CONFERENCE ARCHIVES | 2022 Presenters

The following presenters are from the 2022 Conference which has passed.

 

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Johnny Cupcakes 
Speaker. Entrepreneur. Innovator. Prankster. Baker.

Since 2001, Johnny Cupcakes—founded by speaker Johnny Earle—has grown from a “joke” to a multi-million dollar, highly exclusive t-shirt brand driven by a community of world-wide collectors. Johnny shares his story of how he took his t-shirt brand from the trunk of his rusty car at age 19, to disrupting an industry, breaking all of the rules, and being sought after by the largest brands in the world.  Johnny frequently speaks at businesses and universities worldwide. He has been named “Americas #1Young Entrepreneur” by BusinessWeek, “Top Innovator in Retail” by The Boston Globe, has been recognized four years in a row for making it into The Inc. 500 / 5000 List of fastest growing independent companies in America, and has been featured on MTV, NPR, Forbes, WIRED, and as a case study in several branding and business books.  Johnny Cupcakes is known for helping other people create blueprints for building brand loyalty, creating memorable experiences, and inspiring innovation.

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​Stefan Wissenbach
Founder & CEO, Engagement Multiplier

A serial entrepreneur, Stefan is passionate about the transformational impact engagement has on organizations and the people that own them and work within them.  His vision and focus is on helping 100 million people to become more engaged. His books, businesses and speaking engagements provide education and inspiration to enable businesses and individuals to fulfill their potential and bridge the gap between aspiration and achievement.  His unique approach is to simplify the complex and provide a framework for people to take action, distilling a lifetime of learning into simple success strategies that anyone can master.  For over 20 years he has been a leading adviser to successful entrepreneurs on engagement through his private consulting firm Wissenbach Private Clients. He is the founder of EngagementMultiplier.com, a digital platform that enables businesses and individuals all over the world to simply and efficiently measure and improve engagement levels every 90 days.  He is a best selling author. His latest book, The Engaged Organisation, explains how business owners can build the business they dream about. His first book, Slaying Dragons &Moving Mountains focuses on simple ways for individuals to become more engaged and achieve personal success. He is also the co-author of Change Agents with Brian Tracy and Think & Grow Rich Today.  He is the creator of The Magic Number® and the Founder of MagicFuture.com and the co-founder of The Magic Future Foundation, which has built four schools in Africa.  His ‘uncommon’ common sense approach has enabled hundreds of companies to raise  engagement levels, improve profits and reduce waste–whilst becoming happier places to work.  Stefan is married with three children, and lives in Warwickshire, England.

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David Kenworthy
Digital Marketing Director, Origin
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When David left the UK and his suit-and-tie agency life behind, he came to Whistler to pursue his passion for the outdoors. And after a summer spent riding his mountain bike every waking hour, he found Origin, where his skills and experience in digital marketing met his passion for the outdoors. Now, he’s our resident oracle for all things digital and has developed a knack for distilling the digital world into regular words we all can understand.

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​Andrew Freeman
Found, AF&CO., + Co-Founder, CARBONATE
 
Named as one of the Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International, Andrew brings a combination of experience, passion and creativity to every endeavor. Andrew is a New Jersey native with a Marketing Degree from Montclair State University. He learned the restaurant business by working through the ranks at several legendary New York venues including Windows on the World, the Russian Tea Room and the Rainbow Room. Andrew was Vice President of Public Relations and Strategic Partnerships for Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants for 10 years, helping to launch over 40 hotels and restaurants as well as the global brand. In 2005 Andrew launched his own agency, af&co., and with his amazing team of professionals, the agency has developed and launched concepts, created unique culinary events, provided ongoing marketing, public relations and operations consulting for over 300 restaurants and hotels. In 2019, Andrew co-founded Carbonate to offer expanded creative strategy and brand communications services. Andrew is a contributor to numerous industry magazines and blogs and guest speaker at industry conferences both in the USA and internationally.

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Candace MacDonald
Co-Founder & Managing Director, CARBONATE

A brand strategist with over 15 years of experience, Candace has worked for a range of clients from large corporations to multi-concept operators to Silicon Valley start-ups.  In 2019, she co-founded Carbonate, a brand strategy and creative services agency with a focus on the hospitality industry.  Prior to launching Carbonate, Candace was Managing Director of Consulting Services at, af&co., one of the country’s leading hospitality consulting firms.  In this role, she led a team in creating, launching and refining brand identities for over 40 different restaurants and culinary experiences. She also led the publication of af&co,’s highly regarded annual hospitality trend report.  With experience across a wide range of channels, Candace is a results oriented marketer, experienced at translating creative vision into communications programs that build brands and generate revenue. Candace holds a B.S. in Communications from Northwestern University and an M.S in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University’s Medill School. 

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Patti Simpson
Chief People Officer, Union Square Hospitality Group

Patti Simpson is the Chief People Officer of Union Square Hospitality Group (USHG) and oversees all Human Resource operations. In her role, Patti implements key systems and benefits that align with USHG’s Family Values (excellence, hospitality, entrepreneurial spirit, and integrity) to further enhance USHG’s philosophy of Enlightened Hospitality, the belief that putting employees first is the key to running a meaningful and sustainable business.
Patti joins USHG with a deeply rooted background in HR, where she has led HR operations for various domestic and international foodservice brands such as TGI Fridays, Ignite Restaurant Group (Joe’s Crab Shack, Brick House Tavern + Tap), Au Bon Pain, and most recently Ruby Tuesday.

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Emiliano Void
Founder & CEO, nuwave

Emiliano Void is the Founder and CEO of nuwave Equity Corporation giving leadership and oversight to all aspects of the organization’s activities. He is responsible for the coordination, development and implementation of systemic solutions centered around the dismantlement of anti-Black and systemic racism through profitable and innovative approaches. The approach that Emiliano and the nuwave team leverages has created transformational impact in communities, global organizations, as well as entire industries.

 

Chip Rogers
President & CEO, AHLA

Chip Rogers has been President and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) since the start of 2019, leading America’s only national association dedicated to serving the interests of the entire hotel and lodging industry. 

In his role as President & CEO, Chip has led the AHLA team and the lodging industry to achieve tangible results for AHLA members. Subsequently, he has received numerous awards and has been recognized as one of the 25 most influential by Business Travel News, one of the most influential people in Washington D.C. by Washingtonian magazine, Top 50 Most Influential Leaders in Hospitality, USA, and Global by Hospitality Index, a Freedom Award recipient from ECPAT-USA and twice as a top lobbyist by the Hill newspaper. 
Prior to joining the hospitality industry, Chip served in the Georgia General Assembly. He was elected to office six times and was unanimously elected twice to serve as Senate majority leader.
 
Chip earned his undergraduate degree from Georgia Tech and his MBA from Georgia State.