From Persona To Personal

As a proud fourth-generation Arizonan, Lisa Urias has built her career on crafting and promoting the multi-faceted brand of Arizona through several companies, organizations, and roles. Lisa's family has a long history of service to Arizona – a value she holds dear. Her more than 35 years as a marketing & PR professional have taught her that a strong organizational culture, a responsive strategic p...

Tim Vennard - Vice President of Mazzone Hospitality with more than 15 years in company leadership. Tim's been innovating the food industry through catering, restaurants, and corporate cafes. He was essential in growing Mazzone Hospitality with some of the biggest clients in the pharmaceutical, microchip manufacturing, and finance Industries. He has been recognized for his leadership by Restaurant...

Sonny Smith who is the Co-Founder of Jampack. Sonny has more than 20 years of experience in hospitality, entertainment, and technology space. As an executive leader, he has built successful teams and achieved notable results with globally recognized brands such as Madison Square Garden Entertainment, Tao Group, and Hakkasan Group. His expertise includes large-scale venue pre-opening, revenue creat...

Barton G. Weiss is a devoted father, world-renowned restaurateur, philanthropist, fashion designer, and former professional ice skater with a career that spans more than 40 years. As the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Barton G. Enterprise, he has had the privilege of orchestrating and managing an impressive portfolio of over 100 high-profile events. Barton's company has catered to Fortune...

Jason Pirock, Corporate Director and Head of Marketing at Springboard Hospitality, is an award-winning marketing executive with over 16 years of experience transforming brands like Hyatt and Target. Formerly the VP of Marketing at Aparium Hotel Group, he built and led the marketing department. In his current role, Jason oversees brand development, integrating marketing and customer acquisition str...

Andy Shallal is the Founder and CEO of Busboys and Poets, a restaurant group known for its intentional intersection of art, culture, and politics, featuring mindfully sourced food, drinks, books, and event programming. Andy is a dedicated advocate for progressive business and labor practices and is actively involved in several boards, including the Institute for Policy Studies and Race Forward. As...

Chris Moyer is the Senior Director of Communications at Visit Detroit, where he utilizes his storytelling abilities and expertise in connecting people to bring visitors to the Detroit area. He is a seasoned communications strategist with nearly two decades of experience in government, clean energy, and economic development across the US and UK. As a passionate advocate for family and dogs, it's un...

Stacy Ritter is the President and CEO of Visit Lauderdale, where her primary responsibility is to attract visitors and promote tourism to the Fort Lauderdale area. Over the years, Stacy has held various positions, such as Florida State Representative, Broward County Commissioner, and Broward County Mayor. With her expertise in budgeting, government, strategic planning, community outreach, and publ...

Jonathan Newar is the Co-founder and CEO of Captain Experiences. He has transformed his frustration over the complexities of finding, vetting, and booking fishing trips into a successful venture. Under his leadership, Captain Experiences has emerged as the largest fishing trip booking platform in the US, boasting over 80,000 trip hours since its 2020 inception. With a vision for broadening horizon...

Emmanuel Burgio is the Principal and Founder of Blue Parallel, a boutique travel company that specializes in providing luxurious adventure experiences to destinations that include Latin America, the Mediterranean, and Antarctica. Emmanuel graduated from the London School of Economics and then worked in investment banking in New York City. Due to his passion for adventure and discovery, he eventual...

Jason Brandt is President and CEO of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA). He specializes in association management and government affairs at state and local levels. His duties at ORLA include launching innovative programs and products that assist the hospitality industry in being profitable. Before his tenure with ORLA, Jason was the CEO of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce.  What...

Ken Griffin is the Director of Golf Sales and Marketing at BOYNE Resorts. Compared to his colleagues, Ken is relatively new to the Michigan-based BOYNE Golf team but has interacted with the company for over 25 years, including more than 15 as an employee. In his current position, he leads the development of nationwide marketing strategies that have successfully resonated with and attracted visitor...

Ritu Mathur is the VP of Marketing at Amy's Kitchen, a prominent producer of organic and plant-based foods. With over a decade in the food industry, she previously served as a Senior Director at Cliff Bar, initiating a value-based equal pay campaign for Luna Bar. She collaborated with the US Women's National Soccer Team and Venus Williams to advocate for gender equality in sports. Ritu also contri...

Catherine Heald is the Co-founder and CEO of Remote Lands, an ultra-luxury travel provider to destinations in Asia. Catherine is a serial entrepreneur with a background in software engineering and technology. She founded three notable software companies and had a stint in sales at Apple. Her drive to escape mediocrity and boredom led her to establish Remote Lands, turning her fervent passion for A...

Leonard Hoops is the President and CEO of Visit Indy, Indianapolis, Indiana's official destination management organization. He oversees the growth of central Indiana's convention, tourism, and event business, which contributes nearly $6 billion to the economy. Under his leadership, Indianapolis became a top city for conventions, with Visit Indy consistently recognized as a "Best Place to Work" in...

Cody Worden is the Area Director of Sales and Marketing at Grand Hyatt Vail. With over two decades of experience, Cody has worked with hundreds of sales professionals, enriching his expertise and deepening his understanding of the sales industry. He's been a sales and marketing leader at two key resorts in the Vail Valley. Cody is an outdoor enthusiast with hobbies that include snowboarding, hikin...

Lorna Bush is the Senior Vice-President at Fineman PR, a division of Off Madison Ave. With a specialization in brand PR, consumer marketing, and crisis communications, Lorna has extensive experience working in diverse sectors, from food and beverage brands to outdoor destinations to public health organizations. Her expertise includes crafting communication programs, managing crises such as food sa...

Matthew de Gruyter is the Co-founder and CEO of Next Level Burger, America's first 100% vegan and plant-based burger joint. Before delving into the world of vegan fast casual food, Matthew honed his professional acumen in private equity and venture capital, notably serving as an executive for oil and gas venture firms. His journey, from a US Marine to majoring in communication at Metro State Unive...

Spike Stevens is Chief Technical Officer at LighthousePE, a behavior-based AI platform that creates one-to-one personalized messages and experiences in real-time at scale. He boasts a rich 25-year history in the marketing and advertising sector and has steered LighthousePE's design and technology since its onset. Spike's previous endeavors in marketing tech spotlighted mobile and SaaS solutions fo...

Stan Adams is the Executive Director of Sports at Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports (TTS), where he strategizes ways to attract and host high-profile, revenue-generating sports events for the city of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He started his career in the sports tourism industry as an intern for TTS in 2015, then served as a sports marketing representative in Maryland before returning to TTS in 2019 as Dire...

Lee Marcum is the CEO of Jack's Donuts, based in New Castle, Indiana. Founded by his grandfather in 1961, he is a third-generation owner of the business. Over the past decade, Lee led Jack's transformation from a $250K-per-year single-store to a multimillion-dollar brand with more than 20 locations across the US.  What you'll learn in this episode: Would you like to establish your brand in a new m...

Jeremy Gursey is the President of Coffee Manufactory, a brand that's goal is to make better coffee and make coffee better. His objective is to build a global brand that strives to perfect coffee roasting, tea production, and preparation. For several years, Jeremy served as the personal coffee chef for Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise. He also prepared coffee and tea for the  Seinfeld  cast, where Larry...

Allison Brown is the Director of Marketing at Discover Long Island. She uses her ability to deliver strategic solutions, drive consumer loyalty, and propel brand awareness to produce marketing initiatives that provide economic impact for the Long Island, New York area. Previously, Allison owned AGB Productions, a consulting firm she established that focused on brand optimization and campaign devel...

Nicholas Falcone is the CEO of NDM Hospitality, which he founded in 2011 with a vision to become a multi-faceted hospitality, real estate, and technology conglomerate. He is an innovator and recognized leader in Florida's tourism and hospitality industry by creating new ways to manage real estate and take vacations. Nicholas is also the CEO of Rentyl Resorts, where he blends the comforts of home w...

Andrew Jaffe is the Chief Marketing Officer at Snooze an A.M. Eatery, a highly disruptive restaurant concept that seeks to evolve the morning dining experience through culinary innovation, friendly service, and an eclectic and energetic atmosphere. During his time with Snooze, the brand has grown from 20 to more than 60 locations. With experience in both large operating environments and entreprene...