Laurie Maddalena is CEO of Envision Excellence, a leadership consulting firm that provides programs for managers and executives.

Laurie is a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), and is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), a designation earned by less than 15% of speakers worldwide. She is a contributing author to the international best-selling books, Women Who Empower and Women Who Shine. Prior to establishing her own coaching and consulting business, Laurie served as Vice President of Human Resources/Organizational Development at Montgomery County Teachers Federal Credit Union (MCT). Under Laurie’s leadership, MCT was awarded the “Excellent Place to Work” designation by the Maryland Work~Life Alliance for seven years in a row. Laurie earned an MBA and a Master of Science degree in human resources/organizational development from The University of Maryland Global Campus. She earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Syracuse University. 

Kate O’Neill’s expertise in data-based business models, integrated experience strategy, and human-centric digital transformation comes from more than 20 years of experience and entrepreneurship leading innovations across technology, marketing, and operations in category-defining companies. She was one of the first 100 employees at Netflix, where she created the first content management role and helped implement innovative dynamic e-commerce practices that became industry standard.

In her keynote speeches Kate advocates for the future of humanity in an increasingly tech-driven world. Her insights help corporate and cultural leaders re-think how to succeed long-term by taking a human-centric approach to digital transformation and readiness for the future.

Author of 4 books including her latest, Tech Humanist, Kate's insights and expertise have been featured in WIRED, USA Today, and many other outlets, and she has appeared as an expert commentator on BBC, NPR, Marketplace, NBC, and a wide variety of other national and international news media. A vocal and visible advocate for women in technology, entrepreneurship, and leadership, she was featured by Google in the launch of their global campaign for women in entrepreneurship. 

Jon Taffer is the entertainer, the entrepreneur, the strategic advisor, the thought leader that transforms industries. Utilizing his four decades of unprecedented industry experience, Taffer guides companies through remodeling, reprogramming, and restarting their business models to embrace the future. He has consulted for well- known brands, as the NFL Network, Ritz- Carlton Hotels, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Anheuser- Bush to name a few. Taffer also rebuilds the lives of failing bar owners in his hit series Bar Rescue on Paramount Network. Taffer is a master of powerful presentations that rescues businesses from themselves to propel them towards success.

Conor Cunneen is IrishmanSpeaks. Conor’s mission as a keynote speaker, consultant and MC is to Improve People, Performance & Productivity – with a Smile! This Chicago-based Irishman is a former VP Marketing who has worked in senior marketing and sales roles in Ireland, UK & USA on brands as diverse as Heineken, Hellmann’s, Lipton, Ben & Jerry’s (yummy) Knorr. A multiple author – including two books on Mark Twain, Conor uses the humor that won Chicago Humorous Speaker of the Year to leave his audience with a smile on the face, a spring in the step and memorable actionable takeaways.

As an immigrant, he is a proud recipient of the Presidents Gold Medal for Volunteer Service for the work he does with the unemployed. He is a Fellow of the Marketing Institute of Ireland. Our MC likes to play Metallica loud. His wife does not like him to play Metallica loud.