Lori Zoss Kraska. MBA, CFRE is the founder of Growth Owl, LLC,. With more than 25 years of experience, she helps purpose-driven organizations and entrepreneurs secure corporate partnerships and corporate philanthropic funding using language that resonates with decision makers and moves capital. Lori has a strong track record of connecting leaders to Fortune 1000 companies as well as building transformational sponsorship strategies and training sponsorship development teams. She specializes in sponsorship strategy, executive messaging, and revenue architecture, guiding leaders in aligning mission with business value to secure executive buy-in, strengthen board alignment, and create scalable, long-term revenue growth. Before starting Growth Owl, She held key leadership and corporate sponsorship roles with organizations including PBS, NPR (local station groups), DAC Group, Clear Channel, University of Phoenix, and Citysearch. She holds an MBA in Systems Management and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), the only globally recognized certification for fundraising professionals, accredited by the American National Standards Institute. She is also an Amazon bestselling author, speaker, and trusted advisor.

Kirby Simmering is an association executive, entrepreneur and consultant with more than 25 years of experience helping organizations navigate change, improve performance and create greater value for their members and audiences.

His association career has included leadership roles with the National Association of Home Builders, American Library Association, National 4-H Council, Chicagoland Apartment Association and Smithbucklin. Most recently at NAHB, Kirby led learning and content strategy, overseeing education initiatives across the organization, including the International Builders’ Show (IBS), one of the largest trade shows in the United States.

Today, Kirby advises associations and businesses on event and education strategy, innovation, audience engagement and organizational growth through his consultancy, 7B Strategies. He is also co-founder of EventEdIQ, a technology company developing automation and intelligence tools that help event organizers streamline content planning and logistics, bridge gaps across event technologies and make smarter, more informed decisions.

At the heart of my work is a simple goal: helping people learn. Whether I'm designing a new training program, creating documentation, or teaching a live class, I enjoy making complex topics easier to understand.

With a background in education, training, and instructional design, I'm passionate about creating learning experiences that are practical, engaging, and meaningful. I believe great training doesn't just teach—it builds confidence, encourages curiosity, and helps people connect with the content, the technology, and each other.

I earned my B.A. in Mass Communications and English Literature from Florida State University and my M.S.Ed. in Urban Education from Florida International University.

Outside of work, you'll usually find me with my nose in a book, working on a writing project, or dreaming about the novel I hope to publish one day. I live in the Tampa, Florida area with my husband and our two boys.

After graduating from Towson University with a degree in Mass Communication I began a career as a News & Public Affairs Producer in radio and television.  I have over 20 years of project management experience.  I'm the father of two wonderful children.  I'm active as a Boy Scout leader and I coached rec league lacrosse for over 7 years in addition to holding the position of In-House Commissioner for 2 years.  When I had spare time I enjoyed doing most any outdoor activity.  I have many leather bound books and my office smells of rich mahogany.

I have been with Cadmium since 2016, starting my journey as an engineer before growing into my current role as a product manager. Throughout my career, I’ve been passionate about creating seamless experiences and ensuring the success of events behind the scenes. Originally from the East Coast, I have since made Kansas City my home, where I enjoy the balance of a vibrant city and a close-knit community.

Outside of work, my greatest joy comes from spending time with my husband, our son and daughter, and our lovable dog. Family time is my top priority, whether it’s exploring new places, enjoying a cozy night in, or making memories on new adventures. I also have a deep love for real estate and home renovation, and I find excitement in flipping houses and bringing new life to forgotten spaces.

Another one of my passions is wine—I proudly (and playfully) claim to be a sommelier, always eager to discover and appreciate new flavors. Whether I’m diving into a home project, savoring a glass of wine, or supporting events through my work, I thrive on creativity, connection, and continuous learning.

I previously served as a senior event producer at Bond Events, senior manager of exhibits & operations for NAB Show, and manager of education, exhibits & operations for Solar Power International. I have worked on everything from intimate, VIP-level events to a 100,000-person, 1 million NSF trade show and have managed almost every facet of event production - from content development and speaker coaching to event design and logistics to floor planning and exhibition management.

I am a native of Wisconsin and have a degree in business administration, information systems, and advanced business communications. I hold the Project Management Professional (PMP). Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO I), Certified Meetings Professional (CMP), and Certified in Exhibition Management (CEM) designations.

Outside of work I love to read, listen to podcasts, play sand volleyball, camp, hike, and play fantasy football.

Born and raised in MD, I graduated from UMUC in 2011 with a bachelor's in Communication Studies. After graduating, I entered the events industry as an intern, building registration forms. With a love for problem solving and a passion for helping others, I quickly moved into the role of PM. Over the years, I've worked with a wide range of clients (from small, volunteer organizations to large universities and associations) on thousands of events. I love engineering elegant and efficient solutions to suit all manner of needs.

I live in the Baltimore area with my family--my wonderfully goofy husband, Jake; my brilliantly creative daughter, Maggie; our dogs, Stan and Oliver (the Laurel and Hardy reference was a complete coincidence!); and our cat, Ham. When we're not working, going to school, or curling up in a sunbeam for a good nap, we enjoy playing board games, trying different recipes, and finding new trails to hike.

Jessie Reyes is a seasoned marketing leader with nearly 20 years of experience steering transformative initiatives and fostering business growth through strategic marketing campaigns. Currently serving as the Director of Marketing at Cadmium, a prominent SaaS provider in the ed-tech and event-tech sectors for associations, Jessie brings a wealth of expertise. Her track record includes building and guiding high-performing teams, establishing robust marketing operations, and crafting compelling campaigns that generate qualified leads and drive conversions.

Ben Muscolino is Founder and CEO of AMS Geek and a five-time founder and seven-time CEO dedicated to the association and nonprofit community. He leads AssociationWire, home to AMS Geek and Data Sangria, and Breezio, a community and member engagement platform for associations. Known for his practical approach to association technology, Ben is an industry strategist, speaker, and advisor with deep expertise in systems, data integrations, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. An active ASAE member, he has spent nearly two decades helping associations leverage technology to better serve their members.

At the heart of my work is a simple goal: helping people learn. Whether I'm designing a new training program, creating documentation, or teaching a live class, I enjoy making complex topics easier to understand.

With a background in education, training, and instructional design, I'm passionate about creating learning experiences that are practical, engaging, and meaningful. I believe great training doesn't just teach—it builds confidence, encourages curiosity, and helps people connect with the content, the technology, and each other.

I earned my B.A. in Mass Communications and English Literature from Florida State University and my M.S.Ed. in Urban Education from Florida International University.

Outside of work, you'll usually find me with my nose in a book, working on a writing project, or dreaming about the novel I hope to publish one day. I live in the Tampa, Florida area with my husband and our two boys.

After graduating from Towson University with a degree in Mass Communication I began a career as a News & Public Affairs Producer in radio and television.  I have over 20 years of project management experience.  I'm the father of two wonderful children.  I'm active as a Boy Scout leader and I coached rec league lacrosse for over 7 years in addition to holding the position of In-House Commissioner for 2 years.  When I had spare time I enjoyed doing most any outdoor activity.  I have many leather bound books and my office smells of rich mahogany.

Joe serves as Director of Sales and Client Experience at Projection, where he works closely with organizations to better understand their goals, challenges, and attendee experience priorities. His role focuses on building strong partnerships and helping clients create thoughtful, impactful event experiences that resonate long after the meeting ends.

Joe is a husband, father, musician, technology buff, and audiovisual professional (among other things) whose passion lies in creating emotive experiences. He spent most of his twenties touring the country writing and singing songs to anyone who would listen. But after a two-year battle with a debilitating vocal disease, Joe changed lanes and found his second calling in the events world.

He soon realized that a great event, like a great song, taps into an emotional aspect of the human experience. Both are powerful, generate community, and are not easily forgotten. Working throughout the industry in roles spanning audiovisual production, creative services, technology, and experience strategy, Joe now advises some of Projection’s largest clients on how to deliver meaningful and memorable experiences for their attendees.

At the heart of my work is a simple goal: helping people learn. Whether I'm designing a new training program, creating documentation, or teaching a live class, I enjoy making complex topics easier to understand.

With a background in education, training, and instructional design, I'm passionate about creating learning experiences that are practical, engaging, and meaningful. I believe great training doesn't just teach—it builds confidence, encourages curiosity, and helps people connect with the content, the technology, and each other.

I earned my B.A. in Mass Communications and English Literature from Florida State University and my M.S.Ed. in Urban Education from Florida International University.

Outside of work, you'll usually find me with my nose in a book, working on a writing project, or dreaming about the novel I hope to publish one day. I live in the Tampa, Florida area with my husband and our two boys.

After graduating from Towson University with a degree in Mass Communication I began a career as a News & Public Affairs Producer in radio and television.  I have over 20 years of project management experience.  I'm the father of two wonderful children.  I'm active as a Boy Scout leader and I coached rec league lacrosse for over 7 years in addition to holding the position of In-House Commissioner for 2 years.  When I had spare time I enjoyed doing most any outdoor activity.  I have many leather bound books and my office smells of rich mahogany.

Dan Streeter is the CEO of Mission Fuel and a nationally recognized expert in instructional design and digital learning.

He works with association learning, certification, and standards teams to deliver credible, high quality education at scale without losing instructional discipline.

He is the visionary behind Course Engine, a learning design platform built to reinforce adult learning principles while reducing course development time, and Mission Fuel’s Do It Yourself, Done With You and Done For You instructional design support model

Dan is an award winning educator and national speaker. His work includes learning initiatives for the World Health Organization, the National Basketball Association, and organizations across healthcare, professional services, and regulated industries.