Speakers                              Listed Alphabetically

Bernadette Baillie
Vice-President, Local Marketing, The Knot

Bernadette has worked in marketing for more than 15 years at various media companies including MTV: Music Television, Nickelodeon, Sony Music Entertainment and Electra Records. Bernadette earned her B.A. in Advertising at Pepperdine University in California and Pepperdine’s campus in London, with graduate work at New York University’s Gallatin Program in Multicultural Studies and Interactive Media. She worked on channel launches for MTV in Asia, India, and Australia. Bernadette was Vice President of Marketing and Sales at The Quarto Group, where she developed custom publishing programs for Target, Michaels, Barnes & Noble and Borders.

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Alan Berg
Vice-President, Local Strategic Solutions, The Knot

With over 25 years experience in sales and marketing, 18 in wedding-related advertising, Alan Berg is uniquely qualified to help local wedding professionals achieve their goals. He was Publisher of the Hudson Valley, NY, and New Jersey editions of WEDDINGPAGES magazines before joining The Knot as a Regional Sales Director, and is now Vice President of Local Strategic Solutions. Their local sales team currently numbers over 60 reps across the country. Alan is also Director of The Knot Market Intelligence (TKMI), the company's Resource for Education, Information and Market Research. Through webinars and live presentations, TKMI helps local vendors improve their marketing & sales skills, as well as helping them get the most from The Knot's advertising programs. Alan is a professional speaker and a member of the National Speakers Association, the leading organization for professional speakers.

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Kyle Brown
President, Bridal Association of America

Kyle started Internet marketing in California in 1991 as a disc jockey. He quickly realized the potential of the "Information Superhighway" to support his business and purchased and developed several websites accordingly. He has gone on to expand his disc jockey business "Good Time Entertainment" and has run it successfully for the last 15 years. Kyle is a pioneer in "Internet Marketing." He and his wife now run several successful businesses, including a wedding invitation company, an online news/information web site, and the Bridal Association of America.

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Jim Butler
President, Bridal Training and Marketing Systems

Jim formed Bridal Training and Marketing Systems to help wedding professionals grow their businesses. He is a featured columnist in Vows Magazine, and is the president of En Vogue Bride and Madeline Anne Bridal designer bridal gowns. He and his wife Heather grew their bridal shop to over $1,000,000 in sales in just three years. Previously, Jim was Director of Business Development for Impact Media (and their top sales person) with millions of dollars in sales with such clients as Fidelity Investments, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Upper Deck, Toyota, including Ogilvy, J. Walter Thompson, Brodeur Worldwide and DNB Media.

Bill Carmody
President, AlterSeekers

Bill Carmody is the President of AlterSeekers, a marketing services firm that marries technology to alternative marketing strategies and tactics. Bill is the author of the book Online Promotions and the whitepaper Wireless Promotions: Future vs. Fantasy. He is a contributing writer to PROMO Magazine and Event Marketer, and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Ad Age, B2B, and Sales & Marketing magazines. Bill has developed award-winning promotion marketing programs for 3Com, ABC, Adorn Brides, AOL, AT&T, Boeing, CA, Campbell’s, Cingular, Clearwire, Citibank, ConocoPhillips, Dole, Dreyer’s, Exxon Mobile, HP, IBM, Microsoft, M&M Mars, Netscape, Pfizer, Samsung, SanDisk, Showtime, Visa, Xerox, and Zima.

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Timothy Chi
Chief Executive Officer, Wedding Wire.com

Timothy first developed the concept of WeddingWire shortly after getting married in 2005. As an experienced entrepreneur, Timothy sought out to assemble a team and build a technology that would help both engaged couples and vendors in the wedding industry. Prior to co-founding WeddingWire, Timothy co-founded Blackboard Inc (Nasdaq: BBBB) in 1998. While at Blackboard, Timothy pioneered many of Blackboard's products and strategic initiatives, helping the company grow to over 600 employees and a valuation of over $750 Million.

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Andy Ebon
Founder, The Wedding Marketing Network

Andy Ebon operates The Wedding Marketing Network based in Las Vegas. His company began as EBS Virtual Communications, providing internet and other electronic marketing solutions for small and medium size companies concentrated in just a few areas: Association, Hospitality, Entertainment, Weddings and General Business. Andy created The Wedding Marketing Blog and is launching WeddingMarketingRadio.com for podcasts. Andy is the author of Marketing and Selling to the 21st Century Bride.

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Bruce Ellerstein
Advertising Director, Brides.com - Online & Local Print, Conde Nast

Bruce has spent half of his 20-year advertising career promoting the Travel & Hospitality sector. He oversaw the launch of Sherman’s Travel magazine and the re-launch of BudgetTravelOnline.com. While at The New York Times, Bruce managed the Hotels & Resorts category and launched The Times’ annual travel show. He was instrumental in gaining distribution of the Times in Starbucks nationwide. He has served as Account Manager at Health and Sierra magazines. Prior to sales, he spent five years on the agency side in media planning.

Tammy Elliot
President, Perfect Wedding Guide

Ms. Elliot oversees all areas of operation and product development for PWG Franchising, LLC and PWG Publishing, LLC. Operating in 45 markets and covering 60 cities, Perfect Wedding Guide is the largest national network of bridal marketing companies encompassing print, internet, database marketing, bridal shows and more in the U.S.

Before joining Perfect Wedding, Ms. Elliot spent 25 years in sales, consulting and managing in a variety of mediums such as, Radio, TV, Cable, Print and Internet. She has guided many organizations such as ABCRadio/Atlanta, Cox Enterprises, Buckeye Cable, GAF Corp. and many more through start up and turnaround situations. Tammy joined Perfect Wedding Guide as President in 2004.

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Mike Fernino
President, American Disc Jockey Association Connecticutt

Mike has been a professional wedding DJ / Master of Ceremony for 25 years. Music In Motion employs 14 DJs and hosts over 500 weddings annually. He has received numerous awards of recognition, including the prestigious Best Of 2008 & 2009 award from The Knot and the Bride's Choice 2009 from WeddingWire. Mike is the North East Regional coordinator for the American Disc Jockey Association and the President of the Connecticut Chapter of ADJA. His mission is to raise the bar of professionalism within the Mobile DJ industry. His latest idea-sharing concept, The Fish Bowl, stimulates open forum-conversation and debate.

Sonny Ganguly
Chief Marketing Officer, Wedding Wire.com

Sonny leads WeddingWire's marketing strategy, customer acquisition, and business development. Prior to joining WeddingWire, Sonny was in a management program at Wal-Mart where he led marketing, sales, and retail strategy development. Before this experience, Sonny spent four years at Kraft Foods where he managed numerous consumer brands, including the JELL-O business with P&L responsibility for over $800 Million. During his tenure, his brands' reached record volume, revenue, and profitability levels. Sonny has structured partnerships with companies such as NBC, MTV, Conde Nast (Modern Bride and Brides magazines), Mattel, Universal, Dole, Reynolds, Costco, and Safeway.

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Bill Heaton
Founder and CEO, Great Bridal Expo

When it comes to reaching out to the bride, Great Bridal Expo founder Bill Heaton knows there’s no business like show business. As the founder and CEO of The Great Bridal Expo Group, Inc., the nation's only national touring bridal show, Heaton has been presenting professionally produced bridal events in major U.S. media markets for over 30 years. Heaton’s events feature a balanced mix of national and local exhibitors; three New York-style fashion shows; compelling promotions throughout the program and a complete post-show marketing system. A licensed attorney, long-time entrepreneur, and highly successful wedding marketer, Heaton has conducted exhibitor training seminars throughout the U.S., teaching businesses how to effectively present themselves at bridal shows in impactful and creative ways—and how to maintain that top-of-mind presence and one-on-one relationship with the bride long after the curtain has closed.

Will Hegarty
Chancellor, Wedding Merchants Business Academy

Will began as a wedding photographer at the age of 15. He earned his degree in Business Management, started Images Wedding Photography, and sold it. He is the founding president of Rockford Fosgate car audio, which went public. Will & his wife Patti met at a wedding, where he was the photographer and she was a bridesmaid. Patti has her Masters in Education. They organized their first bridal show in 1992 with 28 exhibitors. In 2009, their two shows each had over 600 exhibitors, the largest in America.

Kim Horn
State Director, Association of Bridal Consultants

Kim is the Association of Bridal Consultants State Coordinator for Arizona, which hosts the ABC International Annual Conference in November 2010. Kim is a Master Bridal Consultant (1 of only 39 in the world). For 21 years, Kim has written and published Arizona Bridal Source Guide. Kim is the lead wedding planner for Arizona Wedding Planner LLC, specializing in unique, unforgettable, outside-the-box weddings. Kim has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBS, & FOX TV on wedding trends segments. Kim has been interviewed and featured in stories in Brides, Modern Brides, Elegant Bride, Wall Street Journal, and International Marketing Magazine.

BRIAN LAWRENCE
Vice President, Encore Studios

Brian Lawrence is Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the leading invitation brand Encore Studios. He has been in the wedding industry since 1981 and pioneered the concept of one-stop wedding shopping in Northern New Jersey as a retailer for 15 years. He is the author of the Wedding Expert’s Guide to Sales and Marketing and founder of LocalTrafficBuilder.com, a web design and internet marketing company to help wedding professionals and stationery retailers.

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ALEX LLUCH
Author. President, WedSpace.com

Alex is the author of over 30 best-selling wedding planning books, including Easy Wedding Planning Plus, The Complete Wedding, Bride & Groom Challenge and The Ultimate Wedding. He is the president of WeddingSolutions.com, WedReviews.com and UltimateGiftRegistry.com. He has been in the wedding business over 20 years and, and is also president of WS Publishing.

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Tracey Manailescu
Vice President,The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada

Tracey has contributed wedding advice to every major Canadian newspaper and several wedding magazines. She has her own Ask Tracey column in SPOSA Wedding Magazine, and has participated in wedding-related television shows. Tracey teaches Destination Wedding Coordination at The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada, Canada’s only licensed Wedding Coordination Certification Program & Association. She also trains on-site wedding coordinators at destination resorts. In the last year, Tracey has toured over 30 Destination Wedding locations in the US and Caribbean with Sandals, SuperClubs, and The Bahamas Tourism Board.

JULIA MARKEL
Vice President, Association for Wedding Professionals International

After producing bridal shows for 23 years, Julia Markel has seen what works and doesn’t work for exhibitors. 15 years ago she developed her seminar “7 Ways to Get More Bookings from Bridal Shows,” teaching key elements that make the difference in profiting from your bridal show investment. Julia is co-owner of MarNel Productions’ Bridal Expo and vice-president of the Association for Wedding Professionals, International (founded in 1996). She has presented her “7 Ways…” seminar more than 100 times at national, international and local meetings. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education.

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Peter Merry
Author

Peter Merry is the author of The Best Wedding Reception...Ever! and has entertained at Wedding Receptions since 1992. He owns Merry Weddings and lives in Southern California with his wife, Lisa. He served nationally as President of the American Disc Jockey Association in 2003 & 2004, and has been a featured speaker at professional associations and conferences across the United States. Peter describes himself as a “Wedding Entertainment Director™" and he is very passionate about helping couples create unforgettably fun celebrations.

Dottie & Bob Miller
Owners, WeddingClickers.com

Dottie & Bob produce the WeddingClickers.com bridal shows in the Pittsburgh area. Dottie began in the wedding industry as a DJ. She produced the first $125,000 Reality Wedding for television and a Green Wedding DVD Planner. Bob’s first career was building couples’ Dream Homes. He & Dottie are now launching The Click nationwide and are introducing Instant Cash Wedding Rewards.

Deborah Moody
Director, Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants

Deborah joined the ACPWC in 1995 and served as Chairperson for the past 6 years. As a result of her untiring dedication to the Association, she was presented with the “Spirit of ACPWC Award." She has been acknowledged in the Cambridge "Who’s Who" for demonstrating leadership and achievement in her profession. Prior to accepting the position of Director, Deborah represented the ACPWC in Ireland and also spoke at the International Bridal Expo in Beijing, China. As ACPWC'S new Director, Deborah looks forward to continuing the legacy that began 19 years ago by Founder and Former Director, Ann Nola.

Rob Peters
Author

Rob is the author of The Business Of Mobile DJing, a business manual that teaches DJs how to run a business, and a co-host of the DJ Idea Sharing conferences and podcasts. Rob began his career as a mobile DJ 22 years ago in Southern Maine. While pursuing a degree in Communications and Broadcasting from Saint Joseph’s College in Maine, Rob has also worked as an on-air personality in Portland. Following college, Rob returned to the greater Boston area and eventually started Rob Peters Entertainment, where he and his staff of 10 DJ entertainers perform for over 500 Weddings and events on an annual basis.

Deb Sadowski
Premier Bride magazine

Deb Sadowski leads the Premier Bride publications, serving brides in 28 markets. Deb has extensive sales backgrounds, with over 25 years of face-to-face sales.

Deb received her sales training at Dun & Bradstreet and Dale Carnegie. She was also in medical sales, where she was top salesperson for 10 years.


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Danielle Andrews Sunkel
President, The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada

Danielle has Coordinated hundreds of weddings, including Cultural, Celebrity and Destination, and is the Co-Producer of the Wedding Professionals International Conference. She often consults on wedding-related television and has been quoted in every Canadian newspaper and wedding magazine. Danielle teaches Destination Wedding Coordination at The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada, Canada’s only licensed Wedding Coordination Certification Program & Association. She also trains on-site wedding coordinators at destination resorts. In the last year, Danielle has toured over 30 Destination Wedding locations in the US and Caribbean with Sandals, SuperClubs, and The Bahamas Tourism Board.

Shannon Underwood
Vice President Sales, Wedding MBA

Shannon Underwood is Conference Director and Vice-President of Sales for the Wedding MBA and the Bridal Fashion Debut, America's largest bridal show. She is a graduate of the University of Arizona and has her Masters Degree in Business. Her experience includes pharmaceutical sales, where she lead her team to numerous sales awards.







Amy Wilkins
Senior Vice President, Publisher Martha Stewart Weddings

Amy Wilkins is responsible for overseeing and setting the advertising sales strategy for Martha Stewart Weddings magazine and managing the advertising sales team. In addition, she is charged with driving strategy, new business development and revenue across platforms for MSLO’s Weddings franchise, an important growth area for the company.
A talented sales and marketing executive, Ms. Wilkins was previously Publisher of Country Home and Better Homes and Gardens magazines. She was also Publisher of Smithsonian and Biography magazines, and President of Petersen Youth Group. Ms. Wilkins spent seven years at Time Inc. before becoming Publisher of Health magazine.

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