instrumental in launching successful festivals like Watershed, Faster Horses and Tortuga, growing Live Nation’s portfolio of 200+ global festivals.   With 16 years in the live music industry, Wes is recognized for his strategic expertise in partnerships and program development. His focus on aligning brand objectives with festival culture has led to creative solutions that elevate the fan experience and create lasting connections.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/michelle-smith</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-11-05</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/40710e2c-acd3-4413-a185-c65bd157a0ef/Michelle+Smith+headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Michelle Smith - National Director of Operations at Rhino Staging</image:title>
      <image:caption>Michelle Smith is the National Director of Operations at Rhino Staging and a true industry veteran with over 30 years of experience. Her career kicked off in 1991 at the Thomas and Mack Center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she initially worked in the accounting department, assisted in production, and sold merchandise for events. Joining Rhino in 2001, Michelle quickly became the team's all-around support system, embracing every new challenge and keeping operations running smoothly. Before her Rhino days, she served as the production manager at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/james-humpherson</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-11-05</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/e399cc75-7184-4330-be02-06566ec9fcf0/James+Humpherson.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - James Humpherson - General Manager of Humanitix</image:title>
      <image:caption>James Humpherson is the General Manager of Humanitix, a groundbreaking nonprofit ticketing platform backed by Google. As the first employee and an early volunteer, James has been integral to Humanitix since its inception, dedicating his passion to creating a socially responsible business model that transforms booking fees into educational opportunities for underprivileged children. Over the past eight years, James has successfully built and expanded Humanitix’s teams in Australia and the USA, growing the organization to over 60 employees globally. After relocating to the USA to launch the North American team, he has spearheaded Humanitix's global expansion across North America, APAC, and the UK. Under his visionary leadership, Humanitix has channeled more than $12 million in booking fees into initiatives aimed at closing the education gap, proving that impactful and sustainable business practices are not only possible but essential. James's commitment to merging business with social good continues to drive Humanitix’s mission and inspire others in the nonprofit sector.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/joel-martin</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-06</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1dee7e42-7add-4fc0-84e2-21af635edb3b/Joel+Martin+Headshot-white+%281%29.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Joel Martin - Experiential Technology Advisor and Chief Media Sales Officer at Experihaus.com</image:title>
      <image:caption>Joel Martin is an experienced Marketing and Executive Sales Leader. An active startup board advisor having helped several startups raise seed capital and advising with go-to-market strategies. Mr. Martin started his career at Sony Music while in college and since then has brought technology to the live events world including helping launch ticketing service ViewStub and providing mobile charging solutions to hundreds of festivals. He has sat on the board and advised several technology startups including Brightbox, RentMount, NuEyes, Swiftmile, Nickelytics, and chargeFUZE / adFUZE.  Joel is currently the Chief Media Sales Officer at Experihaus and a proud member of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/andrew-goodwin</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-31</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/edb20f65-7603-4f1e-b58b-5514a09e3cd5/Andrew+Goodwin.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Andrew Goodwin - Head of Partnerships at Easol</image:title>
      <image:caption>Andrew began his career in New Orleans, working with the team at Superfly Presents during their late-night shows at Jazzfest. He spent the next decade working with large-scale festival organizers ranging from AEG Presents, Live Nation and CID Presents for major festivals like Bonnaroo, New Orleans Jazz &amp; Heritage, Coachella and Phish Mexico.  With his experience working at various startups, he sits at the intersection of entertainment + hospitality + technology and consults with organizers on best-in-class event technology and delivers innovative solutions to help them drive new revenue opportunities and scale their businesses.  He currently heads partnerships at Easol, a Saas platform that powers event organizers by giving them end-to-end control over their ticketing, data and e-commerce.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/tim-le</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-30</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/e29bb45d-51bc-41c5-9d2f-cdc5411bebdc/Tim+Le.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Tim Le - Festival Director at Goldenvoice/AEG</image:title>
      <image:caption>Tim began his career through internships at UMG, Production Club and Live Nation, assisting in event, festival, and tour activations. He later moved on to run box offices at iconic venues and parties throughout Los Angeles before running day-to-day operations as the House Manager of The Regent Theater in DTLA. Currently a Festival Director at Goldenvoice/AEG, he now oversees the planning, organizing, and execution of large-scale festivals. Prior to becoming a Director, Tim gained experience from other festival departments including Global Partnerships, Ticketing Operations, and Public Safety. His portfolio includes Porter Robinson’s Second Sky in Oakland, Head in the Clouds in LA and NY, and Portola in San Francisco. In addition to his leadership role, Tim actively shares his expertise with young professionals, having developed a reputation as an industry mentor who guides newcomers through the complexities of live events and festival management. He also serves as a mentor at The Asian American Collective which focuses on building a strong community base through professional development and building personal 1:1 relationships. Tim holds a degree from California State University, Los Angeles, and has supported festivals such as Coachella and Stagecoach. With 13+ years in the industry, his areas of expertise and passion include: - Strategic Festival &amp; Operations Management - Business &amp; IP Development - Ticketing Operations &amp; Access Control - Building Cross-Functional Teams &amp; Mentorship - Public Safety &amp; Government Relations</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/chase-lemonds</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-30</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/34aa5e65-9769-4902-a025-f47fae36028b/Chase+Lemonds.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Chase Lemonds - Co-Founder and CTO of Totem</image:title>
      <image:caption>Chase Lemonds currently serves as Co-Founder and CTO of Totem, the world’s fastest growing fest-tech startup. Totem is on a mission to turn live events into a safer, more immersive, and more beautiful experience than ever before. Chase boasts an illustrious career history of leading development and manufacturing for commercial products &amp; electronics. As the former lead engineer for the ScrubDaddy product line, Chase has garnered a world of expertise in animation, product visualization, and operations optimization—among many other skills.  The story of Totem began at EDC Orlando in 2019—Chase’s very first music festival. Within the first two hours of arriving, his phone got stolen. Shortly after, he lost the one friend he came with in the massive crowds.  As he wandered the crowds alone, Chase wondered why there wasn’t already a good solution for this all-too-common problem. Totem’s very first prototype began to take shape in his mind that night. And thus, the Totem Compass was born.  The Totem Compass, a global sensation that has reached 100M+ people across the world, is now shipping worldwide.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/carter-fowler</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-30</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/8827674d-76fd-46c3-be3c-ba463fd17bc1/Carter+Fowler.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Carter Fowler - Co-Founder &amp; CEO of Totem</image:title>
      <image:caption>With nearly a decade of Go-to-Market leadership experience, Carter Fowler currently serves as Co-Founder &amp; CEO of Totem, the world's fastest growing fest-tech startup. Totem is on a mission to turn live events into a safer, more immersive, and more beautiful experience than ever before. Music runs in Carter’s veins. He has attended 100+ live shows and music festivals over the years, and comes from a long line of professional musicians. In 2018, a selection of Carter’s music journalism was archived by the US Library of Congress in their American Music archives. In the fall of 2023, Carter and Chase Lemonds (Co-Founder &amp; CTO) began development of the Totem Compass. In November, they were accepted to the SXSW’s prestigious Startup Village, a collection of what SXSW dubs “the best and brightest upcoming startups across all industries.”  In the month leading up to their official debut at SXSW, Carter posted a simple video of the Totem Compass prototype on Instagram that has now garnered over 35M views and over $2.5M in pre-sales. The Totem Compass is now shipping worldwide.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/bruce-flohr</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-30</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/67a0f9ff-5270-4b55-b79e-27cfdf60e65a/BruceFlohr.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Bruce Flohr - Executive Chief Strategy Officer / Vice President of Red Light Management, Partner of 100x, Hospitality Partner of ATO Records, and Partner of FIMI</image:title>
      <image:caption>During his 25+ years working in the music business, Bruce Flohr has continued to evolve. While attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Bruce ran the nationally recognized college radio station KCPR. From there, he went directly into a National Promotions position at RCA Records as head of Alternative Promotion, where he guided the careers of numerous bands.  He then moved into a dual A&amp;R/Marketing position at RCA where he signed two iconic Rock bands, Dave Matthews Band and Foo Fighters. In 2002, he switched gears and joined Coran Capshaw and Dave Matthews Band at Red Light Management and ATO Records which roster includes Alabama Shakes, The Strokes, Luke Bryan, and Brandi Carlile to name a few.  Recently, Bruce has been directly involved in the management of Dave Matthews Band, Heart, Allen Stone, OAR, Switchfoot, and newcomer Cassandra Lewis.  Bruce is also a founding partner in the music media company GreenLight Media &amp; Marketing. GreenLight’s mission is to put together an experience that creates a culture between brands and music. Recently awarded best small agency of the year, Green Light has worked with such brands as: Spotify, Intel, Under Armour, Sierra Nevada Beer, The Hutton Hotel in Nashville and Hyundai. GreenLight recently sold a majority stake to Live Nation. Bruce is also heavily involved in technology, helping start-ups gain traction in the music space. Bruce has worked closely with companies such as Dubset, SoundHound, MixHalo, and Stem.  Bruce’s previous speaking engagements include Red Bull, Under Armour, Birch Box, RCA records, Midem, SXSW, MuseExpo, Summit Series Dublin, and many Universities, &amp; PTTOW Series.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/amy-scheller</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-30</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/c8e900d3-bc74-4a18-b025-3ef34b95002d/Amy+Scheller.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Amy Scheller - EVP Strategy &amp; Development and Chief Sales Marketing Officer at Program Productions, Inc.</image:title>
      <image:caption>Amy Scheller currently holds the position of EVP Strategy &amp; Development &amp; CSMO. Her focus spans many aspects of the company’s development including strengthening and broadening strategic partnerships, expanding product and service base, and keeping the mission of providing our industry with innovative solutions moving forward. This includes a key role on the Technology Advisory Committee created to develop and implement technology advancements to the ProCrewz® enterprise resource management system and mobile application. Amy started her career in television in 1999 on the road working on remote productions, and eventually put down roots in the Boston area where she managed remote productions for the New England market. She joined Program Productions in 2017 and quickly proved a valuable addition to the team. As a forever athlete, her competitive nature and appreciation for teamwork fuels her dedication to continually push the limits of Program Productions’ mission.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/joe-argabrite</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-30</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/5f16bfc9-bffd-4b5b-8697-c2264a9d36b7/Joe+Argabrite.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Joe Argabrite - Co-Owner Headliners Music Hall</image:title>
      <image:caption>Joe Argabrite has been in the live music Industry for more than two decades. He was  bitten by the live music bug at an early age while living in Denmark where he attended  the legendary Roskilde Music Festival. After a few years in Sports Marketing, Joe  moved back to his hometown of Louisville KY where he co-founded Production Simple. He gained experience as a Talent Buyer, Business Development, Brand partnerships,  Production Manager, Consultant, Event &amp; Venue Operations, Promoter and Artist  Manager.  Serving in his many roles, Joe has produced more than 4,000 live concerts and events from small clubs and theaters to large scale outdoor concerts, arenas and festivals. His  passion for live music and locally owned businesses led he and his business partners to  purchase their own venue, Headliners Music Hall. Headliners Music Hall, a 700-capacity venue, has operated for 25 years and has been voted best music venue in Louisville for  over a decade.  During the Covid pandemic Joe served on the National Independent Venue Association  artist committee, helping secure a 16-billion-dollar federal grant awarded to independent  venues, promoters, artists, and cinemas. He currently serves on the board of the  Independent Promoter Alliance. Most recently he led a talented team of industry  veterans as Festival Director and partner for the Gazebo Festival, Jack Harlow’s  inaugural artist curated boutique festival in Louisville KY.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/maureen-valker-barlow</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-29</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/3ff416b0-c619-4a6d-8062-a79e2fe92dd3/MV_Headshot_New.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Maureen Valker-Barlow - Senior Vice President at Insomniac Events</image:title>
      <image:caption>Maureen Valker-Barlow is the Senior Vice President at Insomniac Events. With 20+ years of industry experience, Maureen is at the helm of negotiating brand partnerships for music festivals across a variety of genres and interests. Maureen has conceived highly developed programs for a wide variety of clients and while she is known for creating symbiotic and beneficial partnerships, she is also highly regarded for her ability to create original experiential marketing activations which resonate with fans and create lasting brand loyalty.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/eddie-bernard</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-29</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/c6be97dc-2710-4279-9214-169248fdbca3/Eddie+Bernard.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Eddie Bernard - Sr. VP of Entertainment Marketing for The Social Architects</image:title>
      <image:caption>Eddie Bernard is the VP of Entertainment Marketing for The Social Architects - A digital and event marketing agency that specializes in social campaigns fortune 100 companies including Google, Meta, Sony, Bloomberg, Boeing, UBS, AT&amp;T, Spectrum, as well as Tribeca Film Festival, ESPN, A&amp;E Networks, IKEA, and more... Eddie currently manages the social media presence for key entertainment properties and individuals including: Francis Ford Coppola, David Aaron Cohen, Sony Pictures Classics, The Daily Mail, and previously assisted in building the social media presence for Paris Hilton, DJ Tiesto, Porter Robinson, among many others. Eddie is currently the lead producer for The Asbury Park Music and Film Festival (in its 6th year) Which has featured annual performances by Bruce Springsteen, as well as acts like David Crosby, Michael Franti, Sublime w/ Rome, Wycleff Jean, Government Mule, Jakob Dylan, Melissa Etheridge; Annual Appearances by Danny Devito, The Bob Dylan Archives, Southside Johnny, and many more. The festival premieres best in class music documentaries like "David Crosby: Remember My Name", "Echo In The Canyon",  "It Might Get Loud" and more. Eddie was a marketing and sponsorship coordinator for the world's largest touring hip-hop music festival, Rock The Bells, which featured the world's largest hip hop acts of all time along with key brands like Blackberry Monster, Budweiser, and Kingston Technology. Eddie also held these positions at Guerilla Union's sister festival properties, "The Cypress Hill Smokeout" and the "Paid Dues".  Eddie arranged over 100+ after parties and celebrity attended events at The Sundance Film Festival for over 11 years, and produced the Luc Robitaille Celebrity Hockey game that occurred at The Sundance Film Festival for 8 consecutive years.  On behalf of High Times magazine, Eddie produced the first ever High Times Cannabis Cup which occurred in 2011 featuring Kid Cudi, and the first of many annual Cannabis competitions which now occur annually in over 10 markets.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/taylor-shomaker</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-29</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/16c6c5f6-97ad-4bfb-b9cf-b69e1c4ec310/Taylor+Shomaker.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Taylor Shomaker - Risk Management Advisor, Entertainment at Martin &amp; Zerfoss, Inc.</image:title>
      <image:caption>Taylor has spent his entire career in the entertainment and live event industry. After graduating from the University of Tennessee, Taylor joined AC Entertainment; Live Nation’s Knoxville/Nashville based concert and festival promotions company best know as the founder of the Bonnaroo Music &amp; Arts Festival. While at AC Entertainment,   Taylor gained experience in every aspect of the company, serving as the VP of Operations, Festival Director, Contracts &amp; Insurance Manager, Talent Buyer, Concert Promoter, Production Manager, Ticketing Manager, Security Directory, Festival Risk &amp; Safety Manager, Festival Operations Manager, and Project Manager.  These roles gave Taylor hands-on experience dealing with the challenges of the live music industry, and solidified his passion for navigating those issues with the safety and security of all fans, artists, and staff as the top priority. Taylor was an integral part of AC Entertainment’s transformation from independent promoter to becoming a part of Live Nation.   After over a decade at AC Entertainment Taylor was recruited by HUB International as the VP of Entertainment for their world leading Entertainment Risk Management practice. Taylor has since joined the Martin &amp; Zerfoss team to continue his work streamlining and clarifying the risk management and insurance process for live events, artists, vendors, venues, and the rest of the entertainment industry. As a risk manager with boots on the ground experience, Taylor has become an invaluable resource for all of his clients and the entertainment industry as a whole.   As a passion project Taylor formed his own festival promotions company, SRE Entertainment. SRE currently owns and operates Riverfront Revival in Charleston, SC with their partner Darius Rucker. Riverfront Revival is a high end artist curated boutique festival that started in 2022.  Over his career Taylor has built a reputation as an inspirational leader through transparency, honesty, efficiency, hard work, and attention to detail. An ambitious spirit provides the drive to produce world-class events and create long lasting partnerships in high pressure environments with unflappable confidence and composure. Taylor is well respected across the industry serving on several boards, speaking on numerous panels, and being a member of Leadership Music and The Event Safety Alliance.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/dave-shalaby</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-28</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/5de49ae1-23fe-4d16-8af1-3bf375fc813d/dave+shalaby.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Dave Shalaby - Founder of WristCoin</image:title>
      <image:caption>Dave has 15 years of experience with NFC/RFID technology, providing custom solutions and consulting for clients from startups to Fortune 100 companies. He founded WristCoin to deliver a fast, secure, and user-friendly cashless system, now deployed across four continents and in over a dozen countries. A graduate of electrical engineering at the University of Waterloo and an MBA from the University of Toronto, Dave previously launched TapTrack, a B2B NFC/RFID solutions company. Recognizing the demand for a festival cashless system, Dave applied his expertise to create WristCoin, designed as a versatile, out-of-the-box solution for clients of all sizes.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/nick-cavanaugh</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-28</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/8557c315-a45f-48d0-af24-49e168498009/Nick+Cavanaugh.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Nick Cavanaugh - Founder and CEO, Sensible Weather</image:title>
      <image:caption>Nick Cavanaugh, PhD is the Founder &amp; CEO of Sensible Weather Co. Previously, he was employed as a quantitative analyst at various energy commodities hedge funds. In the fund space, he focused on pricing the impacts of weather variability on futures markets using a combination of quantitative, statistical and fundamental modeling. Broadly, Nick is an expert in weather and climate variability, predictability, and extremes. He has a particular focus on applications within the financial sector. Topics of specific interest are the impact of weather on consumer behavior, climate change &amp; insurance, electricity demand response, and the intersection of the energy &amp; water complexes. Nick holds a BAS from the University of Pennsylvania's School of Engineering and Applied Science and an MS and PhD from the University of California San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography. He has also held post-doctoral and adjunct research appointments at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/drew-burchfield</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-28</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/4397f9e3-8d53-4ccd-8650-c136951a5113/Drew+Burchfield+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Drew Burchfield - Co-Founder of Aloompa &amp; VP of Product</image:title>
      <image:caption>Drew Burchfield co-founded Aloompa in 2009 with the modest aim of replacing paper schedules at festivals, which turned into building a powerhouse in mobile event technology delivering tailored digital solutions that elevate the fan experience. Following Aloompa’s acquisition by WMT Digital, Drew now serves as VP of Product, driving an expanded, fan-centered vision that integrates advanced analytics, real-time engagement tools, and personalized content delivery across major live events, including sports, entertainment, and large-scale cultural gatherings. With a commitment to innovation, Aloompa equips event organizers with the tools they need to create memorable, connected experiences for audiences worldwide. Drew lives in Nashville, TN, with his wife and four sons.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/catlin-whitington</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-28</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d1864b82-dc80-4b1a-bfb1-0cffd6375922/Catlin+Whitington.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Catlin Whitington - Executive Director of ArtPrize</image:title>
      <image:caption>Catlin Whitington is an event and urban planning professional who has studied the relationship between the creative sector, public policy, and urban environments. Through this lens Catlin applies strategic planning in the execution and growth of global events and world-class venue management. Whitington serves as the Executive Director of ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, MI. In this role, Whitington has shepherded the organization’s leadership through transition into a public / private partnership. Supported by a team of professionals, and a Steering Committee of civic and business leaders, Whitington has driven the revival and reinvigoration of the ArtPrize mission as an annual event drawing over 700,000 people and generating over $54M in regional economic impact in its first year under his leadership. He has served as an executive for the Long Center for the Performing Arts, as a Senior Planner with South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festivals, as Chair of the Austin Tourism Commission, and on the board of the Shoal Creek Conservancy. He has also served as an advisor for creative and cultural policy issues for various organizations and elected officials.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/tim-fischer</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-12-10</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/f76eff63-b64f-4319-a7df-395907e81e9f/Tim+Fischer+Headshot+Oct+2024.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Tim Fischer - CEO of ADA Lift Rentals of America</image:title>
      <image:caption>Tim Fischer serves as CEO at ADA Lift Rentals of America, North America’s leading provider of comprehensive wheelchair lift rental services for events.  ADA Lift Rentals’ passionate focus is on aiding events to ensure ADA compliance while delivering an outstanding fan experience. Boasting warehouses nationwide and a dedicated team of technicians, ADA Lift Rentals stands ready to elevate your event to new heights, providing both excellence and peace of mind. In addition to his role with ADA Lift Rentals of America, Fischer holds the position of CEO at Southeast Elevator, a leading home elevator manufacturer and installer in the Southeastern US. Originally from Boston and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Fischer also earned his MBA from Loyola University Chicago. Having called Central Florida home for the past 21 years, Fischer brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the industry.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/benjamin-oberman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-28</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/645cf3a0-1951-497f-9eb7-ad03ab1ec7d9/Benjamin+Oberman.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Benjamin Oberman - Founder and CEO of Film Festival Flix</image:title>
      <image:caption>Benjamin "Benjy" Oberman is an innovator and leader in the virtual event industry. As the founder and CEO of Film Festival Flix and Guild Screeners. His company provides the streaming technology, services, and support empowering festivals and special events to reach a global audience directly through your own secure and private channel with total control over your content, audience, sponsors, and advertisers.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/brett-smiley</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-25</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/65a24eef-0e81-4818-b88b-4553b71bbeed/Brett+Smiley.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Brett Smiley - Brett Smiley: Founder of conCHAIRto</image:title>
      <image:caption>Brett Smiley is a visionary entrepreneur and the founder of conCHAIRto, a company dedicated to providing innovative seating solutions for large-scale outdoor events. With a keen understanding of both functionality and design, Brett has disrupted the event seating industry by developing a concept never introduced that provides festivals with lightweight, durable, and portable chairs that enhance the attendee experience at a variety of outdoor gatherings, including airshows, music festivals, and sporting events. Born and raised in Akron, OH, Brett always had a passion for entrepreneurship and problem-solving. He pursued a degree in Accounting from the University of Arizona while being a member of the ice hockey team. After graduating, Brett worked mainly in big pharma and medical device organizations but along the way had started two companies. The first was Proforma, a leader in printing, packaging, and promotional products, then BSBK Properties, a commercial rental business. Brett sold both companies he created in order to focus on being a rising sales leader for Medtronic. The concept for conCHAIRto was born when Brett attended an outdoor event and realized the lack of comfortable, convenient seating options for large crowds. Determined to fill this gap, he launched conCHAIRto with the mission of creating seating solutions that not only provide comfort but also cater to the logistical demands of large-scale events. His innovative designs have quickly gained recognition for their ease of use, durability, and ability to withstand different weather conditions. Under Brett's leadership, conCHAIRto has grown into a trusted name in the events industry, working with event organizers worldwide to improve audience comfort and engagement. Brett's commitment to quality and customer satisfaction has earned him a reputation as a forward-thinking leader who continuously pushes the boundaries of what is possible in event seating. Beyond his work with conCHAIRto, Brett is passionate about sustainability and incorporates eco-friendly materials into his products whenever possible. He also enjoys mentoring young entrepreneurs and is actively involved in community initiatives that promote creativity and innovation. Brett Smiley's dedication, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit have made conCHAIRto a leader in its field, transforming the way people experience outdoor events.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/jesse-lawrence</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-12-05</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/6f58644f-d240-46d9-84a7-1d2d53a862ab/Jesse+Lawrence.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Jesse Lawrence - Founder of FanIQ</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jesse Lawrence is the founder of FanIQ, a performance-based paid social marketing and analytics platform for festivals, teams, venues and other music promoters. The company uses audience-focused content to engage new fans and re-engage existing fans on vertical video platforms like Snap, Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.  Music partners include Danny Wimmer, Live Nation, Another Planet, Breakaway, Southern Entertainment, Boots in the Park, and Levitate Music Festival.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/merridee-book</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-23</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/471ee213-830f-4eb9-8401-eb83617b9488/Merridee+Book.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Merridee Book - CEO and Artistic Director of the Coronado Island Film Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Merridee Book is the CEO and Artistic Director of the Coronado Island Film Festival (CIFF), where she has played a pivotal role in elevating the festival to a significant cultural event in Southern California. A lifelong supporter of the arts, Merridee has more than doubled CIFF’s attendance since the global pandemic and continues to build strong partnerships to achieve the festival's goals. Under her leadership, CIFF screens Oscar-winning films, brings studio, international, and independent film premieres and debuts, honors industry luminaries, and promotes the art and science of filmmaking. Prior to her work with CIFF, Merridee served as the Vice President of Development for the San Diego International Film Festival, driving revenue growth through strategic donor partnerships, managing the donor experience, and amplifying awareness of the festival's nonprofit mission. She also contributed to marketing efforts by engaging with targeted groups to boost attendance at the annual festival. Merridee was  a Co-Founder of DeeperCalling Media, a diversified media company that spanned music, digital programming, and publishing in the early days of digital programming. She was the producer and host of the television program DeeperLiving, a 30-minute show that highlighted the stories of creators, filmmakers, entrepreneurs, authors, musicians, and artists within the inspirational marketplace. DeeperCalling Media also provided backend distribution fulfillment for over 500 independent online bookstores/sellers in the early days of the online marketplace. She has been a member of Women in the Media, served as a panelist for conferences and roundtables, and has mentored Communication students at her alma mater, UCSB. In addition to her professional achievements, Merridee has served on the Board of the Coronado School of the Arts and currently on Patrons of the Prado, furthering her commitment to arts education and cultural enrichment.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/brad-sweet</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-22</lastmod>
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      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Brad Sweet - Co-Founder &amp; CEO of Same Same But Different Music Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Brad Sweet is the co-founder and CEO of Same Same But Different Music Festival and Same Same Presents. With a background as a musician and producer, Brad's understanding of the industry has fueled the growth of Same Same But Different from a 400-person gathering to 7,500 daily campers in under five years. This achievement was recognized with a nomination for Best Emerging Festival by X-Live and winning Best New Festival by USA Today. Brad's approach to festival organization is rooted in empowering passionate, creative individuals with the tools to build and create with as little restrictions as possible. This has grown and fostered a passionate team around the festival and has led to incredibly rich and meaningful experiences for attendees. The team sets the tone and ethos for any festival and a team built directly from the community means that the attendees and the team become a unified force working together to the benefit of the festival.  His personal commitment to create a welcoming, inclusive environment are hallmarks of his leadership style. At the heart of Brad's work is a commitment to building a community that extends beyond the festival grounds, fostering lasting connections and memorable experiences for each attendee.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/lamonia-deanne-brown</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-22</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/4383b429-f2d5-4f82-abca-66b5be7e4d11/Lamonia+Brown.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Lamonia Deanne Brown - Festival Director of Essence Film Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Lamonia Deanne Brown is a Creative Executive, Filmmaker, and Film Festival Specialist. As founder of The Gilchrist Group LLC., she partners with entertainment companies in the areas of content development, strategy and communications, as well as live events. She specializes in film/series development, impact strategy, communications, film festival production and programming, and content innovation.  In January 2019, Lamonia/The Gilchrist Group was tapped by the owner of Essence Ventures to  create and build the Essence Film Festival as its Festival Director. She produced, programmed, and launched the festival launched in 2022 as part of the Essence Festival of Culture in New  Orleans with great success, high engagement, and impressive numbers. She continues to serve and lead the production, programming and growth of the film festival, with the goal of building  the largest Black global cultural film and arts gathering in the world.   As a Content Strategist and Creative Development Executive at WarnerMedia OneFifty (a  Warner Bros. Discovery brand under the Corporate Social Responsibility department), Lamonia  managed the brand’s content development and strategy, along with communications for a slate of  22 film and series projects, while also managing sponsorships and activations for over 40  identity-based film festivals that are supported by HBO and the WBD group of companies. While there, Lamonia wrote and produced two branded spots for voting season: one starring Issa Rae focused on poll workers and one focused on the disruptive impact of voting. Both aired on the WarnerMedia ad-supported networks (TBS, TNT, CNN, etc.). As part of the HBO CSR department, she was instrumental in recommending and securing corporate donations to arts &amp; cultural organizations on behalf of Warner.  Lamonia serves as the co-chair of the Writers Guild of America East’s Women of Color Caucus, and she is on the board for the Washington D.C.-based Multicultural Media Correspondents Association.  Her television projects include the two unscripted series (THE RIGHT RECIPE and THAT WORD); and the scripted pilot BLACK ROSE, which won the NY Television Festival. She is also in pre-production on the documentary feature BLACK IVY and is finalizing the screenplay for her narrative feature WILLIE-B: WORKS IN PROGRESS, which peels back the cultural layers of a multidimensional love story set in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn where she grew up and still lives.  Previous professional positions include Head of Programming &amp; Production for the American Black Film Festival (ABFF); Director of Programming and Events at New York Women in Film &amp; Television (NYWIFT); and freelance work with various festivals including the Producer Guild’s “Produced By: NY” conference, “Women Calling the Shots” at the Hamptons Film  Festival, LatinBeat, Montclair Film Festival, African American Women in Cinema, and others.  Lamonia attended Fordham University where she majored in Film, with a Creative Writing minor. She holds firm to the belief that all storytellers must be heard in order to create the paradigm shift necessary to bring about true equity.  Fun professional facts about Lamonia:  Her entertainment career began at PRINCE's Paisley Park Music publishing company and went on to work in the music industry for many years at companies such as Sony, BMG and Universal Music Group. Her love for music stems from her own days as a child musician studying tenor saxophone and the flute.  She secured an installation and exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History &amp; Culture (NMAAHC) for the American Black Film Festival (ABFF).  Lamonia takes great interest in shepherding the career trajectory for many women entering the film business by spearheading key pipeline opportunities including intern/mentor programs, student academies designed to provide access to corporate entertainment positions, training mid career people in transition and working on the development of indie creators’ projects.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/anastasia-palmer-johnson</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/208d1f1d-68db-4db0-afbd-fca6b41d4e6c/Anastasia+Palmer+J+3.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Anastasia Palmer Johnson - Corporate Director of Entertainment at Gila River Resorts and Casinos</image:title>
      <image:caption>Anastasia Palmer Johnson known throughout the industry as “A.P.”   a veteran sports and entertainment executive specializing in booking and business development and  currently serving as the Corporate Director of Entertainment at Gila River Resorts and Casinos. Brought on in 2022 to develop a robust calendar of concerts and events for the rapidly expanding gaming enterprise and elevate the show offerings as they transitioned from a traditional Casino business model to a hard ticket program. In this capacity she oversees the portfolio of entertainment at four venues including Vee Quiva, Lone Butte, SanTan Mountain, and the flagship Wildhorse Pass. Prior to joining GRGE, A.P. served as Regional Director of Events for Live Nation U.S. Concerts. Booking private and special events for (28) amphitheaters spanning the coasts from Seattle (The Gorge) to Miami (FPL Solar) and specializing in convention and multi-venue corporate deals. After thirty years of calling Los Angeles home, it was during this time of extensive travel when she relocated back to her hometown of Tucson, AZ. to serve as the home base for her family.  In 2014 when U.S.C. assumed management of the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Sports Arena campus, they required a Business Development executive who could completely change the narrative, create and oversee all streams of revenue generating business including private and ticketed events, F/B, tourism, and monetizing the extensive historical archive with show and experience creation.  A.P. filled these needs as the Senior Director of Booking and Partnerships. Working closely with the L.A. Sports and Entertainment Commission she was part of a core R.F.P. team instrumental in bringing The Super Bowl, FIFA World Cup, and the Olympics to Los Angeles. Booking highlights from her time with U.S.C include the 2017 (ICC) match with Real Madrid vs. Manchester City, breaking all records with an attendance of (93,098) it is still the largest soccer match held in the Coliseum. A.P. also booked the last concerts in the L.A. Sports Arena before it was demolished to make room for the future L.A.F.C home, three iconic concerts with Bruce Springsteen were booked in his aptly coined “The Dump that Jumps”.  Prior to working at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Johnson spent fourteen years generating revenue, providing client services, and conceptualizing dynamic F/B experiences as Senior Director of Sales and Marketing with Levy Restaurants at STAPLES Center, Microsoft Theater, Dodger Stadium, Dignity Health Park, The Center at Cathedral Plaza. She has executed world-class hospitality for events including two NFL Super Bowls, MLB and NBA All-Star games, NHL Stanley Cup events, GRAMMY Awards, Emmys and countless concerts and music festivals.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/kyle-newport</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-18</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/bcd43ee0-0b84-446c-bfd3-772db7100a49/Kyle_Caricature_v2.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Kyle Newport - Founder &amp; Executive Producer of Sunset Jazz Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Kyle Newport is the Executive Producer of the highly popular Sunset Jazz Festival across the United States. He has also served as lead Media Planner for the National concert tours for Jamie Foxx, Chris Tucker, Will Downing, Chris Rock and others.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/brandon-pankey</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-18</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/b78407f9-456b-4b70-8c1c-6de881bf87ee/Brandon+Pankey.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Brandon Pankey - Vice President of Business Development &amp; Operations for Live Nation Urban</image:title>
      <image:caption>Brandon Pankey is CEO of Artist Presented Experiences (APEX), a new AVOD streaming network focused on creating and distributing scripted, unscripted, and licensed content exclusively by and for artists. Content and strategic partnerships for the network include Raedio, Mercury Studios, Complex, and more. Brandon has also served as Vice President of Business Development &amp; Operations for Live Nation Urban and proved integral to the planning, positioning, and execution of marquee annual events and initiatives, ensuring the ultimate audience experience along the way. These include The Roots Picnic where he serves as an official producer and offers his expertise firsthand for  Lil Wayne’s Weezyana Festival, Mary J Blige’s Strength of a Woman Festival, and many more.  Brandon was recognized as one of Variety Magazine's Hollywood's New Leaders of 2022, among other previous recognitions for his accomplishments and impact, including EBONY’s 2021 Power 100 List, Billboard magazine’s prestigious “30 under 30” music executives list and also a Billboard “Power Player” Executive in 2019, 2020 and 2022.  Additionally, he has been featured in national publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Black Enterprise, Ad Age, and Pollstar. He has also been a guest lecturer at several top institutions in the United States including Harvard University, New York University and the University of North Carolina. Brandon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Annenberg School of Communications at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/ron-truppa</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-18</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/ae06d8d0-e13b-4bef-ac2d-2ea1eaf1730f/Ron+Truppa.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Ron Truppa - Founder and Executive Director of the Catalina Film Institute and Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>With over 25 years' experience in the entertainment industry and 15 years of visionary leadership as the Founder and Executive Director of the Catalina Film Institute and Festival, Ron Truppa has shaped a premier international platform that champions new media and independent film. Under his stewardship, the festival has transformed Catalina into a global destination for filmmakers and artists, blending imagination, education, and celebration within the cinematic arts. Through Ron’s initiatives, Catalina has become a beacon for creative talent worldwide, offering not only a showcase for groundbreaking films but also a nurturing space for emerging storytellers. His work has empowered a new generation of artists, fostering innovation, cultural awareness, and amplifying voices across diverse backgrounds and continents. Driven by CFI’s core philosophy of "Imagination, Education, and Destination," Ron ensures that the art of storytelling continues to thrive, inspire, and spark meaningful change within the entertainment industry.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/olga-rodriguez-santini</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-18</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/f15368d1-60b8-4408-8527-5a76db540a15/Olga+Rodri%CC%81guez+Santini.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Olga Rodriguez Santini - Director of Partnerships at a21</image:title>
      <image:caption>Olga is a dynamic marketing leader with over 15 years of experience crafting innovative brand strategies and curating events that drive lasting brand impact. As Director of Partnerships at a21, she has been instrumental in the success of hundreds of high-impact events across the country, executing millions of dollars in corporate partnerships for top-tier brands. Her festival portfolio includes Pebble Beach Food &amp; Wine, SOBE, NYCWFF, Chefs Making Waves, Whiskies Of The World Tour, Chefs For Farmers and Atlanta Food &amp; Wine. Her expertise at a21 includes brand development, corporate partnerships, event production, and team leadership. A natural relationship builder, Olga excels in crafting targeted strategies and dynamic activations that resonate with brands, fostering growth and delivering exceptional partnership experiences. With a proven background in fashion marketing, luxury brands, and hospitality, Olga's specialized in curating moments that leave lasting impressions to cultivate brand awareness across diverse platforms.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/charles-hinnant</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/0fccd852-c304-460e-91bb-389dde7740ac/Charles+Hinnant.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Charles Hinnant - Founder and CEO of Rave Me Away</image:title>
      <image:caption>First time founder and CEO of Rave Me Away, Charles Hinnant, is a native of Connecticut and received his undergraduate degree in Political Science with a dual minor in History and Sociology from the College of Charleston in South Carolina. Upon graduation, Charles set off to fulfill a childhood dream of visiting Hobbiton in New Zealand. He spent six-months solo backpacking New Zealand and Australia and partaking in every extreme adventure from skydiving, bungee jumping, glacier hiking and diving the great barrier reef before returning to the United States and launching his career. Charles joined the advanced advertising sales team as a Media Coordinator at Dish Media in New York City. He spent three years learning the business from the ground up working across multiple account desks serving major agency holding companies such as WPP as well as Cadent, Place Media, Continuum and FreeWheel. Managing client campaign maintenance with daily tasks including deal order entry, brand allocations, make goods, pre/post logs analytics, and invoicing.  Understanding that he was more interested in the creative side of advertising, Charles set his sites on gaining a greater understanding of the intricacies of Marketing, Charles left Dish Media to pursue a graduate degree from Georgetown University in Integrated Marketing and Communications. Charles graduated from Georgetown in May of 2023.  While at Georgetown, Charles entered the Spring 2022 Pitch Competition and as awarded a spot in the Summer 2022 launch incubator for his development of Rave Me Away, an emergency alert and tracking system designed to improve response times at Live Events. Since earning his master’s degree, Charles has dedicated himself full-time to his start up Rave Me Away. In his free time, Charles attends music festivals and live concerts, plays golf and is an avid football fan and gamer.  Associations &amp; Awards: Co-President, SCS Entrepreneurship Club at Georgetown, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi ETA Sigma National Political Science Honor Society, Phi Sigma Alpha National Honor Society, and member of the 2012 Connecticut State High School Championship Swim team.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/amanda-salazar</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-11</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/30304a3a-ec2a-45af-94bc-88820e33288f/Amanda+Salazar_byPamelaGentile_004-2.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Amanda Salazar - Director of Programming at Vidiots</image:title>
      <image:caption>Amanda Salazar is a film curator and arts advocate with a background in film festival programming, theatrical booking, arts organization administration, and digital distribution. She is the Director of Programming at Vidiots. Concurrently with her role she is the Senior Programmer of Narrative Features at the Sonoma International Film Festival and the co-Director of Camera Obscura, a yearly pop-up cinema held in Petaluma, CA that showcases obscure and experimental films. Her passion for serving independent artists led her to collaboratively co-found the Bay Area Media Makers Summit, a yearly gathering that focuses on the needs of makers in the Bay Area. Previously she was a Programmer with the UCLA Film &amp; Television Archive, a short film Programmer at the Sundance Film Festival, Programmer at SFFILM, the Cinema Programmer at the Northwest Film Forum, and oversaw acquisitions at independent streaming companies Fandor and Argo. She holds a B.A. in Film Studies from Chapman University.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/doug-richter</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-09</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/4efd2b45-bdc2-4b34-a4a2-037b7f594c04/Doug+Richter+by+photographer+Andrew+Werner+AHW_2579.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Doug Richter - Founder/CEO of Meritage Entertainment</image:title>
      <image:caption>Doug Richter is the Founder/CEO of Meritage Entertainment, an experiential marketing agency based in Phoenix, and has been active in the entertainment marketing industry for 35 years.  Doug is an industry-recognized advisor for brands, festivals and tours with a focus on live event strategies on both the brand side and the festival side. His award-winning agency curates relationships between entertainment properties, brands and talent that drive creative and financial success for all stakeholders.   He has managed the sponsorship strategy for many national culinary and music festivals and producers including Flavor! Napa Valley, the USA Today Wine &amp; Food Experience, The Bahamas Culinary &amp; Arts Festival and festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents, working closely with many celebrity chefs and national music talent.  He has closed hundreds of sponsorship deals with a long list of blue-chip brands including Citi, Chase, Microsoft, Aetna, Infiniti, JetBlue, Macy’s, Humana, Heineken, Lexus and more. Doug was previously Managing Director of Global Partnerships for the live events division of Time Inc. where his team was tasked with developing a national platform of new event properties for its iconic brands that included Entertainment Weekly, People and Sports Illustrated.  Doug spent more than 10 years in the music industry, holding executive marketing roles at BMG Entertainment, Triad Artists and Wherehouse Music, where he was Director of Online Marketing for this $800M entertainment retailer. He spent three years as Tour Manager for soul icon world tour Barry White, including the sold-out Icon Is Love World Tour and was the Personal Manager for Motown legend Mary Wilson of The Supremes. He sits on the Advisory Board for FestForums, the leading industry conference for festival producers and is also on the Advisory Board of the Experiential Marketing Measurement Coalition (EMMC).</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/emily-white</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-09</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/48a9f9dc-b424-42af-ab8e-ff2a56d22fb0/Emily+White+by+Adrian+Buckmaster.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Emily White - Founder &amp; CEO @ #iVoted Concerts &amp; Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Emily White is an Amazon #1 best-selling author of course-books around the globe &amp; hosts the world’s #1 Music Business podcast, How to Build a Sustainable Music Career &amp; Collect All Revenue Streams, w/ the show charting in 30+ countries on six continents. She’s the Founder of #iVoted &amp; #iVoted Festival, a data-driven non-profit that built the largest digital concert in history all to increase non-partisan U.S. voter turnout. White is a Founding Partner @ Collective Entertainment whose career spans the entertainment industry, including positions at Live Nation Artists (now Roc Nation) &amp; Madison House, Inc., always putting artists &amp; talent first while taking care of fans a very close second. Her board, advisory council &amp; committee service includes Well-Dunn, Future of Music, SXSW, David Lynch Foundation, The Recording Academy, Pandora, CASH Music &amp; the Elijah E. Cummings Democracy &amp; Freedom Festival. White’s name graced the cover of Billboard magazine while in her 20’s &amp; has been on the cover of Pollstar Magazine, the trade publication for the concert &amp; live music industry. White is a Billboard Women in Music Top Executive w/ her work additionally profiled in Forbes, Fast Company, Bloomberg, Rolling Stone, CNN, Fox Business, Vox, Huffington Post, Pitchfork, Relix, The Fader, Stereogum, Alternative Press, ESPN &amp; more. White is a regular speaker at global music industry events not limited to Midem, BIGSOUND Australia, Canadian Music Week, SXSW, PollstarLive!, Future Music Forum: Barcelona, DIY Musician Conference EU, NAMM, Music Biz, A2IM &amp; Canadian Indie Week, Billboard FutureSound, SanFran MusicTech, New Music Seminar, Grammy FutureNOW, NY State Bar Association, Association of Performing Arts Professionals, ASCAP’s AI Symposium, International Music Software Trade Association, NY Music Month, Music Managers Forum-US Summit, Underground Music Showcase, Girls Rock Camp, Music-Preneur Mindset Summit, Shuttleworth's Flash Forward Fest, MEISA Music Industry Conference, Amplify Music, College Music Society, Grammy U, Unstoppable Singer Summit &amp; Sound Thinking. She is a Visiting Fellow at Johns Hopkins University’s SNF Agora Institute &amp; has taught courses at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute in Tisch School of The Arts, University of New Haven, Hofstra &amp; is the editor of Berklee's Management class. White is a Northeastern University Innovator Award recipient. Full bio: https://www.collectiveentinc.com/emily-white</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/ej-encalarde</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-11-20</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/4111d87d-ff4b-4405-9887-55ad450754b7/EJ+Encalarde.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - EJ Encalarde - President and Chief Operating Officer of Festival Productions, Inc. of New Orleans</image:title>
      <image:caption>Eugenié Jones Encalarde, known as “EJ” to her colleagues, is a powerhouse in the world of large-scale music and entertainment production as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Festival Productions, Inc. of New Orleans. With deep experience as a senior coordinating producer, EJ has orchestrated some of the nation’s most iconic events, including the New Orleans Jazz &amp; Heritage Festival, Essence Music Festival, Bayou &amp; Buckeye Country Superfests, the NFL Kickoff in Jackson Square, Super Bowl Boulevard, and Presidential Inaugural Celebrations. Her leadership has driven the success of these globally recognized gatherings, underscoring her reputation for confidence and excellence in festival production and management. Her recent recognition by Billboard as one of the 2024 Touring Power Players further highlights her impact and influence within the live event industry.  At Festival Productions, EJ is the operational force behind a dynamic, turnkey-intensive organization renowned for its high-performing producers. Her role spans a broad spectrum of executive responsibilities, including leading cross-departmental initiatives, hands-on coaching, and facilitating agile teaming strategies. As Coordinating Producer for the New Orleans Jazz &amp; Heritage Festival, EJ works under the direction and mentorship of Quint Davis, Producer/Director, where she drives comprehensive production planning, leads team alignment, and spearheads post-event evaluations.  Beyond her executive role, EJ is a certified strengths coach, facilitator, and a lecturer at Tulane University Freeman School of Business bringing over three decades of expertise in project management, team building, and leadership development. Her cross-generational, multi-level organizational insight has earned her prestigious recognition, including the City Business Women of the Year award and the National Diversity Council’s Glass Ceiling Award, honoring her transformative impact and dedication to diversity.  EJ’s purpose-driven goal is to empower high-performing leaders and team builders, guiding them toward transformation, fulfillment, and peace in their professional and personal lives.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/nick-morgan</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-09</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/9aa031c9-90fa-47fb-b7db-948ce97de51d/Nick+Morgan.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Nick Morgan - CEO of The Fair</image:title>
      <image:caption>Nick Morgan is CEO of The Fair, as well as our sister agencies, We Are Placemaking and We Are OPS. Nick, has over 25 years of experience across large-scale Event Production, Licensing and Health &amp; Safety within the public realm, large scale events and festivals. Nick sits on the NOEA Council (National Outdoor Events Association), is Chair of the UK Events Outdoor Group, Vice-Chair of UK Events, Vice-Chair of AIF (Association of Independent Festivals) and a member of the Festival DCMS Workforce. He strongly believes that the ‘informal events’ industry, an industry that brings in over £5 billion / year, should be championed, developed and supported by the government.  Nick often speaks on topics that include managing growth, independent festivals, the experience economy, government advocacy, placemaking, licensing and health &amp; safety, at industry events including the Event Production Show, LAEOG and The All Parliamentary Group for Events. The independent festival sector is close to Nick’s heart, and The Fair – as one of the largest independent festival production houses in the UK – works across 128 shows from GALA to Eastern Electrics.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/mell-leis</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-27</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/ab25de13-1b1c-40c9-a44e-a18850a93de0/Mell+Leis.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Mell Leis - Head of Music &amp; Entertainment at WMT Digital</image:title>
      <image:caption>A native New Yorker and starting to play music at the age of 6, Music quickly became Mell’s focal point. This passion landed her at Berklee College of Music, where she graduated with a BA in Performance and Music Business. Years later, working in the Events Industry in ticketing, crowd control and now Cashless Fan Engagement with Tappit, as well as being a lifelong musician, Mell is a true believer in the power of music and its profound impact on our world. Whether it is engaging new business, identifying partnership opportunities, or coaching a team to do the same, she drives to not only hit her mark, but consistently go beyond. With a solid track record in sales, leadership, and partnership strategy, She brings 20 years of experience, enthusiasm, and unmatched energy to the Live Music space.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/kevin-lyman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-08</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/2a287d5a-3044-460b-8cf3-93c4320db24a/Kevin+Lyman.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Kevin Lyman - Founder and Operator of the Kevin Lyman Group</image:title>
      <image:caption>Kevin Lyman is the founder and operator of the Kevin Lyman Group, formerly known as 4Fini, Inc., a live event production company and brand strategy firm. His most notable live production is the live music festival series Vans Warped Tour, which attracted about 750,000 people annually and was the longest-running North American festival concert tour. In the Fall Semester of 2018, Lyman started teaching at USC's Thornton School of Music as an Associate Professor.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/don-kelly</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-08</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/c792f4c6-be94-46a0-ac4e-5da34501eccc/Don+Kelly.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Don Kelly - CEO at Crew One Productions</image:title>
      <image:caption>Don Kelly is CEO at Crew One Productions, a live event production staffing company supporting events nationwide through ten regional offices.  He previously was COO at Summit Series, Festival Director at C3 Presents for a decade and COO of North American Festivals at Live Nation. For the first decade of his work life, he was a corporate litigator and now counts himself as a recovering lawyer. Don’s dream is to coach alongside Pep Guardiola at Manchester City Football Club.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/justin-bankston</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-10-01</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/389b3008-9090-4337-b7b5-e8092d56dc4e/Justin+Bankston+pic.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Justin Bankston - Chief Technology Officer at SXSW</image:title>
      <image:caption>Justin Bankston has worked in the Austin tech industry for over 30 years. Starting at IBM, he moved on to work in med tech before landing at SXSW in 2004 where he’s served as CTO since 2016. Justin takes pride in supporting SXSW’s stated purpose of “Helping Creative People Achieve Their Goals.” His business-focused technical leadership has facilitated SXSW’s intense growth over the last 20 years.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/dan-fuld</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-09-25</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/781ecf41-a3bd-477b-830c-f093ff122dac/Dan+Fuld.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Dan Fuld - AVP Client Advocate of Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.</image:title>
      <image:caption>Dan is a seasoned insurance professional with 15+ years of underwriting and broking experience. Client advocacy and education are a top priority of his. Dan understands the needs of his clients and leverages his industry knowledge, relationships, and experience to ensure his clients obtain best in class risk management &amp; insurance programs. Dan and his team also assist in the implementation of alternative risk mitigation strategies. His passion for music goes back to his childhood and you can find him at many events throughout the year. This combined passion enables him to truly understand the nature of his client’s operations in the live event &amp; entertainment space, leading to favorable results. Dan and his team see themselves as strategic partners to those in the live event space. This partnership is what differentiates Alliant from the competition. Dan is currently a Producer within Alliant Specialties Practice Group. He provides a variety of risk management solutions for the entertainment industry around the globe. Typical clients range from independent venue operators, independent festival promoters &amp; media agencies. His areas of expertise include risk transfer, self-insurance, and program administration. Dan graduated from the Katie School of Insurance at Illinois State University where he studied Risk Management and Finance. Dan received his CPCU, ASLI and ARM in 2013 and received his property &amp; casualty producers license in 2018. Alliant is a top 10 insurance broker and the largest specialty broker. This means that we dive deep into the industries we focus on, allowing us to understand the nature of our clients’ operations. We are a full-service brokerage specializing in all lines of commercial insurance coverage. Unlike most brokerages, we are privately held and are majority owned by our employees. This means that we think like our client partners, and we know that everyone dollar spent on insurance premium affects your bottom line. Our unique approach allows us to eliminate the potential for unexpected, underfunded and or uninsured losses. Because of this, we are often able to achieve a triple deliverable – best in market pricing, higher limits, broader coverage &amp; better terms/conditions - effectively optimizing your risk management &amp; insurance program. We would love to earn your business and be your go to insurance partner. What Dan’s clients are saying: “We met Dan through our network and were immediately impressed with the savings he achieved for our event cancellation coverage via direct access to the London market. Further to that, Dan and his team meticulously reviewed and skillfully navigated our contracts in conjunction with legal, which helped us to minimize our insurance expenditure while ensuring robust coverage and contract compliance. Beyond just placing a policy for us, when we unfortunately suffered a loss due to a weather event, Dan and his team were right there in the trenches with us, helping us to navigate the claims process, showcasing their commitment and expertise every step of the way.” Berto - Summer Smash Festival – Chicago, IL “We were fortunate to connect with Dan through our network, and we were immediately impressed by his team’s efficiency and cost-effectiveness. He and his team provided us with a quote swiftly, and within a few days, we had our certificates in hand. Dan and his team truly saved our festival. They are lifesavers!” Colleen - Uncommon Entertainment – Miami, FL "Working with Dan was a game-changer. He secured impressive savings on our event cancellation coverage and meticulously reviewed our contracts with legal, ensuring robust coverage while optimizing costs. When a weather event struck, Dan and his team were right there, guiding us every step of the way with expertise and dedication. Their swift support was crucial in keeping our festival on track." Miguel – Michelada Fest – Chicago, IL Dan works closely with: Event promoters/producers, festivals, retreats, street fares, weddings touring, Entertainers/Artists, media agencies, talent agencies, hospitality groups, nightclubs, film production, video production, photographers, studios, management companies, stadiums, concert halls, art galleries and museums, dance studios, dance/music halls live theaters, dinner theaters, equipment rental houses, post production services – voice editing, film editing, etc., miscellaneous equipment services, event production services, theatrical companies, DICE: documentaries, industrial, commercial, and educational productions, motion picture studio productions, tv/radio stations and broadcasters, media distribution – music &amp; video.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/shaun-verreault</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-09-24</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/01342b20-3488-4376-86cf-0dbeee2a7fce/Shaun+Verreault.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Shaun Verreault - Vice President of Music Business Development at Tradable Bits</image:title>
      <image:caption>Shaun Verreault, Vice President of Music Business Development at Tradable Bits and Wide Mouth Mason Lead Vocalist and Guitarist  Verreault’s clients include AEG Presents, Disco Presents, Blue Note Jazz Festival and Entertainment, Country Music Association, and Peachtree Entertainment, among others. Verreault joined Tradable Bits in March 2022. He is also the lead vocalist and guitarist of the blues rock band Wide Mouth Mason. The band just wrapped a summer of playing festivals from coast to coast and is a 2024 nominee for Western Canadian Music Awards Hall Of Fame at Breakout West. Shaun on LinkedIn.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/john-giddings</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-09-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/7eed40e5-52de-4050-b600-7b0ccc2ce776/John+Giddings+Newsletter.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - John Giddings - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/sophie-b-hawkins</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-09-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1bea6b22-bdc4-42ea-8b91-feb431d31acc/Banners+%282%29.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Sophie B. Hawkins - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/matthew-modine</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-09-21</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/25e3e63b-dc50-487d-8c8d-36acaa8517a6/Banners+%281%29.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Matthew Modine - Make it stand out</image:title>
      <image:caption>Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/michelle-metter</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-08-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d98f8585-a610-465a-9efa-d008e8fa6752/Michelle+Metter.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Michelle Metter - Co-founder and Partner at Fast Forward Event Productions</image:title>
      <image:caption>Michelle Metter is the co-founder and partner at Fast Forward Event Productions with a dynamic portfolio of b2b and b2c tradeshows, conferences, festivals and digital media brands servicing the wine, beer, spirits, food and hospitality industries.Michelle has 25 years’ experience in business leadership as an owner/entrepreneur and also working within and for large national media companies (Peterson / EMAP) and trade association shows (Diving Equipment and Marketing Association). Throughout the course of her career, Michelle has touched all aspects of strategic event production from concept to launch, business development, sales, marketing, digital media, and long term growth of communities and events that service their professional needs and passions. Michelle serves on IAEE and SISO Board of Directors, on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Tourism Authority and is a member of Women in Exhibitions Network. Michelle co-founded Fast Forward Futures, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for the advancement of professionals in hospitality through scholarships and grants awarded in the pursuit of continued education in line with an individual's career objectives.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/lise-brende</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-08-15</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/109bb809-503e-485f-b13f-c61696620dd6/Lise+Brende.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Lise Brende - EVP, Intelligence at Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP)</image:title>
      <image:caption>Lise Brende is the EVP, Intelligence at Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP). She has 20+ years of experience building and leading global business intelligence departments across a variety of industries (music, tech, athletic apparel, and film). Prior to DWP Lise was at TikTok where she built and ran the intelligence department which was comprised of data science, data infrastructure, qualitative and quantitative research, and social insights. She has also led similar departments at Nike, Sony Music, NBCUniversal and Microsoft. At DWP, Lise and her team play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction of the festivals by leveraging data-driven insights and research to inform decision-making and ensuring the voice of the fan is at the heart of everything they do. She leads the data infrastructure, data science, consumer intelligence and social insights teams.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/john-lollo</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-08-15</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/4717cbbb-7725-4455-9abb-a0139f90e421/John+Lollo.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - John Lollo - Festival Director at Food Network New York City Wine &amp; Food Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>John Lollo is a seasoned event professional with over eight years of experience in the hospitality and event management industry. Starting as an intern for the New York City Wine &amp; Food Festival, John demonstrated exceptional talent and dedication, rapidly advancing to the role of Festival Director. In his leadership position, he has excelled in securing and managing high-value sponsorships, successfully negotiating partnerships worth eight figures. His expertise in sponsorship development and event coordination has established him as a key player in the industry, known for delivering outstanding results and fostering strong industry relationships.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/lisa-ogdie</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-08-12</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/37ee7741-bdbb-499d-b241-9f6936d4d298/Lisa+Ogdie+-+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Lisa Ogdie - Short Film Programmer for the Sundance Film Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Lisa Ogdie is a Short Film Programmer for the Sundance Film Festival. She has been part of the shorts programming team since 2009, selecting the Sundance short film slate from over 12,000 submissions each year, and has curated shorts for the 2019 and 2020 editions of the Durban Film Festival in South Africa. In addition to her work at Sundance, Ogdie is also Head of Cinema Programming in North America for Soho House &amp; Co, providing Soho House members with exclusive access to the most exciting titles in film and television being distributed each year.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/alex-durant</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-08-12</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/71ff04ac-1614-4225-a9a0-1d510029dd00/AlexDurant_Headshot.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Alex Durant - Founder of Durant Consulting, Inc.</image:title>
      <image:caption>Alex Durant is a seasoned professional with over 15 years experience in managing sponsors at award-winning festivals across the US. Renowned for her concierge service and meticulous attention to detail, Alex has garnered praise from both festival clients and sponsors alike. Building and nurturing long-term relationships lie at the heart of her success. Alex founded Durant Consulting Inc. (DCI) in 2005 with a focus on providing comprehensive auction solutions for non-profit organizations. The scope expanded in 2008 to include Sponsor Management services, starting with the prestigious Food Network New York City Wine &amp; Food Festival. Since then, DCI has overseen sponsor fulfillment and advancement for over 500 brands, facilitating sponsorship fees exceeding $22 million.   Durant Consulting Inc. not only manages sponsors, but also works closely with clients to create tailored event sponsorship proposals and to streamline all sponsor communication. Past and current Festival clients include: Food Network South Beach Wine &amp; Food Festival, Food Network New York City Wine &amp; Food Festival, Life is Beautiful, Harlem EatUp, Pebble Beach Wine + Food, Food &amp; Wine Classic in Aspen, and Charleston Wine + Food Festival.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/eboni-gentry</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-08-09</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/a8d79581-fe25-4a1b-bf05-dc31720516a5/EBONIGENTRY2024.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Eboni Gentry - Tour Director and Owner of Gentry Touring Inc.</image:title>
      <image:caption>Eboni began her career in 2015 with Rihanna’s Production Manager, Joe Sanchez, and has since gone on to produced global tours and show stopping performances for award-winning artists such as Doja Cat, Jon Batiste, Fantasia, PinkPantheress, Snoh Aalegra, Reneé Rapp, and many others.  Eboni is passionate about sharing her extensive industry experience with young professionals that may or may not be aware of the opportunities for career growth within the live music space.  Eboni holds a B.S. in Management from Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business. She created "The Gentry Way," a 10-week Tour Management Bootcamp, which prepares aspiring professionals for careers in touring. Eboni’s experience includes directing performances at Coachella, Lollapalooza, Global Citizen Live, Rolling Loud, and iHeart Jingle Ball Tour. She has spoken at Live Nation’s Music Forward, the GRAMMY Museum, and SXSW. Her areas of expertise and passion include: Strategic Creative &amp; Production Management Artist Development Starting &amp; Expanding a Tour Business Logistics &amp; Operational Excellence Tour Budgeting &amp; Accounting Building a Team Network</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/stephen-chilton</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-08-01</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/3d0a251c-5875-455c-bc75-29fcf3a62027/Stephen+Chilton+%28Photo+By+Justin+Yee%29.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Stephen Chilton - Owner/Talent Buyer of Psyko Steve Presents</image:title>
      <image:caption>Stephen Chilton began producing concerts in Arizona in 2000 under the moniker Psyko Steve Presents. For over two decades, Psyko Steve Presents has developed new artists and continued supporting them as they grew into globally celebrated acts including Frank Turner, Ghost, Bleachers, and The Maine. In 2019, Psyko Steve Presents was named “Best Promoter” by the Phoenix New Times in their annual Best Of Phoenix issue.  Today, Psyko Steve Presents is a full team producing over 700 concerts a year across Arizona and New Mexico. PSP produces festivals like 2022’s ZONA Music Festival, 8123 Fest curated by The Maine, and in 2024 announced that Chilton would be taking over talent buying for the M3F Festival for its 21st year in 2025. PSP produces concerts in various venues of all sizes throughout Arizona, ranging from their own space The Rebel Lounge, to Valley Bar and Crescent Ballroom, to venues like The Van Buren, Marquee Theatre, Arizona Financial Theatre, and Mesa Amphitheater. Today, PSP produces events for artists like Mitski, Charley Crockett, TV Girl, Alkaline Trio, Say Anything, Men I Trust, and many more.  Stephen Chilton started promoting small club shows and local events while in high school and college. While working for Stateside Presents in the years that followed, Chilton was part of the team that opened Crescent Ballroom in Downtown Phoenix  2011. In 2015, after leaving Stateside Presents, Chilton opened The Rebel Lounge with partner Chuckie Duff, a concert venue in Central Phoenix in the building that once housed long-standing rock venue The Mason Jar. In 2024, Billboard Magazine recognized The Rebel Lounge as the "Best Venue Under 500-Capacity" in their Top Music Venues list, a recognition that places it alongside some of the world's most iconic music venues.  In March 2020, Stephen Chilton co-founded the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), a trade association representing over 3000 of the best independent venues and promoters in all 50 states. Chilton was one of the original board members, and the organization’s first Vice President. Chilton helped create and lead he organization's public campaign #SaveOurStages. The #SaveOurStages campaign directly led to Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) authoring and passing the Save Our Stages Act, a truly bi-partisan bill that created the $16.25 billion Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG) crafted by the SBA to rescue venues and promoters nationwide during the Covid-19 pandemic.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/will-suter</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-07-28</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/3ba12ea4-0c71-478b-aff3-008c5a30048e/Will+Suter+-+ATG+Photo+3.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Will Suter - Co-founder of All Things Go</image:title>
      <image:caption>A music industry professional with 10+ years of experience in concepting and executing impactful marketing and promotional campaigns across live, agency, label, and digital verticals. Previously a partner in a management company representing top tier recording artists and navigating their careers in conjunction with record labels, distributors, publishers, talent agencies and marketing partners - he is also a highly accomplished creative thinker, possessing a true entrepreneurial spirit as co-founder of All Things Go - Washington DC's largest multi-day music festival - working across multiple disciplines in the organization with a heavy involvement in talent booking, programming, sponsorship and relationship management.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/tobi-olanihun</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-07-22</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/983b939f-8ff4-4988-b1af-bdee3954ce84/Tobi+Olanihun.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Tobi Olanihun - International Artist Liasion and Hospitality Coordinator for Flytime Fest</image:title>
      <image:caption>Tobi Olanihun is a visionary leader in the event management industry, renowned for her innovative approach to creating memorable and impactful experiences. As the Founder of The Experience Plug Systems (TEPS) and Chief Experience Officer of WOW! Connect Services Ltd - Tobi has transformed the landscape of event management through her dedication to excellence, creativity, and technological innovation. With over 13 years of experience in curating high-profile events across major cities including New York, Lagos, London , Abuja, and Accra, Tobi has built a reputation for orchestrating seamless, engaging, and cutting-edge events. Her portfolio includes a diverse range of functions from corporate conferences and cultural festivals to grand exhibitions and fashion shows. Tobi is particularly celebrated for her pioneering work in integrating technology into event management. Her platform, TEPS, revolutionizes the industry by providing comprehensive solutions for online registration, ticketing, virtual check-ins, and post-event analytics. This innovation not only enhances operational efficiency but also significantly improves attendee satisfaction and engagement. Throughout her career, Tobi has remained committed to sustainability and inclusivity in events. She advocates for eco-friendly practices and the implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies, ensuring that every event is both environmentally responsible and welcoming to all participants. Tobi's extensive experience in experiential marketing sets her apart as a leader who understands the nuances of creating immersive and engaging attendee experiences. Her ability to combine creativity with strategic thinking has led to the successful execution of numerous large-scale events, making her a sought-after consultant and speaker in the industry. Tobi is a sought-after speaker and thought leader. She frequently shares her insights on topics such as event innovation, the future of hybrid and virtual events, and the importance of strategic marketing and sponsorship in the festival industry. Her ability to inspire and educate makes her a valuable asset at any conference. Tobi Olanihun's dedication to pushing the boundaries of event management has earned her numerous accolades and a loyal client base. Her passion for creating extraordinary experiences continues to drive her mission to transform the event industry, one remarkable event at a time.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/sarah-pancheri</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-22</lastmod>
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      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Sarah Pancheri - President &amp; CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc.</image:title>
      <image:caption>Sarah Pancheri serves as President &amp; CEO of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., (MWF) the non-profit organization that produces Summerfest. MWF also manages, develops, and stewards the 75-acre Henry Maier festival Park, featuring the American Family Insurance Amphitheater.  The Park was home to over 55 festivals and events in 2024, employing over 2,500 individuals and delivering hundreds of millions in economic impact.  Founded in 1968, Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance is one of the most iconic celebrations of music in America, hosting the industry’s biggest acts for an unforgettable live music experience.  Summerfest continues to distinguish itself as a premier national multi-genre music festival and has developed an unrivaled reputation, consistently featuring over 500 of performances across 12 stages, throughout the 75-acre festival grounds along Lake Michigan. Headliners announced for 2024 including Hoizer, Megan Thee Stallion, the Avett Brothers, Lainey Wilson and Cake.  Fulfilling MWF's non-profit mission, Summerfest remains one of the most accessibly priced festivals in the world, as well as broad community engagement.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/candace-newman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-07-22</lastmod>
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      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Candace Newman - CEO and Founder of LIVE OUT L!VE</image:title>
      <image:caption>Candace Newman is the CEO and Founder of LIVE OUT L!VE, a boutique touring &amp; booking agency and non-profit dedicated to encouraging marginalized teens and young adults to pursue careers in live entertainment. Her LA-based organization exists to open more doors for future leaders in live entertainment and instill confidence through mentorship, events, seminars, and more. LIVE OUT L!VE is forging the path to bring better representation to the music industry, while helping others discover their own passion and purpose. As CEO of LIVE OUT L!VE, Candace provides consultancy services for artists, brands, and companies. Candace is skilled in project management, marketing, and finance, and she is passionate about creating live music experiences with established and emerging artists. LIVE OUT L!VE creates impactful experiential platforms and opportunities. Her team helps with talent and management structure, as well as producing content and live experiential events.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/hamish-pinkham</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-07-22</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d9d1f715-239f-424f-9f99-8204d2199f4b/HamishPinkham.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Hamish Pinkham - Entreprenuer, Lawyer, Musician, Tourism Leader</image:title>
      <image:caption>Hamish Pinkham is the co-founder / director of Rhythm and Vines - New Zealand's premier live music festival and first place in the world to bring in the new year. Having started their flagship music festival in Gisborne, NZ while at University in Otago as a ‘party for friends’, the festival has seen considerable growth in the last 21 years, going from a 1,800 gathering of mates to a sold out 30,000 revellers at its peak. The festival has featured international acts such as Chance the Rapper, Calvin Harris and Major Lazer and was voted one of the top 5 placed to bring in the New Year by The Guardian in London. His company also launched a sister new years festival – ’Rhythm and Alps’ in Wanaka, NZ, now in its twelfth year. In 2019 Hamish launched the Phoenix Summit - a one day meeting of creative minds held in Auckland NZ and featuring leading creative visionaries such as John Legends manager, Lady Gaga's Creative Director and the former head of MTV Europe. His goal is to create a platform to help inspire and NZ's creative community through networking and collaboration. Hamish is also a co-founder / Director of Endeavour Live - NZ's friendliest promoter of live events - having conceived and delivered some of the country's best loved music events including Fatboy Slim, Carl Cox, Mac Miller, John Butler Trio, Angus and Julia Stone, Wilkinson, Netsky and more. Festivals brands since 2017 include The Golden Run, Touch Bass, Electric Gardens, Quiet Please, Spring City, Island Time and Breakout Presents. A qualified lawyer and musician himself with his own band and musical project, Hamish was recently announced as a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year awards.  Hamish is passionate about the development of the music, events, tourism and creative industries both at home and abroad.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/michael-barclay</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-07-22</lastmod>
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      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Michael Barclay II - Executive Vice President, ESSENCE Festival of Culture</image:title>
      <image:caption>Michael Barclay II is esteemed as a top-tier experiential executive globally, utilizing unparalleled expertise to propel companies, brands, and events to success. Currently as Executive Vice President, he leads the ESSENCE Festival of Culture, a flagship event by ESSENCE Ventures. This multifaceted ecosystem uplifts the Global Black experience, fostering economic advancements at the intersection of community and culture. ESSENCE Ventures, parent company of ESSENCE Magazine, Beautycon, AFROPUNK, and ESSENCE Studios, reflects his visionary leadership. Recognized as an Industry Innovator by BizBash, Barclay has received prestigious accolades such as the Cannes Lion Bronze Award for the Simone Biles "Pause Is Power" Powerade campaign and a Clio Sports Bronze Award. Recognized as a compassionate mentor and thought leader, his extensive expertise spans strategy redefinition and the formation of diverse, award-winning teams, delivering events that inspire varied audiences.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/speaker-bios-2025/rebecca-throne</loc>
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    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-07-22</lastmod>
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      <image:title>2025 Speaker Bios - Rebecca Throne - Strategic Advisor, Burning Man</image:title>
      <image:caption>Rebecca is a recognized ticketing industry innovator and leader. She honed her focus on the social &amp; cultural implications of ticketing and business strategy as Burning Man Project’s Head of Ticketing for 15+ years and continues to support Burning Man as a strategic advisor. Most recently Rebecca was SVP of Strategy &amp; Partnerships for See Tickets North America. Rebecca is passionate about finding creative and holistic ways to nurture the symbiotic relationship between vibrant communities and values-based businesses. She is a director on the board of the International Ticketing Association (INTIX).</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2025-performer-bios</loc>
    <changefreq>daily</changefreq>
    <priority>0.75</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-30</lastmod>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2025-performer-bios/kenny-lee-lewis</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-30</lastmod>
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      <image:title>2025 Performer Bios - Kenny Lee Lewis - Kenny has been a regular touring member, producer and writer for The Steve Miller Band since 1982.</image:title>
      <image:caption>An accomplished studio guitarist and bassist for over 30 years, a few of Kenny's other credits include Bonnie Raitt, Eddie Money, Dave Mason, Billy Preston, Peter Frampton, Boz Scaggs, Brian Wilson, and Steve Stills. Kenny's wide range of vocal stylings range from romantic ballads, blues, hard rock, reggae, and Latin. When not touring or recording, Kenny enjoys taking mature musical excursions when doing album projects, Movie and Television composing, or performing with his friends. Kenny Lee has just released his new contemporary jazz instrumental guitar CD "New Vintage" on the New Folk/Allegro record label. Taking a break from playing such mega-hits like "Fly Like an Eagle" and "The Joker" for thousands on tour each summer, Kenny Lee has brought together some of the finest celebrity musicians in the business to offer this celebration of classic groove-jazz. Returning back to his early influences while playing in college jazz bands, Kenny Lee borrows sounds and techniques from Wes Montgomery, George Benson, and Howard Roberts. Featuring such notable players as Ricky Peterson, keyboardist and musical director for David Sanborn and currently with Bonnie Raitt. Billy Peterson, former bassist and arranger for the Steve Miller Band, and co-owner of The Artist Quarter jazz club in St. Paul, MN. Paul Peterson, bassist for Kenny Loggins, George Benson, and Oleta Adams. Danny Pelfrey, saxophonist/composer who's credits include Diana Ross and Carole King. Gordy Knutson, drummer for The Steve Miller Band and professor of percussion at the McNally-Smith College of Music in Minneapolis, MN. Jason DeLaire, saxophonist formerly with Michael Bolton. Dianne Steinberg, recording artist and actress who portrayed "Lucy" in the Robert Stigwood production of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and many other talented session players. "New Vintage" has recently had rave reviews in Guitar Player Magazine, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and Wine and Jazz Magazine.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2025-performer-bios/aishlin-harrison</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-20</lastmod>
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      <image:title>2025 Performer Bios - Aishlin Harrison - Entrepreneur and Artist</image:title>
      <image:caption>Aishlin Harrison is a San Francisco-based entrepreneur and artist. Most recently, Aishlin led operations at Alira Health’s RedCrow and co-founded The Main Stage platform; she is dedicated to connecting people with ideas and helping them grow. Outside of her professional ventures, Aishlin is a visual artist working in mixed media and collage, a singer, and a devoted enthusiast of the absurd. With a Master’s in Integrated Business, Design, and Technology from USC and a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts’ Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, she combines creative vision with strategic expertise in everything she does.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2025-performer-bios/jerry-harrison</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-20</lastmod>
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      <image:title>2025 Performer Bios - Jerry Harrison - American musician and songwriter</image:title>
      <image:caption>Each generation has artforms and technologies that defines the center of the culture at that moment in time. Jerry Harrison has had the good fortune to be in the center of two: popular music in the 1960s through the 1990s and the personal computer revolution which began in the late 1970s.  Born In Milwaukee in 1949, Jerry Harrison grew up in an artistic family.  His mother having studied at Cranbrook Academy of Art during the time of Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen went on to teach at the Chicago Art Institute and the Layton School of Art.  His father was a musician and an executive in an advertising firm. In high school Mr. Harrison studied music and played in rock bands; he then went on to attend Harvard College where he graduated Magna Plus Cum Laude in Visual and Environmental Studies in 1972. Mr. Harrison earned a Doctor of Fine Arts (Honorary) from the Rhodes Island School of Design in May, 2015.  While at Harvard, Mr. Harrison joined The Modern Lovers, which was a seminal band in the development of Punk Rock music. The original group’s highly acclaimed album, The Modern Lovers, was recorded in 1972, but not released until 1976 - after the original band’s breakup in 1974. The album’s release led to Jerrymeeting David Byrne, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth during the summer of 1976. Invited to join the band, Jerry left the Harvard Graduate School of Design to join the Talking Heads in January 1977, as preparations for the first album, Talking Heads ’77, began.  The Talking Heads’ ten albums are considered one the most important oeuvres in rock and roll history. In addition to their first album Talking Heads ’77, they include:  More Songs About Buildings and Food; Fear of Music; Remain in Light; The Name of this Band is Talking Heads; Speaking in Tongues; Little Creatures; True Stories, Naked; and the album and film Stop Making Sense. The influence of the Talking Heads and their albums on music and musicians continues to this day. As a member of the Talking Heads, Mr. Harrison was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, won "Best Group Video" at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1987 and with engineer E.T. Thorngren, won five awards at the 2005 Surround Awards for the 5.1 remixes of the Talking Heads’ albums. He also received a Grammy nomination for the album design of Fear of Music in 1980. Remain in Light was certified into the National Recording Registry Library by the Library of Congress in 2017. He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award with the other members of Talking Heads in 2021. Mr. Harrison has three solo albums to his credit: The Red and the Black; Casual Gods; and Walk on Water.  He has also been a successful music producer since 1981, among the more notable artists he has produced are: The Fine Young Cannibals; Violent Femmes; Bodeans; Crash Test Dummies; Live; Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band; No Doubt; Foo Fighters;  Verb Pipe; and the Von Bondies.  His most recent productions have been The String Cheese Incident’s Song in My Head and Believe, Stephen Stills, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Barry Goldberg’s The Rides; Live’s album: The Turn, and  Les Butcherettes album: Bimental.  Mr. Harrison has been instrumental to a number of films.  Stop Making Sense, released in 1984,  depicts a concert from The Talking Heads tour of 1983 and 1984 and is considered one of the best concert films of all time and was certified into the National Film Registry  Library by the Library of Congress in 2021.  10 Days Out, Blues from the Backroads, released in 2007, chronicles Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Double Trouble as they wind through the southern United States performing with both famous, e.g. B.B King  and largely unknown Blues Artists.  Most recently, Mr. Harrison has been a producer of the album and film: Take Me to the River, which chronicles the rise, fall, and that fall’s relationship to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, and finally the rebirth of the Memphis music scene. The winner of the 2013 SXSW (South By Southwest Festival) “Audience Award” and the 2013 London Raindance Film Festival’s “Feature Film of the Festival Award” Take Me to the River includes new performances pairing R&amp;B legends: Bobby Blue Bland, William Bell, Bobbie Rush, Otis Clay, Booker T. Jones and Mavis Staples with young Memphis musicians and rappers such as Snoop Dog, Yo Gotti, Al Kapone, Fraiser Boy, Li’l Peanut and the North Mississippi Allstars. In additiuon the Take Me to the River project has partnered with the Berkeley School of Music’s outreach to urban school systems. Mr. Harrison also contributed to the follow up film:  Take Me to the River: NOLA which similarly explored New Orleans rich history of music.  Since 2021, Mr. Harrison has toured the United States with Adrian Belew who both played on Remain In Light  and was a member of the band that toured supporting the album.  Taking the Talking Heads concert in Rome in 1980, as a blueprint, they are joined by members of Cool,Cool, Cool, Julie Slick and Yohuba Tores.  The band has performed 75 shows in the United States and Canada and will be touring Europe this coming May and June.  In 2022, ET Thorngren and Mr. Harrison remixed all eight of the Talking Heads albums for ATMOS for release by Apple Music. In 2023, Mr. Harrison oversaw the remix of Stop Making Sense by ET Thorngren and Mike Minkler.  Interstingly the final mix was at the same facility as the 1984 mix: in 1984: Warner Hollywood and in 2023: The Lot.  The re-release of the acclaimed film by A-24 began with an IMAX screening at the Toronto Film Festival which was simulcast to IMAX theaters around the world.  The program not only presented the film, but also inluced a q&amp;a with David, Chris, Tina, and Jerry.  Further premiers occurred in both New York and Los Angeles with all four band members as well as interviews on The Stephen Colbert Show and The Tonight Show.  Building on his knowledge of computers from learning PPL while at Harvard, his work at Cambridge Computer Associates, a system and software development company, in 1975 and 1976, and being actively involved with the companies that brought computerized control to both keyboards and digital recording, Jerry became involved in the burgeoning intersection between music, technology and social media when he and his family moved to San Francisco in 1994.   In 1996, he joined the Board of Advisors of Liquid Audio. Along with RealNetworks and  RealAudio, Liquid Audio was one of the two emerging online audio standards in the 1990s.  In 1999, Mr. Harrison co-founded Garageband. Garageband—not to be confused by the Apple program, Apple licensed the name from the original company—was one of the inventors of crowdsourcing. It used a sophisticated rating system to generate popularity rankings for each artist, the top artists were offered a recording contract by the company. The site was also used by music fans to discover new independent artists in the site's vast collection, as well as a resource for musicians who were seeking greater exposure and critical insight provided by an audience of their peers. Renamed iLike, the company added products which enhanced itunes and became the predominant music app on Facebook when Facebook opened its platform to outside apps. The company grew to 60 million users and was sold to Myspace in 2009.  In 2003, Mr. Harrison joined the Board of Directors of IODA, the Independent Online Distribution Alliance. IODA provided the link between independent labels and music download sites, e.g. iTunes and Amazon.com. IODA was sold to Sony Music in 2009. Mr. Harrison served on the Board of Advisors of MicroUnity Systems Engineering since 1988 and joined its Board of Directors in 1996. MicroUnity successfully developed and extended microprocessors beyond their historical role as calculating and control devices by making them the primary media-processing engines of televisions, mobile computers, smartphones, and other digital communications devices. Today MicroUnity’s methods and technology are used in over five billion devices worldwide.   In 2011, Mr. Harrison became a founding partner in the Venearth Group LLC, a venture capital group devoted to climate mitigation with a particular focus on sustainable agriculture and solar technologies. Mr. Harrison is on the Board of Directors of Venearth supported companies Carbon Gold, Inc. and Anthroterra, Inc. In 2014, Mr. Harrison co-founded Ophirex, Inc with Dr. Mathew Lewin.   Ophirex has pioneered a new approach to the treatment of snakebites which is not based on anti-venoms. Snakebites, a long neglected world health crisis, kill more than a 100,000 lives and maim more than 500,000 people annually. More than 75% of snakebite victims never make it to the hospital. The Ophirex solution will provide an easily carried, heat stable compound and delivery system, which will be a “bridge to survival” so that the victim can get to the hospital and be treated accordingly.  Ophirex is currently in human trials and continues to make progress to FDA approval and world wide distribution.  1n 2016, Mr. Harrison co-founded RedCrow, Inc.  RedCrow is a company that uses the on-line tools unleashed by the JOBS act to help innovative new health care companies find funding.  In addition RedCrow uses the methods pioneered  by Mr. Harrison’s earlier company, Garageband.com, to use crowd-sourcing as a tool for companies to evaluate and improve their products and for investors to  gain further insights into the suitablily of a particular investment. RedCrow was sold to Alira Health in 2022. Mr. Harrison lives in Mill Valley with his wife, Carol, where they raised their three children.</image:caption>
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    <loc>https://festforums.com/2025-performer-bios/alan-parsons</loc>
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    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-01-17</lastmod>
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      <image:title>2025 Performer Bios - Alan Parsons - Grammy Award winner Alan Parsons was born into a family with an impressive history in entertainment. His great-grandfather was the celebrated actor/manager Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree. His mother was an actress, professional folk singer and harpist and his father, Denys Parsons, an accomplished pianist and flautist as well as the author of many books. The late Oliver Reed, film actor was a cousin. His uncle, David Tree was also a film and stage actor.</image:title>
      <image:caption>Alan had dabbled with live performance in his late teens as a folk/blues acoustic player and as a lead guitarist with a blues band called The Earth in the late sixties in his hometown of London. (Their only album, Elemental surfaced recently and was released by Record Collector Magazine in 2015.) But as soon as he landed a job at the famous Abbey Road Studios at the age of 19, it became clear that the world of sound recording was to dominate his career. Abbey Road: He was fortunate enough to work as assistant engineer on the last two albums by The Beatles and after he qualified as a fully-fledged recording engineer, he went on to work with Paul McCartney and The Hollies among many others. But it was his contribution as engineer on Pink Floyd’s classic The Dark Side Of The Moon that really got him world attention. That soon led to striking successes as a producer – notably with Pilot’s Magic, John Miles’ Highfly and Music and Steve Harley’s (Come Up And See Me) Make Me Smile. He also produced the hugely successful Year Of The Cat album with Al Stewart and two albums with American prog rock band Ambrosia. In 1975 he met Eric Woolfson who not only became his manager, but joined forces with Alan as a songwriting and performing partner for what became known as The Alan Parsons Project. The APP’s debut album, Tales Of Mystery And Imagination based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe paved the way for a signing to Clive Davis’ newly launched Arista label and a string of hit albums, namely I Robot (1977), Pyramid (1978), The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980), Eye in the Sky (1982), Ammonia Avenue (1984), Vulture Culture (1985), Stereotomy (1986) and Gaudi (1987). A brief venture into musical theatre resulted in Freudiana in 1990.The show ran for over a year in the historic Theater An Der Wien in Vienna. Eric and Alan then went separate ways. Eric devoted his career to the musical theatre while Parsons felt the need to bring his music to the live concert stage and to continue to record ambitious symphonic rock music. With his long-standing previous APP collaborators, guitarist Ian Bairnson, drummer Stuart Elliott and orchestral arranger Andrew Powell, Alan dropped the “Project” identity for Alan Parsons’ –Try Anything Once – in 1994. The partnership continued for On Air in 1996 and The Time Machine in 1999. During this time the first incarnation of “Alan Parsons Live Project” toured to sell out audiences throughout the globe. Following Alan’s relocation to California in 1999 with his American girlfriend, Lisa, and a divorce from Smokey, his first wife, a brand-new Live Project band was formed in 2003. That same year Lisa and Alan were married. Another band reshuffle happened in 2010, and various other personnel changes and additions have taken place since then. The 2019 band consists of Alan on acoustic guitar, keyboards and vocals, P.J. Olsson on lead vocals, Todd Cooper on sax, percussion, and lead vocals Tom Brooks on keyboards and vocals, Guy Erez on bass and vocals, Jeff Kollman on lead guitar and vocals, Danny Thompson on Drums and vocals, and Dan Tracey on guitar and vocals. The album A Valid Path, Alan’s foray into electronica was released in 2004 and featured Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, The Crystal Method, Shpongle, Uberzone, P.J. Olsson and Alan’s son, Jeremy. 2008 saw the reissue of all the Alan Parsons Project albums in expanded form, containing never-before- heard bonus material and a 2-CD compilation called The Essential Collection. One of the most familiar Project tracks is Sirius, perhaps best known as the Chicago Bulls theme. It was also used as the walk-on music for The New Orleans Saints at their triumphant Super Bowl game in 2010 and at the 2012 European Cup soccer matches. Sirius has also been featured at countless other sporting events, commercials and in the movies Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs and Beerfest. In 2010, Alan felt the need to share his extensive knowledge and expertise with the masses. With the help of fellow Brit Julian Colbeck, Alan wrote and produced a comprehensive instructional video series about recording called The Art &amp; Science Of Sound Recording (ASSR). It features contributions from a myriad of celebrity artists, engineers and producers and is narrated by Billy Bob Thornton. There is also a companion book. See www.artandscienceofsound.com. Alan has been supporting ASSR with a series of lectures and Master Class Training Sessions (MCTS) all over the world. It has been a great opportunity for the attendees to witness Alan at work in the studio and to participate actively in the making of a possible future hit. Since the beginning of 2012, as well as performing live shows, Alan has kept busy in the studio doing vocals for German electronica outfit, Lichtmond, and with YES stars Billy Sherwood and the late Chris Squire as The Prog Collective. Other collaborations have been with Mexican superstar Aleks Syntek, celebrated Israeli singer/songwriter Aviv Geffen, and with Austrian chart-topping singer Virginia Ernst. Alan also produced an album titled Grand Ukulele with Jake Shimabukoro, the virtuoso ukulele player, whose YouTube video of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” has received over 16 million hits. The album contains a number of orchestral arrangements by Winger frontman, Kip Winger. A collaboration with Steven Wilson as engineer and associate producer resulted in major success including a Top 5 album in Germany with The Raven That Refused To Sing in 2013. A CD box set of all the Alan Parsons Projects was released in March 2014 and included a controversial never previously released CD from 1979 entitled The Sicilian Defence. In the summer of 2016 Alan released a video on Blu-ray and DVD, with audio in both stereo and 5.1 Surround of a major concert event in Medellin Columbia, featuring a 70-piece symphony orchestra. Both Tales of Mystery and Imagination and Eye in the Sky have been released in anniversary box sets, including half speed vinyl at 45rpm, original and bonus CDs, and include 5.1 Surround mixes on Blu-ray. The Eye  In The Sky Surround mix earned him his first Grammy Award after a win had eluded him after twelve previous Grammy nominations. Other awards include The Les Paul Award in 1995 and The Diva Hall Of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award in Munich, Germany in June 2012. He is in demand as a public speaker and was keynote speaker at the 2014 Audio Engineering Society Convention in Los Angeles and was the opening speaker at the TEDx Conejo conference in California in April 2012. In March of 2018 Alan lead an intensive Master Class weekend workshop along with Grammy Award winning arranger (and one of Alan’s band members) Tom Brooks, at Hybrid Studios in Santa Ana, California, which included a full symphony orchestra. Participating in the initiative were session greats Vinnie Colaiuta, Nathan East and Jeff Kollman. The session featured a rock version of the orchestral classic, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and appears on Alan’s 2019 album, The Secret. Alan recently built a state-of-the-art studio with a Neve 5088 console at his property in California. The 2019 Ammonia Avenue Hi-Def and 5.1 Surround remixes were compiled and mastered there, as well his latest Studio Album, The Secret. The album features guest appearances from Jason Mraz, Lou Gramm of Foreigner, and Steve Hackett. Believing in giving back to his community, Alan donated all proceeds from his 2018 Chumash Casino concert to benefit first responders and local organizations serving Santa Barbara’s Thomas Flood victims and first responders. But his generosity didn’t stop there. Alan helped to spearhead and was the musical director for the “ONE 805 KICK ASH BASH” benefit event that further supported first responders and Montecito fire and flood victims. Raising over $2 million, the celebrity appearance list included Dennis Miller (emcee), Ellen DeGeneres, Jane Seymour, Michael Keaton, Don Johnson. Musical performances included Alan Parsons, David Foster, Katie Perry, Kenny Loggins, Wilson Philips, David Crosby, Steve Vai, Katharine McPhee, Richard Marx, The Sisterhood Band, Glen Phillips, Dishwalla and many others. Exercising his family genes in acting, (as cousin to noted actor the late Oliver Reed), Alan was immortalized as a cartoon-ized version of himself in the “Yacht Rocky” episode of the 2019 series of the long-running, mega-hit animated TV series, “Family Guy.” Alan’s longtime hobby has been performing magic, and he regularly attends the legendary Magic Castle in Hollywood where he is a magician member. Magic was a key subject for the concept of The Secret album. Alan lives on an organic avocado ranch in Santa Barbara, California with his wife Lisa and numerous farm animals and pets.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2025-performer-bios/nicole-sophia</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-12-31</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/8148bf9a-6925-4d03-aed4-7770a9dac853/NICOLE+SOPHIA+Headshot+Logo.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Performer Bios - Nicole Sophia - Santa Barbara, CA-based singer-songwriter Nicole Sophia’s lyrically driven brand of indie pop/rock radiates joy, bad-assery, and vulnerability. Inspired by artists like Hozier, Sara Bareilles, Maggie Rogers, and Florence + The Machine, Despite not hailing from a musical family, Nicole Sophia gravitated to songwriting at a very young age. An intuitive child with a curious, impassioned heart and an overactive mind, “the girl of a thousand questions” turned to music and songwriting to make sense of the beautiful messiness of being human.  After years of playing live and gaining loyal fans in the process, Nicole Sophia is thrilled to be releasing her debut record “Reveal Your Heart” in 2023, releasing multiple singles in anticipation of the full record. Nicole Sophia is ambitiously looking forward to touring nationally and internationally, playing everywhere from her fans’ favorite dives to Red Rocks, Madison Square Garden and beyond. High on her list of goals is headlining her hometown venue of the Santa Barbara Bowl.</image:title>
      <image:caption>Reveal Your Heart - Artist Notes I started writing Reveal Your Heart during the transition from early adolescence to young adulthood. I was navigating difficult and unfamiliar situations, and I found meaning and clarity in expressing the nitty gritty through writing. For me, songwriting has always been a sanctuary where I can honestly confront and delve into the intricate corners of my experiences. This debut EP dives into numerous themes that have shaped my life so far. It explores my relationship with mental health, the complexities of sex, the intricacies of dating and hookup culture, my own family dynamics, and the exploration of my own sexuality and identity. It also digs into the desire to experience love and the raw emotions I encountered when I finally did, and these were the profound experiences that influenced the creation of my songs. Throughout my exploration, I continuously asked the question, ‘What does it truly mean to embrace my authentic self, and how can I fully express that while still in the process of discovering who I am?’ These songs are a testament to my very personal process and represent my genuine attempts at unraveling these questions. The order of these songs isn’t random; while each song tells its own story, the order is very deliberate for the purpose of telling a bigger story from beginning to end, and keen listeners will hear how one song logically leads to the next in order to serve the overall theme.  I hope that by sharing Reveal Your Heart, listeners can relate to my experiences, find comfort in knowing they're not alone, and perhaps even discover their own truths along the way. Reveal Your Heart is an intimate collection that invites you to join me on this voyage of self-discovery and vulnerability. Thank you for being a part of this journey. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with your own stories.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2025-performer-bios/mckenna-elliot</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-12-31</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/51df7c05-0e89-4cf4-a68e-e631816c4a5d/McKenna+Headshot+Logo.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Performer Bios - Mckenna Elliot - McKenna Elliott is a powerhouse vocalist and songwriter redefining the dark femme indie pop genre. With a voice that effortlessly bridges the soul-stirring depth of Adele and the commanding energy of Whitney Houston, McKenna stands apart in a world often saturated with delicate whispers. Her sound spans from soulful ballads to electrifying anthems—it bridges the intimate and the epic, and captivates audiences with every note.</image:title>
      <image:caption>Influenced by iconic artists like Olivia Dean, Kacey Musgraves, Lizzy McAlpine, and Fleetwood Mac, McKenna’s music is a blend of introspection, emotional intensity, and vibrant storytelling. A Berklee College of Music senior, she’s honing her craft in Vocal Performance while mastering the art of teaching contemporary voice. Between her studies in Boston and her hometown of Santa Barbara, CA, the youngest of the Voracious Records roster is channeling her life experiences into her debut self-titled EP, set to release in Spring 2025. A history of accolades highlight McKenna’s growth as a vocalist and performer. She has been performing since she could speak, and her early background in musical theater saw her awarded both Performer of the Year and Outstanding Performer with MTCA. She’s worked with local legends Kenny Loggins, Tariq Akoni and Randy Tiko, and of late has large shows to her credit including Teen Star Finalist two years running, performing for 2000 people. She’s headlined on Santa Barbara’s numerous main stages, the Polo Fields, the Yacht Club, and a host of other clubs, and has also been interviewed on local radio and collaborates with Santa Barbara musicians as well as Berklee grads. McKenna’s music resonates with the essence of the dark feminine: a striking balance of vulnerability, power, and unapologetic authenticity. Through her lyrically-driven songs, she tackles themes of heartbreak, longing, and growth with a rawness that invites listeners to confront their own emotions. "My music is about finding my way through hard lessons. I want to create music that is honest, vulnerable, and relatable—for others more than just for myself. I want people to know they’re not alone in their own journey," she says. With her versatile voice, narrative focus, and commanding stage presence, McKenna Elliott’s star continues to rise. She invites her audience into a space where complexity and emotion intertwine, and remains dedicated to creating music that connects, inspires, and will leave a lasting impact on the indie pop landscape.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2025-performer-bios/joveth</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2024-12-31</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/693d42af-907e-4e32-ae8e-57f350e78afb/JOVETH+Headshot+Logo.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2025 Performer Bios - JOVETH - JOVETH has arrived – geographically, emotionally, and musically. Creating music since the age of 12 with cultural influences from his native Philippines and his childhood in Sweden, Joveth made a hugely difficult move to the US all alone before the age of 20. He's spent every waking moment perfecting his music and producing skills, focusing on overall artistry. With early aspirations in the visual arts, it all changed with one transformative James Blunt concert. The event so moved Joveth that he began his lifelong mission to create a complete music experience that would similarly impact others. Joveth's music is a mirror of his soul, inviting listeners to confront their own emotions and stories through his original production and soul-bearing lyrics. He wants nothing more than to have his music help others overcome their own adversity.</image:title>
      <image:caption>His journey has been tumultuous yet transformative. Joveth's migration from Sweden to the US marked not just a physical relocation, but a profound shift in artistic mentality. Wrestling with personal trauma, he dove deep into California's underground music scene, seeking solace as well as creative liberation. He found fertile ground to explore and refine his musical identity.   Through relentless experimentation across R&amp;B, pop, EDM, rock, and soul genres, all of which inform his new EP “Lonely Boy” on Voracious Records, Joveth has melded a sound that uses those genres to express his inner turmoil and resulting creative resilience. Where he landed was as much a musical achievement as one of personal growth and newfound artistic clarity. Other influences include Jon Bellion, Drake, Post Malone, Michael Jackson, and The Weeknd.  From the intimacy of small clubs to expansive stages, Joveth's shows are immersive experiences of raw energy augmented with his own sound and lighting design. He says, “The effects and atmospherics I create are what I hear and see in my head, and I’m happy I’m able to recreate it when I produce, mix and perform my songs.”  In 2022, Toto’s David Paich saw potential in Joveth and helped him with an early song. Joveth has also worked with Biby Bourelley, learning a lot from her way of writing and creating songs. He’s performed extensively in SoCal. He applies all the skills learned running a recording studio and works tirelessly to become known as a legit pop star with an important message. A perfectionist by nature, he feels his time has finally come to be seen. Joveth is relentlessly driven, and for him there’s no other path than music. The amount of work, sweat and tears I had to go through brought me to where I am today mentally, personally and musically.”  As to his process and the new EP “Lonely Boy”, Joveth says:  “Working as a sound engineer for years has allowed me to be creative with recording techniques, both in and out of “the box”. You’ll definitely hear leanings towards genres like trap music and hip-hop, but also purely organic sounds and harmonies. And I love distortion and synths in my sound! It gives it a hint of edginess - similar to how I am as a person - and how I perform.  I also love layering instruments and vocals. I learned a lot of these techniques in Sweden working with a well-known producer. And the sound of my voice has its own identity and I worked really hard on finding that. It took me years to finally be able to say ‘that’s my sound. The first single, Say My Name is about finding out who we really are and being unafraid to say it.”  About his overall philosophy for life and music: "I’m all about sending good vibes at the end of the day. I support my community and whatever feels right to do. When it comes to creative choices, I can’t really say any genre I don't like. I’m in love with music, so I guess whatever sounds like ‘spirit’ to me, I understand, and I’m open and adaptable to art from others’ viewpoints.   As he continues to push boundaries and redefine genres, Joveth is a beacon of authenticity in a music industry often dominated by trends. He embodies the spirit of artistic integrity and emotional honesty.  He has the ethos of a true artist - undaunted by adversity, driven by creativity, and forever evolving in the pursuit of his own musical truth.  Outside of music Joveth is equally committed to serving community. During the pandemic he worked in a homeless shelter as a kitchen manager. He saw a way to re-invent their entire culinary program, including teaching the clients how to become line cooks, and was recognized for creating a blueprint for the shelter to copy in other shelters. In life he strives to create positive change as well as musical inspiration. In addition to all his other skills he still paints, designs his own cover art and live show graphics, and is tri-lingual. And he’s a wicked cook! About Joveth, his label Voracious Records says: “We saw the raw energy and potential of Joveth on social media and were following him with interest. A friend of many years, the head of Santa Barbara Sound Design, Dom Camardella, mentioned over dinner that he had an artist he was working with whom he felt was worthy of label support. He urged us to stop by that night for a visit, and to our surprise and good fortune, there was Joveth – whom Dom was mentoring. It was the kind of coincidence that felt more like fate. Over the course of the next several months a strategy for launch was developed. What we didn’t know at the time was just how special Joveth is – as a creator, as a survivor, most but importantly, as a human being with immense drive and integrity. As an artist, he checks all the boxes a label could possibly want. We’re honored to know him.”  Be a part of the Joveth experience. Follow him on Spotify and all streaming platforms, IG, YouTube, Bandsintown and Bandcamp.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios</loc>
    <changefreq>daily</changefreq>
    <priority>0.75</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-02-12</lastmod>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/allison-shaw</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-02-12</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/3a9a7cb8-fef9-4598-a913-93e7332ab801/5I4A6652.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Allison Shaw - SVP of Festival Operations and Talent Strategy for Pure Imagination Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Allison Shaw (Allie) is a multi-faceted and experienced music industry professional. Allie’s passion for music prompted her to create Manic Monkee, a boutique firm specializing in full-scale festival production and operations, talent buying, strategic partnerships, artist management, and brand activations across music, tech, and entertainment. With over 20 years of experience, she currently serves as SVP of Festival Operations and Talent Strategy for Pure Imagination Festival and is the producer/talent buyer for Good Karma Fest and the co-creator and talent buyer for the Whole Foods SXSW Showcase. Her past work spans multiple multi-genre festivals including talent buyer for Moogfest and serving as executive producer and talent buyer for Los Angeles’s first all solar-powered music festival, Sunstock Solar Fest and Executive Director for the Santa Fe Muzik Festival, and managed multiple artists. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the nonprofit Sweet Relief Musicians Fund and is also a professional member of The Recording Academy  Allie began her career writing for MTV before founding national music publication Hyperactive Music Magazine and the Hyperactive Conference and Music Festival. Her wide-ranging roles have included Director of Music for culinary celebrity Rachael Ray/Watch Entertainment, CMO of .music, A&amp;R and Operations Manager at Listen Records/Sony.and Head of Partnerships at Muzooka. Allison also got the absolute privilege of working with Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees Public Enemy as head of brand development. Shaw also served on the New Mexico Music Commission.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/dana-greer</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-02-04</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1770219913144-5H6PGE79N4F4JP5LOYL5/Dana+Greer+Headshot.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Dana Greer - Chief Brand and Operations Officer at Good Vibez Presents</image:title>
      <image:caption>Dana Greer is Chief Brand and Operations Officer at Good Vibez Presents, where she has been a key driver of the company’s expansion for more than 12 years. She leads brand strategy, marketing, ticketing, sponsorships, and operational execution across a multi-brand portfolio of festivals, concerts, and live entertainment experiences, overseeing initiatives from early concept through large scale delivery. Dana has played a foundational role in building some of the most recognized live music brands in the reggae, rock, and lifestyle festival space. She was instrumental in launching Holo Holo Music Festival and scaling it into a multi-city event series across the west coast and Hawaiʻi. She has also helped guide the growth and long term positioning of California Roots Music and Arts Festival, now recognized as one of the largest reggae rock festivals in the nation. In parallel, Dana has overseen marketing strategy for the historic Fremont Theater for more than nine years, contributing to its standing as one of California’s leading independent music venues. Across her career, she has directed integrated marketing, ticketing strategy, and operational planning for thousands of events, driving audience growth, optimizing revenue performance, and building scalable systems that support sustained expansion. Dana is known for aligning creative vision with operational discipline and data informed decision making. Her leadership focuses on audience first brand building, ticketing performance, and operational excellence, positioning her as a trusted voice in live entertainment, experiential marketing, and event monetization.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/nick-turner</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-27</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1769547650419-S0RRIF7VRWACJTO6CJHJ/IMG_5431.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Nick Turner - Technology Innovator and Entertainment Marketer</image:title>
      <image:caption>A technology innovator and entertainment marketer since 1994, when he produced the first ever live video concert by a band on the Internet, and developed one of the earliest music websites, Rocktropolis, Turner has wide ranging experience in all aspects of the music and entertainment industry, online and traditional marketing, and the application of new technologies that allow marketers and brands to leverage the digital economy!  His most recent tenure as Founder in Residence at Google's Area 120 allowed him to build innovative products; mixing Google's proprietary data with his real world experience and contacts to bring significant value to Google, and Google's largest entertainment clients and customers.  He has spoken at numerous media and technology conferences, including Mashable, 'Produced By', Vidcon and Pollstar conferences. Prior to Google, from 2012 to 2018, Turner was the Co-Founder of an OTT, (On Demand Television) programming and distribution company, TV4 Entertainment, which had distribution partnerships with Hulu, Amazon, Roku, and others.  Until early 2012, he was Senior Vice President of Digital Media at Relativity Media, that produced movies including The Social Network, The Fighter, Immortals, Limitless, Mamma Mia, The 300 and others, where he oversaw a team dedicated to building sustainable online platforms, and created opportunities that redefined the way movies are marketed and distributed,  He was a SVP of Business Development and Artist Acquisition at Live Nation, the world’s largest concert promoter, and also consulted with Vevo, overseeing much of the marketing, branding and programming for its successful launch. He also worked at ARTISTdirect, a pioneering music company, where he signed and oversaw digital channels for the World’s largest artists and previously worked closely with maverick artist manager Miles Copeland, the manager of Sting and The Police, among others, and the founder of IRS records. Prior to being involved in technology, he was a successful touring and recording musician, a music manager and record company executive. Most notably, he was the drummer for the London based surf punk, garage band, The Barracudas, and 80’s punk super-group' and early MTV favorites, The Lords Of The New Church. He was also the first drummer, as a teenager, for The Raincoats, a British, post punk band formed in 1977 that were reputedly Kurt Cobain’s favorite band.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/gail-kvistad</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-27</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1769473545023-K3NDZAPHL0MOEJJAA30L/Gail+Kvistad+2026+%281%29.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Gail Kvistad - Gail Kvistad is a dynamic media professional, gifted connector and global community builder in the areas of Media, Entertainment, Art, Hospitality, and Travel.</image:title>
      <image:caption>She is the host and producer of the long-running television series "Living Local." Since its debut in 2010, the show has highlighted the unique passions and businesses of the California Central Coast spotlighting the innovators, artisans, and visionaries that define the cultural landscape. She has expanded the shows reach to a global audience via YouTube and social media. Her career spans decades of storytelling with high-level production and hosting roles for global brands such as National Geographic, Marriott,  ISLANDS Media, NBC, PBS, and SCUBAdiving Magazine where she developed a signature style that blends environmental stewardship with sophisticated storytelling.  Often described as an "avid world traveler," Kvistad has combined her flair for entertainment with a deep commitment to environmental stewardship, a passion she developed while exploring diverse ecosystems in the Caribbean and Japan early in her career. Beyond her work in media, Kvistad is a dedicated philanthropist and author known for her focus on positive community impact. She has served on numerous boards, including the Santa Barbara City College Foundation and Gail is a founding force behind the Santa Barbara South Coast Firefighter Foundation (SBSCFF.org). As a key organizer, she was instrumental in establishing the foundation to support local first responders and enhance community safety infrastructure, including the long-term goals of establishing vital fire training facilities and upgrading stations. In 2025, she further expanded her creative repertoire with the launch of her children's book series, “The Enchanted Tales of Magic Mojo and Gail Good Fairy”. The series, inspired by her rescue dog Mojo, reflects her life’s purpose of motivating others to find their "inner spirit" and light. Whether through her television segments or community activism, Gail remains a prominent figure in Southern California’s cultural and non-profit landscape and a dedicated "Light Worker," committed to elevating consciousness and fostering collaboration across the media and philanthropic landscapes.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/david-moorman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-27</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1769473451923-XIYYBESW29NMUNX3XVZO/David+Moorman.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - David Moorman - David Moorman is one of Santa Barbara’s best and beloved Master of Ceremonies.</image:title>
      <image:caption>David creates memorable and personable experiences for your guests to help ensure you event is a success. David’s natural charisma, off-the-cuff humor, and authentic wit make him the perfect host keeping an event entertaining and meaningful. As an experienced radio DJ, and an experienced emcee hosting multiple events, David is ready for any expected or unexpected circumstance, both on- and off-stage. With a passion for his community and causes that make a difference, David hosts multiple events throughout Santa Barbara County including Fest Forums, Fork &amp; Cork Classic, Lotusland Exceptional Plants, SB City College Foundation Spring Forward Gala, SB Fermentation Festival, SB Friendship Center Festival of Hearts, SB Museum of Natural History Folk &amp; Tribal Arts Marketplace, SB Senior Expo, SB Yacht Club Charity Regatta, and the VNA Health Annual Holiday Party.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/katrina-deangelis</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-24</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1769221876411-U7G3K3CN05CRYA2YESU4/Katrina+photo.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Katrina DeAngelis - Founder of Evolving Potential</image:title>
      <image:caption>Katrina DeAngelis is a regenerative leadership strategist and ecosystem architect who works with community builders and cultural leaders to shape organizations and communities that can carry the future they are here to create. She helps leaders and teams evolve beyond outdated leadership paradigms and rebuild their internal and external operating systems — so their work, communities, and organizations can thrive without burning people or values in the process. Over the past decade, Katrina has designed and delivered leadership development programs globally, working with more than 200 leaders across organizations including Johnson &amp; Johnson, Keurig, Dr Pepper, and now focuses on supporting mission-driven leaders and communities. Her work sits at the intersection of leadership, systems design, and ecology — helping leaders build businesses, communities, and ecosystems that don’t just perform, but regenerate people, organizations and cultures from the inside out.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/will-shares</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-24</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1769221635652-6HCRWZ8BY0U3HOXC2N8X/will+shares+icon+photo.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Will Shares - Creator of The Ecology Dept.</image:title>
      <image:caption>Will Shares is a 15 year music industry veteran who has worked with Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Famers and many of the world's leading music companies. With a background in creativity and entertainment media, Will created The Ecology Dept. to lead the way in bringing emphasis to this often overlooked but foundational area of festival ecology.  Over the last 5 years The Ecology Dept. has developed and implemented groundbreaking programs for 30+ festival organizations with single event attendance reaching 65,000+. Will is a true pioneer, and no stranger to the cycles of innovation in emerging areas. His love for ecology stems from the constant learning and growth that comes from an ability to measure the relationship between all things and the ability to act to increase beneficial impact and decrease degenerative impact.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/morgan-margolis</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-23</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1769188510153-EQTRHK8K6VQW0F0CKBKY/Morgan+Margolis+headshot.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Morgan Margolis - CEO/President of Knitting Factory Entertainment</image:title>
      <image:caption>Morgan Margolis has parlayed an upbringing in the arts into his position as CEO/President of Knitting Factory Entertainment (KFE) through a combination of skill, luck, and dogged persistence. The son of the late renowned actor Mark Margolis (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) and actress Jacqueline (née Petcove), he grew up in the East Village neighborhood of New York City. Margolis once wanted to be a pro football player, but after attending IS 70 in Chelsea and the High School of Performing Arts in the Theater District, he gravitated towards acting. With eclectic musical tastes, his first live music shows were Jeff Beck at the Palladium and the Talking Heads in Central Park, with other early musical inspiration coming from Black Sabbath.  After graduating from college at Stony Brook University, destiny led him to Los Angeles, where he started as Bar Manager at Luna Park in West Hollywood, supervising a three-room bar, restaurant, and club. In 1999, he moved to the flagship Knitting Factory concert house—at the time a slick, high-tech venue in the Hollywood Galaxy—as Bar Manager, becoming Operations Manager in 2000. Later, he took over as Vice President of West Coast Operations, as the company expanded into opening concert houses in the Pacific Northwest. In 2007, Margolis was promoted to VP of National Operations and produced tours and concerts at high-capacity venues nationally. Within a year, he was named CEO of KFE, a position he has now held for seventeen years. Margolis has guided the company from a three-unit venue business to a ten-plus unit, multi-tiered operation and portfolio company with six hundred employees nationally and abroad. Today, KFE encompasses: Knitting Factory-branded concert venues in Boise and Spokane; Knitting Factory Management, a music management arm representing artists like Seun Kuti, José González, Lee Fields, and Gogol Bordello; and Knitting Factory Presents, a national touring and promotions booking arm partnered with CMoore Concerts. KFE also includes: partnerships with breweries, bars, restaurants, hotels, music venues, music festivals, music artists, and cultural media properties; ownership of record labels, music publishing companies, podcast properties, marketing agencies, digital fundraising platforms, and music, artist, and culinary management companies; and other creative pursuits like co-producing Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals and critically acclaimed feature and documentary films. Margolis serves on boards for: crowd-sourced fundraising platform Fandiem; live entertainment and events app Buzznog; the iconic Pappy &amp; Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace; and music rights catalog holder Chord Music Group. He keeps everything straight through strong hiring practices, surrounding himself with professionals who know more in the areas where he may not have expertise, and is focused on the future of the business. He concludes, “With major players like Live Nation and AEG dominating the world, Knitting Factory Entertainment must be very specific in our market control and geographical growth to carve out our niche. We aim to spend more and more time improving the areas we have: offerings, experiences, festivals, venues with capacities from 500 to 3,500, and more. Meanwhile, our white-label talent buying division is experiencing strong growth, and we hope to book more than ten venues by mid-2026. KFE is very much a portfolio company with labels, media, and management, and we expect each division to present its own strategic plan for building a stronger future.”</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/caroline-waters</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-21</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1769031691845-A8005GW057VZGV6D096Z/Caroline+Waters+Photo.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Caroline Waters - Sr. Director of Festival Marketing at AEG Presents and Goldenvoice</image:title>
      <image:caption>Caroline Waters is a marketing leader at AEG Presents and Goldenvoice, where she helps shape the digital and marketing strategy for some of the world’s largest music festivals, including Coachella, Stagecoach, Electric Forest, and more. She oversees integrated, large scale marketing programs that connect paid media, social strategy, product, CRM, and analytics, with a focus on building cohesive campaigns across the full festival lifecycle. In her role, Caroline leads a team of nine festival marketers, providing strategic direction, mentorship, and operational oversight across a diverse festival portfolio. Her leadership style emphasizes clarity, accountability, and professional growth, while maintaining a high bar for execution and creative excellence. Caroline’s career is rooted in live music, with prior experience at Live Nation Entertainment and Q Prime. Her background spans festival marketing, artist and fan engagement, digital content strategy, and touring, giving her a well-rounded perspective on both the business and creative sides of live entertainment. She brings a thoughtful, fan first mindset to her work, building marketing programs that strengthen festival brands and drive ticket sales.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/ryan-slone</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-20</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1768945806344-YBS62ASB8ACY358588V1/Ryan+Slone+02.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Ryan Slone - Agent at Universal Attractions Agency</image:title>
      <image:caption>Ryan Slone is a Nashville-based agent with 13 years of agency experience. He currently works for Universal Attractions Agency in the Pop and Rock department, and has previously held roles at agencies like New Frontier Touring, Bonfire Touring, and Ovation Artist Group. He also holds a Music Industry MBA from Belmont University.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/mike-rosenthal</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-20</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1768939828770-K3P6XH35MIEUY06QTFJB/MikeRosenthalHeadShot640.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Mike Rosenthal - Co-founder and CEO of Fanaply</image:title>
      <image:caption>Mike Rosenthal is a co-founder and CEO of Fanaply, a platform that helps festivals and live events turn on-site fan participation into measurable revenue, sponsor ROI, and first-party audience data. Fanaply powers gamified engagement programs that drive real-world movement, discovery, and participation, while generating actionable insights for organizers, promoters, and brands. Before Fanaply, Mike spent over a decade working across the music industry. He led strategy and brand partnerships for the band OK Go, ran the marketing department at Mick Artist Management, co-founded a Manhattan music venue, and directed several international music festivals. His background spans sponsorships, content strategy, and event operations, giving him a practical, operator-level view of how fan engagement actually works on the ground.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/mike-meehan</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-20</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1dee2e1d-4149-4ef8-b3b9-e5871ade6b0a/Mike+Meehan+Headshot_Mike+Meehan.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Mike Meehan - Vice President of Strategy for Music &amp; Comedy at Leap Event Technology</image:title>
      <image:caption>Mike Meehan is the Vice President of Strategy for Music &amp; Comedy at Leap Event Technology, where he oversees the growth and expansion of Leap's festival and venue portfolio.  Based out of Austin, TX, Mike works with Leap's existing partners and new prospects to optimize their data collection and fan engagement strategies while leveraging the suite of products under the Leap Event Technology umbrella.  With a focus on elevating the fan experience, Leap provides event organizers integrated tools that can power ticketing, mobile apps, fan engagement, sponsorship; and marketing solutions all under one partnership. He has spent his career exclusively working in the live event space with a focus on large scale events.  With experience working at small start ups all the way to AEG and Live Nation, Mike brings a well rounded understanding of the live event ecosystem.  Prior to Leap Event Technology, Mike has held roles at ShowClix, Patron Technology; and Front Gate Tickets.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/jacob-phillips</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-16</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1768582962263-CMM250ERF906OA0TUOGI/Jacob+Phillips.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Jacob Phillips - Founder of Whisper Lane Capital</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jacob Phillips is an investment professional with 15+ years of experience spanning both public &amp; private markets.  He has public market experience working for some of the best firms on Wall Street (Goldman Sachs &amp; First Trust Portfolios) &amp; now as a private markets Founder or Partner (Whisper Lane Capital &amp; Tides VC). He has vetted thousands of investments and invested into dozens of high growth companies (OpenAI, SpaceX, Anduril, minority stakes in sports teams, etc) but has spent the last two years focused on the Humanoid Robotics space, with significant investments into two of the main players in the autonomous labor revolution.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/adam-rapchik</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-16</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1768532022381-DEHDG1DZM8J4TVNF6C8C/86535849262.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Adam Rapchik - Head of Music Partnerships at StubHub</image:title>
      <image:caption>Adam Rapchik leads StubHub’s Global Festivals, Expos &amp; Conventions team, partnering with promoters, rights holders, and event stakeholders to grow reach and demand through open, distribution-agnostic ticketing strategies. Over the past three years at StubHub, Adam has focused on putting control back in the hands of content rights holders—positioning StubHub as a marketing and distribution partner, not a primary ticketing provider. His team helps partners unlock incremental revenue and new audiences with flexible programs that perform when events are selling out and when demand needs to be built, supported by data, insights, and go-to-market strategy. Adam has worked in live music and events since 2015. He previously led the brand sales team at Bandsintown, collaborating with brands, promoters, and advertisers to market and promote events to a global community of concert fans. His work spans large-scale activations—such as CMT programming in Nashville during CMT Awards week—as well as intimate cultural experiences, including the Velvet Underground Exhibition in New York City.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/michelle-swing</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-02-10</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1770694353476-CTLGD2AC5I4CMCD0APIG/Screen+Shot+2026-02-09+at+1.32.07+PM.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Michelle Swing - Director of Music &amp; Festival Partnerships at StubHub</image:title>
      <image:caption>Michelle leads StubHub’s Open Distribution team for music and festival partnerships, helping festivals reach more fans, generate new revenue, and maintain control over ticketing and pricing. Since returning to StubHub, she has focused on supporting rights holders in navigating the secondary market and using data to connect with audiences more effectively. Michelle has spent 15+ years across the live music ecosystem, working with artists, promoters, and festivals at every stage. She began her career at AC Entertainment in Tennessee, marketing shows and festivals including Bonnaroo, before moving into touring, ticketing, and concert promotion. At AEG Presents in Los Angeles, she helped build the Artist Development program within Global Touring, supporting marketing and booking teams for international arena and stadium tours. At Sofar Sounds, she led and scaled concert operations across Western North America post-pandemic, expanding opportunities for local and independent artists. Most recently, as CEO of Noise Pop, Michelle grew the live events business, expanded festival productions, and built strategic partnerships, producing larger, more engaging shows that have played a key role in revitalizing San Francisco’s cultural landscape.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/ron-dorfman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-15</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1768510887059-D6W2C56ALN5V5Y4RBZQH/Ron+Dorfman.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Ron Dorfman - Founder and CEO of Skywell</image:title>
      <image:caption>Ron is the founder and CEO of Skywell, a Santa Monica based tech company that has developed innovative technology that produces clean, pure, fresh drinking water from nothing more than AIR. No pipes, no chemicals, no plastics and no delivery trucks. In addition to creating a very innovative alternative to how people can now access their drinking water, Skywell has also developed a cloud - based sustainability reporting  platform that calculates and reports (in real time) the sustainability  metrics (ie plastic bottles saved, Air Water produced and the pounds of  CO2 reduced) associated with the use of the Skywell equipment ( think: a  “Sustainability Scoreboard” ) whether that be in a home, office,  business/school campus or event application.  Ron also is a founding director of Reach-Out Worldwide (ROWW), a non profit charitable foundation that provides rapid response disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, including the deployment of doctors, nurses, fire fighters, medical supplies, food and water, to those in need in the immediate aftermath of natural disasters throughout the world.  Additionally, Ron was a founding member of the International Safe  Drinking Water Alliance (isDwa), a non-profit foundation created by the Dean of the Graduate School of Sustainability at UC Davis and the Graduate School of Environment at the University of Beijing to create and  implement global policies and strategies to increase access to safe  drinking water throughout the world.  Prior to founding Skywell, Ron was a practicing attorney in Los Angeles for  over 30 years. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from UCLA, and received his law degree from UCLA School of Law.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/kat-cody</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-15</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1768439335512-DFCOK2SDWMGH1Y35RQ28/Kat+Cody+Headshot+Main-Small.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Kat Cody - Founder of Jungle Lab Agency</image:title>
      <image:caption>Kat Cody is a freelance event, production, and artist relations leader with 9+ years of experience delivering large-scale music festivals, concerts, and experiential events across North America. She is the Founder of Jungle Lab Agency, an event production agency launched in 2021 to provide high-level operational leadership, artist relations strategy, and production support for live and digital events. Kat is known for calm, decisive leadership in high-pressure environments and for managing complex, high-stakes productions that prioritize artist experience, fan safety, and operational excellence. Through Jungle Lab Agency and her freelance work, Kat specializes in festival and concert operations, artist relations strategy, production coordination, and live event decision management. She regularly serves as an operational lead for multi-stage festivals, stadium and arena concerts, and artist-led events—overseeing advancing, logistics, staffing, budgets, and real-time show-day execution. Her leadership spans cross-functional teams across production, security, transportation, hospitality, access control, and site operations. She is deeply committed to fostering healthy, respectful working environments for crew and believes strong productions are built on care, clear communication, and sustainable leadership. Kat has held key leadership roles at major festivals and events, including Operations Manager for the Outdoor Theatre Stage at Coachella and Artist Relations Manager &amp; Production Coordinator for Ohana Music Festival. She has also served as Artist Relations &amp; BOH Director for Kilby Block Party and Red West Fest, Event Manager for Orville Peck’s Rodeo, and a trusted freelance Production Coordinator, supporting high-profile events and stadium-level productions with Live Nation, Goldenvoice, AEG, C3 Presents, Insomniac, Her Universe, artist teams, and more. Whenever possible, Kat works to integrate philanthropic initiatives and meaningful engagement with local communities into the events she produces. Since 2020, Kat has operated as a full-time freelancer and agency founder, following earlier full time roles with Vans Warped Tour, Live Nation, Danny Wimmer Presents, and the Kevin Lyman Group. She continues to produce in-person and digital events while remaining deeply committed to building organized, artist-centered, and fan-forward experiences—and to mentoring the next generation of event professionals through leadership, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/jack-noordsy</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-15</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1768438176640-2V2VNPUCT9U8SX5DOPAX/Jack+Noordsy+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Jack Noordsy - Software Specialist at Eventeny</image:title>
      <image:caption>Based in San Diego, Jack is a Software Specialist at Eventeny, an all-in-one festival and event management platform used by over 26,000 events, including the CA Garlic Festival, Palm Springs Pride, and Carnaval San Francisco, which draws more than 400,000 attendees each year. He’s passionate about helping festival organizers to outfox the chaos of festival planning to reduce stress and grow their events.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/kevin-jonas-sr</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-14</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1768422876111-H19GMMNUHG8PAMDVV6Y1/Kevin+Jonas+Sr.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Kevin Jonas Sr. - Founder of Jonas Group Entertainment Holdings</image:title>
      <image:caption>Kevin Jonas Sr. is a visionary entrepreneur and legacy-driven leader whose career bridges the worlds of music, entertainment, and hospitality with a rare blend of faith, strategy, and heart. As the founder of Jonas Group Entertainment Holdings, he has built a multifaceted entertainment company encompassing artist management, a record label (Red Van Records), music publishing, brand sponsorship, and television and film development, all anchored in integrity and rooted in family values.  Renowned as one of the architects behind the Jonas Brothers’ rise to global success, Kevin has guided Grammy-nominated artists and emerging talent with a keen eye for longevity and authenticity. Today, his efforts focus on acquiring publishing and master rights across pop, country, and Christian genres, while expanding into sports management and values-aligned brand partnerships. In addition to his work in entertainment, Kevin is the proud founder of Nellie’s Southern Kitchen, a beloved restaurant concept honoring his family’s Southern roots. With locations in Belmont, North Carolina, and Las Vegas, Nevada, Nellie’s delivers heartfelt hospitality and memory-filled meals that celebrate tradition, faith, and family.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/matt-kettmann</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-14</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1768422713196-89RZ3KO2SPCHTANFVJ9Z/Matt+Kettmann.webp</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Matt Kettmann - Senior Writer for the Santa Barbara Independent</image:title>
      <image:caption>Matt Kettmann is the senior writer for the Santa Barbara Independent, where he started his journalism career after graduating UCSB in 1999, and a writer-at-large for Wine Enthusiast, where he's been covering the winemakers and vineyards and reviewing the wines  of the Central Coast since 2014. He's the author of Vines &amp; Vision: The Winemakers of Santa Barbara County and pens a weekly newsletter for Independent.com called Full Belly Files, which has been named the best newspaper newsletter in California. He and his Bordeaux-born wife are the parents of two teenagers and a dog named Arrow. On top of his two jobs, Matt volunteers as an advisor for a number of nonprofits, including Notes for Notes, the SB Botanic Garden, the SB Culinary Experience, and White Buffalo Land Trust.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/danielle-madeira</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-13</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1768264769223-WH2GX91ANBLKKNCAE4O7/Danielle+Madeira+Image+1-12-26+at+9.36%E2%80%AFAM.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Danielle Madeira - Head Creative and Founder of Madeira and Partners</image:title>
      <image:caption>Danielle Madeira is the founder and CEO of Madeira &amp; Partners, a live event production agency specializing in large-scale festivals, immersive experiences, and artist-driven events. Prior to launching her firm in 2020, she spent 17 years at Another Planet Entertainment, where she served as Vice President of Marketing and Special Events and helped shape some of the most influential festivals and live productions in the country, including Outside Lands, Treasure Island Music Festival, and the launch of Life Is Beautiful in downtown Las Vegas. A seasoned producer and talent buyer, Danielle has worked closely with artists, agents, and brands to bring ambitious creative visions to life, and is widely respected for her ability to bridge production, marketing, and artist collaboration at scale.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/holly-doscher</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-13</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1768263358296-MKEPO7HPF4ZS38NPLDH3/Holly+Headshot+B%26W.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Holly Doscher - Senior Vice President of Marketing at Peachtree Entertainment</image:title>
      <image:caption>As Senior Vice President of Marketing at Peachtree Entertainment, Holly Doscher oversees the strategy, execution, and performance of marketing efforts across the company’s national portfolio, supporting more than 15 outdoor music festivals and 250+ concerts annually. She leads a cross-functional marketing organization responsible for brand development, audience growth, digital and paid media, partnerships, fan engagement, and on-site experience, while working closely with internal teams to support ticketing and pricing strategy. A strategic operator with a creative edge, Holly is deeply involved in building scalable systems, growing high-performing teams, and ensuring marketing efforts directly support business growth. She brings over a decade of experience in live entertainment, including serving as Senior Director of Marketing at Danny Wimmer Presents and earlier career experience at Live Nation, and is recognized for her ability to turn bold ideas into efficient, fan-first execution.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/kate-bogomolny</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-12</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1768244075675-T7ZM4Q81FCDRH8YYBG9V/Kate+Bogomolny.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Kate Bogomolny - Managing Director at LiveGauge</image:title>
      <image:caption>Kate Bogomolny is Managing Director at LiveGauge, where she partners with brands, properties, and agencies to measure the real-world impact of experiential marketing. She specializes in translating complex data into clear, actionable insights that help teams understand engagement, optimize activations, and prove ROI across live environments. Based in Santa Monica, Kate loves being around events, spending time at the beach, and rollerblading along the coast.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/mc-curran</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-10</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1768012517142-YYBE7X8TPCYAJF10CHBW/MC+Curran+headshot+1080x1080.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - MC Curran - Director of Marketing &amp; Partnerships, Spiegelworld</image:title>
      <image:caption>MC Curran is the Director of Marketing &amp; Partnerships at Spiegelworld, where she leads  marketing strategy, creative campaign development, and brand partnerships across the  company’s portfolio of live entertainment and hospitality. With over a decade at Spiegelworld,  she has helped shape iconic live productions and hospitality concepts in Las Vegas including  Absinthe at Caesars Palace, Atomic Saloon Show at Venetian Resort, and Superfrico &amp; Ski Lodge  at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, working closely with casino partners, creative teams, and  global brands.  In her current role, MC oversees end-to-end campaign execution, from concept through  production, while spearheading sponsorship strategy, on-site activations, and custom brand  integrations that enhance the guest experience and generate meaningful new revenue streams.  She has led high-profile events, red carpets, media activations, and experiential partnerships  that sit at the intersection of live entertainment, nightlife, and culture.  Having grown her career inside one of the industry’s most outrageous and genre-defying  entertainment companies, MC builds partnerships that prioritize long-term relationships,  creating collaborations that enhance the live experience rather than distract from it. She began  her career in theatrical production in New York City before joining Spiegelworld, where she has  grown from executive assistant to senior leadership.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/katie-nevin</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-10</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1768012073515-GYRF6ANUDG6RMQG5CLQH/Katie+Nevin.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Katie Nevin - Sr. Director of Experiential Brand Consulting at CAA</image:title>
      <image:caption>Katie Nevin is a Sr. Director of Experiential within CAA’s Brand Consulting group. Based in California, Katie has 15 years of hybrid expertise in both partnership management and experiential marketing, guiding brands in their partnership strategy from identification and negotiation, through execution and activation. Between tentpole events like Super Bowl, MLB All-Star, and musical festivals to curated bespoke events like brand-owned pop-ups, destination trips, and culinary gatherings, Katie’s diverse experience spans across entertainment, sports, culinary and travel. Katie has been with CAA for 10 years, and within that time has represented several exciting brands including Paris Saint-Germain, JPMorgan Chase, Adobe and Kaiser Permanente. Prior to her time at CAA, Katie worked at INNOCEAN USA on Hyundai’s digital advertising strategy and at The Marketing Arm on AT&amp;T’s music and college sports portfolio. Katie studied Business Marketing at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX and loves her giant dog Nelson, a good glass of champagne, and taking orders from her two-year-old son.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/matthew-reich</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-10</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/178949af-54cd-41cd-ab1d-4b6954df80ec/Matthew+Reich+Headshot+2.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Matthew Reich - Co-Founder, Artist For Artist® / Artist For Action®</image:title>
      <image:caption>Matthew Reich is a music executive, experiential producer, and Co-Founder of Artist For Artist®, a NYC–based agency creating artist-led experiences at the intersection of music, culture, and social impact. He is known for bringing together artists, brands, and institutions - including partners like Fiji Airways and Netflix - to translate creative vision into meaningful, real-world action. Matthew is also the Co-Founder of Artist For Action®, a coalition of influential musicians - including Billie Eilish, Peter Gabriel, Sheryl Crow and Kevin Bacon - mobilizing the music community to advance gun violence prevention, mental health awareness and community connection through culture-driven initiatives, in collaboration with organizations such as Sandy Hook Promise. Artist For Artist® Assets Artist For Action Assets</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/don-franken</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-09</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1767995777789-9NUD5R3ZXY0TFQI1RL2C/Franken_Donald_116-2334.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Don Franken - President of World Class Sports</image:title>
      <image:caption>Don has worked closely with the movie industry, including with the Academy Award-winning film Chariots of Fire, for public relations and special screenings for sports media and leaders in the track and field community.  Don's company, World Class Sports, has secured over 5,000 commercials for athletes, broadcasters, and coaches.  Don has produced four feature films and two ESPN sports documentaries. With his father, Al, Don organized more than 100 elite track-and-field events. Most recently, he led a PR campaign for the Paris Olympics reallocation medal ceremony.  Don is also the Festival Director for The Method Fest Independent Film Festival.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/brittanie-phillips</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-09</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1767991679002-W3HN7FWSPVA9HXFPDFPZ/Brittanie+Phillips.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Brittanie Phillips - Entertainment and Culture Strategist</image:title>
      <image:caption>Brittanie Phillips is a rising entertainment and culture strategist and trusted advocate who collaborates with creatives, legal teams, and marketers to bring ideas to life.  With experience in music legal &amp; business affairs, Brittanie also advises multi-hyphenate creative on turning influence into sustainable opportunities across media platforms, sync, and brand activations.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/haley-binder</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-09</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1767986428139-2FX8UYER0KI3K0M92041/Haley+Binder+Headshot+2026.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Haley Binder - Chief Activations Officer for KultureCity</image:title>
      <image:caption>Haley Binder is an experienced tour and production professional whose career has spanned global music tours, major brand campaigns, and high-profile live events. Having worked alongside artists such as Clairo, Noah Kahan, Brandi Carlile, and Coldplay - as well as brands like Spotify and Coca-Cola — Haley has cultivated a deep understanding of how to support people under pressure, manage complex logistics with care, and foster emotionally safe, high-functioning environments. Haley serves as Chief Activations Officer for KultureCity, and leads efforts to make public spaces and events more inclusive for individuals with sensory disabilities. Her work is deeply personal — she is passionate about ensuring that everyone, regardless of ability, can experience connection, joy, and belonging in shared environments. Bringing that same ethos into her work at Amber Health as Account Manager, Haley believes in the power of empathy, communication, and accessibility to transform the way people care for one another. Her years on the road taught her to approach every project with warmth, precision, and an unwavering commitment to inclusion and mental well-being. When she’s not working, she continues to volunteer and advocate for causes that align with her values, including MusiCares, The Project Matters Foundation, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. She shares her home with two puppies, her partner, and loves to hike, cook, and travel to new cities.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/ed-bailey</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-09</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1767985821188-BKTTIIEMGCBGPWPSIXYY/Ed+Bailey.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Ed Bailey - Vice President of Austin City Limits Brand Development</image:title>
      <image:caption>Tourism and Entertainment Brand Consultant based in Austin, Texas As the Vice President of Austin City Limits Brand Development, Bailey was instrumental in changing the funding model for the ACL TV series/brand to include new corporate partnerships and licensing. This led to creating the Austin City Limits Music Festival with C3 Presents - generating over $4.5B in economic impact to Austin since its debut. Bailey launched Live From Austin City Limits label with New West Records and created the first ACL Merchandise store at Austin airport. Bailey was on the planning team that created ACL Live at The Moody Theater, a $40m concert venue and production studio as part of a $300m mixed use development anchored by a W Hotel. Bailey led the development of The Austin City Limits Tour Experience that opened in October 2025.  Prior to joining ACL, Ed helped launch the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. He managed a $40 million sponsorship portfolio, $10 million merchandise sales, numerous product licensing agreements, licensing agency, sponsorship agency, and intellectual property management. Bailey created a national tour of RRHOFM, promoted the opening Concert For Hall of Fame on HBO, Annual RRHOF Induction Ceremonies on VH1, contributed to exhibition planning, and destination marketing strategy for the Museum. Bailey’s experience as an advertising agency executive set the foundation of his career and consulting work with numerous nonprofit and entertainment organizations. Ed managed Cedar Point Amusement Park + Resorts advertising account for 6 years. Bailey was involved in strategic planning, market research, product development, sponsorship negotiations, and overall budgeting. Cedar Point, named the best-managed park by the Amusement industry multiple years, is the #1 entertainment destination in Ohio. Other consulting clients have included: Paul Allen’s Experience Music Project, Buddy Holly Center, River Music Experience, B.B. King Museum, Farm Aid, Americana Music Association and Opry Entertainment Group Ed is an active community volunteer and has contributed to the Boards of: Austin Music Foundation, Texas Hill Country Wine &amp; Food Festival, SUN Radio Foundation, Live Music Tutor – a digital music education company, and Orchid Music Design – specializing in proprietary environmental sound design. He was named to the Austin Grand Prix Host Committee and helped launch Austin’s Formula 1 race and track. Ed currently is Chair of the Austin Tourism Commission which advises City Council on best practices on growing and investing Hotel Occupancy Taxes generated by Austin Tourism and Convention business. Bailey’s insights on tourism + entertainment marketing, fundraising, cultural economic development, and public/private partnerships have been shared at: SXSW Music Conference, Richard Florida’s Creative Cities Summit, and the University of Texas, McCombs School of Business. Bailey was featured at the first Hawaiian Music Industry Conference on Building Creative Cities and Music Communities and addressed the American Association of Museums Annual Conference with a presentation on Living the Brand.  Fun Fact: Ed and Willie Nelson share a birthday.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/nicole-noren</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1767977087308-2CA72S5TLJM0UQ1Z9IK5/Nicole+Noren.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Nicole Noren - Documentary Filmmaker and Multi-Platform Journalist</image:title>
      <image:caption>NICOLE NOREN is a documentary filmmaker and multi-platform journalist who made more than 50 short documentaries for ESPN, and now heads her own production company. A recipient of six Emmys, two Edward R. Murrow Awards and a Peabody, Noren has reported extensively on education, health and social issues. Noren's latest film, THE GREEN TRUCK, is premiering at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2026. Her immersive survival documentary MISSING AT SEA was released on Nat Geo Youtube in March 2025, and her film BETSY &amp; IRV won a Sports Emmy in 2023. Noren's investigative documentary LISTEN has been viewed by over six million people on YouTube and is used by law enforcement officials and schools across the country as a training tool. Noren is currently EP’ing and directing an independent feature-length investigative documentary on the 2019 MV Conception fire. She was also the programming manager of the inaugural Wild &amp; Free Film Festival in Goleta in 2025.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/lisa-ogdie</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-06</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1767732486326-4VLA4WHVJNAPQYY2E3CP/Ogdie%2C+Lisa+-+Headshot+2026.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Lisa Ogdie - Short Film Programmer for the Sundance Film Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Lisa Ogdie is a Short Film Programmer for the Sundance Film Festival. She has been part of the Sundance shorts programming team since 2009, selecting the Sundance short film slate from over 10,000 submissions each year, and has curated shorts for the 2019 and 2020 editions of the Durban Film Festival in South Africa. In addition to her work at Sundance, Ogdie is also Head of Cinema Programming in North America for Soho House &amp; Co, curating the Soho House screening program for 13 locations across North America providing members with exclusive access to the most exciting titles in film and television being distributed each year.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/brandon-lingle</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-06</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1767725465304-X5Q97G3FMVB6UV0K52XC/Brandon+Lingle+WAI+Thumbnail.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Brandon Lingle - Founder of We Are Invincible</image:title>
      <image:caption>Brandon Lingle is the founder of We Are Invincible, a nonprofit dedicated to amplifying the voices, talents, and innovations of the disabled community through storytelling, education, and advocacy. The organization operates as a digital media and events platform, designed to celebrate the experiences and achievements of over 1.3 billion people living with disabilities—as well as their caregivers and advocates. We Are Invincible aims to turn the invisible into the invincible by inspiring greater inclusion, accessibility, and representation in society. In addition to his philanthropic work, Brandon is also the founder and executive producer of BL Projects, a Los Angeles-based production company. He has produced award-winning campaigns for a few of the world’s most recognizable brands and cultural figures. Driven by a deep passion for creating spaces for open, honest, and impactful conversations, Brandon believes in the power of humanity’s innate goodness and strives to better himself and the world around him. Career highlights include leading the first team to fly drones at Dodger Stadium, and producing Inside the Toybox: Mattel Films Logo Unwrapped, which earned a Silver Telly Award. Guided by the saying, "Be a reason someone believes in the goodness of people," Brandon continues to prioritize education, innovation, and thoughtful connection in all that he does. Outside of his professional endeavors, he enjoys spending time outdoors, seeking new experiences, and sitting on the front porch during a thunderstorm.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/arina-abbaali</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-05</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1767653620513-DLZC5XWX454VZTAUQ7GC/Arina.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Arina Abbaali - Growth Marketing Strategist at Eventeny</image:title>
      <image:caption>Arina is a Growth Marketing Strategist at Eventeny who works closely with event organizers to understand what’s really happening behind the scenes of festivals and events. She’s passionate about helping organizers adapt, grow, and stay profitable in an industry that’s changing fast—by turning real experiences and insights into practical, doable ideas.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/david-hazan</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-05</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1767572269216-1KTUV2YM642QIBY8P4BE/David+Hazan.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - David Hazan - Founder of DLH Strategic Marketing</image:title>
      <image:caption>For over 25 years David Hazan has been a leading force in the intersection of music, entertainment, events, and tech, committed to growing the businesses and brands of his clients, ranging from tech startups to legacy media. David’s deep experience in music marketing includes senior executive positions at Midem, The Orchard, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, VH1/MTV Networks, Putumayo, and Wind-up Records. Current and recent clients include SPIN Magazine, Artist for Action, Trusted Advisor, Gig Magic, NIVA, SoundExchange, AudioShake, Jukebox, Tipalti, Dot Music, Bandzoogle, found.ee, Festicket, Ottawa Bluesfest, CID Entertainment, AEG, Cirque Eloize, TVT, Shout! Factory, Fest300, Mobile Backstage, Showpass, Music Pro, Canadian Music Week, and GigSalad among dozens of others. David has also held leadership roles at leading experiential marketing agencies including US Concepts/MKTG and EMCI/Rockbill, where he ran their London office for 2 years in the 90s. In recent years David has curated or moderated 50+ physical and virtual panels at leading industry events including Wallifornia, NIVA, Distrofest,  Music Tectonics, MusicBiz, SXSW, Cool Out, IEG, FestForums, Midem, MU:CON SoAlive, and Canadian Music Week where he also produced the CMW and O’Cannabiz Hackathons. When not traveling to industry conferences David resides in Nyack, NY with his family where he enjoys playing drums and attending as many live music events as possible.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/ken-deans</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-04</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1767571035975-ZI2NQDM4S3NI7AAWDRRZ/Ken+Deans+2025+copy.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Ken Deans - President of KD Production Services LLC</image:title>
      <image:caption>A seasoned veteran in producing live events, Ken consults and performs operations management annually at many Festivals including Coachella, Stagecoach, Bottle Rock, Thunder on The Ohio and the World’s largest grossing multiday festival, Desert Trip. Highly experienced in financial &amp; touring management, Ken spent several years on the road overseeing concerts and producing tours. In addition, Ken has been on the forefront of sustainability efforts as a partner in one of the first venues to feature fully compostable food &amp; beverage serving containers. In 2017, Ken led the industry charge in battery hybrid power systems, a passion he continues to champion today. In addition to his busy schedule, Ken finds time to give back to those looking to be a part of this great industry. For several years, Ken has been a visiting lecturer and seminar leader for the highly successful Entertainment School of Business programs at NYU and the University of Montana.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/hayley-melidonis</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-30</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1767120520980-RPYQJO7215XKG5QAVJS0/Hayley+Latest+Headshot.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Hayley Melidonis - Founder and CEO of Bubbl</image:title>
      <image:caption>Hayley Melidonis is a seasoned global strategic business development executive and entrepreneur with extensive experience building and scaling technology, media, and travel ventures across the globe. Over the past 15 years, she has worked with some of the most recognized names in technology, including Uber, Intel, Virgin Mobile, and Nokia, as well as multiple startups out of San Francisco incubators. Her diverse background spans across Europe, the USA, Australia, and Japan, where she played key roles in launching groundbreaking innovations such as autonomous vehicle technologies, industrial IoT, augmented reality devices, and the world’s first smartphones.   As the Founder and CEO of Bubbl, a groundbreaking platform transforming social travel, Hayley is focused on creating meaningful, shared travel experiences, that leverage the power of ‘travel’ co-living so that we can create a more connected and inclusive world. Bubbl allows like-minded individuals to come together in what she calls “Bubbls”—these are unique pop-up travel groups who ‘stay together, and share together’ formed around shared interests, events, festivals, retreats, and destinations. Bubbl provides the safe meeting platform and seamless tools to organize group stays, trips and events. Hayley’s vision is to create a socially responsible global community of travelers for infinite possibilities, making it easy for people to experience the world together.   Before founding Bubbl, Hayley’s travel entrepreneurship  was defined by her leadership in the travel adventure space. In 2009, she launched **Total Heliski**, a heliski adventure travel company that catered to thrill-seekers looking for once-in-a-lifetime heli skiing experiences around the world. Hayley has personally heliskied, cat-skied, and ski-toured across multiple continents, sharing her passion for adventure with her clients while building a global network of boutique operators. For the past 8 years, Hayley ran share ski houses in Palisades Tahoe, where the idea for Bubbl was born from observing how her Ski Lease Members desired the community experience and value offering over hotels . She even met her husband in a Summer share house Bubbl, thus contributing to the authenticity of her Founders Story for Bubbl. Her entrepreneurial drive to build Bubbl has also been fueled both by her extensive personal experience as a solo traveler, and a leader organizing group travel, making her an expert in understanding the challenges and joys of shared travel experiences.  This coupled with her extensive, global business experience in fast moving technology and media industries, makes Hayley an attractive candidate to discuss topics around technology, media, trends, and entrepreneurialism. As a podcast guest, Hayley is an engaging speaker who brings fresh perspectives on the evolving landscape of travel, the rise of ‘the connected economy’,  solo and group travel trends, and the importance of social connectivity in today’s world. Her deep insights and hands-on experience make her a compelling voice in conversations about the future of travel.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/sameen-ahmad</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-30</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1767119789801-34UCEL8SR45KB9XYCP7C/SameenAhmadHeadshot-SameenAhmadHeadshots-2560.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Sameen Ahmad - Co-Founder Hank &amp; Ed Management, Hank and Ed Productions and HER Travel and Sustainability Consultant at Insomniac Events</image:title>
      <image:caption>Sameen Ahmad is a sustainability-focused executive in live entertainment and touring, with more than five years of experience embedding environmentally responsible practices into large-scale festivals and live events at Insomniac Her work centers on integrating local initiatives, community partnerships, and operational changes that reduce environmental impact, with a strong emphasis on measuring and validating reductions in CO₂ emissions to ensure sustainability efforts result in real, data-backed outcomes. She brings a practical, systems-driven approach to translating sustainability goals into measurable operational change. In addition to her work in sustainability, Sameen has served as Business Manager for Grammy-winning artist Billy Strings for the past decade, aligning touring operations with long-term efficiency and responsible growth. She is also a co-owner of Hank and Ed Management, Productions, and HER Travel, a boutique platform supporting artists, brands, and creative partners with tailored management, production, greening and travel solutions.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/aubrey-wright</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-30</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1767118783339-SR3DREZQC4PVV17UP31G/AUBREY+WRIGHT.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Aubrey Wright - Director of Specialized Touring at Timeline Touring</image:title>
      <image:caption>Aubrey Wright is a touring executive at Timeline Touring, a Live Nation company, where they help build and scale non-traditional live experiences with a strong focus on team structure and sustainability. With nearly 20 years in the live entertainment industry, Aubrey’s background spans tour management, creative direction, and live production across music, family entertainment, kids IP, and emerging touring formats. Known for bringing clarity to fast paced environments, Aubrey is passionate about improving working conditions, supporting teams, and creating touring models that allow people and projects to thrive. Stay Positive.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/joe-rinaldi</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-30</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1767117985466-740WRMSSDPK9UKHOY6BM/Joe+Rinaldi+Enhanced.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Joe Rinaldi - President of NIVA California and Managing Partner of Music Box in San Diego</image:title>
      <image:caption>Joe Rinaldi is a distinguished veteran of the concert and venue operations industry, currently serving as the President of NIVA California and Managing Partner of Music Box in San Diego. A graduate of UC San Diego with an MBA from Pepperdine University, Rinaldi has spent over two decades shaping the West Coast music landscape. Under his leadership, Music Box has become San Diego’s premier 700-capacity independent venue, famously hosting early career milestones for artists like Billie Eilish and legendary sets from Snoop Dogg and Rufus Du Sol. Rinaldi also serves as the National Buyer for Mission Bayfest, a premier three-day festival drawing 45,000 attendees to the San Diego waterfront. The festival's landmark 2025 lineup, headlined by Sublime, Rebelution, and Slightly Stoopid, stands as a testament to his deep-rooted influence in the California music scene. His career is built on a foundation of high-profile roles, including tenures as a Talent Buyer and General Manager for the legendary Viper Room on the Sunset Strip, as well as roles with House of Blues West Hollywood and the 1,500-capacity 4th &amp; B in downtown San Diego. Now at the helm of NIVA CA, Rinaldi is dedicated to uniting California’s 630+ independent venues and promoters, championing fair ticketing legislation, and establishing a state music office to ensure the long-term sustainability of the state’s cultural ecosystem.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/mike-wald</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-23</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1766521210698-X06EQM9VO9VPRTYAMSRR/Mike+Wald+Headshot+750+White+BKG.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Mike Wald - Founder of Coastal Intelligence</image:title>
      <image:caption>Mike Wald is the Founder of Coastal Intelligence, an AI think tank and consultancy focused on designing and implementing intelligent decision systems for nonprofits, enterprises, and city, county, and international governments. He works at the intersection of AI, data, and organizational behavior, helping leaders turn fragmented information into systems that drive real decisions, accountability, and measurable outcomes. As Chief Marketing Officer of Oniracom, Mike brings over 20 years of experience leading strategy, marketing, and systems development across global consumer brands and public-sector initiatives. His work spans from Disney film campaigns to government infrastructure and analytics platforms in Australia. Grounded in technology and informed by ecological anthropology, he approaches AI not as hype, but as a practical tool for building resilient, human-centered systems that scale impact and improve how institutions actually function.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/kyle-kernohan</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-23</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1766516460414-BJNIGDHM2NE7OOR8LRP1/Kyle+Kernohan.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Kyle Kernohan - Festivals Agent at TBA Agency</image:title>
      <image:caption>Kyle Kernohan is the Festivals Agent at TBA Agency, where he oversees festival strategy, submissions, routing, and negotiations for a diverse roster of artists, and over 500 festival properties annually.  Joining TBA in 2024 as the company’s first dedicated Festivals Agent, Kyle plays a key role in ensuring artists are positioned competitively in an increasingly global, data-driven, and ever-evolving festival marketplace. Before TBA, Kyle spent a decade at ICM Partners, rising from intern to ultimately developing the agency’s Festivals Department.  During his tenure, he helped develop artists such as Little Simz, Tobe Nwigwe, Montell Fish, and Duckwrth, and spearheaded festival booking strategy across major domestic and international events. Kyle later contributed to Spotify’s newly formed live events division, leveraging streaming insights to help launch programs like Fresh Finds Live and R&amp;B First Nights. He also worked with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, curating talent for the Hollywood Bowl and additional LA Phil venues. With 12+ years of experience across festival booking, artist development, and live event strategy, Kyle brings a uniquely comprehensive perspective to how artists break, scale, and sustain careers through festivals.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/tyler-dunson</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-22</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1766427064845-UVBQKDWGL0ZQTVUA8YZL/Tyler+Dunson+by+Charles+Reagan+20250597.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Tyler Dunson - Senior Brand Partnerships - North American Festivals at C3 Presents</image:title>
      <image:caption>Based in Austin, Texas, the Live Music Capital of the World, Tyler Dunson leads sponsorship strategy at C3 Presents, a global leader in live entertainment known for creating iconic festivals and cultural experiences that sit at the intersection of music, food, and community, and put smiles on people’s faces. With almost two decades of experience in the music industry, with a decade at C3 Presents, Tyler has developed, marketed, and monetized some of the world’s most influential festival brands including Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Austin Food &amp; Wine Festival, When We Were Young, Sueños Music Festival, and many more.  Through his tenure, Tyler has built a foundation in storytelling and evolved it into designing partnership platforms that drive both cultural relevance and commercial success, consistently aligning brands with culture in authentic, high-impact ways.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/andrew-curtis</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-19</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1766186875376-SAC8CAWH67MBR53GTZVM/Andrew+Curtis+Headshot.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Andrew Curtis - Founder and CEO of Peritus Live</image:title>
      <image:caption>Andrew Curtis is the Founder and CEO of Peritus Live, an experiential execution company built to help festivals, brands, and agencies bring ambitious live events to life. With a background rooted in hands-on production, Andrew has spent nearly two decades working behind the scenes of festivals, sporting events, and branded activations—turning complex ideas into seamless, memorable experiences. Since launching Peritus Live in 2016, Andrew has led teams on large-scale projects across the country, including major music festivals, stadium tours, and premium brand experiences. His work is driven by a deep respect for operations, people, and partnerships, and he’s known for creating calm, clarity, and structure in fast-paced, high-pressure environments. Andrew truly enjoys sharing real-world insights on event strategy, execution, and leadership in live environments. He believes great experiences come from strong teams, thoughtful planning, and a willingness to adapt in real time. Above all, Andrew is passionate about creatively diversifying the event industry and helping others build experiences they’re proud to stand behind.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/shawn-radley</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1765903575447-9P9F0UNKCMAYAXDK5ELS/Shawn+Radley+-+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Shawn Radley - Talent Buyer at Kendall Booking</image:title>
      <image:caption>Starting out buying 80’s Hair bands for a club while he was still in high school,  to concert chair for Northeastern University in Boston then working as a  middle agent in Don Law’s Office in Boston for almost 10 years booking  hundreds of shows and multiple branded tours at colleges all over the US.  From talent buying and marketing to management for multi-platinum artists  Shawn’s career has always revolved around live music.  In 2020 the opportunity to form Kendall Booking along with partner Marin  Aubuchon arose where Shawn serves as lead talent buyer booking over 500  shows per year for a dozen venues all over the US ranging from 2,250 to 8,500  seats as well as a number of multi day 40,000 capacity festivals on the East  Coast  In 2022 Shawn was nominated by the Academy of Country Music as Talent  Buyer of the Year, which was an outstanding recognition of his hard work on  behalf of Kendall Booking’s clients and an absolute honor. Shawn is married with 4 kids (Dylan, Sophia, Nash &amp; Levi) and their dog Scout.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/peter-baxter</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-15</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1765822530438-T4EZPZ67DDDJCEFK7FQN/Peter+Baxter.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Peter Baxter - President / Co-Founder of Slamdance and Filmmaker</image:title>
      <image:caption>Peter Baxter is President and Co-Founder of the Slamdance Film Festival and a filmmaker. Peter has been responsible for developing and managing all areas of Slamdance, which has become synonymous with the discovery of emerging talent. Peter’s film work includes directing Spirit Game a documentary about the Haudenosaunee’s battle to win a world Lacrosse championship that premiered on Starz and is part of the Smithsonian permanent collection, producing HBO’s six part series Q: Into The Storm and Netflix’s Day Shift, which became the most watched feature film in the world during August, 2022. In 2025, Peter executive produced Henry Johnson, directed by David Mamet.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/jamie-knee</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-12</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1765580203157-LARO4PQRNZDZQJJTEI3I/Jamie+Knee.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Jamie Knee - Wine Travel Media Personality and Wine Travel Writer</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jamie Knee, known globally as the Petite Wine Traveler, is a wine travel media personality and luxury wine and wine travel writer who specializes in destination storytelling and bespoke wine experiences around the world. Recognized as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Wine, Hospitality and Media, she brings together wine, travel, and culture for audiences across television, print, and live events. Jamie is the creator, host, and co-producer of Petite Wine Traveler Explores, a ten-episode wine, travel, and hospitality series currently in production and slated to air on PBS in 2026. She served as Director of the Santa Barbara Culinary Experience from 2024 to 2025, a nonprofit in partnership with the Julia Child Foundation that celebrates Santa Barbara culinary and viticultural excellence. An accomplished international wine professional, Jamie regularly judges for leading competitions including the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Berliner Wein Trophy, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, Central Coast Wine Competition, California State Fair Wine Competition, and others. Her credentials include Certified Specialist of Wine, WSET certified, Sommelier I, Spanish Wine Scholar, Rioja Educator, Cava Educator, Champagne Expert, American Wine Expert, and California Wine Appellation Specialist. Jamie is a wine travel columnist for the Montecito Journal, where she authors a weekly column, and she writes a weekly wine travel publication on her Petite Wine Traveler Substack. She is a regular contributor to the Santa Barbara Independent and has written for publications including Somm Journal, Tasting Panel, Slow Wine Guide, Napa Magazine, Sonoma County Gazette, and BevNet.  She also appears regularly as the on-air wine specialist for KEYT NewsChannel 3-12, sharing wine travel stories, expert insights, and regional highlights with viewers across the Central Coast. She serves on the Board of Santa Barbara TV and the Board of the Association for Women in Communications, and is an active member of the Circle of Wine Writers, the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association, and Women of the Vine and Spirits.  Through her writing, judging, and on-camera work, Jamie continues to connect people, places, and stories, one glass of wine at a time. Jamie Knee, Petite Wine Traveler™  B.sc., WSET 3• CSW• SWS• AWE• CWAS• CMS1• Champagne, Rioja &amp; Cava Certified Educator  “Named Top 50 Most Influential Women in Wine Hospitality” Global Wine Communicator• Wine Educator• Int’l Wine Judge • Wine &amp; Wine Travel Writer• Wine Lifestyle Influencer  Social Media @petitewinetraveler</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/dani-gildemontes-grossman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-11</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1765480436656-P6JSEBPSB4QSZZSWGEWS/FullSizeRender.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Dani Gildemontes Grossman - Music and Event Partnerships at Audience Republic</image:title>
      <image:caption>With 10+ years in live events and production, Dani now leads Music and Event partnerships at Audience Republic for their North American market. At AR, she brings a tech-forward, data-driven approach to helping live events grow their audiences and extend their lifecycle. Her career spans roles with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Live Nation, uniting artists, brands, and fans through unforgettable experiences.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/justin-andrews</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-11</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1765471104452-K2W9H50542SPWD77Y8MO/Justin+Andrews+-+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Justin Andrews - Vice President of Ticketing &amp; Revenue at Peachtree Entertainment</image:title>
      <image:caption>Justin Andrews is Vice President of Ticketing &amp; Revenue at Peachtree Entertainment, where he leads ticketing operations, revenue optimization, and strategy for major live events and festivals including Rock the Country, Rock the South, Tailgate N’ Tallboys, Alan Jackson’s final show, and more. With a career spanning 14+ years at Danny Wimmer Presents, Live Nation, and the Tampa Bay Lightning, Justin has overseen ticketing strategy for a wide range of sports and entertainment events—from the Toronto Raptors’ season in Tampa and some of the country’s largest music festivals to arena and stadium tours and the first-ever two-day WrestleMania. He brings deep expertise in driving sales, shaping innovative pricing strategies, and elevating fan satisfaction through efficient, guest-focused box office operations—helping events deliver exceptional experiences and record-breaking results.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/allie-wilson-stein</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-11</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1765470972569-IB6IVX5DPXB29CFN5C1A/Allie+Wilson+2025+Headshot+%283%29.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Allie Wilson Stein - Director of Strategic Accounts &amp; Business Development at FEVO</image:title>
      <image:caption>Allie Wilson Stein is the Director of Strategic Accounts &amp; Business Development at FEVO, leading partnerships with top-tier festivals and live entertainment brands to drive growth and enhance the fan experience. With over a decade in live events — including roles at Live Nation’s Country Nation and Bridgestone Arena's Nashville Predators — Allie blends operational expertise with a passion for innovation, helping partners unlock new revenue streams and create seamless, fan-first event journeys.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/jonathan-shank</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-10</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1765400378501-XUNA6818T9A6K7EM7G6X/Jonathan+Shank+relix_day_2_3133_1.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Jonathan Shank - CEO of Terrapin Station Entertainment</image:title>
      <image:caption>As the CEO of Terrapin Station Entertainment (a joint venture with Sony Masterworks), Los Angeles-based Jonathan Shank has firmly placed himself at the unconventional intersection of artist management (Victoria Justice, Scarypoolparty, Laura Marano), event production, immersive installations, talent development, and community enrichment. A music obsessive who has worked with everyone from the Bob Marley Estate to the Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart, Shank is a recognized pioneer in bringing beloved intellectual property to the live stage, with productions such as Disney Junior Dance Party On Tour, Peppa Pig Live! and Gabby’s Dollhouse, generating more than $80 million in gross box office sales. As part of his extensive work with Mickey Hart, he also earned a Grammy Award in 2009 for his role in creating the groundbreaking album Global Drum Project. In 2020, he received the T.J. Martell Trailblazer Award for his work producing such charity events as The Homeward Bound Concert and A Tribute to the Music of Linda Ronstadt. Recently, Terrapin Station Entertainment was behind The Heart of Town, a special three-night concert series with Grahame Lesh celebrating the Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary from July 31–August 2 in San Francisco and the North American stage debut ofGabby’s Dollhouse Live! Presented by Walmart, with a 75+ city tour launching September 2025, building buzz ahead of the Gabby’s Dollhouse movie (featuring Kristen Wiig) this fall.Jonathan was also appointed to Music Will’s Board of Trustees, in addition to co-chairing the 2025 Music Will Benefit, honoring Wyclef Jean, Sara Bareilles, Jackson Browne, and Kristin Chenoweth– more via Variety.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/stacy-horne</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-10</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1765398459987-BD92YWBAWKM24F10BY0P/Stacy+Horne.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Stacy Horne - Director of Programming for Stern Grove Music Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Stacy Horne has built a distinguished, decades-long career in concert production and curated programming. She began in the late 1990s with the iconic Tibetan Freedom Concerts and later honed her craft under legendary jazz impresario George Wein at Festival Productions. Her leadership took shape as she directed major events like the CMJ Music Marathon and launched New York City’s beloved Hudson River Rocks concert series. After moving to the West Coast, Stacy produced San Francisco’s Noise Pop Festival and co-founded the acclaimed Treasure Island Music Festival. As Vice President of Cultural Programs at The Battery, San Francisco’s premier social club, she curated more than 400 annual events, hosting luminaries from Jane Fonda to Snoop Dogg. Now in her seventh year as Director of Programming for the 89-year-old Stern Grove Music Festival, and as Executive Producer of San Francisco Music Week, Stacy continues to shape the cultural landscape with her vision, passion, and deep commitment to the live music experience.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/doug-richter</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-10</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1765332790876-NQHRBHSUPLVETVXAOH2B/Doug+Richter+by+photographer+Andrew+Werner+AHW_2579.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Doug Richter - Founder &amp; CEO of Meritage Entertainment</image:title>
      <image:caption>Doug Richter is the Founder/CEO of Meritage Entertainment, an experiential marketing agency based in Phoenix, and has been active in the entertainment marketing industry for 35 years.  Doug is an industry-recognized advisor for brands, festivals and tours with a focus on live event strategies on both the brand side and the festival side. His award-winning agency curates relationships between entertainment properties, brands and talent that drive creative and financial success for all stakeholders.  He has managed the sponsorship strategy for many national culinary and music festivals and producers including Flavor! Napa Valley, the USA Today Wine &amp; Food Experience, The Bahamas Culinary &amp; Arts Festival and festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents, working closely with many celebrity chefs and national music talent.  He has closed hundreds of sponsorship deals with a long list of blue-chip brands including Citi, Chase, Microsoft, Aetna, Infiniti, JetBlue, Macy’s, Humana, Heineken, Lexus and more. Doug was previously Managing Director of Global Partnerships for the live events division of Time Inc. where his team was tasked with developing a national platform of new event properties for its iconic brands that included Entertainment Weekly, People and Sports Illustrated.  Doug spent more than 10 years in the music industry, holding executive marketing roles at BMG Entertainment, Triad Artists and Wherehouse Music, where he was Director of Online Marketing for this $800M entertainment retailer. He spent three years as Tour Manager for soul icon world tour Barry White, including the sold-out Icon Is Love World Tour and was the Personal Manager for Motown legend Mary Wilson of The Supremes. He sits on the Advisory Board for FestForums, the leading industry conference for festival producers and is also on the Advisory Board of the Experiential Marketing Measurement Coalition (EMMC).</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/vivian-belzaguy</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-10</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1763080282475-XJHEA7DA64W18BN7AX2L/Vivian+Belzaguy+Hunter+Headshot+1000x1000.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Vivian Belzaguy - Director of Sustainability at Ultra Music Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Vivian believes events can do more than entertain — they can be powerful platforms for inspiring much-needed social change. After more than a decade in event production, she grew tired of seeing events create more environmental impact in a single day than she felt she could in a lifetime. Through her company, Ascendance Sustainable Events, she has developed comprehensive sustainability programs for large-scale festivals, conferences, and venues — diverting hundreds of thousands of pounds of waste, reducing climate impacts, and creating educational campaigns that extend far beyond event gates. Vivian envisions an events industry that leads the world in how to take better care of our planet. She is best known for her role as Ultra Music Festival’s Director of Sustainability, where she created the award-winning Mission: Home program, recognized for its positive impact on the local community and its reach of over 8 million people worldwide.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/fred-brander</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-09</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1765316865658-ELGVC4IOFT3Q0FM2BDRS/Fred+Brander.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Fred Brander - Founder and Proprietor of Brander Vineyard</image:title>
      <image:caption>Fred Brander, founder and proprietor of Brander Vineyard, is one of Santa Barbara County’s most influential wine pioneers. Born in Argentina with a Swedish background, Fred’s international roots and early passion for wine led him to California, where he established Brander Vineyard in 1975 in the heart of what is now the Los Olivos District. Often referred to as “the King of Sauvignon Blanc,” Fred helped define Santa Barbara County’s identity through his focus on Bordeaux-style wines. He was also among the earliest to plant Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon in the region, setting new benchmarks that helped shape the area’s emerging wine style. Throughout the early growth of Santa Barbara County’s wine industry, Fred played a key role in mentoring and collaborating with a new generation of winemakers, many of whom went on to become leaders in the region. As Brander Vineyard celebrates its 50th anniversary, Fred’s legacy reflects five decades of innovation, sustainable farming, and unwavering dedication to elevating the region’s global reputation. He continues to guide the estate and serve as an enduring ambassador for Santa Barbara County wine.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/josh-pearlman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-09</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1765316155137-1UV8CRMAJEJ0TZLF1B2B/Josh+Pearlman+Slack+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Josh Pearlman - Senior Director of Revenue Operations at Creative Riff</image:title>
      <image:caption>Josh Pearlman is the Senior Director of Revenue Operations at Creative Riff, the experiential agency behind BravoCon, award winning Comic-Con International activations, and large-scale brand experiences for partners including Disney, NBCUniversal, FX, Hulu, ABC, and FOX. At Creative Riff, Josh oversees revenue architecture across sponsorships, ticketing, and financial modeling. He leads ticketing and pricing strategy for major consumer events, driving year-over-year revenue growth through demand-based pricing, segmentation, packaging, and on-sale optimization. His work ensures every Creative Riff property is designed for commercial performance as much as creative impact. Previously, Josh was Vice President of Promotions &amp; Experiences at Audacy, the nation’s second-largest radio operator with more than 200M monthly listeners. He led a national team producing 500+ ticketed events per year across music, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. Josh directed sponsorship strategy, asset valuation, ticketing, and on-site revenue execution for events ranging from boutique showcases to 25,000-person festivals, including We Can Survive at The Hollywood Bowl, Stars and Strings, Audacy Beach Festival, and Not So Silent Night. Across roles, Josh brings deep expertise in revenue strategy, sponsorship development, ticketing and pricing, and event P&amp;L management. His work sits at the intersection of creative design and financial discipline, making him a trusted voice on how festivals, fan conventions, and live experiences can scale more profitably and sustainably.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/jon-romero</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-09</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/b107dfb4-0912-48bb-ac1f-829d00938704/Jon+Romero+Image.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Jon Romero - Chief Growth Officer at Volume.com</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jon Romero is the Chief Growth Officer at Volume.com, the live music streaming ecosystem turning stages into global platforms and die-hard fans into lifelong community members. At Volume, Romero works with artists, venues, and festivals to unlock new revenue by extending the life of live shows and transforming every performance into a global event. With more than 20 years in artist management and music marketing, Jon has led campaigns for iconic artists including Kesha, Kenny Rogers, Kid Rock, and Kings Of Leon. His work has earned multiple No. 1 records, a Cannes Gold Lion, and a Clio Award, and has helped guide Peter Frampton to a New York Times best-seller. If you want to scale beyond the gate, monetize beyond the weekend, and build global fan revenue engines that never shut off, find Jon and say hello.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/howie-schnee</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-09</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1765250990268-B3E41TIIDJ443LFCJPFF/Howie+Schnee+headshot25.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Howie Schnee - Co-Founder and President of CEG Presents</image:title>
      <image:caption>Howie Schnee is a concert promoter, consultant, and investor who has spent more than 30 years helping shape the live music landscape. As co-founder and President of CEG Presents, he’s produced thousands of shows across major cities, helping to elevate artists from emerging talent to household names. Since the pandemic, Howie has also leveraged his knowledge, experience, and relationships to help other companies, such as Volume.com, CashorTrade, and others. Known for his deep relationships, honesty, and loyalty, Howie has played a key role in driving ideas, innovation, and engagement across both the industry and fan communities. He’s been a featured speaker at events like NIVA and INTIX, appeared on music industry podcasts, and Bloomberg TV, and has supported countless charitable and cultural organizations through his work in live events. He is very happily married and a proud father of two, living in South Orange, NJ.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/tracey-anarella</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-08</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1765236099813-BZYGSFYHSAGMW35XB25Q/Tracey+Anarella.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Tracey Anarella - Director/Producer</image:title>
      <image:caption>Tracey Anarella is an award winning documentary filmmaker. She directed, shot, edited and produced her first film, “Jesse and The Fountain of Youth” (2013) establishing her as a quadruple threat. “Jesse” garnered awards from coast-to-coast, winning Best Short Documentary in 10 film festivals. Building on “Jesse”, Tracey’s second short, “Brooklyn United”, found even greater success and international acclaim.    Tracey then helmed her first feature documentary, “Not Black Enough”. The film stars Henry Louis Gates of Harvard University, actress Vanessa Williams and rapper Petey Pablo. “NBE” won festivals worldwide, including the Women of the World festival in Dubai, as well as festivals including the Austin Revolution, The Buffalo Niagara and Roxbury International Film Festivals. Along with “Jesse” and “B.U.”, “Not Black Enough” is available on Amazon Prime, where it is currently the most viewed black documentary.  Tracey’s second feature, “Livingston Taylor – Life Is Good”, an exploration on the life and work of noted singer songwriter Livingston Taylor, and how his artistry has impacted audiences, as well as his students at Berklee College of Music. The film stars Carly Simon, Ian Anderson, Ben and Kate Taylor, who all explore Livingston’s unique relationship to the world around him. The film won the Van Gogh Award at the Amsterdam Film Festival, and was an official selection at the 27th Woods Hole Film Festival. Like her earlier films, it enjoys world-wide distribution. Tracey’s 3rd feature, “There She Is”, is a study of beauty pageants in the “Me Too” era. It stars Miss Americas BeBe Shopp (the oldest living Miss America), Ericka Dunlap (2004) and Mallory Hagan (2013). Tracey recently completed her latest doc, “One Nation, Divisible” on Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women. The film deals with the inequities of how Native Americans and Indigenous cases and people are handled in comparison to non-native people in this country.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/michael-huth</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-08</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1765233404714-65PD4TDZK0B7VQGIFP3O/Michael+Huth+Headshot.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Michael Huth - On Tour Manager at Wild &amp; Scenic Film Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Michael spent a decade in Los Angeles working as a talent agent, business affairs manager, and line producer. After enough time in the mountains, he felt called to transition his skill set toward mission-driven nonprofits and impact-focused media. He now manages the national tour for the Wild &amp; Scenic Film Festival, one of the country’s leading environmental film festivals. The WSFF tour team produces more than 130 annual events nationwide, supporting over 100 nonprofit environmental organizations and helping them collectively raise more than $1.5 million each year for local impact projects. Wild &amp; Scenic is a program of the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL), a nonprofit and Waterkeeper Alliance member dedicated to protecting and restoring the Yuba River watershed. Michael’s connection to environmental storytelling is rooted in a lifelong love for the natural world, shaped by his upbringing in the marshes and woodlands of Southern Wisconsin. After earning a degree in Marketing, he left Wisconsin for an entertainment career in Southern California—experience that now informs his approach to curating film experiences, cultivating partnerships, and supporting organizations in leveraging cinema as a tool for community engagement. Since relocating to the Sierra Nevada, Michael has focused his work on bridging sectors, empowering mission-driven collaborators, and developing film programs that strengthen environmental stewardship and grassroots organizing. He holds certifications in Natural Building and Permaculture Design and is an active LIFT Economy alumnus, further grounding his commitment to regenerative and community-centered practices. When he’s not supporting festival hosts, Michael can be found tending his six-acre property in Nevada City, CA, serving on the board of a local theater company, or exploring thrift shops for unexpected treasures.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/kerry-inman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-05</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1764964572493-1HVA2L54ZCM1LG63U4B7/Kerry+Inman.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Kerry Inman - FIFA Fan Festival Manager at FIFA World Cup 2026™ - Canada, Mexico and the United States</image:title>
      <image:caption>Kerry is a creator of experiences—someone who turns spaces into stories and events into ecosystems where every element, from the food to the feeling, plays a role. Over the course of her career, Kerry has breathed life into everything from small, soulful street festivals to global celebrations witnessed by millions. Her specialties include standout food and beverage programming, immersive fan experiences, and sponsor activations that feel thoughtful, integrated, and genuinely exciting. Known for her talent in uncovering the unexpected, Kerry brings a playful creativity to each project—seeking out the quirky details and local flavors that make an event memorable long after guests head home. Relationship-building is her superpower: she thrives on partnering with local vendors, cultural contributors, and sponsors to create experiences that feel authentic, engaging, and uniquely tied to place. A champion of cross-departmental collaboration, Kerry believes unforgettable events happen when silos break down and big ideas flow freely. She is currently delivering her second FIFA World Cup, overseeing the planning and delivery of the Fan Festival across all 11 U.S. host cities.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/kristin-owen</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-11-28</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1764356297653-XTRDNV1S098EF7UYPHVN/kristin-owen-headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Kristin Owen - Co-Founder &amp; COO of DoStuff</image:title>
      <image:caption>Kristin Owen is the COO and Co-Founder of DoStuff, a media company that helps millions of people discover how to spend their nights and weekends in cities across North America. Based in Austin, Kristin helped build DoStuff from the ground up by bootstrapping a network of hyper-local event sites that now spans more than 20 markets. Kristin plays a central role in shaping the company’s structure, driving revenue growth, and ensuring that DoStuff's local markets are supported by sustainable systems and strong leadership. She currently leads four of Dostuff’s core functions: ad revenue, content, operations, and people. From securing national brand partnerships to fostering a company culture where 70 employees are excited to contribute, Kristin bridged creative ambition with operational execution. She focuses on building systems that turn bold, sometimes chaotic ideas into real results. With a background in local media, community building and live events, Kristin has spent her career championing independent promoters, local culture, and the belief that having fun is serious business. A native Austinite, she is also an advocate for sustainable and inclusive business models, including through Cure Studios, a nail salon she co-owns that reimagines the self-care experience.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/beau-blanchard</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-11-18</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1763501247338-TFSOSEK03ZEM1DTZB0LV/Beau+Blanchard.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Beau Blanchard - Associate Director of Institutional Giving, California Film Institute | Mill Valley Film Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Professional Duties: Beau started at the nonprofit California Film Institute in 2009 as the Development Coordinator for the 32nd Mill Valley Film Festival and has since risen to his current position of Associate Director of Institutional Giving, now responsible for over $4M annually in sponsorships and grants. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Beau studied Journalism and Cinema which led to a producing position with Sony Pictures Entertainment &amp; Columbia Pictures. After a decade on the studio-side of the Hollywood film industry, Beau returned to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2008 to rediscover his 'cinephile roots' through independent, foreign, and documentary film exposition &amp; distribution.  Personal Information: Beau enjoys coaching little league, attending Oakland Ballers, 49ers, &amp; Warriors games, and spending time with his family. Beau and his wife Lauren currently have one son, Camden Scott, and two loving dogs, Penny Lane and Maximus Decimus Blanchard.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/cort-lawrence</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-11-17</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1763418604005-FYKTG6HKZ5CALLYOI5MQ/Cort+Lawrence.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Cort Lawrence - Co-founder and Partner of Raw Cereal</image:title>
      <image:caption>Cort Lawrence is co-founder and partner of global creative and production studio Raw Cereal. Hailing from Highlands Ranch, CO, Cort began his journey in the entertainment industry from the ground up. With years of dedication and hard work, Cort honed his expertise in concert show design and technical innovation. Working alongside some of the most talented names in the business, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Strokes, Metallica and Avril Lavingne, all before turning thirty years old, Cort learned that every great achievement starts with a single, bold vision. From modest beginnings to orchestrating experiences for high-profile clients and bands, to co-founding Raw Cereal in 2022, each project is a testament to the belief that with tenacity and creativity, anything is possible.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/mike-ault</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-11-11</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1762885499825-7BYOWQI792TID0KMU5E7/Mike+Ault.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Mike Ault - Director of Music Operations at Riot Games</image:title>
      <image:caption>Mike Ault is the Director of Music Operations at Riot Games, where he oversees music operational strategy across publishing, composition, and global esports events for franchises like League of Legends and VALORANT. Drawing on over a decade at Psyonix and Epic Games, where he helped shape the sound and licensing framework behind Rocket League, Mike specializes in bridging creative storytelling, brand partnerships, and the complex business of music rights in interactive media. As co-founder of the Same Same But Different music festival, he brings a rare dual perspective on how licensing challenges play out in both major entertainment companies and the independent live event world. His work focuses on building scalable systems that empower creators while navigating the evolving landscape of music ownership, technology, and artist collaboration.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/drew-deason</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-21</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1762824575503-CUZT59GWETZCRE22HK2J/Drew+Deason.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Drew Deason - Artist Relations Specialist</image:title>
      <image:caption>Born and raised in Los Angeles, Drew Deason has built a career at the crossroads of live music, artist hospitality, and large-scale event production. Her journey into the industry was inspired by a lifelong passion of live performances and the vibrant communities that form around it. Drew began her professional path in 2017 as a background dancer in music videos and commercials before transitioning into the festival world, performing alongside musicians on major stages. After booking her first North American bus tour, she knew she had found her calling in live music. With a strong work ethic and a willingness to take on any role that came her way, Drew worked her way up through multiple production roles and artist relations with industry leaders such as Insomniac and Goldenvoice. Her experience spans some of the world’s most iconic festivals and venues including Coachella, Ultra Miami, EDC Las Vegas, Life Is Beautiful, and premier venues like SoFi Stadium and the Kia Forum. Across these productions, she’s supported touring artists, managed backstage operations, and acted as a trusted liaison between artists, management, and production teams. Recognized for her calm professionalism, empathy, and ability to thrive in high-pressure environments, Drew brings both structure and warmth to every project. Her passion lies in crafting seamless, artist-first experiences that allow performers to feel supported and fully focused on connecting with their audience. Beyond the festival circuit, Drew’s work in tour management and private yachting has refined her adaptability, discretion, and logistical precision. Looking ahead, she aims to continue growing within artist relations and touring, with long-term aspirations of becoming a talent buyer, helping shape the unforgettable live music moments that first inspired her career.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/christopher-hampson</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-11-06</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1762454800799-O85APXIXS4F22E76YUA3/Christopher+Hampson.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Christopher Hampson - Product Success Manager at Eventree</image:title>
      <image:caption>Christopher Hampson is the Product Success Manager at Eventree, where he helps festival and event organisers bring their ideas to life through intuitive, industry-leading software. He works with clients to ensure they get the most out of the Eventree platform, leads the company’s accreditation and training programmes, and supports the continued growth and development of Eventree’s products and services. A former professional actor, Christopher spent many years performing in various British Film and TV shows such as Loki's Game, The Lost Viking, Brassic, Coronation Street as well as playing the lead in theatrical productions like Hamlet, The Crucible and Eden. Today, Christopher channels that same creativity and passion for storytelling into his work at Eventree — helping event professionals craft memorable experiences and bringing a performer’s enthusiasm to every challenge.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/bobbii-jacobs</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-11-04</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1762273260747-638HVL47URAYD7IQ1EJK/Bobbii+Jacobs+-+IMG_9935.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Bobbii Jacobs - CEO of Wildflower Entertainment &amp; Founder of Live in the Vineyard</image:title>
      <image:caption>With over 35 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Bobbii Jacobs has been a transformative force in shaping the careers of artists, from their early beginnings to international success. Known for her expertise in talent booking and her entrepreneurial drive, Bobbii has been integral in breaking some of the biggest names in music and has worked on thousands of events, booking over thousands of artists and collaborating with hundreds of brands throughout her career.  Born in America’s Heartland, Bobbii’s upbringing in a military family instilled in her a sense of structure, discipline, and compassion. These values have been the cornerstone of her career as she moved west to California, determined to follow her passion for music and the arts. A graduate of the University of Iowa with a degree in Communications and Journalism, she initially honed her craft by promoting artists through radio stations and Hitmakers Magazine. This led to her role in radio promotion, working hundreds of major artists like Mariah Carey, Wilson Phillips, Vanilla Ice, Lenny Kravitz, UB40, Tina Turner, Nora Jones and so many more.  Her transition to the record label world came as she joined LAVA Records, where she led the West Coast National Promotion department. There, she played a crucial role in promoting the emerging careers of artists such as Edwin McCain, SugarRay, and Matchbox 20. In 1996, Bobbii expanded her vision by founding Leverage MPC, a marketing and promotions company. Under her leadership, Leverage MPC successfully managed the New York Times Concert Series, executed events for major brands like Coors Brewing Co and The Hard Rock Cafe, and orchestrated an executive tie-in for the American Music Awards to kick off the Motley Crue Reunion tour.  After her success with Leverage MPC, Bobbii was recruited by HITS Magazine, the legendary music trade publication, where she served as Head of Adult Radio Formats and Broadcast Editor. During this time, she contributed to the radio success of groundbreaking artists like Norah Jones, Avril Lavigne, and Macy Gray. This pivotal role solidified her position as one of the leading figures in the music industry.  Bobbii’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to create BSG Entertainment, a company that combined entertainment, corporate promotions, consulting, and marketing. As a business investor, she played a key role in the creation of Live In The Vineyard, one of the country’s most successful private music, food, and wine festivals, held annually in Napa, CA. Following its success, she expanded the festival portfolio with Yountville Live, a public festival that integrates culinary experiences with wine and live music. Jacobs founded in 2017 Live In The Vineyard Goes Country (LITVGC), which brings together the country music community for a one-of-a-kind event set amidst Napa's picturesque vineyards. The event has featured high-profile artists such as Carrie Underwood, Zac Brown Band, Darius Rucker, Old Dominion, Brad Paisley, and Little Big Town. Together these platforms connect artists with some of the most influential executives in the music industry.  Additionally, she is responsible for producing high-profile events for clients such as Southwest Airlines and Marriott Bonvoy.  In 2019, Bobbii partnered with experiential entertainment agency Forefront Networks, where she served as Partner and President of the Entertainment Division. In this role, Bobbii led a talented team to produce innovative experiences. At Forefront, Bobbii launched Elevation, an event set in the stunning Rocky Mountains of Beaver Creek, CO. This unique destination event merges live performances from top country and Americana artists with outdoor adventures, including hiking, fly fishing, clay shooting, and horseback riding.  In 2024, Bobbii took the next step in her career by launching Wildflower Entertainment. This new venture isn’t your typical music agency. Wildflower Entertainment brings together over 75 years of executive experience with a modern, innovative approach to the music industry. Passionately committed to breaking artists’ careers, Wildflower fosters impactful connections and engineers collaborations that resonate deeply with artists, brands, fans, and tastemakers alike. The agency’s focus is on building lasting value—for artists, brands, and the communities they move. In conjunction to launching Wildflower, Backstage Access Presents was created as the experiential side of the business with once in a lifetime experiences in markets across the US. Heartland was the first rollout in 2025 in the Midwest highlighting the farming and ranching communities. The event was a resounding success, raising more than $100,000 for the Iowa State University Foundation to support the Iowa Concern Hotline and expand mental wellness resources for farmers and ranchers. This brand will be the philanthropic arm of the company.  Bobbii was honored to be selected for Leadership Music's Class of 2022, cementing her position as a leader in the music industry. Outside of her professional achievements, Bobbii cherishes her time spent with her husband, Steve, and their two sons, Gabriel and Grady. Her passion for music, dedication to shaping the careers of others, and commitment to producing unparalleled experiences continue to drive her to new heights in the entertainment world.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/tess-hartwell</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-11-03</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d77a444d-acd8-451a-987a-8de08c2067c5/TessHartwell_ProfilePic_ForWeb.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Tess Hartwell - Director + Event Production Consultant at Flavour Events</image:title>
      <image:caption>Tess Hartwell is a seasoned Event Producer and the strategic mind behind Flavour Events, bringing over two decades of high-impact event strategy, design, and execution expertise. Having recently relocated from Boston, her specialization in the Food, Wine &amp; Beer sector is extensive, marked by her strategic leadership of the six-year-run of the WGBH Food &amp; Wine Festival—a role that encompassed comprehensive event strategy, creative vision, content development, and the acquisition of high-profile chef and speaker talent. Tess’s expertise spans everything from launching boutique concepts like the Ammonoosuc Oktoberfest in the remote and picturesque White Mountains of New Hampshire to managing complex logistics for large-scale tasting events. Her established credibility is evidenced by her professional involvement with the James Beard Foundation, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, and the development of a New England-based Culinary Stewardship Award. Beyond managing talent and production, Tess is adept at cultivating strategic partnerships and maximizing return for all participants. This blend of high-level strategic vision and hands-on production leadership makes Tess an authority on creating commercially successful events that deliver exceptional value to attendees, sponsors, vendors, and event owners alike.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/chris-freet</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-31</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/e51eec51-95c0-4bdb-a5da-52ab12e47a0a/Chris+Freet+Headshot.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Chris Freet - Chief Strategy Officer at WMT Digital</image:title>
      <image:caption>After graduating from UC Santa Barbara, Chris Freet spent 20 years leading revenue departments in athletics departments on College campuses. In 2021, he joined WMT and is now Chief Strategy Officer. As CSO he gets to employ his passion for technology that drives engagement at the intersections of Sports, Music &amp; Live Entertainment. WMT represents nearly half of the Power 4 teams in college sports and through the acquisition of Aloompa, works with 180 events in the Fest Forums ecosystem.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/robert-adams</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-29</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1761778585014-QZ0OD99472UNHZWK2H1N/Robert+Adams.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Robert Adams - Santa Barbara Film Columnist and Founder of Earthknower Studios</image:title>
      <image:caption>Robert F. Adams is a Santa Barbara film columnist and is the founder of an environmental planning firm, Earthknower Studios. He is a graduate of UCLA's School of Theatre and Film. Robert's film festival expertise includes programming for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and the Aspen Film Festival. He has moderated film events at festivals including SBIFF, Aspen, the Green Film Series at the Marjorie Luke Theatre as well as for the NatureTrack Film Festival in Santa Barbara County this past October. He also is a professional actor and has recently appeared in featured roles at Opera Santa Barbara. He has served as the Chair of the Arts Advisory Committee for the City of Santa Barbara as well as being a film festival outreach coordinator for independent documentaries. A practicing artist, his work has been shown at the Contemporary Arts Forum in Santa Barbara, the Aspen Art Museum and the Architectural Foundation Gallery. He can be reached at robert@earthknower.com or via his website at www.earthknower.com.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/jacqueline-blaylock</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-13</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1761774335119-WHFWAXWZWRMXT11XMBTE/Jacqueline+Blaylock.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Jacqueline Blaylock - Founder and Partner of The BLK Collective Media Group</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jacqueline Blaylock is a founder and partner of The BLK Collective Media Group, the parent  company of The BLK Film &amp; Entertainment Collective, The BLK Collective Foundation, and The  Reel Collective—entities united by a shared mission to advance the global presence of Black  filmmakers, creatives, and storytellers. Through this work, Blaylock continues to shape platforms  that foster access, opportunity, and long-term sustainability for underrepresented voices in  entertainment.  A dynamic entertainment executive, Blaylock’s leadership acumen and extensive managerial  experience have made her a force in the industry, with skills that seamlessly transfer across  industries and business sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business  Administration and Management from California State University, Los Angeles, and has built a  career defined by strategic vision, resource optimization, and innovative problem-solving. Her  ability to inspire and guide diverse teams while aligning efforts with organizational goals is evident  across film, television, and event production.  As president of Locklin Entertainment Media Group (LEMG), and a producer and partner at Free  Rein Films, Blaylock has demonstrated her expertise in bringing film and television projects to life.  Her leadership journey also includes serving as president of Duke Media, the production company  of acclaimed director Bill Duke, and spearheading operations, strategic planning, and  programming as a partner and former executive director of the Hollywood Black Film Festival  (HBFF).  Blaylock’s career is marked by notable accomplishments, including curating content for television  specials such as African American Filmmakers and serving as a production coordinator for NBC’s  Roots: Celebrating 25 Years. Her tenure as Director of Creative Affairs for filmmaker Roy  Campanella II, along with more than a decade at The Walt Disney Company in television  development, further solidified her expertise in creative affairs. During this time, she contributed  to beloved series including Boy Meets World, Home Improvement, and Ellen.  Her foundational experience with the Directors Guild of America strengthened her administrative  and operational skill set, while her board membership with HBFF and past involvement with the  National Association of Female Executives underscore her commitment to mentorship and  community impact. Blaylock’s ability to optimize resources, foster collaboration, and introduce  innovative strategies reflects a leadership capacity that extends well beyond entertainment.  A native of Chicago, Illinois, Jacqueline Blaylock embodies the intersection of creativity and  strategic leadership. Her career exemplifies how visionary leadership and managerial expertise  drive organizational success, innovation, and meaningful change—within entertainment and  across business and organizational environments.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/chris-epting</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-28</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1761668377930-3S11EKOK1NVI7UOHXGUW/Chris+Epting.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Chris Epting - Award-Winning Journalist</image:title>
      <image:caption>Chris Epting is a New York Times bestselling author with a prolific portfolio that spans over 50 books, encompassing themes of history, travel, and music. An award-winning journalist, Epting spent a decade as a columnist for the Los Angeles Times and also maintained a prominent column for 10 years on the Huffington Post. Renowned for his engaging narrative style, he has collaborated with notable personalities to co-author memoirs, including legendary artists such as the Doobie Brothers, John Oates, Paul Rodgers, and Dave Mason. His work reflects a deep passion for storytelling and an insightful exploration of the music and cultural landscapes that shape our world.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/kristin-flickinger</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-27</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1761603566638-EPNUB7200J3PQX4GQHUR/Kristin+Flickinger.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Kristin Flickinger - Principal &amp; Founder of Flickinger Consulting, LLC</image:title>
      <image:caption>An activist at her core, Kristin began her career in the LGBTQ+ arena as an intern for the National Gay &amp; Lesbian Task Force in the ‘90s, and cut her teeth in politics managing a field office during the same-sex marriage campaigns of the 2000s. At the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Kristin served as the Director of Programs for the world’s largest LGBT organization, overseeing programs focused on youth, seniors, women, and trans people. She also served as Director of AIDS/LifeCycle, where she raised over $20 million for HIV services. During the height of the Covid pandemic, Kristin served as Executive Director of Pacific Pride Foundation, the largest LGBTQ+ organization between San Francisco and Los Angeles. There she relaunched the Pacific Pride Festival as a collaborative effort with 40+ community organizations. She has served as Interim Executive for San Diego Pride, consulted through the international sunsetting of major events, and assembled flash teams for crisis management. Kristin is Principal &amp; Founder of Flickinger Consulting, LLC, a consultancy focused on executive support and transition planning, and dedicated to joy for leaders. For fun, she rides bikes long distances, teaches her husky to speak with buttons, and continues to pursue her goal of being on the television show, SURVIVOR.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/tobi-olanihun</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-20</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/9bb2639c-c403-4901-890b-f50882aa56c4/Tobi+Olanihun.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Tobi Olanihun - Creator &amp; Executive Producer, The 7.45 GameShow | Founder, WOW!Connect | Founder, TEPS</image:title>
      <image:caption>Tobi Olanihun is an experience designer, event and creative strategist, and producer that tells stories through experiences—blending culture, technology, and connection in fresh, meaningful ways. As the Creator and Executive Producer of The 7.45 GameShow—Nigeria’s first homegrown, trivia-based entertainment experience—she combines intellect, design, and energy to create smart, joyful, and memorable moments. She is the Founder of WOW!Connect, an experiential agency known for delivering thoughtful brand, corporate, and lifestyle events, and Founder of TEPS (The Experience Plug Systems), a holistic, intelligent event technology platform transforming access control, guest data, and analytics for live and hybrid experiences. With over 15 years of experience creating impactful event experiences across global markets, Tobi’s work brings together technology, experience design, and guest management to craft immersive events that connect and inspire people. She’s passionate about crafting experiences that feel authentic, inclusive, and deeply engaging—bridging ideas, communities, and cultures through creativity and collaboration.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/jason-webb</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-20</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/751e79bc-91ea-4718-89d7-6082fcd5c10f/Jason+Webb.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Jason Webb - Co-founder and COO of Tixel</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jason co-founded Tixel, an honest fan-to-fan ticket exchange, in early 2018 after falling victim to a ticket scam for a Tame Impala show. Having spent his career helping businesses thrive commercially, he knew he could turn that frustrating experience with a scammer into a solution both fans and event organizers would benefit from. Today, Tixel is one of the world’s leading fan-to-fan ticket exchanges. As Tixel’s COO, Jason leads the team helping venues, promoters, artists, and primary ticketers combat scalping and fraud while improving the performance of their events.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/desiree-ashe-bradford</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-18</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1760800987275-5CP16VS9ID0UKIMXEMZI/Desiree+Ashe-Bradford.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Desiree Ashe-Bradford - Founder of Events By DAB, LLC</image:title>
      <image:caption>Desiree Ashe-Bradford is an accomplished event producer and founder of Events By DAB, LLC, an experiential agency specializing in large-scale live events and brand activations. She is the producer behind Skamartist Music Summit, now entering its 6th year in Los Angeles—a three-day experience featuring 20+ events and uniting the best in music, DJs, tech, and live entertainment. Desiree’s expertise lies in building festivals and multi-day experiences from the ground up. She has led project and budget management for the inaugural years of major events including Tao Group’s Coachella Desert Nights and the USATF LA Grand Prix. She continues to consult and collaborate across the live event and festival landscape, contributing to talent management and on-site operations for stages at Firefly Music Festival, Celsius Cosmic Desert, and more. She currently leads private event strategy for Cosm, an immersive sports and entertainment venue redefining how fans experience live events through shared reality. Recognized as a rising leader in the industry, her work continues to advance live experiences by creating meaningful, culture-driven events that leave a lasting impact.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/david-silbaugh</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-17</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1760736115379-7KDMHRELQ3V0QJLWF0MR/David+Silbaugh.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - David Silbaugh - Booking Manager &amp; Production Supervisor for Summerfest</image:title>
      <image:caption>David Silbaugh is best known as the Booking Manager, as well as a Production Supervisor, for Summerfest, "The World's Largest Music Festival", in Milwaukee, WI. The 9-day festival encompasses three, 3-day weekends, and books over 600 artists in nearly all genres, featuring international headlining artists as well as up-and-coming artists. He also produced the noted Emerging Artists Series for the festival for 15 years. A musician himself, Silbaugh has previously served in Entertainment/Artist Relations for Slingerland and Gibson, and as an A&amp;R Consultant for GMR Marketing as well, having previously spent 4 years in that role for Banshee Music under the GMR Marketing umbrella. Banshee Music was a “sonic branding” agency, bringing in artists, producers, and writers, to create custom music for sports teams, sporting events, and brands. In addition, he curated a SXSW branded music library through GMR for APM Music, a joint venture between Sony Music Publishing and Universal Music Publishing. With a diverse background in music and the music business in general, David is a former Board Member, Secretary, and Vice President of the Chicago Chapter of The Recording Academy (GRAMMYs), and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Sing Me A Story, and the Advisory Board for FestForums.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/austin-whitney</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-17</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1760729281951-IU6ALT2SCJ9BSB074HDM/Austin+Whitney.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Austin Whitney - Founder of Accessibility Live</image:title>
      <image:caption>Austin Whitney, Esq the Founder of Accessibility Live, the leading ADA Compliance consultants in the entertainment and sports industries,  Austin has been in a wheelchair since 2007 and received his JD from UC Berkeley School of Law. He currently serves as the ADA Compliance Director for the Coachella Music and Arts Festival, Bonnaroo, and the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix and has worked on over 600 large-scale events in his career.  He also founded Accessible Festivals – a 501-C-3 organization dedicated to improving accessibility in the live entertainment industry. More information can be found at accessibilitylive.com and accessiblefestivals.com</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/evan-tzeng</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-03</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1760403086123-8ZRL6123OBUFTHOM6KJJ/Evan+Tzeng.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Evan Tzeng - Co-Founder of Coalition of Festivals and Major Events (COFAME)</image:title>
      <image:caption>Evan Tzeng is a steering committee member of Coalition of Festivals and Live Events (COFAME), whose mission is to equip the next-generation workforce with the critical skills and knowledge needed to create safer, more sustainable, and socially responsible festivals and major events. Evan's career in festivals started with Superfly, the producers of Bonnaroo Music &amp; Arts Festival and Outside Lands Festival. Between 2009-2015, he helped grow the company to over 100 employees by developing, pitching, and winning over $15MM in creative, strategic, and experiential work. Evan then joined Danny Wimmer Presents from 2016-2017 to help diversify the company’s intellectual properties beyond its core offering of single-genre festivals and into boutique, hybrid experiences blending music, food and drink, education, and entertainment. Since 2018, Evan has joined, supported, and led countless teams building businesses, enhancing destinations, and producing experiences that challenge the status quo and celebrate humanity. He is now the founder of StayAltered, a community-powered hospitality company empowering the $10 trillion tourism industry to maximize its benefits to local communities.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/abbey-londer</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-13</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1760391251090-5NOT70ENOMSBECUA9BWB/Abbey+Londer.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Abbey Londer - Chief Of Staff at Netflix Is A Joke Fest</image:title>
      <image:caption>Abbey Londer is a Los Angeles-based Festival Director and Senior Live Events Producer passionate about bringing premiere and emerging comedic voices to a wide range of audiences. Growing up in the suburbs of Detroit, Abbey studied at Columbia College in Chicago where she cut her teeth in the comedy world. Abbey became an invaluable leader in the Los Angeles comedy scene in 2012 when she single-handedly developed, funded and produced Riot LA, the city’s first alternative comedy festival. Over five years, Riot LA drew over 30,000 attendees annually in the heart of downtown L.A. with impressive lineups including Ali Wong, Dave Chappelle, Kumail Nanjiani, icon Mel Brooks, and hundreds more.  HBO, Funny or Die, Soundcloud, Squarespace, and Hilton Doubletree were among some of the festival's premiere media and brand partnerships. Riot LA’s success led Abbey to the Maui Comedy Festival as the Head of Talent Acquisition and a member of its advisory board.  She also spent three years as a Live Events Producer for the public radio station KCRW, where she orchestrated live cultural, music, and news events that ranged from intimate performances to large galas for thousands of attendees. As Funny or Die’s Executive Producer for Live Events, Abbey created programs for brand partners and developed and produced original live-streaming productions.  In addition, she’s worked with Another Planet Entertainment to curate and produce comedy lineups for huge music festivals such as Outside Lands and Life Is Beautiful, as well as Clusterfest for Comedy Central. In 2019, Abbey was sought after by the prestigious Just For Laughs organization to book panels for Comedy Pro in Montreal, ComedyCon in Toronto, as well as the New Faces showcase. Shortly thereafter in 2020, Netflix recruited Abbey to lead its new comedy festival, Netflix Is A Joke as Chief of Staff.  Solely dedicated to overseeing the festival in the Netflix organization, Abbey supported all facets of festival operations for over 250 shows in over 30 venues including booking, marketing, branding, promotion, talent relations, staffing, communications, production, ticketing, etc. Headliners included stars Dave Chappelle, Ali Wong, Chris Rock, John Mulaney, Kevin Hart, Gabriel Iglesias, Bill Burr, Amy Schumer, David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Adam Sandler and hundreds more.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/eddie-bernard</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-08</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1760372301494-HWMQAPEUKHK6XD66BS7O/Eddie+Bernard.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Eddie Bernard - Marketing Consultant at Slamdance</image:title>
      <image:caption>Eddie Bernard is the VP of Entertainment Marketing for The Social Architects - A digital and event marketing agency that specializes in social campaigns fortune 100 companies including Google, Meta, Sony, Bloomberg, Boeing, UBS, AT&amp;T, Spectrum, as well as Tribeca Film Festival, ESPN, A&amp;E Networks, IKEA, and more… Eddie currently manages the social media presence for key entertainment properties and individuals including: Francis Ford Coppola, David Aaron Cohen, Sony Pictures Classics, The Daily Mail, and previously assisted in building the social media presence for Paris Hilton, DJ Tiesto, Porter Robinson, among many others. Eddie is currently the lead producer for The Asbury Park Music and Film Festival (in its 6th year) Which has featured annual performances by Bruce Springsteen, as well as acts like David Crosby, Michael Franti, Sublime w/ Rome, Wycleff Jean, Government Mule, Jakob Dylan, Melissa Etheridge; Annual Appearances by Danny Devito, The Bob Dylan Archives, Southside Johnny, and many more. The festival premieres best in class music documentaries like "David Crosby: Remember My Name", "Echo In The Canyon",  "It Might Get Loud" and more. Eddie was a marketing and sponsorship coordinator for the world's largest touring hip-hop music festival, Rock The Bells, which featured the world's largest hip hop acts of all time along with key brands like Blackberry Monster, Budweiser, and Kingston Technology. Eddie also held these positions at Guerilla Union's sister festival properties, "The Cypress Hill Smokeout" and the "Paid Dues".  Eddie arranged over 100+ after parties and celebrity attended events at The Sundance Film Festival for over 11 years, and produced the Luc Robitaille Celebrity Hockey game that occurred at The Sundance Film Festival for 8 consecutive years.  On behalf of High Times magazine, Eddie produced the first ever High Times Cannabis Cup which occurred in 2011 featuring Kid Cudi, and the first of many annual Cannabis competitions which now occur annually in over 10 markets.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/rebecca-throne</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-13</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1760371716421-80OYTVZAPO1OPIWRW9K1/Rebecca+Throne+2025.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Rebecca Throne - Chair of the Board of the International Ticketing Association (INTIX)</image:title>
      <image:caption>Rebecca Throne is a ticketing industry thought leader, consultant, and respected voice shaping the future of live event strategy and audience experience. As Chair of the Board of the International Ticketing Association (INTIX), she helps guide the global conversation around innovation, integrity, and collaboration across the ticketing ecosystem. With senior leadership experience at See Tickets North America and more than 15 years advancing large-scale ticketing strategy for Burning Man Project, Rebecca partners with leading festivals, venues, and ticketing providers to strengthen their businesses, enhance competitiveness, and design smarter, more equitable systems that deepen audience connection and trust.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/dave-mason</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-12</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1760308782313-2ZOHJAJA26DUW35Y55MT/dave+3.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Dave Mason - English Singer, Guitarist, Songwriter, and Producer</image:title>
      <image:caption>Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dave Mason is an English singer, guitarist, songwriter, and producer. Mason found early success founding the band Traffic, and at 19 he penned the classic “Feelin’ Alright?”, a song that has been covered by over 60 major artists. Departing Traffic for a solo career, Mason earned three gold albums—Alone Together, Dave Mason, and Mariposa De Oro — and a platinum album, Let it Flow, which included the hit single “We Just Disagree.” In addition to his prolific solo work, Dave has been a member of Delaney &amp; Bonnie &amp; Friends, the original lineup of Derek &amp; The Dominoes, a duo with Mama Cass Elliott, and Fleetwood Mac, with whom he recorded the album “Time”.  Dave Mason appears on some of the most acclaimed recordings in music history, including The Spencer Davis Group’s “Gimme Some Lovin,’” George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, The Rolling Stones’ “Street Fighting Man,” Graham Nash’s “Military Madness,” and Jimi Hendrix’s classic “All Along the Watchtower.” Additionally, he has recorded with Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, David Crosby, Leon Russell, and Paul McCartney, who recruited Dave to play guitar on Wings’ first number one hit, “Listen to What the Man Said.” Dave Mason holds some of the great untold tales in rock and roll— his relationship with Traffic, his legal episodes with record companies, his battle with addiction and the loss of a child, and his eventual induction into the Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Traffic. He will share firsthand stories featuring a cast of characters that includes Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Gram Parsons, Eric Clapton, and many others. Dave Mason has been a beloved touring artist for over 60 years, and recently retired from public life. This is a rare opportunity to see one of Rock and Roll’s true and legendary icons.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/stacie-cline</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-10</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1760107286334-ZSTDQ53VMN7GET93UFW8/Stacie+Cline+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Stacie Cline - Music Festival Venues Manager at SXSW</image:title>
      <image:caption>Stacie Cline is the Music Festival Venues Manager at South by Southwest (SXSW), the world’s largest music festival of its kind, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026. She brings over 25 years of experience in the music industry, with a background that includes artist management, production, and business development. After spending more than a decade in Los Angeles working across various sectors of the entertainment industry, she returned to her roots in Austin and joined SXSW in 2013. Since then, she has played a key role in shaping the festival’s venue operations and supporting the dynamic live music ecosystem that defines SXSW.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/jamie-loeb</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-09</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1760043817218-0QONGLDPOX62KBM4EF5Y/Jamie+Loeb.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Jamie Loeb - Senior Vice President of Marketing for Nederlander Concerts</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jamie Loeb is the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Nederlander Concerts. As head of all marketing for Nederlander Concerts, she is responsible for the online development, marketing initiatives and promotional campaigns for Nederlander’s award-winning venues and its bookings at third party facilities across the country. With more than 35 years of local, regional and national experience, Jamie is well known for her ability to create innovative strategies and tour marketing campaigns, which integrate traditional and new media technologies resulting in a deeper connection between artists, their fans and ticket sales. Her foresight has enabled Nederlander to be an early adopter of technologies like Bandsintown and Ticketsell.ai, and work on experimental projects with Google’s Area 120.   In 2020, Loeb started volunteering for NIVA (National Independent Venue Association), an organization made up of independent venue, promoters and festivals. She played a key role in a number of projects for NIVA, including the #SOSFEST – a three-day virtual festival which raised over $3 million for the NIVA Emergency Relief Fund. Loeb’s and the NIVA team’s efforts lead to Congress passing SVOG (Shuttered Venue Operators Grant), creating a $16 billion grant program to save independent venues, promoters and festivals from permanently closing. Loeb now serves as a NIVA Board Member. As Programming Chair, Loeb programmed the 2024 NIVA conference in New Orleans and will be programming the 2025 conference in Milwaukee. Prior to Nederlander, Jamie was the Senior Director of National Tour Marketing for Live Nation where she developed national tour marketing plans for Def Leppard, Avril Lavigne, Projekt Revolution and more. She also participates regularly on panels nationwide, including SXSW, Pollstar, IEBA, FestForums, NIVA and the Aspen Live Music Conference, with digital marketing pioneers and other promoters in the industry.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/joseph-pred</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-09</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1760026110876-386600NGC7NIQ8A2PGOL/Joseph+Pred.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Joseph Pred - Founder of Mutual Aid Response Services</image:title>
      <image:caption>Joseph Pred is a board-certified Emergency Manager with over 30 years of festival experience. His professional focus on risk management and harm reduction relates to the delivery of medical and emergency services at temporary mass gatherings. He is the founder of Burning Man’s Emergency Services Department and as a member of the senior management team was responsible for guiding organizational safety strategy and public safety agency relations for over 16 years. Joseph also founded Mutual Aid Response Services in 2000, an emergency management consulting and emergency medical operations company which oversees medical and harm reduction services at events, venues, and festivals up to 100,000 people in size. Additionally he has served two terms on the San Francisco Entertainment Commission, approving permits as well as safety and security plans for all large events and venues in San Francisco. This combined, alongside Joseph’s experience as a Supervisor for San Mateo County American Medical Response (the 911 ambulance service provider for the county), has resulted in a unique understanding of festival and corporate event production, permitting, and public safety agency perspectives. Joseph is a subject matter expert who has authored several books, published research, written articles (online and print), and has served as an expert witness in legal cases. He has also presented at many conferences including multiple keynote presentations, such as at SXSW, Canadian Music Week, the Malaysia Major Events Symposium, the International Club Health Conference, and at the California Emergency Services Association.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/marc-solheim</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-08</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1759941951850-2W7KU3WVLKKYM15WYU5W/Marc+Solheim.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Marc Solheim - Senior Talent Buyer at Riot Fest</image:title>
      <image:caption>With over thirty years in the entertainment industry Marc Solheim is has been part of the Riot Fest booking team since 2022.  In addition to the Festival the team is currently booking over 200 club and theater shows annually under the Riot Fest Presents umbrella. He produced and booked Milwaukee Metal Fest for JFK Presents and was a long-time independent club promoter.  Early in his career he managed child star, Dustin Diamond with his business partner, Jack Koshick.  He spent fifteen years as a talent buyer for The Pabst Theater Group and cut his teeth early in his career at The Rave complex in Milwaukee, WI.  A little known fact, Marc was once the “at home” player on Bozo’s Grand Prize Game.  Though his prizes never arrived.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/avi-reichental</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-07</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1759872446068-1EVSGG8NLGRCUK5WFNYI/Avi%27s+Headshot.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Avi Reichental - Trusted M&amp;A Partner | Strategic Advisor to Boards &amp; CEOs | Global Voice on Exponential-Tech Convergence, Advanced Manufacturing, AI &amp; Robotics</image:title>
      <image:caption>Avi Reichental is a globally recognized industrialist, serial entrepreneur, and boardroom advisor known for guiding companies through transformation at the intersection of manufacturing, AI, Robotics and exponential technologies. As Chairman of XponentialWorks, Avi leads a strategic growth and M&amp;A advisory firm specializing in industrial digitization, AI-enabled supply chain resilience, and advanced manufacturing tech convergence. He partners with CEOs, boards, and private equity investors to unlock enterprise value through technology-driven transformation and precision M&amp;A execution. Avi also serves as CEO and Board Director of Quickparts, a leading on-demand digital manufacturing company serving the aerospace, defense, automotive, and medical device sectors. Under his leadership, Quickparts has accelerated its evolution into a modern, agile, and data-driven enterprise delivering mission-critical manufacturing at scale the world over. Previously, Avi spent over twelve years as President &amp; CEO and Director of 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD), where he led the company’s ascent from niche player to global market leader in additive manufacturing through a disciplined acquisition strategy and bold product innovation. Before that, he spent 22 years as a senior executive officer at Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE:SEE), driving operational excellence and strategic growth across multiple divisions worldwide. Avi’s governance experiences spans public, private, and PE-backed boards, including as Chairman of Nano Dimension (NASDAQ:NNDM), Vice Chairman of Techniplas, Board Director at Harman International (NYSE:HAR) prior to its $8 billion acquisition by Samsung, and currently as a Board Member of Caresoft Global, a global automotive engineering and technology provider. He also provided advisory services to leading global companies and private equity firms including EverZinc, Fiver, Stratasys, KPIT, Caresoft, DWS, OpenGate Capital, and several others across advanced manufacturing, industrial automation, and digital transformation domains. A prolific entrepreneur, and inventor holding over 75 patents, Avi has co-founded and scaled multiple high-impact technology ventures including NXT Factory, ParaMatters, Centaur Analytics, Nexa3D, Invertex, Variant3D, and SmartDrone — each advancing the frontiers of additive manufacturing, generative design, AI, robotics, and IoT. Recognized by Fortune as one of the Top 50 Business Leaders and by Popular Mechanics as one of the 25 Makers Reinventing the American Dream, Avi’s thought leadership has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, TechCrunch, and The Next Web. His TED Talk on 3D printing has inspired nearly 3 million viewers globally. He has also served as Faculty Co-Chair at Singularity University, Board Member at XPRIZE, and Trustee of the Smithsonian Design Museum — reflecting his lifelong commitment to innovation, education, and impact at scale.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/mike-raspatello</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-06</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1759767292227-VGOV0ZX8OEW19PC4MVG7/Mike+Raspatello.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Mike Raspatello - Founder and Chief Strategist of Raspatello + CO</image:title>
      <image:caption>Starting with Rivalfish in ’03 while in Ann Arbor, I fell in love with building things. This led to Rivalfish’s acquisition, producing Mancow’s national radio show, developing early live entertainment tech, co-founding music festivals, and earning my MBA at Kellogg. From there, I helped shape global brand strategy at AB InBev, launched a Condé Nast joint venture, directed a documentary on festival culture, and led marketing and experiential at Gopuff during a period of rapid growth. In 2023, I launched Raspatello &amp; Co., a consultancy that brings together brand strategy, creative execution, and financial discipline to help innovative companies scale experiential and go-to-market efforts. I’m an entrepreneurial marketer, operator, and experiential architect with a track record of building and scaling award-winning brands, events, and platforms across CPG, hospitality, entertainment, and cannabis. At Raspatello &amp; Co., we help forward-thinking brands connect with audiences in meaningful, measurable ways—delivering standout creative, pioneering partnerships, and real growth. Highlights include: • Leading experiential strategy for the Digiday Award-winning Outside Festival • Executive producing Elevation Everest, winner of the 2024 Icon Award • Building partnerships and campaigns that bridge culture, commerce, and community My approach blends creative vision with operational rigor to create sustainable, high-impact consumer experiences.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/joe-lucchese</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-06</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1759766916508-AD0UOLRA2R9NJQ4Y2MAY/Joe+Lucchese.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Joe Lucchese - Executive Vice President at Groundswell Experiential</image:title>
      <image:caption>From his early days producing concerts and large-scale events at UNLV to spearheading global tours and programs with iconic brands and artists including Blackberry, U2, Best Buy, Black Eyed Peas, The Police, Z-Trip, and Camel, Joe Lucchese has built his career around creating powerful connections between brands, culture, and people. In 2012, Joe co-founded Pro-Ject, a relationship architecture agency specializing in experiential marketing. Under his leadership, the agency delivered innovative programs that set new industry standards and ultimately attracted acquisition by Groundswell Experiential in 2020. Over the past decade, Joe and his team have earned multiple awards for best-in-class experiential programs for brands such as Anheuser-Busch and SONOS. As Executive Vice President at Groundswell Experiential, Joe leads strategy, operations, and growth for the agency’s experiential marketing and entertainment platforms. He is the driving force behind delivering bold creative work and measurable results that elevate brands and inspire audiences. Joe oversees client partnerships, sponsorship development, team leadership, and execution of complex live events, ensuring every project blends visionary ideas with flawless delivery. By collaborating across disciplines, he builds immersive brand experiences that captivate audiences, spark meaningful engagement, and generate measurable business impact. Focused on innovation, excellence, and lasting impressions, Joe turns ambitious ideas into unforgettable realities.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/michael-roberts</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-06</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1759766607431-3JRQVMQ8UVMURZ0DLNGB/Michael+Roberts.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Michael Roberts - Vice President of Story &amp; Experiences at Outside Inc.</image:title>
      <image:caption>Michael Roberts is the Vice President of Story &amp; Experiences at Outside Inc., where he leads the creation of narrative-driven storytelling across live events and digital media. His work focuses on crafting experiences that inspire connections—to nature and to one another—through keynote talks, interviews, panels, and immersive on-site activations.  Drawing on more than two decades as a magazine editor, event producer, and podcast host, Michael oversees a creative team that shapes every facet of the audience journey. He collaborates closely with Outside’s media and brand partners to develop storytelling throughlines that connect pre-event anticipation, on-stage moments, and post-event editorial, ensuring each experience resonates long after it ends. During his long tenure as the Executive Editor of Outside magazine, Michael wrote and edited dozens of feature-length magazine stories and interviewed numerous high-profile subjects including Harrison Ford, James Cameron, Shaun White, Tony Hawk, Jason Momoa, Andy Samberg, and Nick Offerman. His cover story on the work of biologist Wallace J. Nichols was selected for the 2012 edition of The Best American Science and Nature Writing. In 2016, he co-developed and launched the Outside Podcast, which brought Outside’s longstanding literary storytelling tradition to life in audio, and later served as host of the show, from 2020 through 2022. In 2024, he led the development of the Ideas and Films series programs for the new Outside Festival and Summit, an annual celebration of outdoor culture and community in downtown Denver. Michael has been a frequent expert television commentator for Outside, having made appearances on Today, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, and many other programs. Michael is a cyclist, runner, and skier, and is trying to become a legit fisherman. He graduated in 1996 from Wesleyan University, where he majored in sociology, and completed a semester-long wilderness course in Patagonia with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). He lives in Marin County, California, with his wife and their three sons.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/christopher-jerard</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-06</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1759766357121-2QPL2HTWZ8OTX4TIEJPL/Christopher+Jerard.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Christopher Jerard - Chief Experience Officer at Outside Interactive, Inc.</image:title>
      <image:caption>Media executive and business leader with 30 years of experience at the intersection of digital media, content/creators, and the outdoor industry. As a CEO, founder, and operator, I have built and scaled agencies, brands, high-performance teams, and operations, delivering measurable results across digital platforms, experiential events, and emerging trends and technologies like the creator economy and Web3 respectively. I bring deep expertise in the active lifestyle space, digital media, the creator economy, executive-level finance, fundraising, audience engagement, and strategic marketing to every initiative. Currently serving as a CXO at Outside Interactive, Inc., I focus on driving the future of outdoor media through groundbreaking experiential events under our event platform: Outside Days. Our goal is to Get Everyone Outside to experience the wonder, joy and awe of being alongside community while experiencing music, film, new ideas and food. Some our specific initiatives include a Summit for the outdoor industry, our Denver-baed summer music and experiential festival for outdoor enthusiast and the winter Warren Miller Film Tour. In my current role at Outside, I have the privilege of leading outdoor culture by gathering the outside community at scale. My track record includes personally securing over $40 million in advertising and sponsorships, for leading high-growth teams to achieve operational excellence and market leadership. Along the way, I have been a business manager and digital consultant to many of the most well-known adventure and active lifestyle icons of our era. As an entrepreneur, I founded Inkwell (2013) and ROAM (2017). Both were acquired by Outside Interactive, Inc. in 2021. Before these ventures, I was on the founding teams of multiple companies and organizations, including FREESKIER magazine (Storm Mountain Publishing), the Association of Freeskiing Professionals, and CreativeLive. These experiences have honed my expertise in leadership, team building, fundraising, content strategy, creator marketing and sales and financial operations. With a forward-thinking vision and a relentless drive for impact, I am passionate about building the future of media, fostering meaningful audience connections, and driving sustainable growth in the active lifestyle space on a foundation of values that have guided my entire career. It’s deeply fulfilling to be part of a passionate team that is shaping the future of outdoor media, leading culture, and building a road map to be the #1 Active Lifestyle Platform in the world.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/ej-encalarde</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-03</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1759527649119-0WOLJYABP3WYOQ5W6964/EJ+Encalarde.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - EJ Encalarde - President and Chief Operating Officer of Festival Productions,  Inc. - New Orleans</image:title>
      <image:caption>Eugenié Jones Encalarde serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of Festival Productions,  Inc. - New Orleans, commanding the operational execution of the nation's most prestigious music  and entertainment events. As senior coordinating producer, she has delivered the New Orleans Jazz  &amp; Heritage Festival, Essence Music Festival, Bayou &amp; Buckeye Country Superfest, NFL Kickoff at  Jackson Square, Super Bowl Boulevard, and Presidential Inaugural Celebrations—establishing her as  a defining force in large-scale festival production. Billboard recognized her influence by naming her  a 2024 Touring Power Player.  As Coordinating Producer for Jazz Fest, EJ operates under the mentorship of Producer/Director  Quint Davis, leading comprehensive production planning, strategic team alignment, and post-event  analysis. She drives Festival Productions' turnkey operations, directing cross-departmental initiatives,  executive coaching, and agile team deployment across the organization's high-caliber producer  network.  A sought-after voice in festival management, EJ has addressed international audiences, including the  European Festival Summit in Germany, alongside Fest Forums and industry panels on the future of  live events. She lectures at Tulane University's Freeman School of Business, where she develops the   next generation of entertainment leaders. A Gallup-certified strengths coach, EJ brings three  decades of mastery in project management, organizational leadership, and team architecture.  EJ's mission: developing high-performing leaders and team builders who achieve transformation,  fulfillment, and sustained excellence.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/stephen-kalinich</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-01</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1759348666516-FLV8C2UPREDCQ3E1RKNC/Stephen+Kalinich.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Stephen Kalinich - American poet and songwriter</image:title>
      <image:caption>The great American poet and lyricist Stephen John Kalinich has been a profound voice of the rock ’n’ roll era for four decades.  When Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson, two of the most prominent icons in rock history, recorded “A Friend Like You” by Kalinich and Wilson on an album featuring Elton John and Eric Clapton, it was a testament to the lyrical poet at the height of artistic achievement. An originator of the California sound, Kalinich rose to fame as a young man when he began writing songs with Brian and Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys on their Warner Brothers/Reprise record label. During his 30-year collaboration with the group, it became “America’s #1-selling rock band,” according to Billboard. Brian Wilson described Kalinich as a “poetic genius” and credited him with stunning the music world by unleashing Dennis Wilson’s full creative potential. “Be Still” and “Little Bird” by Kalinich and Dennis Wilson, classic hits from the Beach Boys’ historic Friends album, brought a new spirituality and self-awareness to rock music of the late 1960s. “Little Bird” went gold with the Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations boxed set and has been recorded by international musicians. Kalinich’s “Rainbows” and “Love Remember Me” were featured on the acclaimed 2008 reissue of Dennis Wilson’s Pacific Ocean Blue album. The Beach Boys’ second anthology, Hawthorne, CA, contained Kalinich’s “A Time To Live in Dreams.” His “California Feelin’” is among the all-time hits on The Beach Boys Classics Selected by Brian Wilson and will appear on California Feeling, a collection of Kalinich’s songs set for release in late 2010 by MsMusic. When legendary songwriter P. F. Sloan, most famous for “Eve of Destruction,” recorded Kalinich’s epic poem “If You Knew” and “Soul of a Woman” on Sail Over in 2007, the poet realized his lifelong dream of working with his mentor. Among the other top musicians who have immortalized Kalinich’s lyrics are Mary Wilson of the Supremes, singing “You Dance My Heart Around the Stars”; Odyssey, whose recording of “Magic Touch” was a top 40s hit; and Randy Crawford, with “Only Your Love Song Last.” Although he has risen to the highest echelons of the music industry, Kalinich considers himself a poet first. A voice of conscience comparable to Bob Dylan, he has inspired audiences around the world. Kalinich was invited to Washington, D.C., to recite his epic poem “If You Knew” before members of Congress to benefit Children Uniting Nations. Actor Stacy Keach recorded his poem “The Magic Hand,” and former Beach Boy Al Jardine’s EP A Postcard from California features actor Alec Baldwin reciting “Tide Pool Interlude.” Newscaster Jerry Dumphy appeared on a video in which he read “America I Know You” by Kalinich. Jez Graham’s 2004 CD featured Kalinich’s poems “America Is You and Me,” “Life Against the Wind,” and “You Can Soar.” A performer whose spoken lines are as powerful as the music that carries them, Kalinich played to thousands on a recent European tour of his Galactic Symphonies, written with internationally acclaimed guitarist Richard Durrant and recorded on CD and DVD. One reporter described the audience’s “sense of awe” as the poet delivered the title poem to an audience transfixed, “managing to get out the last words without collapsing, but maintaining so much power and dignity.” Kalinich’s poetry readings have an emotional impact comparable to that of poet Maya Angelou. After being lost for nearly forty years, Kalinich’s masterpiece “A World of Peace Must Come” was rediscovered and appeared on Attic Records’ 2008 CD boxed set devoted to the poetry of Kalinich. Another early composition, “Leaves of Grass,” was released on this CD, accompanied by Mark Buckingham and produced by Carl Wilson. Kalinich continues to write poetry for films and music from Los Angeles, the city he loves. He is currently collaborating with Stacy Keach on the film War Poems, and David Marks, an original member of the Beach Boys, is producing The Circle Continues, a collection of songs with lyrics by Kalinich, slated for 2010 release. “As long as I have breath, the river of love will speak through me,” says Kalinich. “When I look back, I will ask, Did I stir someone, reach one soul. . . . Did I help them understand that when the breath of love poured itself into others, it didn’t forget them.” More info: https://www.stephenjohnkalinich.co.uk/about-stephen/</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/olga-rodriguez-santini</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-11</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1759328298994-PFBK50O28RSU5CCZUWTG/Olga+Rodriguez.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Olga Rodriguez Santini - Head of Partnerships &amp; Client Experience</image:title>
      <image:caption>Olga is a dynamic marketing leader with over 15 years of experience crafting innovative brand strategies and curating events that drive lasting brand impact. She has been instrumental in the success of hundreds of high-impact events across the country, executing millions of dollars in corporate partnerships for top-tier brands. Her festival portfolio includes Pebble Beach Food &amp; Wine, SOBE, NYCWFF, Chefs Making Waves, Whiskies Of The World Tour, Chefs For Farmers and Atlanta Food &amp; Wine. Her expertise includes brand development, corporate partnerships, event production, and team leadership. A natural relationship builder, Olga excels in crafting targeted strategies and dynamic activations that resonate with brands, fostering growth and delivering exceptional partnership experiences. With a proven background in fashion marketing, luxury brands, and hospitality, Olga's specialized in curating moments that leave lasting impressions to cultivate brand awareness across diverse platforms.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/wesley-pabis</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-09-30</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1759251778479-VDUD1CT1AQTDCLHX2R41/Wesley+Pabis.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Wesley Pabis - Co-Founder &amp; Director of Augmento</image:title>
      <image:caption>Wesley Pabis is the Co-founder of Augmento, the engagement infrastructure of the future. At the intersection of augmented reality and artificial intelligence, Augmento empowers cities, cultural institutions, and enterprises to transform how people connect with art, events, and spaces. Its no-code platform enables anyone, from global festivals to real-estate developers, to launch immersive AR experiences in minutes, bridging the physical and digital worlds at scale. From gamified city-wide celebrations to interactive art exhibitions and smart property visualizations, Augmento’s solutions drive measurable engagement, actionable data insights, and new revenue streams, elevating how technology enriches culture, commerce, and community worldwide. As CEO, Wesley is a trailblazer in AI-driven AR, building a platform that empowers artists and brands to showcase work in augmented reality and striving to make AR an integral part of daily life. He has delivered keynotes globally and is known for translating vision into scalable products and partnerships. His passion and execution focus inspire a future where augmented reality transforms our world, join him on the journey.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/esosa-ighodaro</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-09-30</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1759249117711-YJQPH4DKWIRQIT80N1A8/Esosa-Ighodaro+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Esosa Ighodaro - Co-Founder &amp; CMO of Black Women Talk Tech</image:title>
      <image:caption>Esosa Ighodaro-Johnson co-founded Black Women Talk Tech (BWTT) launched in 2017 – and the largest collective of Black women tech founders, extending more than 50,000 global scalable entrepreneurs. As a changemaker, Esosa is leading the charge in helping black women build the next billion-dollar business, all while breaking barriers against the unique challenges they face in the tech industry. In the last five years, BWTT has supported female entrepreneurs, through the annual Roadmap to Billions Conference –with over ten local chapters (including London), providing access to real funding opportunities, an informative podcast, eLearning webinars, year-round live events, and more. In her current role, Esosa co-leads business strategy and partnership development, alongside the organization’s marketing endeavors. In 2023, Esosa launched AcceleratorCON, the largest accelerator event in America – and the #1 place startups and accelerators connect to provide resources, access to capital, and networks that help them grow; further reimagining a pipeline to investors and accelerators. She’s leveraged her 15+ years of serial entrepreneurship and corporate experience, including founding two influencer marketing businesses and time as a former bank executive at Citigroup. Reflecting on Esosa’s impact across the industry, she’s been named to Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 Most Powerful Women (2019), one of the 50 Inspirational Entrepreneurs to Watch (2017), and Top 10 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch by Paste Magazine and featured in various media outlets like ELLE, Forbes, NBC, Huffington Post, Essence, Refinery29, Crain’s Business and more.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/jesse-lauter</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-05</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/e534661d-52ee-40ed-9bb8-91d88c0a1944/Jesse+Lauter+Soulshine+DANNY+CLINCH.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Jesse Lauter - Head of Production &amp; Media for Dayglo Presents</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jesse Lauter is a music documentary and concert film director, producer, mix engineer, DJ, and Head of Production &amp; Media for Dayglo Presents, overseeing video and audio across Pete Shapiro’s venues including The Capitol Theatre, Brooklyn Bowl, and new projects like Garcia’s Chicago. He directed and produced Learning to Live Together: The Return of Mad Dogs &amp; Englishmen (NYT: “a revival,” Variety: “a luscious rock nostalgia trip”), which premiered at Woodstock Film Festival, screened internationally, and won Best Music Film at multiple festivals before being acquired by Criterion Channel and major airlines. He also helmed the concert film Live From The Fox Oakland with Tedeschi Trucks Band and is currently directing a feature doc on Little Feat featuring Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Linda Rondstadt, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, and members of the Grateful Dead and Phish. Beyond film, Jesse has produced acclaimed albums and concerts, including Bob Dylan in the 80s: Volume One (with Built to Spill, Lucius, Gene Ween &amp; Slash) and Sincerely, L. Cohen: A Live Celebration of Leonard Cohen. He also created The Relix Sessions on Twitch and co-leads Dayglo’s Relix Vinyl series. As DJ Uncle Jesse, he has performed at Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Newport Jazz, and Phish’s Mexico destination event. Jesse holds a BFA from NYU’s Clive Davis Institute and runs Good Fast Cheap Productions Inc.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/tobi-parks</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-09-25</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/b8773412-e6f8-4d07-87ae-db2254d0f4b2/Tobi+Parks+-+Photo+Credit_+Rajaa+Camp+Bey.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Tobi Parks - CEO of Tour Tech LLC &amp; Owner of xBk</image:title>
      <image:caption>Tobi Parks is an entertainment and intellectual property attorney, CEO of Tour Tech LLC, a technology start up focused on tech solutions for the live music industry, owner of xBk, a Des Moines-based music venue, Board Vice President for the National Independent Venue Foundation, the 501(c)(3) arm of the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), and a founding member of D Tour, a national collective of independent promoters.  She has worked in the Business and Legal Affairs division of Sony Music for a number of years as an attorney and Director of Copyright for Sony's Columbia Records, Epic Records, and RCA Records.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/vinnie-ferra</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-09-18</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1758231753182-12MQN9SNR3OO1DKJCKVG/Vinnie+Ferra+%E2%80%93+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Vinnie Ferra - Co-Founder &amp; CEO of The Beehive LA</image:title>
      <image:caption>Vinnie Ferra is a seasoned live entertainment and touring executive with a mission to make touring more seamless for artists and their crews. In 2016, he co-founded The Beehive, alongside Jonny Stiegler, to simplify the transition from rehearsing to performing live music for everyone, from developing acts to global superstars. Today, the LA-based company operates as a year-round community for its “bees” – tour managers, musical directors, lighting directors, audio engineers, playback techs, among other crew members. Working closely with artists, management teams, and labels across all genres, The Beehive specializes in translating artists’ creative vision from the studio into unforgettable live experiences. Their capabilities for clients span from hiring a band to reproduction and arranging, creative production, playback programming, vocal production, and tour logistics. The Beehive takes pride in bringing the best people together to create an amazing show. The collective also operates as both a studio space and creative hub, fostering collaboration among producers, session musicians, and performers. With tailoring tour strategies, meticulous attention to detail, and a focus on building cohesive collaboration within teams, The Beehive has established themselves as the go-to, community-first space for clients. Artists range from independent creatives to cultural powerhouses such as Halsey, Gracie Abrams, Rosé of BLACKPINK, Lizzy McAlpine, Gryffin, Masego, T-Pain, Bebe Rexha, blackbear, among others. As a musician, Vinnie has played famed venues such as Madison Square Garden and Red Rocks with longtime Beehive client Halsey. He’s also spearheaded multiple Saturday Night Live performances as musical director for Halsey and Tour Director for Gracie Abrams. In addition to SNL, Vinnie often co-produces and arranges live versions of his clients' music, including Halsey’s “Gasoline (Reimagined)” and Gracie Abrams’ Vevo live sessions for “I Love You, I’m Sorry.” Gracie’s Vevo session quickly became the second-highest live recording debut in Spotify’s history and went viral on TikTok, further cementing the importance of live performance in artist development stories.  Vinnie has a passion for educating the next generation and helping others balance mental health on the road. When he’s not on a tour bus, he’s riding into the sunset on a motorcycle.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/jonny-stiegler</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-09-18</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1758231601612-LA747V8IJLXH5CHEF8UT/Jonny+Stiegler+%E2%80%93+Headshot.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Jonny Stiegler - Co-Founder of The Beehive LA</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jonny Stiegler is a leading force in live entertainment and touring, driven by a mission to make touring more seamless for artists and their crews. In 2016, he co-founded The Beehive, alongside Vinnie Ferra, creating a community that specializes in translating artists’ creative vision from the studio into unforgettable live experiences for developing talent and global superstars. Based in Los Angeles, The Beehive operates as a year-round community for its “bees” – tour managers, musical directors, lighting directors, audio engineers, and playback techs, among other crew members. The company works closely with artists, management teams, and labels across all genres, bridging the gap between rehearsal and performance. Their capabilities for clients span from hiring a band to reproduction and arranging, creative production, playback programming, vocal production, and tour logistics, all underpinned by one principle: bringing the right people together to create amazing shows. Beyond building world-class tours, the collective operates as a studio space and creative hub. Known for tailored tour strategies, meticulous attention to detail, and a focus on building cohesive collaboration within teams, The Beehive has established themselves as the go-to community-first space for fostering collaborations with producers, session musicians, and performers. Artists range from independent creatives to cultural powerhouses such as Halsey, Gracie Abrams, Rosé of BLACKPINK, Lizzy McAlpine, Gryffin, Masego, T-Pain, Madison Beer, Bebe Rexha, blackbear, and more. Originally from Mobile, Alabama, Jonny’s path to touring was unconventional. After becoming a pole vaulter at the University of Alabama, he immediately took his talents on tour. Today, alongside building tours that define careers, he’s committed to mentoring the next generation of touring professionals, investing time and effort to ensure the industry is left better than he found it. When he’s not on a bus or plane, you’ll find him outdoors– fishing, hunting, and hiking.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/catherine-curtin</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-09-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1758041300121-8B8FOC3MJL06SHNGIUTN/Catherine+Curtin.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Catherine Curtin - Founder of Crowd Cushion</image:title>
      <image:caption>Catherine Curtin is the founder of Crowd Cushion Safety Notification System, an award-winning safety technology redefining how live events protect fans along the stage-front barriers. A lifelong festivalgoer turned innovator, Catherine brings both on-the-ground experience and forward-thinking passion to crowd safety. She works with venues and promoters worldwide to ensure audiences can enjoy the music they love without compromising safety. With a fresh perspective and unstoppable energy, Catherine is helping shift industry culture to make safety a priority and proving it can be innovative, effective, and fan-first.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/caroline-phillips</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-09-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1758037855455-7JKHQQ2CWMNAUNXWHG0P/Caroline+Phillips.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Caroline Phillips - Founder and Executive Producer of National Cannabis Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Caroline Phillips specializes in conceptualizing, strategizing and executing political campaigns, non-profit initiatives, live events and marketing experiences. In 2014, she founded The High Street LLC, a public relations and event production company with the mission of cultivating projects and ideas that leverage business and advocacy for social good. In 2016, Caroline launched the National Cannabis Festival (NCF) in Washington, D.C. and in 2018 she expanded the program to include the National Cannabis Policy Summit (NCPS) as part of a full week of events. Going into year 10, NCF is now the largest ticketed cannabis gathering in the United States and NCPS is the only nationally televised cannabis conference in the United States. Caroline received her Bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University, completed post-graduate studies at Howard University and received her Master’s degree from Georgetown University.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/marcus-allen</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-09-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1758037552540-OQQETG8O48TW4N6QT70G/Marcus+Allen.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Marcus Allen - Co-Founder of Broccoli City and Think Broccoli, LLC</image:title>
      <image:caption>Marcus Allen is the Co-Founder of Broccoli City and Think Broccoli, LLC, and is widely known as a serial entrepreneur, brand architect and community mobilizer. Born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, Allen obtained his B.S. in Supply Chain Logistics from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. It wasn’t long after that Allen, alongside his best-friend, founded Broccoli City, a multi-layered social enterprise which aims to build thriving urban communities that sustain future generations by mobilizing and educating urban millennials through social impact campaigns and major events.  Allen’s expertise in business and strategy, together with his desire to positively impact minority lifestyles and circumstances, has birthed several major contributions to the urban community, including a joint venture with Live Nation Urban which help create BroccoliCon, BC 5K Run + Fitness Festival, Smile Project Carnival and Concert, Food and Grooves Experience, Park Up DC, and most notably Broccoli City Festival. The annual festival, which launched in 2013, has gathered over 200,000 people in the spirit of Earth Day, making it one of the largest events for young, Black millennials in the country. Allen and his partner have since gone on to launch Broccoli Bar, a collaborative activation space with &amp;Pizza, Blackleaf Organic Vodka, the first French-imported USDA certified organic vodka, and Think Broccoli, LLC, a creative, experiential marketing agency focused on development and implementation of strategies for brand visibility and efficacy.  Allen’s contributions to the culture garnered him recognition by Stanford University as one of the top social innovators in the world during his participation in their Executive Program for Social Entrepreneurship. The United Negro College Fund honored Allen in the launch of their Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Allen has been featured in publications such as Forbes, Billboard, Black Enterprise, Essence, Revolt, and Boardroom.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/tushar-joshi</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-09-05</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1757053511303-HDK2BY8KLHIORLHQIUXQ/Tushar+Joshi.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Tushar Joshi - CEO &amp; Founder of Festival Pro</image:title>
      <image:caption>Tushar’s festival journey began on stage, smashing the electronic drums with the EDM (We don't call it EDM here) band Subgiant, and playing at hundreds of festivals worldwide. From the euphoric highs to the muddy lows (and more than a few dodgy toilets), he’s seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of life behind the scenes. Armed with 15 years of festival know how and 30 years of experience as a developer (yes, he’s been coding since floppy disks were still a thing), Tushar set out to tackle one of the industry’s biggest headaches: festival management. The result? Festival Pro, a complete 360° platform that takes the chaos of large scale event planning and turns it into something that actually makes sense. Today, Festival Pro supports over 600 festivals worldwide, making organisers’ lives easier and audiences’ experiences smoother. Tushar now leads an international team of festival experts who advise, guide, and sprinkle a little magic into every event they touch. When he’s not orchestrating the backstage revolution, he’s still touring with Subgiant, living in London, and for him most importantly remains the go to guy for the best food and cocktail spots.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/scott-ross</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-09-03</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1756926692408-JWRF487D6JRKSOTYHXGX/Scott+Ross.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Scott Ross - Founder of Digital Domain</image:title>
      <image:caption>As one of the most notable pioneers in digital media and entertainment, Scott Ross’ career has been stellar. He founded, along with Hollywood luminaries James Cameron and Stan Winston, Digital Domain, one of the largest digital production studios in the motion picture and advertising industries.  Under Ross’ direction, Digital Domain garnered multiple Academy Award nominations, receiving its first Oscar for groundbreaking visual effects in TITANIC. That success was followed by a second Oscar for WHAT DREAMS MAY COME and a third for THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON.  Digital Domain received additional nominations for TRUE LIES, APOLLO 13, and I, ROBOT, and has won four Scientific and Technical Achievement Academy Awards for its proprietary software.  For well over a decade Ross oversaw the company that created imagery for movies such as TITANIC, THE FIFTH ELEMENT, APOLLO13, FIGHT CLUB, TRUE LIES, INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU, X-MEN, THE LORD OF THE RINGS, THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW, I ROBOT and many, many others.  Ross has worked with the who’s who of film directors such as Cameron, Bay, Fincher, Howard, Scorsese, Coppola, The Coen Brothers, Spielberg, Kurosawa, Jackson, Salles and generally, has nice things to say about them.  In 2006 as Digital Domain’s CEO and Chairman, he successfully sold Digital Domain to director Michael Bay and a group of private equity investors.  Before forming Digital Domain he led George Lucas’ vast entertainment empire, running ILM, Skywalker Sound, LucasFilm Commercial Productions, and DroidWorks. Ross first joined LucasFilm as General Manager of Industrial Light and Magic and under his leadership, ILM won five Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects (WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT; INNERSPACE; TERMINATOR 2; THE ABYSS; DEATH BECOMES HER). The company reorganized in the 90’s and Ross was named Sr. VP of the LucasArts Entertainment Group, which was comprised of Skywalker Sound, LucasArts Commercial Productions, LucasArts Attractions, Editdroid/Soundroid and ILM. Ross has played a significant role in the worldwide advertising industry as well. Having started commercial production companies whilst at LucasFilm (ILM and LCP) as well as Digital Domain’s Commercials Division, he has led two of the largest VFX commercial production companies on the planet. Digital Domain has continually established itself as the premiere visual effects studio in the advertising industry.  With Fortune 500 clients such as Nike, American Express, Gatorade, Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola and Mercedes Benz, the DD Commercials Division has garnered dozens of Clio Awards and numerous Cannes Golden Lions. In addition to the visual effects divisions, Mr. Ross launched Digital Domain Films, a feature film production division.  The first feature film produced by Mr. Ross was the New Line Cinema release SECONDHAND LIONS which achieved both critical and box office success. Before his celebrated career in film and advertising, Ross was a sound engineer touring with bands such as Miles Davis, The Allman Brothers, and Johnny Winter.   A native of New York City, Ross began his career in Media Studies at Hofstra University where he graduated with a BS in Communication Arts.  He returned to Hofstra to receive an honorary doctorate from his alma mater. Presently, Scott is a member of several boards, lectures around the globe, and a fellow at Peking University and  continues developing and producing films.   Mr. Ross is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (OSCARS) and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (EMMYS). He has worked on over 100 of the world’s largest special effects films and has lectured extensively about the creative process, content, and technology in over 30 countries around the world.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/zoe-berman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-08-30</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1756514788442-3L406M3X98CCP5AUQB62/ZoeBerman_Headshot2.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Zoe Berman - Chief Operating Officer at Sound Future</image:title>
      <image:caption>Zoe Berman specializes in the intersection of music and environmental sustainability. She serves as Chief Operating Officer at Sound Future, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization leveraging the power of live music to restore nature, support farmers, and drive positive community impact. Bringing nearly a decade of experience as a singer-songwriter and touring musician, Zoe has a master’s in Global Entertainment &amp; Music Business from Berklee College of Music, where she conducted her thesis on the integration of sustainability initiatives at music festivals. She also comes with a breadth of experience in research and implementing environmental data protocols at live events.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/ryan-kruger</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-28</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1769631091438-NZRWJ0TNEN7O4Y03J19A/Ryan+Kruger+-+Bio+Pic+-+Suit.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Ryan Kruger - Vice President, Festivals &amp; Events at Oilers Entertainment Group</image:title>
      <image:caption>Ryan Kruger is Vice President, Festivals &amp; Events at Oilers Entertainment Group (OEGSE), where he leads the creation and growth of large-scale festivals and live events across Edmonton’s ICE District and beyond. With more than 30 years of experience in the live entertainment industry, Ryan has built, scaled, and produced some of Canada’s most iconic festivals, from grassroots raves to internationally recognized brands. At OEG, he is spearheading a multi-year strategy anchored by signature festivals in electronic, country, and rock music, including DSTRKT25, Igloofest, and a soon-to-be-announced country music festival. He is also part of the leadership team advancing a landmark $300 million indoor/outdoor music hall development in the ICE District, a transformative project set to redefine live entertainment in Edmonton. Previously, Ryan founded Destiny Events, produced WEMF, Digital Dreams, and Vujaday, and went on to found and lead Electronic Nation for Live Nation before joining AREA15 in Las Vegas in a senior leadership role. Known for blending vision with disciplined operations, he consistently delivers high-impact events that drive both cultural and economic value.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/kevin-lyman</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-08-28</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1756423981928-MJNWJMH3AKSP6W77BXWQ/Kevin+Lyman.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Kevin Lyman - Founder of Vans Warped Tour</image:title>
      <image:caption>Kevin Lyman is the Founder and Producer of the Vans Warped Tour. His most notable live production and live music festival series, which attracted about 750,000 people annually and was the longest-running North American festival concert tour. The Vans Warped Tour launched many of today's most famous artists, including Eminem, Katy Perry, Black Eyed Peas, Blink-182, Green Day, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, and Bebe Rexha. The tour also featured other big-name acts like No Doubt, Ice T, Avenged Sevenfold, and Limp Bizkit who played to large crowds before reaching global fame. In the Fall Semester of 2018, Lyman started teaching at USC's Thornton School of Music as an Associate Professor. He has been an industry professional for 37 years, having worked his way up from throwing backyard concerts to producing festivals like Rockstar Mayhem, Country Throwdown, Sprite Liquid Mix, and It’s Not Dead, among numerous others. He is co-owner of SideOneDummy Records, and has managed acts like Less Than Jake, H20, and the Ataris. Lyman’s philosophy has always been to include three things in all events he produces: music, education, and philanthropy. His philanthropic work has included founding the Unite the United Foundation, a charitable organization that has raised over $1 million for various non-profits. In 2014, the Vans Warped Tour attempted to set a Guinness World Record for Largest Food Drive in 24-Hour period at a single location. In 2018, Kevin Lyman focused on the opioid education initiative, FEND (Full, Energy, No, Drugs). For his philanthropic efforts, Lyman was recognized in 2009 as the Billboard Touring Awards Humanitarian of the Year. He was an honoree in 2011 at the Grammy/MusiCares MAP Fund gala, and was inducted in 2012 into the Top Dog Touring Hall of Fame at the Tour Link Conference. In 2016, he was given the Humanitarian of the Year award by the T.J. Martell Foundation at their annual Family Day.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/deron-delgado</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-08-28</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/db147ea3-2094-4a99-b00d-776f3ffd4b66/Deron+Delgado.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Deron Delgado - Label Manager at Dirtybird Records and VP of Operations at EMPIRE Dance</image:title>
      <image:caption>Dirtybird Records Label Manager and VP of Operations at EMPIRE Dance, Deron Delgado has built a reputation as one of underground dance music’s most influential curators.  Since 2015, Delgado has managed the label’s Dirtybird’s operations, and helped shape and execute the label’s vision across their releases, events, festivals, and more. He's overseen dozens of artists' careers, helping many grow from local openers to festival headliners. In his time as Label Manager, Dirtybird has become known for releasing music in the early days of  some of today’s biggest house and techno stars, like FISHER and John Summit, even earning the title of Mixmag’s Label of the Decade in 2017. Under Delgado’s direction, the label has released hundreds of records from established and rising acts including Nikki Nair, Walker &amp; Royce, Catz N Dogz, Shiba San, Nala, VNSSA, Lubelski, Ivy Lab, and more. Now a part of EMPIRE Records since the label’s acquisition in 2022, Delgado has taken on an even larger leadership role. Delgado has helped spearhead the expansion of EMPIRE’s dance division with the addition of labels like Aluna’s Noir Fever, Walker &amp; Royce’s Rules Don’t Apply, DJ E-Clyps’ Blacklight Factory, and new artist signings like The Martinez Brothers and Rochelle Jordan. 2025 sees Dirtybird commemorating 20 years with new releases, merch, and the return of multiple events around the country, including the return of Dirtybird Campout in partnership with Northern Nights Festival, and CampINN, featuring collaborations with Defected and Desert Hearts. Dirtybird also launched the inaugural Flight Week, a series of events culminating in their second Back 2 Baysics outdoor concert at Embarcadero Plaza with over 10k attendees. Flight Week invited more than a dozen Dirtybird artists to collaborate at EMPIRE Studios and featured activations with the San Francisco Giants, clothing brand San Franpsycho, and 10 local restaurants. Prior to Dirtybird, Delgado worked as the Director of Label Relations at digital download music store Stompy.com and the Managing Director for the US-based sister company to Paradise Entertainment &amp; Distribution. Through his nearly two decades of experience in digital music and media, Delgado has proven his expertise across label management, digital distribution, licensing, artist development, event production, publishing, and music marketing strategies.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/tracy-lehr</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-08-28</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1756350520926-OFF4RK4EDS63827YOU1P/Tracy+Lehr+Enhanced.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Tracy Lehr - Reporter, Anchor, and Host at News Channel 3-12</image:title>
      <image:caption>Tracy Lehr is an Emmy, Edward R Murrow and Golden Mike winning journalist who joined News Channel 3-12 decades ago as a reporter, anchor and host. She is currently the anchor of News Channel 3-12 evening weekend newscasts as well as an evening live reporter during the week.  Tracy received her big break reporting on radio and TV in Vail, Colorado where she also taught skiing.  As the daughter of two university professors she thought it was important to continue her education, earning a masters degree in broadcast journalism from USC.  Prior to joining our team, Tracy anchored at The Business Channel in Los Angeles, KHSL in Chico and the Ventura County News Network. She also co-hosted the national program RV-Today on the Outdoor Life Network.  Tracy solo anchored the Emmy and Bill Stout award winning breaking newscast the day the Gipper died.  She won an individual Emmy for her coverage of the Montecito Mudslide and just won a Golden Mike Award for Best Government and Political Reporting for a story about a local Disney child star pushing for laws against AI sexual abuse.  Tracy and her husband are also the proud parents of two Oxnard High School valedictorians  -one is a Cal Berkeley philosophy grad working at Sony in Hollywood, but she can’t say what she does, the other just graduated in business psychology from UCSD and is the longest employee at Betty Belts / Ocean Room Gallery, known for its seaglass jewelry in Ventura.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/meredith-walsh</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-08-27</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1756311354389-QTYE21PR1Z6TDG5SSPCF/Meredith+Walsh.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Meredith Walsh - Founder of FlowJam Festival &amp; Mind Your Intuition</image:title>
      <image:caption>With over 15 years of experience in branding, marketing, and business strategy, Meredith has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs turn their creative passions into thriving, sustainable businesses. She is also the founder and producer of FlowJam Festival, a Healing Arts and Music Festival that began as a backyard fundraiser and has grown into a 12-year movement drawing thousands of attendees, world-class performers, and conscious entrepreneurs. In addition to her festival work, Meredith leads Mind Your Intuition, a coaching and consulting company that equips entrepreneurs with simple, results-driven strategies to grow profitable businesses &amp; events without stress or hustle. Her expertise is grounded in a dual M.A. in International Communications &amp; World Politics and professional roles with The World Bank, the Global Partnership for Education, and Bauer Media Group in Sydney, Australia. Blending high-level strategy with real-world experience producing large-scale events, Meredith is passionate about helping entrepreneurs and festival creators build sustainable ventures that generate profit, freedom, and lasting impact.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/lamonia-brown</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-17</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1756241084625-PW4Q04ECZPL0466MNTA9/Lamonia+Brown.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Lamonia Brown - Festival Director at Cultural Connections Film Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Lamonia Deanne Brown is a Creative Executive, Filmmaker, and Film Festival Specialist. As founder of The Gilchrist Group LLC., she partners with entertainment companies in the areas of content development, strategy and communications, as well as live events. She specializes in film/series development, impact strategy, communications, film festival production and programming, and content innovation.  In January 2019, Lamonia/The Gilchrist Group was tapped by the owner of Essence Ventures to  create and build the Essence Film Festival as its Festival Director. She produced, programmed, and launched the festival launched in 2022 as part of the Essence Festival of Culture in New  Orleans with great success, high engagement, and impressive numbers. She continues to serve and lead the production, programming and growth of the film festival, with the goal of building  the largest Black global cultural film and arts gathering in the world.   As a Content Strategist and Creative Development Executive at WarnerMedia OneFifty (a  Warner Bros. Discovery brand under the Corporate Social Responsibility department), Lamonia  managed the brand’s content development and strategy, along with communications for a slate of  22 film and series projects, while also managing sponsorships and activations for over 40  identity-based film festivals that are supported by HBO and the WBD group of companies. While there, Lamonia wrote and produced two branded spots for voting season: one starring Issa Rae focused on poll workers and one focused on the disruptive impact of voting. Both aired on the WarnerMedia ad-supported networks (TBS, TNT, CNN, etc.). As part of the HBO CSR department, she was instrumental in recommending and securing corporate donations to arts &amp; cultural organizations on behalf of Warner.  Lamonia serves as the co-chair of the Writers Guild of America East’s Women of Color Caucus, and she is on the board for the Washington D.C.-based Multicultural Media Correspondents Association.  Her television projects include the two unscripted series (THE RIGHT RECIPE and THAT WORD); and the scripted pilot BLACK ROSE, which won the NY Television Festival. She is also in pre-production on the documentary feature BLACK IVY and is finalizing the screenplay for her narrative feature WILLIE-B: WORKS IN PROGRESS, which peels back the cultural layers of a multidimensional love story set in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn where she grew up and still lives.  Previous professional positions include Head of Programming &amp; Production for the American Black Film Festival (ABFF); Director of Programming and Events at New York Women in Film &amp; Television (NYWIFT); and freelance work with various festivals including the Producer Guild’s “Produced By: NY” conference, “Women Calling the Shots” at the Hamptons Film  Festival, LatinBeat, Montclair Film Festival, African American Women in Cinema, and others.  Lamonia attended Fordham University where she majored in Film, with a Creative Writing minor. She holds firm to the belief that all storytellers must be heard in order to create the paradigm shift necessary to bring about true equity.  Fun professional facts about Lamonia:  Her entertainment career began at PRINCE's Paisley Park Music publishing company and went on to work in the music industry for many years at companies such as Sony, BMG and Universal Music Group. Her love for music stems from her own days as a child musician studying tenor saxophone and the flute.  She secured an installation and exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History &amp; Culture (NMAAHC) for the American Black Film Festival (ABFF).  Lamonia takes great interest in shepherding the career trajectory for many women entering the film business by spearheading key pipeline opportunities including intern/mentor programs, student academies designed to provide access to corporate entertainment positions, training mid career people in transition and working on the development of indie creators’ projects.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/mark-harrison</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-08-25</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1756148831845-C7SI4CAT9CJDP6408CY3/mark_harrison_20231531.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Mark Harrison - Founder of the MH3 Collective</image:title>
      <image:caption>Mark Harrison is the founder of the MH3 Collective, a group of ventures whose purpose is to connect people &amp; ideas to create social impact. The Collective includes: Humanity, a full-service agency for CHANGEMAKERS Sidekick, a realization consultancy  T1, an agency that unites brands with communities SponsorshipX is an advocacy platform for partnership marketers In addition, he co-founded the BTI to support the development of Black leaders and Park Street Education, a charity that removes all barriers to children's education. His community involvement also includes serving as Board Chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto, as a Board Member &amp; Chair of the Marketing Committee of the CAMH Foundation and the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/The JUNO Awards. Mark received the Harry Jerome Award (Business Category), annually presented by the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA). In addition, his success in marketing over the last thirty years has led him to be the Association of Canadian Advertisers' 2022 Gold Medal Award winner. In May 2025, Mark was inducted into the AMA Toronto Marketing Hall of Legends. Mark is also CBC Metro Morning's business columnist, where he regularly discusses corporate and societal matters.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/noah-pilchen</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-08-22</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1755879156437-CPKPXP611NRV4UXAWATX/Noah+Pilchen.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Noah Pilchen - Director of Development for Stern Grove Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Noah Pilchen is the Director of Development for Stern Grove Festival, the country's longest-running free, nonprofit music festival. In his role, he leads the Festival’s fundraising and sponsorship efforts, expanding corporate partnerships, refreshing donor experiences, and building collaborations that spotlight Bay Area artists, cultural institutions, and independent businesses. Guided by a belief that the most meaningful support comes from authentic partnerships, he works to ensure the Festival serves as a platform that uplifts both the creative sector and the local economy that surrounds it. Prior to joining Stern Grove, Noah built corporate partnerships for SFMOMA and the California Shakespeare Theater, and launched TED AI’s sponsorship program during its inaugural year in 2023.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/karina-gonzalez</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-08-20</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1755702904561-W6BE3H4HPXEMCFHXH1M3/Karina+Gonzalez+photo+2Y3A6025v2+courtesy+of+Wasserman.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Karina Gonzalez - VP, Festivals at Wasserman Music</image:title>
      <image:caption>Karina Gonzalez is VP, Festivals at Wasserman Music, based in Los Angeles. She focuses on client bookings for Latin music festivals in the U.S. and contemporary festivals across Latin America. She previously served as VP, Touring &amp; Development at Latin concert promoter Zamora Live, where she was instrumental in expanding the company’s reach across Central America and the U.S. Prior to that, Gonzalez served as an Agent at UTA focused on the Latin American market for major music artists including Karol G, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Bring Me the Horizon, AURORA, and Arlo Parks.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/nancy-kennedy</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-08-15</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1755299028879-RRLV6LQIC9IB1RZG7QUR/Nancy+Kennedy-Sonoma.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Nancy Kennedy - Director of Development, Sonoma International Film Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Nancy Kennedy joined the Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF) in January 2021, bringing  with her over three decades of expertise in fundraising, sponsorship development, and strategic  partnerships within the film festival industry. In her role as Director of Development, Nancy  oversees all contributed income opportunities for the non-profit arts organization, including  sponsorships, grants, underwriting, individual giving, and special events.  Prior to SIFF, Nancy spent more than 30 years with the Seattle International Film Festival, where  she played a pivotal role in securing millions of dollars in support, cultivating long-term  corporate partnerships, and enhancing the festival’s reputation as one of the leading cultural  events in the country.  In 2020, the pandemic inspired a move to California’s Wine Country, where Nancy has  embraced the opportunity to combine her professional skills with the vibrant culture of Sonoma.  At SIFF—proudly known for “The Best in Film, Food, Wine and Fun”—she continues to  champion the arts, foster community engagement, and create meaningful connections between  sponsors, audiences, and the festival experience.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/queenie-donaldson</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-08-14</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1755196767003-2ZU6E42ISA36367DUO6Y/QUEENIE+DONALDSON_PHOTOG+KAWAI+MATTHEWS+copy.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Queenie Donaldson - Founder and CEO of Queens Entertainment Group Inc.</image:title>
      <image:caption>Queenie Donaldson is a powerhouse executive, visionary producer, and unapologetic advocate for equity, representation, and impact. As the Founder and CEO of Queens Entertainment Group Inc., a woman-owned global entertainment consulting firm based in Los Angeles, Queenie specializes in premium A-list celebrity talent booking, celebrity brand partnerships, and entertainment strategy—bringing culture, influence, and purpose to the forefront of every project. With over two decades of success, Queenie has been the trusted entertainment partner for leading multicultural advertising agencies managing brands such as AT&amp;T, McDonald’s, Lexus, Hennessy, Brand Jordan, and Nike—securing A list talent for campaigns and experiential moments that resonate authentically. Her unmatched ability to connect brands with powerful celebrity voices has shaped cultural narratives and driven measurable impact.  Her career began under the mentorship of industry legend Reuben Cannon and quickly rose as a Talent Executive at BET, where she helped launch iconic platforms like 106 &amp; Park and the BET Awards. She has since produced and secured celebrity talent for major networks, productions, global award shows, music &amp; tv specials and series including OWN, VH-1, TV-One, Showtime, A&amp;E, WeTV, and Telepictures—earning her the nickname “The Olivia Pope of Celebrity Talent Booking” for her fierce negotiation skills, discretion, and results.  Queenie has booked talent for high-profile campaigns and productions featuring global icons such as Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Timberland, Justin Timberlake, Ashanti, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, Michelle Obama, Tom Cruise, John Legend, Ne-Yo,Ciara, Paris Hilton, Shaquille O’Neal, Steve Nash, Robert De Niro, Rihanna, LeBron James, Halle Berry, Idris Elba, Taraji P. Henson, Serena Williams, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Hart, Zendaya, Jamie Foxx, Oprah Winfrey, and many more.  Beyond her business accomplishments, Queenie is deeply committed to empowering women, creating pathways for people of color to have a seat at every table, and advocating for those who are unseen and unheard—not just in Hollywood, but in real life. Her mission is to ensure every voice is valued, every story is told, and every community knows it matters.  Through her company’s work, Queenie merges entertainment, philanthropy, sustainability, and social impact, using the power of celebrity platforms to inspire love, unity, and global responsibility. For her, this is not a moment—it’s a movement.  A proud native of Fresno, California, and a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Queenie’s life and career are rooted in faith, purpose, and preparation. She believes that with God first, anything is possible—and she continues to lead with vision, authenticity, and an unwavering commitment to leaving the world better than she found it.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/maddie-ward</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-08-12</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1755024691492-WMRUBTNERS2V66WLINDF/Maddie+Ward.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Maddie Ward - Chief Operating Officer of End Overdose</image:title>
      <image:caption>Maddie Ward is the Chief Operating Officer of End Overdose, a national nonprofit transforming how communities respond to the overdose crisis through education, training, and nationwide distribution of naloxone and fentanyl test strips. End Overdose conducts outreach at music festivals across the country, partnering with Insomniac, Goldenvoice, Breakaway, and VenueNation to bring life-saving tools and training directly to event-goers and staff. Maddie began her journey with End Overdose at UCLA, where she co-founded and led the first End Overdose university chapter for 2.5 years, launching initiatives that reached thousands. She has since served as Programs Coordinator and Director of Operations before stepping into her current role as COO, where she builds sustainable programs and strategic partnerships that expand the organization’s reach nationwide. Her leadership has been recognized with the UCLA Chancellor’s Service Award, two finalist honors for the Charles E. Young Humanitarian Award, and recognition as a BruinLife Senior of the Year. Maddie is passionate about leveraging technology, education, and community empowerment to make lifesaving resources accessible wherever they are needed most.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/mark-lord</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-08-12</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1755012650736-7K1V97ZRSK06UNIVC80H/Mark+Lord.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Mark Lord - Owner of Funkyard Music Fest, LLC</image:title>
      <image:caption>With 20+ years in the music festival business, Mark Lord has worked, supported and participated in many music festivals around the country including Coachella, Stagecoach, Bourbon &amp; Beyond and Aftershock, to name a few. Mark Lord started off in the music business like many others – in a rock band.  After graduating college with a BA degree in Political Science, International Relations, Mark moved to Hollywood and attended music school, where he also learned some valuable lessons about the music business. Mark started off in the festival world via “trial by fire” where he was tasked with heading the festival portion of a KROQ radio festival in Southern California.  Handling aspects of the front of house areas including activities, sponsors, retail and food vendors (essentially a carnival midway) Mark quickly excelled at understanding what it takes to run the fan experiential portion of a festival. Continuing to work with overall festival production and booking club shows, Mark later started his own full service special event and festival production company called Funkyard Music Fest - eventually organizing his own music festival of the same name, where he self-produced and booked the one day, 2 stage festival. Mark has history with event &amp; health permitting, site planning, fire safety, outside vendor procurement &amp; management, food &amp; beverage, sponsorship activation &amp; buildout, retail &amp; art vendor procurement as well as staff management.  Mark’s years of knowledge and experience makes him a great resource for music festival teams old and new.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/kayla-pendleton</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-08-08</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1754683285632-6FWGNZCYWJFYV45RGEUJ/Kayla+Pendleton-3.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Kayla Pendleton - Founder of Nashville Marketing</image:title>
      <image:caption>Kayla Pendleton is a strategic marketing leader with over 15 years of experience driving audience growth, brand visibility, and record-breaking ticket sales in the live events industry. As the founder of Nashville Marketing, Kayla has built a reputation for crafting high-impact campaigns for concerts, festivals, and touring productions that consistently exceed attendance goals. Her client roster includes Grammy-nominated rapper Jeezy, whose most recent 23-city U.S. tour sold out under her team’s direction, Lakes Jam music festival, which draws 35,000+ attendees annually and achieved record single-day gate sales in 2025, Zoppé Family Circus, an old-world traveling show attracting 50,000+ annual attendees, and many more. Specializing in audience monetization, operational automation, and data-driven marketing, Kayla has mastered how to stretch budgets and leverage technology for maximum ROI — skills that have positioned her agency as a market leader in the live events niche. Her work bridges creativity and analytics, helping event owners turn fans into loyal, long-term customers. When she’s not developing multi-channel campaigns or refining event marketing strategies, Kayla mentors small business owners and emerging event professionals, sharing the systems and strategies that have fueled her clients’ success.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/matt-hanrahan</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-08-07</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1754581744579-GLD1L0YHGYRD1P289IXB/Matt+Hanrahan.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Matt Hanrahan - Director, Branded Entertainment / Events &amp; Partnerships at The Outlier Group</image:title>
      <image:caption>Matt Hanrahan began his career in entertainment DJing and playing in bands in New England before becoming an alternative music promoter, independently promoting and coordinating live events, organizing street team promotions, and managing an indie record label. From his start in CT, Matt built a strong base in New England and then instinctively moved to nearby NYC where he further cut his teeth producing concerts and eventually tours, festivals, and other special events. Matt eventually took his learnings from the live event space, combined it with his marketing know-how, and focused on Branded Entertainment. It wasn't long before Matt was on the road creating content with some of the biggest bands and brands in the world, including world tours with The Rolling Stones, Moby's Area Festival Tours, Kanye Al Gore's Live Earth Festival, nearly a decade of producing live events for WWE as well as critically acclaimed music video productions, charity concerts, award shows, and more. These days, Matt continues to create unique entertainment experiences in the realms of music, and sports entertainment in markets all over the world for clients like Toyota, EA Games, SPIN, SXSW, Beachlife Fest, LA Fleet Week, Rock For Responders, and countless tours and activations for artists and or brands at some of the biggest festivals in the world. Previously held roles such as:  Director, Artist Relations Beachlife Fest Exec Producer / Talent LA Fleet Week Exec Producer/ Talent Rock For Responders</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/denise-yamaguchi</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-08-06</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1754437145043-PX4WXYASR07J5GG32Y92/denise_yamaguchi-5.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Denise Yamaguchi - CEO and Founder of the Hawai‘i Food &amp; Wine Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Denise Hayashi Yamaguchi serves as the CEO and Founder of the Hawai‘i Ag &amp; Culinary  Alliance (dba, Hawai‘i Food &amp; Wine Festival) and the Executive Director of the Hawai‘i  Agricultural Foundation (HAF). Along with Co-Founders, chefs Alan Wong and Roy Yamaguchi, Hayashi Yamaguchi was instrumental in the development, growth and vision for Hawaii Food &amp; Wine Festival that has become a global brand in the luxury travel, food and beverage markets. As the premier epicurean event in the Pacific, the Festival boasts an alumni roster of more than 500+ global chef ambassadors, 300+ select winemaker and producers and 300+ top-tier mixologists. Organized to leverage its network celebrity chef talent, the Festival also puts a spotlight on Hawaiʻi as a culinary destination, provides opportunities for burgeoning culinary talent, and addresses the need to support Hawaiʻi’s agricultural industry. The Hawaiʻi  Ag &amp; Culinary Alliance is also the parent company of Hashi Media which is a digital media platform that produces online content and videos such as Taste Our Love for Hawaiʻi. Most recently, Hashi Media has developed a Hashi Wine Club, in partnership with Kakaʻako Wines, curated by featured talent and personalities.  As the founding Executive Director of HAF, she has overseen the development and growth of all of its programming, including their farmer assistance, education and outreach programs. HAF serves 25 small farmers on its HAF Ag Park in Kunia, more than 5,000 school children annually through its K-12 education programs in the public schools, and more than 1,700 local restaurants and businesses that buy local. Under her leadership, Localicious and Food-A-Go-Go have become the largest statewide “buy local” campaign in the State of Hawaiʻi.   Hayashi Yamaguchi has more than twenty-five years of experience and has held executive positions with NCL America, Bishop Museum, Japanese Cultural Center, Hawai‘i Foodbank and U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye’s office in Washington D.C. She served as a board member of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority from 2014-2018, and currently serves on the boards of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaiʻi and Hawaiʻi Foodbank.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/stephen-odom</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-08-05</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1754430273095-4AGUILMHN5N47I7SPX32/Stephen+Odom.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Stephen Odom - Festival Director at Redrock Entertainment</image:title>
      <image:caption>Stephen brings over a decade of expertise in concert production, with a diverse background spanning tour management, venue operations, and live music photography. He served as the Tour Manager for The Dillinger Escape Plan, overseeing complex international touring logistics and artist management. Stephen also held the role of Production Manager at The Wiltern Theatre, one of Los Angeles' most iconic live music venues, where he was responsible for coordinating all technical and operational aspects of live events. In addition to his production work, he is a published rock photographer with contributions to iHeartMedia, capturing dynamic imagery of some of the industry's most recognized performers.  As Festival Director at Redrock Entertainment, Stephen’s role is to oversee the strategic planning, execution, and overall creative direction of the company’s festival portfolio. He leads cross-functional teams in talent booking, production management, vendor coordination, and marketing to deliver large-scale, immersive experiences that align with Redrock’s brand and audience expectations. Stephen ensures that each event is executed efficiently, safely, and memorably.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/charles-hinnant</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-08-04</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1754321910085-S9W2B682GAFKG5RHY0P6/Charles+Hinnant.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Charles Hinnant - Founder &amp; CEO, Rave Me Away</image:title>
      <image:caption>Charles Hinnant is the founder and CEO of Rave Me Away, an innovative emergency communication and tracking platform built specifically to improve safety at live events A Connecticut native, Charles holds a degree in Political Science with dual minors in History and Sociology from the College of Charleston. After graduating, he fulfilled a childhood dream by solo backpacking through New Zealand and Australia — skydiving, bungee jumping, and diving the Great Barrier Reef — before returning stateside to launch his professional journey. Charles began his career in advanced digital advertising with DISH Media in New York City, supporting agency accounts like WPP and FreeWheel, and managing campaign operations from order entry to post-campaign analytics. Seeking to transition into strategic marketing, he earned a Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communications from Georgetown University in 2023. While at Georgetown, Charles developed the concept for Rave Me Away, earning a spot in the Spring 2022 Pitch Competition and advancing into Georgetown’s 2022 Summer Launch Incubator. Since then, Charles has scaled Rave Me Away from an idea to a fully operational startup. In 2025, RMA completed successful pilots at three major live events — including Centurions Festival, 55th Annual Puerto Rican Festival, and Tim McGraw at the Field of Dreams. RMA has also joined the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and attended the conference — showcasing RMAs ability to streamline incident communication, improve response times, and enhance on-site safety, RMA plans to attend LPS and The Conference as well to continue to spread awareness for RMA. Charles has also initiated strategic partnerships with asset tracking platforms and security tech providers to expand RMA’s capabilities. Outside of work, Charles is an avid music festival enthusiast, gamer, golfer, and loyal football fan. His lived experience — including attending Astroworld in 2021 — is what fuels his mission to make festivals safer, smarter, and more connected. Associations &amp; Awards Co-President, SCS Entrepreneurship Club at Georgetown Summer Launch Incubator Fellow, Georgetown Venture Lab Member, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Phi Eta Sigma National Political Science Honor Society Phi Sigma Alpha National Honor Society Member, 2012 Connecticut State High School Championship Swim Team</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/jesse-lawrence</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-22</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1753996823582-I4FG1LIGWX05W6E11NXL/Jesse+Lawrence.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Jesse Lawrence - Founder of FanIQ.One</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jesse Lawrence is the founder of FanIQ, a performance-based paid social marketing and analytics platform for festivals, teams, venues and other music promoters. The company uses audience-focused content to engage new fans and re-engage existing fans on vertical video platforms like Snap, Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.  Music partners include Danny Wimmer, Live Nation, Another Planet, Breakaway, Southern Entertainment, Boots in the Park, and Levitate Music Festival.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/stephanie-seiple</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-07-31</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1753995984800-WAUU6ORQ7ZCDVWIN5P9M/Stephanie_Seiple_HS.Portrait.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Stephanie Seiple - Executive Director of Music Media Collective</image:title>
      <image:caption>In 2024, she founded the Music Media Collective, a nonprofit based in Los Angeles working to rebuild national music media/journalism through advocacy, fan-powered discovery, and programming. Stephanie began her career in radio promotion and marketing at BMG and Sony Music Entertainment. From there, she traveled the US producing branded concerts and tours with Kings of Leon, Phoenix, and The Black Keys, later overseeing production for arena and festival shows with Eric Church, Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, and Rick Ross. At School of Rock, she ran operations as GM of the flagship location, growing enrollment through media partnerships and community outreach. In 2009, she founded Tri State Indie (TSI), a creative agency and digital music outlet focused on brand partnerships, artist-first programming, and events. She scaled the music outlet to 800K monthly visits and led a team of 8 with 50+ contributors nationwide. She secured partnerships with Chevy, Vitaminwater, and Pabst Blue Ribbon, and directed coverage of local concerts to major festivals like SXSW, ACL, Lollapalooza, and Governors Ball. Working with Live Nation, AEG, and Bowery Presents, she led marketing and activation campaigns to drive ticket sales. She also produced Make Music Philly (352 citywide performances), music award shows, and city-led press conferences in partnership with arts councils, local government, and nonprofits. Later, as Director of Promotion at Nashville-based Reviver Records, she secured media deals with iHeartMedia, Audacy, and Cumulus, resulting in #1 country hits for Tenille Arts and David Lee Murphy (with Kenny Chesney) and appearances on TODAY, The Bachelor, and The Kelly Clarkson Show. At Azimuth, she served as VP of Business Development and Communications, leading growth strategy and building partnerships with Warner Music, NBCUniversal, Comcast, SESAC, PBS, Exactuals, and NextGen TV. She launched Asses in Seats during the pandemic, a live podcast mixing the energy of sports talk radio, featuring live calls with fans and interviews with artists and entertainment professionals, while raising donations in real-time for MusiCares® ($4500 to date). Stephanie served on the Recording Academy board for over a decade, co-chaired committees, mediated panel discussions, and led advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill. She also served as one of 13 industry leaders elected to the City of Philadelphia’s Music Industry Task Force, analyzing the city’s music economy, developing policy and community action plans, and testifying before City Council. She’s also a GRAMMY U mentor and has guest lectured at universities including Dartmouth, Drexel, Rowan, and Temple.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/kyle-kane</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-23</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1753809805124-LW68BTXPF3SFQRC5C277/Kyle+Kane.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Kyle Kane - Founder &amp; CEO of onSpark</image:title>
      <image:caption>Kyle Kane is an accomplished marketer, content creator, executive producer, and award-winning entrepreneur. His latest venture, 180 South, ranked on the Inc. 500 list as the #13 Fastest Growing Company in America, and #24 in Global Marketing and Advertising. Kyle has crafted creative campaigns for some of the world’s premier artists &amp; brands (Katy Perry, Kylie Jenner, Samsung, etc.) resulting in global market value of over $2B in sales.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/kyle-newport</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-07-28</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1753733634641-JTPYESF3W76WI4VLY6WQ/Kyle+Nweport+2.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Kyle Newport - Founder &amp; Executive Producer of Sunset Jazz Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Kyle Newport is the Executive Producer of the highly popular Sunset Jazz Festival across the United States. He has also served as lead Media Planner for the National concert tours for Jamie Foxx, Chris Tucker, Will Downing, Chris Rock and others.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/alex-pucciarelli</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-07-28</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1753732279596-5925NES78X7L5ULQ229L/Alex+Pucciarelli.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Alex Pucciarelli - Ticketing Specialist</image:title>
      <image:caption>Alex Pucciarelli has over 7 years of hands-on experience in ticketing operations, box office management, credentials, and client services across nationally recognized festivals and other prominent events. She has provided technical and customer support through most of the major ticketing platforms such as AXS and Front Gate. Her work has taken her to California for BottleRock, New Orleans for Jazzfest, and Michigan for Electric Forest just to name a few. She's passionate about delivering seamless event experiences while upholding integrity, accuracy, and professionalism in every role. In other words, she's just a girl who loves Ticketing.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/jacquil-constant</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-07-28</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1753718221522-SYF76Y04KT49DOHPK2B1/Jacquil+Constant+jeromethomas+photography.2014+%281+of++2%29.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Jacquil Constant - Founder and Executive Director of Haiti International Film Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>As the Founder and Executive Director, Jacquil Constant leads the development, promotion, and implementation of all festival activities, including strategic partnerships, fundraising, marketing, and priority setting. Through his work, he has successfully elevated the works of emerging and established filmmakers who seek to show a positive and authentic image of Haiti. His passion for Haitian film and art fueled him to create a platform that was absent in Hollywood's film industry. Through his work, he has reached a diverse national and international audience that shares his love of Haiti. Jacquil's career spans over twenty years in the independent filmmaking industry, and his credits include networks such as MTV, BET, VH1, and PBS, where he worked in various capacities, including production, post-production, and casting of reality television shows. He is also an award-winning filmmaker, known for his feature documentary, "Haiti Is A Nation Of Artists," which tells the story of Haitian artists creating transformational art after the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. The documentary depicts the humanity of Haitian culture through the lens of a Haitian-American filmmaker who seeks to uplift the rich diversity of Haiti and its historical legacy. He holds a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Pan African Studies and Cinema, Television, and the Arts, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Film Production from California State University, Northridge.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/brad-sweet</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-07-23</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1753296387752-CQIA61Y1Y20X1P8GCY00/Brad+Sweet.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Brad Sweet - Co-Founder &amp; CEO of Same Same But Different Music Festival &amp; Same Same Presents</image:title>
      <image:caption>Brad Sweet is the co-founder and CEO of Same Same But Different Music Festival and Same Same Presents. With a background as a musician and producer, Brad's understanding of the industry has fueled the growth of Same Same But Different from a 400-person gathering to 7,500 daily campers in under five years. This achievement was recognized with a nomination for Best Emerging Festival by X-Live and winning Best New Festival by USA Today. Brad's approach to festival organization is rooted in empowering passionate, creative individuals with the tools to build and create with as little restrictions as possible. This has grown and fostered a passionate team around the festival and has led to incredibly rich and meaningful experiences for attendees. The team sets the tone and ethos for any festival and a team built directly from the community means that the attendees and the team become a unified force working together to the benefit of the festival.  His personal commitment to create a welcoming, inclusive environment are hallmarks of his leadership style. At the heart of Brad's work is a commitment to building a community that extends beyond the festival grounds, fostering lasting connections and memorable experiences for each attendee.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/michelle-metter</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-07-21</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1753141862215-NZG3ZFK53VGEVMULKWVM/Michelle+Metter.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Michelle Metter - CEO of Fast Forward Event Productions</image:title>
      <image:caption>Michelle Metter is the CEO of Fast Forward Event Productions with a dynamic portfolio of b2b and b2c tradeshows, conferences, festivals and digital media brands servicing the wine, beer, spirits, food and hospitality industries including the award-winning San Diego Food + Wine Festival and industry conference SommCon. Michelle has 25 years’ experience in business leadership as an owner/entrepreneur and also working within and for large national media companies (Peterson / EMAP) and trade association shows (Diving Equipment and Marketing Association). Throughout the course of her career, Michelle has touched all aspects of strategic event production from concept to launch, business development, sales, marketing, digital media, and long term growth of communities and events that service their professional needs and passions. Michelle serves on IAEE and SISO Board of Directors, on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Tourism Authority and is a member of Women in Exhibitions Network. Michelle co-founded Fast Forward Futures, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for the advancement of professionals in hospitality through scholarships and grants awarded in the pursuit of continued education in line with an individual's career objectives.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/rebecca-cicione</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-07-16</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1752691775451-9HRYKUQO2ZSTQE00MYK0/Rebecca+Cicione.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Rebecca Cicione - Festival Marketing Manager at Goldenvoice</image:title>
      <image:caption>Rebecca Cicione leads brand marketing initiatives for renowned festivals such as Stagecoach Country Music Festival, Tyler, the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw, and Cruel World, at Goldenvoice. Her portfolio also includes past successes including Just Like Heaven and Head in the Clouds. Rebecca’s journey in the music industry began in the Northeast, where she honed her skills booking and marketing DIY shows. She spent eight years in Nashville refining her expertise before moving to Los Angeles, where she expanded her career with roles at Danny Wimmer Presents and Z2 Comics, broadening her impact across festival and merch marketing. As a brand marketer, Rebecca is passionate about creating authentic connections between festival communities and Goldenvoice’s world-class events. Her strategic vision not only drives  ticket sales but also ensures cohesive brand storytelling, from initial announcements to the on-site experience, delivering meaningful content and unforgettable memories for fans. She believes a festival spans one weekend, but a great brand can live year-round.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/mell-leis</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-07-14</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/939504f3-df22-4add-91a9-182b2be8ee51/Mell+Leis.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Mell Leis - Head of Music &amp; Entertainment at WMT Digital</image:title>
      <image:caption>A native New Yorker and starting to play music at the age of 6, Music quickly became Mell’s focal point. This passion landed her at Berklee College of Music, where she graduated with a BA in Performance and Music Business. Years later, working in the Live Events Industry in ticketing, crowd control ,cashless technologies and now, Fan Engagement solutions with WMT Digital,  as well as being a lifelong musician, Mell is a true believer in the power of music and its profound impact on our world. Whether it is engaging new business, identifying partnership opportunities, or coaching a team to do the same, she drives to not only hit her mark, but consistently go beyond. With a solid track record in sales, leadership, and partnership strategy, She brings 20 years of experience, enthusiasm, and unmatched energy to the Live Music space.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/paula-beadle</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-07-14</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/f2285232-8418-45cd-8c55-75b92f863202/PaulaBeadle-headshot+%282%29.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Paula Beadle - Founder &amp; CEO of the Sponsorship Marketing Association</image:title>
      <image:caption>Paula Beadle is a partnership marketing thought leader and sponsorship industry trailblazer. Over her 30+ year career in sports, entertainment and life-style events Paula has been recognized as a transformative leader who drives revenue growth and builds high performing teams. She is well-regarded for her business tenacity and ability to inspire, motivate and create meaningful change. She is a mentor with a style that energizes and empowers individuals and organizations to thrive. Paula is the Founder &amp; CEO of the Sponsorship Marketing Association. Paula is a visionary leader and an avid champion of the industry. She founded SMA to strengthen, unify and advocate for the industry’s continued growth. Paula is on a mission to help marketers master the art and science of sponsorship. Paula is a Mentor for Women in Sports &amp; Entertainment (WISE), a board member for the Washington Festivals and Events Association, a commissioner for the Seattle Sports Commission, and has served as a Board Member for the Red Cross of King County and Bainbridge Island Arts Museum.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/beth-pepper</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-07-14</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/167a5b80-91a2-4fde-9bd1-a901fb005dd2/Beth+Pepper+headshot+7.14.25.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Beth Pepper - Chief Operating Officer, Black Promoters Collective</image:title>
      <image:caption>Beth Pepper is the Chief Operating Officer at Black Promoters Collective, the nation’s largest Black-owned live entertainment company producing national tours, festivals, and shows across the nation. With a background in consumer finance (Bread Financial, GE Capital, Chase) and over 15 years as a local promoter and concert consultant, Beth brings Fortune 500 discipline and operational vision to the fast-paced world of live events. At BPC, she leads operations, HR, and IT, spearheading strategic transformation across multi-million-dollar tours and reviving legacy festivals like Jazz in the Gardens (recently named one of the top 10 festivals in America by Newsweek) and Hampton Jazz &amp; Music Festival. A widow, mother of 2 adult sons, and former Division I athlete, Beth shares a grounded and compelling take on leadership, resilience, and growth.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/adam-mccurdie</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-07-09</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/61e11377-8372-4e43-a106-446d2409ea54/Adam+McCurdie.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Adam McCurdie - Co-founder of Humanitix</image:title>
      <image:caption>Adam McCurdie is a social entrepreneur reshaping the events industry through innovation and impact. As the co-founder of Humanitix, Adam launched a bold idea: transform event ticketing—a historically profit-driven industry—into a powerful engine for social good. Humanitix reinvests 100% of booking fee profits into high-impact education programs and has already directed millions of dollars to local charities supporting disadvantaged children, Indigenous scholarships, literacy programs, and more. Humanitix also pioneers in accessibility, with features that improve the event experience for patrons with disabilities, ensuring inclusion is baked into the platform's design from the ground up.  Under Adam’s leadership, Humanitix has evolved from a startup dream into a global platform adopted by festivals, schools, conferences, and major cultural events. It’s the first not-for-profit ticketing platform to scale internationally, disrupting a multi-billion-dollar industry while staying true to its mission. Adam’s visionary work has been recognized with major awards, including the Google Impact Challenge, the Westpac Top 20 Businesses of Tomorrow, and being named Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the Schwab Foundation and the World Economic Forum. A former engineer turned purpose-driven founder, Adam is passionate about using technology as a tool for systemic change. He frequently speaks on topics including social enterprise, ethical tech, and innovation for impact, and is driven by a belief that the business world can—and should—do better by people and planet.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/tiffanie-hauger</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-07-07</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1751905695840-1ZS9GZO65TZSOD0RL08I/Tiffanie+Hauger.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Tiffanie Hauger - VP of Brand Partnerships and Activation at Breakaway Music Festival</image:title>
      <image:caption>Meet Tiffanie Hauger, VP of Brand Partnerships and Activation at Breakaway Music Festival! Tiffanie is an accomplished entertainment and partnership executive with over two decades of experience in the music industry. She currently brings her expertise to Breakaway Music Festival where she leads the development and execution of strategic partnerships and integrated marketing campaigns that amplify brand presence and enhance the fan experience. Previously, she served as the Associate Director of Celebrity and Influencer Partnerships at Partners In Health, where she led the organization’s entertainment and influencer strategy to advance global health equity. Before transitioning to the nonprofit space, Tiffanie built an extensive career in the music industry. At Warner Records and Columbia Records, she played a key role in artist development and touring for major acts including Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance, and John Legend. She went on to expand the music marketing program at Monster Energy and managed brand partnerships and experiential campaigns for high-profile festivals and artists at Danny Wimmer Presents and Entertainment 3Sixty. Tiffanie continues to bring unforgettable fan experiences to life—producing everything from multi-day music events and record release parties to immersive virtual and IRL activations coast to coast.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/anika-grant</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-07-07</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/518b39c9-2786-492c-b9fa-242ee49716ca/Anika+D.+Grant+Headshot.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Anika D. Grant - Founder + CEO, Idlewild Experiential</image:title>
      <image:caption>As the Founder + CEO of Idlewild Experiential, Anika launched the agency in 2018 to help brands build, market, and execute unforgettable and profitable live events and experiences to diverse audiences. Since then Idlewild has grown exponentially working with brands such as Disney, Coca-Cola, Gilead Sciences, Amazon, Prudential, Pintrest, Synchrony Bank and has been one of the few Black-owned agencies on the Event Marketer's Top 100 Agency List since 2020 and is has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Fastest Growing Agencies by Adweek.  In 2020, at the height of the George Floyd social justice movement, Anika and Idlewild launched the BEEM List (Black  Event &amp; Experiential Marketers) to create opportunities for Black entrepreneurs. The list started as a crowd-sourced Google spreadsheet with thousands of Black businesses and has evolved in 2024 to feature BIPOC vendors including Hispanic/Latino-owned companies as well as companies owned by entrepreneurs of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage. In 2024, for Black Business Month and Hispanic Heritage Month, the 2024 BEEM List highlighted a targeted list of Idlewild-vetted vendors who have strong track records of delivering exceptional service to corporate partners. Additionally, Idlewild has supported these vendors through hosting BEEM Pop-Ups at an industry conferences where BEEM-List vendors get the opportunity to network, attend and meet potential clients or customers at different events. The initiative is about increasing visibility for minority-owned businesses and to foster meaningful connections and opportunities that might not otherwise be available. It is Anika’s hope that the BEEM List will be a valuable resource for corporate leaders who are looking to expand their supplier diversity pipeline. Her experience in live events spans nearly two decades as a brand marketing and sponsorship executive in a diversity of industries including large-scale live events &amp; festivals, music and entertainment, publishing, sports and non-profits. Prior to launching Idlewild she oversaw Sponsorship &amp; Client Solutions for one of the largest live events in the U.S. - the ESSENCE Festival - which experienced exponential growth in sponsor revenue, audience size and impressions under her leadership. She has also held roles at Madison Square Garden, Jazz at Lincoln Center and New York City Ballet. Anika prides herself on building strong, innovative and diverse teams, managing complex executions and uncovering new business opportunities for live event properties to drive incremental revenue.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/nick-chavez</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-11-25</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/722eb30e-037b-4802-bc0c-9e0d1d7b7358/Nick+Chavez+Photo.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Nick Chavez - Festival Producer at Danny Wimmer Presents</image:title>
      <image:caption>Nick Chavez is a seasoned Festival Producer at Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP), where he’s spent the past five years bringing large-scale, high-impact festivals to life. With over eight years of experience in live event production, Nick plays a key role in the planning, coordination, and execution of DWP’s signature events, including Welcome to Rockville, Inkcarceration, Bourbon &amp; Beyond, and Louder Than Life, most of which draw over 200,000 attendees per weekend. Nick’s expertise lies in building asset advance programs, leading cross-functional teams, managing multi-level staff structures, and designing both interior and exterior festival layouts. He excels at ensuring all fundamental elements are in place and that production schedules are meticulously developed and consistently met, keeping every aspect on track for a flawless festival experience. His career began as an intern with Walter Productions in the experiential department and quickly evolved into entry-level contract roles with top industry players such as Insomniac/Live Nation and Goldenvoice/AEG. Throughout his journey, Nick has worn many hats, building a well-rounded understanding of what it takes to produce large-scale live events. As he continues to grow as a leader, Nick is passionate about mentoring and uplifting others, especially those within the Latinx and LGBTQIA+ communities who are looking to break into the world of event production. He believes representation matters and is committed to helping create more inclusive, dynamic spaces within the industry.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/julia-james-bakhaya</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-07-01</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/517b172f-2f90-4126-8617-275231dcb870/Julia+James+Bakhaya+Headshot.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Julia James Bakhaya - Director of Business Development for Live Entertainment at Elevate</image:title>
      <image:caption>Julia James Bakhaya is the Director of Business Development for Live Entertainment at Elevate. She works with venues, promoters, and artists to maximize revenue through data-backed pricing strategies in the secondary market. With a background in booking and venue management, Julia understands the unique challenges rights holders face and builds practical solutions to match. Since joining Elevate, she’s helped grow the business tenfold by developing direct partnerships and creating distribution strategies that prioritize transparency and control. Julia focuses on helping clients turn resale into a reliable revenue stream, without sacrificing fan experience or pricing integrity.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/jordan-burger</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-09-17</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/bb28af24-fd01-4934-8eff-24c6c826fb3a/IMG_8332.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Jordan Burger - Festival Booking Agent</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jordan Burger is a seasoned booking agent and event curator with roots in the music industry dating back to 1995. He began his career representing the pop duo Evan and Jaron while still attending Emory University, laying the foundation for a dynamic trajectory in live entertainment. Over the past three decades, Jordan has held key roles at respected agencies, including The Agency Group and Pinnacle Entertainment in New York City, as well as leading local offices for Fleming Artists and Madison House in Nashville. Throughout his career, he has exclusively represented hundreds of internationally heralded artists and booked thousands of tours across the globe. Most recently, Jordan served as the lead Festival Agent at  Reliant Talent Agency. In 2025, Jordan created Burgers &amp; Dogs: Talent &amp; Festival Consulting as a way of promoting artists booked by independent agencies that do not have festival departments. Jordan is now representing the rosters of both Day after Day Productions and Royal Artist Group at festivals, while also consulting for producers of new curations, event applications, and for agents, managers, or artists seeking industry guidance. Outside of work, he enjoys international travel with his wife and two children, skiing, singing, playing softball, and crafting personalized concert experiences — and dominating the competition on Wheel of Fortune.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/helen-gover</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-17</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d902f67b-99ac-43ea-bd76-8ccb9e35a879/HelenGover_ArtistPhoto.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Helen Gover - Founder of All My Relations Celebration &amp; Quiet Star Collective</image:title>
      <image:caption>Helen Gover is a Denver-based music industry professional with a background in marketing, concert promotion, and sync licensing. During her completion of her Bachelor's degree at CU Denver, Helen worked as an intern and Communications Manager for the non-profit live music venue Levitt Pavilion Denver. Additionally, she gained experience working in the sync licensing and music supervision industry through internships at Dreamboat Music LLC and Whizbang Inc. Instilled with Indigenous values, Helen sought to give back to her community which led to the creation of the All My Relations Celebration, an annual Indigenous traditional and contemporary music festival held at Levitt Pavilion. Helen also serves on the Bodies of Culture board, which is dedicated to supporting BIPOC industry professionals and evolving the local music ecosystem to create a more equitable future for young artists in Denver and beyond. Currently, Helen works as the Sync Licensing Coordinator at Kelzana Management.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/tim-fischer</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-06-24</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/b1f209ee-0369-47ed-8930-6a3a56bd27b6/Tim+Fischer+-headshot-2-25b.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Tim Fischer - CEO of ADA Lift Rentals of America</image:title>
      <image:caption>Tim Fischer serves as CEO at ADA Lift Rentals of America, North America’s leading provider of comprehensive wheelchair lift rental services for events.  ADA Lift Rentals’ passionate focus is on aiding events to ensure ADA compliance while delivering an outstanding fan experience. Boasting warehouses nationwide and a dedicated team of technicians, ADA Lift Rentals stands ready to elevate your event to new heights, providing both excellence and peace of mind. In addition to his role with ADA Lift Rentals of America, Fischer holds the position of CEO at Southeast Elevator, a leading home elevator manufacturer and installer in the Southeastern US. Originally from Boston and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Fischer also earned his MBA from Loyola University Chicago. Having called Central Florida home for the past 22 years, Fischer brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the industry.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/brett-smiley</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-06-06</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/9b72b467-8937-4ea6-a49c-3fd839aa0a1d/Brett+Smiley.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Brett Smiley - Founder of conCHAIRto</image:title>
      <image:caption>Brett Smiley is a visionary entrepreneur and the founder of conCHAIRto, a company dedicated to providing innovative seating solutions for large-scale outdoor events. With a keen understanding of both functionality and design, Brett has disrupted the event seating industry by developing a concept never introduced that provides festivals with lightweight, durable, and portable chairs that enhance the attendee experience at a variety of outdoor gatherings, including airshows, music festivals, and sporting events. Born and raised in Akron, OH, Brett always had a passion for entrepreneurship and problem-solving. He pursued a degree in Accounting from the University of Arizona while being a member of the ice hockey team. After graduating, Brett worked mainly in big pharma and medical device organizations but along the way had started two companies. The first was Proforma, a leader in printing, packaging, and promotional products, then BSBK Properties, a commercial rental business. Brett sold both companies he created in order to focus on being a rising sales leader for Medtronic. The concept for conCHAIRto was born when Brett attended an outdoor event and realized the lack of comfortable, convenient seating options for large crowds. Determined to fill this gap, he launched conCHAIRto with the mission of creating seating solutions that not only provide comfort but also cater to the logistical demands of large-scale events. His innovative designs have quickly gained recognition for their ease of use, durability, and ability to withstand different weather conditions. Under Brett's leadership, conCHAIRto has grown into a trusted name in the events industry, working with event organizers worldwide to improve audience comfort and engagement. Brett's commitment to quality and customer satisfaction has earned him a reputation as a forward-thinking leader who continuously pushes the boundaries of what is possible in event seating. Beyond his work with conCHAIRto, Brett is passionate about sustainability and incorporates eco-friendly materials into his products whenever possible. He also enjoys mentoring young entrepreneurs and is actively involved in community initiatives that promote creativity and innovation. Brett Smiley's dedication, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit have made conCHAIRto a leader in its field, transforming the way people experience outdoor events.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/ira-rosen</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-02</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/05104f6c-d7a9-4004-80cd-e0be3e4f9ffe/Ira+Rosen.JPG</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Ira L. Rosen - School of Sport, Tourism and Hospitality Management at Temple University</image:title>
      <image:caption>Mr. Ira L. Rosen is the President and CEO of Ira L Rosen, LLC, a consulting firm providing services to the worldwide festival and event industry.  He is a highly regarded consultant with decades of global industry experience and is currently serving as the Immediate Past Chair of the International Festivals and Events Association Foundation (IFEA) Board.   Although he has a very comprehensive industry background, he specializes in the areas of event risk assessment, evaluation and planning for festivals and events, creative event design, and practical strategic development.  From 2008 to 2023, he was an Associate Professor of Event Management at Temple University, and he taught many different event management courses.  He was also responsible for the development and management of their award-winning Event Leadership Executive Certificate program and continues to serve the University as an Adjunct Assistant Professor.  Additionally, for over thirty years he owned and operated Entertainment On Location, Inc. (EOL), a full-service event production and consulting company based in New Jersey.   Prior to opening EOL, Ira worked for over seven years with Radio City Music Hall Productions.  His production background includes the Super Bowl half-time show, multi-million-dollar parades, major corporate events around the world and tourism development projects for many different organizations. Ira has been a featured speaker at conferences and conventions and has done training programs around the world. Recently, he was the keynote speaker at the World Cultural Heritage Forum in Suncheon, Korea and was also a featured speaker at the UK Global Crowd Management Alliance Conference.  He has written and spoken extensively on key industry topics ranging from risk management to sponsorship to the financial and operational management of events. His most recent publication was in the Field Guide to Crowds, published in January of 2024 by the Global Crowd Management Assocation.  He is currently under contract to co-write a textbook on festival management, to be published In late 2026. Ira holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Montclair State University in New Jersey and is a Certified Festivals and Events Executive (CFEE) and a Certified Event Designer (CED) .  He has been inducted into the International Festivals and Events Association Hall of Fame, becoming one of only 75 people in the world to hold this honor.  He has also received numerous awards and recognitions from Temple University, the International Live Events Association, the IFEA and many others.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/max-wagner</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-05-14</lastmod>
    <image:image>
      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d8d2e8f3-14a7-46b4-85cb-5c4eb92ba7b1/Max+Wagner.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Max Wagner - Director, Business Development at Riot Fest</image:title>
      <image:caption>Max Wagner has been a promoter, organizer, talent buyer and business development executive in the entertainment and events industries for almost 30 years.  He has held ownership interest and/or been involved as a principal in the North Coast Music Festival, Ruido Festival, Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash and dozens of other event properties in his career.  He's currently working on Riot Fest in Chicago and the Music At The Intersection Festival in St Louis among many projects via his event production company, Metronome.  Outside of work life, his passions are travel and motorcycles, so hit him up if you want to chat about epic destinations and off-road adventures.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/jennifer-love</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-04-22</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/821742c4-a533-49d5-b98c-49157ee36e9e/Jennifer+Love.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Jennifer Love - Wholistic Wealth Therapist and Host of The Jennifer Love Show</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jennifer Love is a reformed hustle queen turned Wholistic Wealth therapist, award-winning entrepreneur, and host of The Jennifer Love Show. With 25+ years in the C-suite, two business exits, and a graduate degree in Financial Planning underway, she blends financial strategy with soul and science to help high-achieving leaders stop chasing empty success and start living wealth on their own terms.. She’s spoken on stages from QuickBooks Connect to Natural Products Expo West, built brands to 7-figures, and now spends her days turning burnout into boldness for mission-driven entrepreneurs. Expect truth, tears, tools—and a few laughs—when Jennifer’s on the mic.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/jesse-gibson</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-10-20</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/580180cb-320f-4ae2-8b16-5b9a03ff5f78/Jesse+Gibson+2.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Jesse Gibson - Founder of Shift Happens Volunteers</image:title>
      <image:caption>Jesse Gibson is an event operations specialist focused on volunteer coordination and sustainability. Since 2018, he has worked in admin and operational roles, and in 2020, he founded Shift Happens Volunteers, leading work exchange programs for 50+ events spanning 4 countries. He also specializes in sustainable event planning, conducting Burning Man’s greenhouse gas emissions inventory and leading participant-driven sustainability initiatives such as the BLAST green theme camp certification and best practices tool-kit.</image:caption>
    </image:image>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-speaker-bios/mario-bauduin</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-09-29</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/d296f3d6-07fb-475b-a73e-7b81b0ff0e7d/Mario+Bauduin.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Speaker Bios - Mario Bauduin - Managing Director at XPOTRAVEL</image:title>
      <image:caption>Mario has over 20 years of expertise in online travel and entertainment ticketing distribution, gleaned from prestigious stints at Expedia, Six Flags, Accesso Technology Group, Pollen, and Ticketmaster. His leadership spans strategy development, team management, and business scaling. Recognized as a stalwart in the field, Mario has consistently excelled in building and nurturing sales, account management, and operations teams across startups and established enterprises alike.  Mario’s adept communication style has been pivotal in launching new products and fostering robust supplier and distribution relationships with key online travel, hotel, and entertainment/activity ticketing partners. He is currently the Managing Director of online travel and ticketing distribution firm XPOTRAVEL. Mario studied Communication at St. Mary’s College of California in Moraga, CA. He has a background in radio broadcasting and voice over. He currently resides in Greenwich, CT with his wife Karen and two young boys, Zander (11) and Nicholas (8).</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-performer-bios</loc>
    <changefreq>daily</changefreq>
    <priority>0.75</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-02-06</lastmod>
  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-performer-bios/steve-bardwil</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-02-06</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/8cbf034b-34ff-47db-87af-f5bd015d43fb/Steve+Bardwil+Band+main+photo.png</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Performer Bios - Steve Bardwil - Musician, Singer, and Songwriter</image:title>
      <image:caption>After decades navigating the high-stakes world of Hollywood as Chief Counsel for Walt Disney Studios, Steve Bardwil traded legal briefs for guitar riffs.  Bardwil formed the Steve Bardwil Band in 2015 as a celebration of music, of love, of friendship. His band is made up of stellar musicians, from different generations and backgrounds. Together, they are a diverse musical family who live to rock. Steve sees the band as a pure collaboration, without ego. Everyone’s contributions are welcome.  In 2025, Bardwil and band released their debut album Nothing But Time, a deeply personal, collaboratively-created album produced by the multi-Grammy® winner Joe Chiccarelli. The album, Nothing But Time, is a rich set of eleven captivating songs that blends Americana, alternative rock, soul and blues to brilliant effect.  Nothing But Time, is one of those rare treats in music: a first-listen winner that demands repeated plays. The Steve Bardwil Band includes Johnny Stachela (guitar), Max Butler (keyboards, vocals), Vince Fossett (drums) and Aaron Leibowitz (saxophone, flutes), Catherine Jayne (vocals), and the newest member of the band, Frank Coglitore (bass).  While gigging steadily since the release of Nothing But Time, the band hasn’t stopped writing. For Bardwil, writing is a cathartic process as well as artistic expression - a process that yields songs drawn from his own personal experiences and expansion.  As the band are now back in the studio recording new music, Bardwil’s vision is clear. He continues to string together a robust repertoire of songs blending new colorful stories into his vibrant mosaic exploring environmental and spiritual consciousness woven within the essence of the human condition steeping in self-reflection and wisdom.  With his creative compass set toward optimism and connection, Bardwils’ music avoids melancholia in favor of inspiration; crafting songs that uplift without preaching, both timeless and contemporary, echoing Bardwil’s deep respect for rock traditions while employing modern studio craftsmanship. Indicative of their versatility, the Steve Bardwil Band have performed alongside everyone from Lyle Lovett, Robert Randolph, Jim Messina, Eddie Money, and Donavan Frankenreiter to Robby Krieger of The Doors and the late Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, among many others.  Bardwil and the band are excited to once again be working with Chiccarelli at East West Studios in Los Angeles and look forward to releasing new music in the coming months.  For more:  https://stevebardwilband.com/</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-performer-bios/outoftheblue</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-02-03</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1770052253711-T6H6HTQGLF5BQ569JLEZ/1000027063.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Performer Bios - OutOfTheBlue - Santa Barbara Rock 'n Roll Band</image:title>
      <image:caption>Out of the Blue is a classic rock band featuring Robert Montanes, Steve Puailoa, Brian Harrell, Jerry Martin, and Tony Martinez, hailing from Santa Barbara, California. Since 2010, the band has been delivering crowd-pleasing performances of classic rock favorites. With over 2,000 followers across social media, Out of the Blue has built a loyal fan base and continues to grow their presence. Most recently, they had the honor of opening for Pablo Cruise last year. Known for their high energy and engaging stage presence, Out of the Blue knows how to keep audiences entertained from start to finish. Learn more: https://www.facebook.com/OutOfTheBlueSB/</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-performer-bios/jack-pavlina</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-27</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1769556881270-03QBXYQS0CHYCSGLLPJT/Jack+Pavlina.jpg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Performer Bios - Jack Pavlina - Music Artist</image:title>
      <image:caption>Self-made and multi-instrumental, Jack Pavlina was born and raised in Campbell, California and is now based in Los Angeles. His ever-evolving sound fuses pop, R&amp;B, and jazz.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-performer-bios/keldamuzik</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2026-01-20</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1768931669055-M6HET16DG36M1BGA0Q8G/Keldamuzik.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Performer Bios - Keldamuzik - Recording Artist, Entrepreneur, and Media Personality</image:title>
      <image:caption>Keldamuzik is a dynamic recording artist, entrepreneur, and media personality known for blending bold creativity with business savvy. Often referred to as “The Diva of Hip-Hop,” she has built a multifaceted career spanning music, film, television, fashion, and media production.  With a sound rooted in confidence, resilience, and storytelling, Keldamuzik has released music featured across television and digital platforms while cultivating a loyal fan base through live performances, festivals, and curated events. Her artistry bridges hip-hop, R&amp;B;, and pop influences, delivering music that empowers and connects.  Beyond music, Keldamuzik is the creator and host of Diva Talk Tonite, a talk show spotlighting artists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers. She is also the founder of Digz Media Group, a creative company focused on artist development, media production, branding, and strategic partnerships. Her entrepreneurial reach extends into fashion with TAMZ, a lifestyle brand rooted in confidence and individuality.  Recognized for both her artistry and leadership, Keldamuzik continues to build platforms that uplift others while navigating the entertainment industry as an independent powerhouse. Whether on stage, on screen, or behind the scenes, she brings authenticity, vision, and purpose to everything she does.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-performer-bios/jerry-harrison</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-31</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1767217753250-U0RLH63IGGTD1X6STN7Y/Jerry+Harrison.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Performer Bios - Jerry Harrison - Musician, Music Producer &amp; Member of the Modern Lovers and the Talking Heads</image:title>
      <image:caption>Each generation has artforms and technologies that define the center of the culture at that moment in time. Jerry Harrison has had the good fortune to be in the center of two: popular music in the 1960s through the 1990s and the personal computer revolution which began in the late 1970s.  Born In Milwaukee in 1949, Jerry Harrison grew up in an artistic family.  His mother, having studied at Cranbrook Academy of Art during the time of Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen went on to teach at the Chicago Art Institute and the Layton School of Art.  His father was a musician and an executive in an advertising firm. In high school Mr. Harrison studied music and played in rock bands; he then went on to attend Harvard College where he graduated Magna Plus Cum Laude in Visual and Environmental Studies in 1972. Mr. Harrison earned a Doctor of Fine Arts (Honorary) from the Rhodes Island School of Design in May, 2015.  While at Harvard, Mr. Harrison joined The Modern Lovers, which was a seminal band in the development of Punk Rock music. The original group’s highly acclaimed album, The Modern Lovers, was recorded in 1972, but not released until 1976 - after the original band’s breakup in 1974. The album’s release led to Jerry meeting David Byrne, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth during the summer of 1976. Invited to join the band, Jerry left the Harvard Graduate School of Design to join the Talking Heads in January 1977, as preparations for the first album, Talking Heads ’77, began.  The Talking Heads’ ten albums are considered one the most important oeuvres in rock and roll history. In addition to their first album Talking Heads ’77, they include:  More Songs About Buildings and Food; Fear of Music; Remain in Light; The Name of this Band is Talking Heads; Speaking in Tongues; Little Creatures; True Stories, Naked; and the album and film Stop Making Sense. The influence of the Talking Heads and their albums on music and musicians continues to this day. As a member of the Talking Heads, Mr. Harrison was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, won "Best Group Video" at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1987 and with engineer E.T. Thorngren, won five awards at the 2005 Surround Awards for the 5.1 remixes of the Talking Heads’ albums. He also received a Grammy nomination for the album design of Fear of Music in 1980. Remain in Light was certified into the National Recording Registry Library by the Library of Congress in 2017. He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award with the other members of Talking Heads in 2021. Mr. Harrison has three solo albums to his credit: The Red and the Black; Casual Gods; and Walk on Water.  He has also been a successful music producer since 1981, among the more notable artists he has produced are: The Fine Young Cannibals; Violent Femmes; Bodeans; Crash Test Dummies; Live; Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band; No Doubt; Foo Fighters;  Verb Pipe; and the Von Bondies.  His most recent productions have been The String Cheese Incident’s Song in My Head and Believe, Stephen Stills, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Barry Goldberg’s The Rides; Live’s album: The Turn, and  Les Butcherettes album: Bimental.  Mr. Harrison has been instrumental to a number of films.  Stop Making Sense, released in 1984,  depicts a concert from The Talking Heads tour of 1983 and 1984 and is considered one of the best concert films of all time and was certified into the National Film Registry  Library by the Library of Congress in 2021.  10 Days Out, Blues from the Backroads, released in 2007, chronicles Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Double Trouble as they wind through the southern United States performing with both famous, e.g. B.B King  and largely unknown Blues Artists.  Most recently, Mr. Harrison has been a producer of the album and film: Take Me to the River, which chronicles the rise, fall, and that fall’s relationship to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, and finally the rebirth of the Memphis music scene. The winner of the 2013 SXSW (South By Southwest Festival) “Audience Award” and the 2013 London Raindance Film Festival’s “Feature Film of the Festival Award” Take Me to the River includes new performances pairing R&amp;B legends: Bobby Blue Bland, William Bell, Bobbie Rush, Otis Clay, Booker T. Jones and Mavis Staples with young Memphis musicians and rappers such as Snoop Dog, Yo Gotti, Al Kapone, Fraiser Boy, Li’l Peanut and the North Mississippi Allstars. In addition the Take Me to the River project has partnered with the Berkeley School of Music’s outreach to urban school systems. Mr. Harrison also contributed to the follow up film:  Take Me to the River: NOLA which similarly explored New Orleans rich history of music.  Since 2021, Mr. Harrison has toured the United States with Adrian Belew who both played on Remain In Light  and was a member of the band that toured supporting the album.  Taking the Talking Heads concert in Rome in 1980, as a blueprint, they are joined by members of Cool,Cool, Cool, Julie Slick and Yohuba Tores.  The band has performed 75 shows in the United States and Canada and will be touring Europe this coming May and June.  In 2022, ET Thorngren and Mr. Harrison remixed all eight of the Talking Heads albums for ATMOS for release by Apple Music. In 2023, Mr. Harrison oversaw the remix of Stop Making Sense by ET Thorngren and Mike Minkler.  Interestingly the final mix was at the same facility as the 1984 mix: in 1984: Warner Hollywood and in 2023: The Lot.  The re-release of the acclaimed film by A-24 began with an IMAX screening at the Toronto Film Festival which was simulcast to IMAX theaters around the world.  The program not only presented the film, but also included a q&amp;a with David, Chris, Tina, and Jerry.  Further premiers occurred in both New York and Los Angeles with all four band members as well as interviews on The Stephen Colbert Show and The Tonight Show  Building on his knowledge of computers from learning PPL while at Harvard, his work at Cambridge Computer Associates, a systems and software development company, in 1975 and 1976, and being actively involved with the companies that brought computerized control to both keyboards and digital recording, Jerry became involved in the burgeoning intersection between music, technology and social media when he and his family moved to San Francisco in 1994.   In 1996, he joined the Board of Advisors of Liquid Audio. Along with RealNetworks and  RealAudio, Liquid Audio was one of the two emerging online audio standards in the 1990s. In 1999, Mr. Harrison co-founded Garageband. Garageband—not to be confused by the Apple program, Apple licensed the name from the original company—was one of the inventors of crowdsourcing. It used a sophisticated rating system to generate popularity rankings for each artist, the top artists were offered a recording contract by the company. The site was also used by music fans to discover new independent artists in the site's vast collection, as well as a resource for musicians who were seeking greater exposure and critical insight provided by an audience of their peers. Renamed iLike, the company added products which enhanced itunes and became the predominant music app on Facebook when Facebook opened its platform to outside apps. The company grew to 60 million users and was sold to Myspace in 2009.  In 2003, Mr. Harrison joined the Board of Directors of IODA, the Independent Online Distribution Alliance. IODA provided the link between independent labels and music download sites, e.g. iTunes and Amazon.com. IODA was sold to Sony Music in 2009. Mr. Harrison served on the Board of Advisors of MicroUnity Systems Engineering since 1988 and joined its Board of Directors in 1996. MicroUnity successfully developed and extended microprocessors beyond their historical role as calculating and control devices by making them the primary media-processing engines of televisions, mobile computers, smartphones, and other digital communications devices. Today MicroUnity’s methods and technology are used in over five billion devices worldwide.   In 2011, Mr. Harrison became a founding partner in the Venearth Group LLC, a venture capital group devoted to climate mitigation with a particular focus on sustainable agriculture and solar technologies. Mr. Harrison is on the Board of Directors of Venearth supported companies Carbon Gold, Inc. and Anthroterra, Inc. In 2014, Mr. Harrison co-founded Ophirex, Inc with Dr. Mathew Lewin.   Ophirex has pioneered a new approach to the treatment of snakebites which is not based on anti-venoms. Snakebites, a long neglected world health crisis, kill more than a 100,000 lives and maim more than 500,000 people annually. More than 75% of snakebite victims never make it to the hospital. The Ophirex solution will provide an easily carried, heat stable compound and delivery system, which will be a “bridge to survival” so that the victim can get to the hospital and be treated accordingly.  Ophirex is currently in human trials and continues to make progress to FDA approval and world wide distribution.  In 2016, Mr. Harrison co-founded RedCrow, Inc.  RedCrow is a company that uses the on-line tools unleashed by the JOBS act to help innovative new health care companies find funding.  In addition RedCrow uses the methods pioneered  by Mr. Harrison’s earlier company, Garageband.com, to use crowd-sourcing as a tool for companies to evaluate and improve their products and for investors to  gain further insights into the suitability of a particular investment. RedCrow was sold to Alira Health in 2022. Mr. Harrison lives in Mill Valley with his wife, Carol, where they raised their three children.</image:caption>
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  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-performer-bios/skunk-baxter</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-12-30</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/1767117519276-DVJRJFUZ98M3AA1N68Z5/hi+res_Skunk_Baxter_photo_jay+gilbert.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Performer Bios - Skunk Baxter - Legendary multi-gold and platinum album, Grammy winning and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter Photo Credit: Jay Gilbert</image:title>
      <image:caption>Early Years Baxter joined his first band at age 11. In junior high school in Mexico City, Jeff formed a surf band that hit the top 10 on radio in Mexico. While still a high school student, he worked at Jimmy's Music Shop in Manhattan in 1965 and 1966. At Jimmy's, Baxter met guitarist Jimi James (later to become Jimi Hendrix), who was just beginning his career as a frontman, and provided him with his first custom left-handed Fender Stratocaster. Baxter and Hendrix went on to become good friends.  After leaving Jimmy’s, Baxter moved on to Dan Armstrong’s guitar repair and custom shop, the mecca for guitar players in New York and around the United States.  Moving to Boston to attend college, Baxter worked as a guitar technician and amplifier repairman at Jack's Drum Shop on Boylston Street. Skunk first reached a wide rock audience in 1968 as a member of the psychedelic rock band Ultimate Spinach. Baxter joined the band for Ultimate Spinach III, their third and final album. After leaving the band, he played with the Holy Modal Rounders, played bass for Tim Buckley and joined the Buzzy Linhart band. While still in Boston, Baxter began establishing himself as a studio musician in both Boston and New York City. With Steely Dan After the breakup of Ultimate Spinach, Baxter relocated to Los Angeles, finding work as a session guitarist. In 1972 he became a founding member of the band Steely Dan, along with guitarist Denny Dias, bassist Walter Becker, keyboardist-vocalist Donald Fagen, drummer/vocalist Jim Hodder and vocalist David Palmer. Baxter appeared with Steely Dan on their first three albums, Can't Buy a Thrill in 1972, Countdown to Ecstasy in 1973, and Pretzel Logic in 1974. He contributed the guitar fills and signature solo heard on the group’s highest charting hit " Rikki Don’t Lose That Number." With The Doobie Brothers While finishing work on Pretzel Logic, Baxter became aware of Becker and Fagen's intentions to retire Steely Dan from touring and work almost exclusively with session players. With that in mind, Baxter left the band in 1974 to join The Doobie Brothers, who at the time were touring in support of their fourth album What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits. As a session man, he had contributed pedal steel guitar on Vices as well as "South City Midnight Lady" on its predecessor, The Captain and Me. Baxter's first album as a full member of the group was 1975's Stampede. He contributed an acoustic interlude ("Precis") and significant turns on slide and pedal steel guitar. While preparing to tour in support of Stampede, Doobie Brothers founder Tom Johnston was hospitalized with a stomach ailment. To fill in for Johnston on vocals, Baxter suggested bringing in singer-keyboardist Michael McDonald, with whom Baxter had worked in Steely Dan. With Johnston still convalescing, McDonald soon was invited to join the band full-time. McDonald's vocal and songwriting contributions, as well as Baxter's jazzier guitar style, marked a new direction for the band. They went on to continued success with the 1976 album Takin' It to the Streets, 1977's Livin' on the Fault Line, and particularly 1978's Minute by Minute, which spent five weeks as the #1 album in the U.S. and spawned several hit singles; Baxter's work on the album includes a performance at the end of "How Do the Fools Survive?". In early 1979, Baxter and co-founding drummer John Hartman left the band. Later Music Career Baxter has continued working as a session guitarist for a diverse group of artists, including Willy DeVille, Bryan Adams, Hoyt Axton, Eric Clapton, Sean O'Bryan Smith, Gene Clark, Sheryl Crow, Freddie Hubbard, Tim Weisberg, Joni Mitchell, Ricky Nelson, Dolly Parton, Carly Simon, Ringo Starr, Gene Simmons, Rod Stewart, Burton Cummings, Barbra Streisand, and Donna Summer. He has worked as a touring musician for Elton John, Linda Ronstadt, and Billy Vera and the Beaters. In the spring of 2003 at the invitation of close friend, former roommate and recording and mixing engineer Larold Rebhun, Jeff on a whim arrived at the famed North Hollywood Recording Studio "Glenwood Place" to play guitar and pedal steel on 2 songs (55 Chevy and Cowboy Boots and 501's) written and recorded by United States Navy SEAL Curt Campbell, which are on the "Nature of the Beast" album under The Eclectic Beast Band. In 1982, he featured on Spirit's album Spirit of '84, released as The Thirteenth Dream outside of the USA. In 1984, Baxter played keyboards with Bobby and the Midnites' Bob Weir, Billy Cobham, Bobby Cochran, Kenny Gradney ("Tigger"), and Dave Garland at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey. That same year, he produced and played guitar and synthesizer on the band's album Where the Beat Meets the Street on Columbia Records. In 1986, Baxter joined James Brown and Maceo Parker on guitar for several North American tour dates. In 1990, Baxter joined John Entwistle, Joe Walsh, Keith Emerson, Simon Phillips and relatively unknown vocalist Rick Livingstone in a supergroup called The Best. The group released a live performance video in Japan before disbanding. He also produced two albums for the hard rock band Nazareth, and also produced albums for Carl Wilson, Livingston Taylor, The Ventures, and Nils Lofgren. He was producer on the 1982 Bob Welch album Eye Contact. In 1991 Baxter also produced a documentary video, "Guitar" (Warner Brothers VHS and LaserDisc), in which he travels the world and interviews guitarists he admires. In 1994 he performed on the video game Tuneland. In 1997 Baxter scored the movie The Curse of Inferno. Baxter continues to do studio work, most recently on tribute albums to Pink Floyd and Aerosmith. In 2012, he appeared on keyboardist Brian Auger's Language of the Heart, and The Beach Boys' That's Why God Made the Radio. He also occasionally plays in The Coalition of the Willing, a band comprising Andras Simonyi, Hungarian Ambassador to the United States; Alexander Vershbow, US Ambassador to South Korea; Daniel Poneman, formerly of the United States National Security Council and later the Obama Administration's Deputy Secretary of Energy; and Lincoln Bloomfield, former United States Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs. On June 19, 2007, Baxter jammed with former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow's band Beats Workin' at the Congressional Picnic held on the White House South Lawn. The Next Phase The latest phase of Skunk came with his long time collaboration with keyboardist and producer CJ Vanston. The two had worked together on composing and producing commercials for years and decided that it was time to turn their combined creative skills to a music project. Working in CJ's studio, a wide range of songs were written and recorded representing the diversity of genres of music for which Skunk is known. They then decided that adding vocals, both from Baxter and guest artists would provide even more depth to the project. Former Doobie Brother band mate, Michael McDonald agreed to join and co-write a new song. Baxter and Vanston also worked with Jonny Lang and Clint Black to create new material. Baxter rocked out on the version of My Old School that he had always wanted to do with Steely Dan and performed the vocals on the tune. Baxter is excited to starting touring after the CD is released in June 2022. JBL's Peter Chaikin interviewed CJ Vanston about his collaboration with Baxter on their forthcoming album Skunk.</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-performer-bios/hunter-hawkins</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
    <priority>0.5</priority>
    <lastmod>2025-11-18</lastmod>
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      <image:loc>https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6272b6fdc8a58312b933efcb/6673ff42-7541-4ec8-bdd8-b2c820aa0caf/Hunter+Hawkins.jpeg</image:loc>
      <image:title>2026 Performer Bios - Hunter Hawkins - Singer &amp; Songwriter</image:title>
      <image:caption>Hunter Hawkins is a Bay Area-born singer-songwriter whose music beautifully fuses emotive storytelling with luminous, richly textured folk-pop soundscapes. Produced by Kenny Loggins, their debut album powerfully showcases a multi-octave voice and a cascading guitar style that feels both timeless and modern. Deeply rooted in authenticity and transformation, they craft songs that capture the beauty of vulnerability and the quiet power of renewal. Having performed widely across the U.S. and Europe - from London and Paris to New York's The Bitter End and the Newport Folk Festival (2025) - they continue to establish themself as a compelling new voice in contemporary folk-pop and as an emerging filmmaker with a striking and distinctive visual sensibility. HUNTER-HAWKINS.COM</image:caption>
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  </url>
  <url>
    <loc>https://festforums.com/2026-performer-bios/onoleigh</loc>
    <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
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    <lastmod>2025-10-15</lastmod>
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      <image:title>2026 Performer Bios - Onoleigh - Music Artist</image:title>
      <image:caption>Illinois native Onoleigh has spent the past few years in Nashville refining her sound, but her story began long before that. At sixteen, she started making regular trips to Music City, eventually earning a spot in the Broadway circuit where she learned to command a crowd with her powerhouse vocals and magnetic stage presence. Her debut EP First Rodeo (March 2025) marked a career breakthrough, earning top editorial support from Spotify and CMT, critical praise from Music Row and All Country News, and surpassing one million global streams. She has since taken the music on the road, captivating audiences nationwide and sharing stages with icons like KT Tunstall, Smokey Robinson, and John Oates. Now entering her most authentic chapter yet, Onoleigh continues to elevate her artistry with new music produced by Paul Moak. Her latest single 'Never Beg A Man' showcases her signature blend of country soul and pop confidence, proof that her voice, vision, and vulnerability are striking a powerful chord with listeners everywhere.</image:caption>
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