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Speakers Listed Alphabetically
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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. 
With over 25 years experience in sales and marketing, 20+ 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, then Vice President of Local Sales and is now Vice President of Local Client Solutions. Their local sales team currently numbers over 70 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 thousands of 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.
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.
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. 
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. 
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. 
Chris Evans is the author of How To Double Your Wedding Business in 12 Months. He also contributes to numerous wedding publications. Chris has over 29 years of wedding business experience and has been hired by major wedding organizations, including David’s Bridal, to teach wedding professionals how to be more effective in their advertising. Chris has a passion for helping smaller wedding businesses succeed in a world of big businesses.
Stacie Francombe is the founder and editor-in-chief of Get Married Media, a national, integrated tri-media wedding planning resource that reaches passionate brides online,, in print and through unique video production. In October, she launched Get Married magazine, a shopping and trend guide for the savvy bride. Get Married magazine is the first bridal publication to use Microsoft Tag technology. 
Don Freedman has spent twenty years helping wedding professionals reach and do business with brides. Don's North Carolina-based company helps business people across the United States start and operate for-profit bridal associations. Don and his wife Kim also produce their region's longest-running major bridal shows. He serves as a board member and Membership Director of Bridal Show Producers International (BSPi). Don grew up in Buffalo, attended Syracuse University and The University of North Carolina, and lives in Greensboro. 
John is a veteran of over 2,000 weddings over the past 24 years. He is the author of The Business of Wedding & Special Event Videography and is a Contributing Editor for Videomaker Magazine and EventDV Magazine. John owned a wedding gown shop for five years and currently owns Godfather Films. He is President of Professional Photographers of California and Professional Photographers & Videographers of the Inland Empire, Director of the Association of Bridal Consultants – Inland Empire, and Board Member of the National Association of Catering Executives – Inland Empire. John has received numberous honors and awards, and has been named one of the Top 25 Videographers in the World for three years in a row.
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. 
Aaron is an admitted workaholic and part of the creative team behind Weddzilla.com, an innovative website that connects brides and vendors in an entirely new way. During the planning of his own wedding, Aaron decided he wanted to find a better way to connect to the right vendors. When he couldn’t find a good system, he created his own! Previously, Aaron was a brand strategy and marketing consultant to entrepreneurs and small business owners. He is a social media expert and shares his Social or Die presentation nationally. Aaron’s goal is to help companies grow from “concept to company.” Aaron also founded (and later sold) Stuffable.com, a social networking website that helped people better manage all of their “stuff.”
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 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 2010, their two shows each had over 600 exhibitors, the largest in America.
Jason Hennessey is an internationally-known Search Engine Optimization (SEO) expert. In fact, Google now ranks him #2 when you search for "SEO Expert!” He is a partner in Everspark Interactive, which has made raving fans of his clientele, by allowing them to rank highly, even for super-competitive keywords. Jason eats, lives, and breathes SEO. He is consumed with dissecting, testing, and reverse-engineering the Google algorithm. Jason also spent 15 years as a professional Wedding Disc Jockey. This unique combination of expertise can be seen in his role as co-creator of Bridal Traffic, a five-hour, fully-animated DVD series that teaches Wedding Professionals how to get to the top of Google.
A 20 year forward-thinking magazine and digital media Associate Publisher, David Katz currently oversees Conde Nast’s Local Bridal Division comprising of 16 local bridal magazines and the correlating Local digital components at Brides.com. David’s bridal marketing experience stretches across 10 years, the last 6 years of which he’s helped re-shape Conde Nast’s commitment to the local bridal landscape and laid the groundwork for the 2010 Summer Launch of the new Brides.com. David’s strength lies in his unequivocal understanding and appreciation for the Local Wedding Professional and the marketing challenges that must be overcome with their limited dollars. David is headquartered in New York, but more often is found on the road meeting with local wedding vendors; learning, creating and nurturing long-standing, mutually beneficial relationships.
Brian Lawrence is the author of The Wedding Expert’s Guide to Sales and Marketing. He is the founder of LocalTrafficBuilder.com, a web design and internet marketing company to help wedding professionals and stationery retailers.
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 is co-founder and Vice-President of Public Relations & Education for the Association for Wedding Professionals, International, the oldest international association for all categories of the wedding industry. She is also co-owner, with Richard, of MarNel Productions, producing the Bridal Expo in California since 1985. She has provided services - and consulting - to wedding professionals for the past 25 years. Julia has lived in California most of her life, but grew up in Arkansas, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Education. She received her journalism training at California State University, Sacramento. She has presented wedding marketing seminars in the U.S. and worldwide for the past 17 years. Julia is the author of Success from Bridal Shows: More than Just a Pretty Booth, and has written articles on how to get more business from bridal shows.
Marc McIntosh is president of Showcase Productions, producer of some of the country’s largest bridal shows, including shows in Maryland, Virginia, Texas and Washington, D.C. Marc graduated from George Mason University, and has resided in the Washington area for 30 years. Marc is a charter member and Past Director of Bridal Show Producers International and was awarded the prestigious BSPi Director’s Cup. He is also a member of the National Association of Catering Executives, the Association of Wedding Professionals, the National Association of Consumer Shows and the Professional Show Managers Association. Marc is also a professional speaker, sharing the keys of bridal marketing with thousands of wedding professionals in the US and Canada.
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.
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.
Sara Morgan currently serves as the Director of Marketing for Weddzilla.com, where she handles business development and brand strategy. Sara is responsible for creating strategic partnerships, user acquisition, and overseeing all aspects of Weddzilla’s social media growth. Prior to joining Weddzilla, Sara worked for the Washingtonian Magazine and has over 5 years of experience in broadcast and journalism. As a social media expert, Sara hosts educational webinars and is dedicated to helping companies increase their visibility online. 
Marcello is a three-time recipient of the coveted “DJ of the Year” title and the ADJA Peter Merry Leadership Award, and has earned a national reputation of providing entertainment with elegance at Wedding Receptions, Bar Mitzvahs and Corporate Galas. Marcello owns MMP Entertainment, targeting a clientele who values signature service. He practices the professional philosophy that he preaches: “Work Less and Live More.” Marcello was recently featured in the book Performance Beyond Expectation. His chapter highlights the importance of physical fitness, personal style, adaptability, and of course, life balance. Pedalino currently serves on the Board of the Wedding Entertainment Directors Guild.
Carley Roney and husband David Liu launched The Knot in 1996 to enhance the wedding planning process with the convenience of Internet technology. She lead the launch of The Nest and The Bump, and directed the integration of WeddingChannel into the company’s portfolio. Roney appears frequently on national television shows, including Oprah, The View, The TODAY Show, and The Early Show. She contributes to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, Glamour, Vogue, Elle, and Self. Her advice column "Ask Carley" appears in more than 70 newspapers. She is the author of several books, and was named one of Crain’s New York Forty Under. Roney holds an MA in cultural studies from New York University and a BFA from New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Institute of Film and Television.
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. 
Susan is the National Wedding Expert for Perfect Wedding Guide and is President of Just Marry!, a full-service wedding planning company in Orlando, Florida. Susan’s exceptional weddings have been featured numerous times on the Style Network’s Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? and TLC’s A Wedding Story. Her cutting-edge advice has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Orlando Sentinel, Orlando Leisure, and The Orlando Business Journal. Susan has planned thousands of weddings around the world, and was honored as one of 30 A-List Destination Wedding Planners in the world by Destination Weddings & Honeymoons Magazine. 
Ben is the founder and President of NLFX Professional, a leading supplier of sound, lighting and video systems. He holds a Minnesota electrical license, and his AV installs have been featured in numerous trade magazines. His passion for education led to many certifications and accreditations, including the widely-recognized InfoComm CTS. Ben created the ProAcademy educational sessions, which focus on understanding of AV technologies. He has done numous technical writings, lectures, presentations, as well as research and development assistance with a number of manufacturers. Ben is a regular contributor to industry magazines in the United States and Europe. These presentations led to the production of the ProAcademy Series of DVDs.
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 is Conference Director and Vice-President of Sales for the Wedding MBA and the Bridal Fashion Debut, America's largest bridal show. 
Chris Watson has over 20 years magazine publishing experience, and is a long-time advocate of making print media measurable. He was awarded a patent for Web Based Measurement of Advertising Success, his invention of taking printed magazines online. Chris partnered with three colleagues to create a full-service SEO agency, Everspark Interactive, which grew into a million-dollar company in just three months. In April 2010, Chris returned to the print publishing industry as a co-founder of WedLock Magazine. He is also one of the creators of Bridal Traffic, a five-hour, fully-animated DVD series that teaches Wedding Professionals (in a non-techie way) how to get to the top of Google.
Mike owns Elite Entertainment, a Multi-System DJ Company in New Jersey, recently selected by The Knot and Wedding Wire as a top entertainment company in the country. His company exemplifies the message he has been preaching for years: “There IS a way to combine Quality and Quantity.” Mike’s DJ career began in Queens, New York in 1984. He graduated from the Connecticut School of Broadcasting and has a communications degree from Union County College. Mike worked with Star DJs, where he helped to develop a staff of over 50. In 1993, Mike became a partner in Elite Entertainment, bought out his partner in 1998 and continued its growth to 21 emcees and over 1,200 events annually.
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. 
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