PRESENTERS
Grace Lanni
Grace continually stretches the cutting edge of personal/professional branding delivering keynotes at international events. Originally trained as a Bio/Electrical engineer, her first CEO venture was an online software solution. One of only two women to be venture funded at the multi-million-dollar level in Austin in 2000, Grace was featured in the Austin Business Journal, on CBS, and won the KPMG Stand-Out Startup Award. Grace’s All About That Brand podcast is award-winning, and her most recent book, The No B.S. Truth: What it Really Takes to Build a Successful Business, is an International Best Seller. Her next book reveals what’s beyond the story brand in 2020.
Sierra Bailey
Sierra Bailey is a business educator and talented, tiny business owner expert. She has a passion for helping people feel like they can achieve whatever they want to. Her specialty is giving talented, tiny business owners the tools and confidence to create the businesses they really want to own. Sierra became a business educator after over 20 years of building and running her own tiny businesses. She now uses her knowledge and experience as a jewelry designer, restaurant general manager, TV host and board member of multiple non-profits to help you run the tiny business you love your way. Find out more at mssierrabailey.com
Kim & Mike Barnes
Kim & Mike Barnes have each spent 30 years on the air! Now, as Barnes Team Media, they coach clients for on-camera impact in video and media interviews and public speaking.
Kim was an award-winning reporter and news anchor for 15 years, including more than a decade at KVUE in Austin. Kim taught television news reporting at The University of Texas (her alma mater).
Mike Barnes was an award-winning sportscaster at KVUE for over 29 years He was named Best Sportscaster in Austin 17 years and Best in Texas four times.
Mike & Kim have a 23-year-old son who's a graduate of Texas A&M and a 20-year-old daughter who's a junior at UT!
This dynamic duo knows how to make a great impression on camera or in front of a room.
Cindy Y. Lo
When Cindy Lo started Red Velvet Events (RVE) almost 18 years ago, she did so with the mission to Outplan, Outplay and Outparty! Red Velvet Events is a boutique creative events agency helping global brands ideate, design and execute their experiential events since 2002. During this pandemic, she has pivoted her team of 23 to own the virtual and hybrid world.
Cindy is a recent author of Behind the Red Velvet Curtain. Connect with RVE on all the major social media channels (@RedVelvetEvents) to see behind the scenes of what event life is like at Red Velvet Events, especially with most of the team still working from home. Cindy calls Austin, Texas home with her husband of 15 years, their 2 children and Frenchie puppy who has his own Instagram (@DarwinTheTXFrenchie).
Kendall Antonelli
Kendall Antonelli co-owns Antonelli's Cheese Shop in Austin, TX, which she opened alongside her life partner John after a honeymoon decision to quit their jobs in pursuit of a passion with purpose. They found that in telling the story of artisan cheese and spreading joy one bite at a time.
Antonelli's Cheese celebrated its tenth anniversary 2 weeks before Covid-19 hit Austin. In that time, it has included a cut-to-order cheese and pairings shop, wholesale to 175+ Central Texas chefs, over 200 yearly events, and an ecommerce site and warehouse shipping nationwide. Travel + Leisure Magazine named Antonelli's one of the best cheese shops in America; it's also been voted a Local Hero Food Shop 8 consecutive years, Best Austin Food Bites, and Best Specialty Food Shop. Antonelli's is currently recognized nationwide for quick pivots in the pandemic-era; as a result, both Capital One and Go Daddy have picked up Kendall and John as national spokespeople and the Antonellis have taught over 7000 folks in virtual tastings.
Kendall has been awarded an Austin Business Journal Profile in Power, Austinite Under 40, and Mental Health Community Champion, in part due to her board service with the Austin Child Guidance Center, Les Dames d'Escoffier, and the American Cheese Education Foundation. Kendall has given a TedX talk and is a keynote speaker for her "real, raw, and relatable" storytelling about her experiences as an entrepreneur, depression survivor, small business owner, former rodeo competitor and queen, and mom.
Cassie LaMere
Cassie LaMere is the Founder and Creative Director of Cassie LaMere Events, a firm focused on helping companies and individuals discover the value in fostering meaningful connections through personalized, memorable event experiences. Cassie has cultivated her expertise through over a decade of event collaborations with Fortune 500 companies and elite private clientele. Her industry knowledge spans several sectors including experiential events, marketing strategy, and brand management; making her well poised to thoughtfully oversee each aspect of the design and planning process.
Specializing in meticulous design and production services for corporate experiential, social, and philanthropic events, Cassie and her team deliver thoughtfully curated, highly detailed experiences that tell a story and excite the senses.
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