Experts

Co-founder Anni Stromfeld started SIJO alongside childhood friend Jacob Xi after reconnecting and bonding over their common interest in entrepreneurship and a desire to build an ethical and sustainable business in the health/wellness area. Her vision was to transform the way consumers think and feel about the home. After working in high-stress, results-driven work environments and juggling her career and personal life, she sought to find balance in the chaos of life. The root of that: better, healthier sleep. This journey to find balance helped her (and Jacob) precisely identify the demands of the SIJO customers, using innovative fibers and materials to create the best possible products.Anni, Jacob and their team focus on creating sustainable, performance driven products that not only boast healthy benefits and unparalleled quality, but that have a simple, modern aesthetic that suits any home.

Anne (Catherine) Johnson is the owner and founder of Anne Cate, a Made-in-America accessories brand and manufacturing firm specializing in skyline silhouette purses and pillows. A proud Kent State graduate, Anne has grown her business from a single sewing machine in her college dorm room into a full-scale manufacturing studio, employing full-time staff and empowering others to build success with their hands.Anne Cate products are distributed through both B2B and B2C platforms, with a client portfolio that includes major brands such as Hulu, KeyBank, and Goodyear.Anne has been recognized as one of WAWAK’s Finest Sewists, named a NEO Mover & Shaker, and is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. She was honored as a Notable Entrepreneur in Crain’s Cleveland Business and has received Cleveland Magazine’s Best of Cleveland award for three consecutive years (2021–2023). In 2024, Anne was awarded the Distinguished Honors Alumni Award from Kent State University.Anne’s favorite part of her work is bringing joy to her customers. To them, Anne Cate products are more than just purses or pillows—they tell personal stories, represent meaningful places, and hold memories close.When she’s not creating, Anne enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to New York City for inspiration, or relaxing on the shores of Lake Erie.

With over 30 years’ experience of creating and organizing community and state events, Ms. Reahl has been managing large scale events for the past (30) years in various roles including (14) of the National Special Security Events (NSSEs). Ms Reahl’s capabilities and experience have successfully provided, implemented and integrated temporary security operations for NSSEs. She has dedicated her skills to executing the planning, acquisition and coordination of various types of temporary security perimeter solutions for Tier 1 NSSEs.Ms. Reahl’s attention to detail has earned her a reputation of unparalleled excellence in executing protective missions of NSSEs on schedule and within budget all in accordance with the operational security plans. You can also hear Anna Co-Host “Managing Your Perimeter™”

Anil caught the entrepreneurial bug watching his immigrant parents hustle after moving to the US from Albania when he was 11. A year studying in Tokyo during college didn't just leave him fluent in Japanese - it sparked a lifelong love affair with coffee that led to founding Jaho Coffee in his hometown of Salem, MA in 2005. Since then, he's built a mini empire with seven Massachusetts locations, two Tokyo cafés, and a string of ventures including Barista Connection (before coffee folks had Instagram!), Milkboy Boba & Ice Cream, and Bagel Boys. His latest venture, Dekáf Coffee Roasters, is on a mission to prove decaf drinkers deserve the good stuff too.

Angie (She/Her) believes that every person deserves pleasure and body comfort and that we can all access them in abundance. Angie is a self-intimacy and sex coach specializing in self compassion, body comfort and sexual desire and pleasure. Angie’s superpower is helping you uncover your desires and dreams, and the achievable path to get there, in a shame-free, deeply empathic setting. In 2023, Angie created Oh What Beauty, a pleasure and intimacy shop focused on curating toys and tools with quality, innovative design and aesthetics in mind, all from women, Queer and BIPOC-owned business. Angie also developed a line of natural silk gentle restraints to encourage pleasure seekers to experiment with bondage and restraint in a way that was inclusive, accessible and decadent.Angie graduated with a Masters of Arts in Community Counseling in 2009 from the University of Minnesota. She completed an independent study with Dr. Eli Coleman at the Eli Coleman Institute for Sexual and Gender Health (Formerly the Center for Human Sexuality) and a Practicum at the The Gender and Sexuality Center for Queer and Trans Life (formerly the GLBTA Programs Office). Angie has additional experience in the sexuality and wellness space as a Sex Educator at the Annex Teen Clinic.

Angela Poch is an expert on all things Halloween, from costumes to decorations. She is an inbound marketer for HalloweenCostumes.com and a great source for costume trends, hot products, and more. She also contributes to the company blog, where she shares costume ideas, DIY content, and product recommendations. Feel free to email her if you need industry insights or Halloween product suggestions!

Angela Frank is a growth marketing consultant who has helped clients generate over $50 million in revenue through clear, effective growth marketing strategies. She’s the founder of The Growth Directive, a consultancy that helps brands build sustainable systems for long-term growth.Angela is the author of the award-winning book Your Marketing Ecosystem: How Brands Can Market Less and Sell More, which equips founders and marketing leaders with the tools to create profitable, streamlined strategies without the fluff.She also hosts The Growth Pod, a podcast packed with actionable insights to help founders build brands that scale—and last.

Andy Nguyen, Co-Founder of MTC Global and Co-Founder and CEO of Rest®, has combined his vast professional business experience as well as deep understanding of the North American consumer to help manufacturers create new online brands for the North American market and beyond.Born in Hong Kong, Nguyen moved to Vancouver, Canada at an early age. He received his Bachelors of Commerce from the University of British Columbia specializing in marketing, logistics and accounting. In 2014 Nguyen moved back to China to experience the incredible growth of the Chinese economy. He has held various positions at large companies including PwC, and co-founded his first company Halloween Craze early on in his career. For six years in Shanghai, he worked in the digital marketing industry helping international brands such as Costa Coffee, LEGO, and HK Disneyland expand their digital footprint in China. He also worked with Chinese brands like Ecovacs to enter international markets.Through Co-Founding MTC and various brands like Rest®, he aims to bring consumers and manufacturers close together to create more robust and consumer-centric products faster and more efficiently.Nguyen lives in Shanghai, China with his family and enjoys cooking, running, traveling and staying on top of the political economy and his favorite North American sports teams. He also appreciates a good DIY project and an entertaining comic.

Andrew Thomas is an accomplished marketing executive with over 15 years of experience in the CPG food and beverage industry. He is known for his strategic thinking, entrepreneurial mindset, and ability to drive profitable growth through innovative marketing and brand management. Before joining Archer, Thomas held marketing leadership roles at several top CPG companies, including VP of Marketing at Wilde Chips, VP of Marketing at Chicken of the Sea, and VP of Brand Marketing at Soylent, where he led a variety of successful marketing and product development initiatives. He also served as Director of Marketing at PepsiCo, working on key brands like KeVita, Naked Juice, and IZZE Sparkling Juice, driving growth and market expansion across these portfolios.At Archer, Thomas has spearheaded extensive research efforts to gain deeper insights into consumer segments within the meat snack category. His work has been crucial in defining the brand's target consumer and setting the stage for the launch of a distinctive, ownable brand identity.A dynamic and engaging speaker, Thomas captivates audiences with his forward-thinking approach to marketing and branding. His unique blend of practical experience and visionary insights make him invaluable for those looking to understand the future of CPG, consumer behavior, and innovative marketing strategies and who want actionable takeaways that inspire and challenge the status quo.

Andrew W Fox is an aspiring scholar and entrepreneur originally from Gastonia, North Carolina. He has pursued higher education at various prestigious institutions, including the University of Georgia, New York University, Columbia University, and Harvard University, with the goal of obtaining a degree. Andrew's entrepreneurial spirit began at a young age when he started his first business at just 13 years old, buying and selling plastic combs through the mail. While attending university, Andrew took on a new business venture, selling Karat Gold Chains to jewelry stores throughout the southeast. However, his entrepreneurial journey took an unexpected turn in 1992 when his grandparents asked him to help them for a single Christmas season in their wholesale/retail jewelry business. Despite the unexpected detour, Andrew stayed in the business for four years from 1992 until 1996, during which time he grew the business from a single showroom in Charlotte to a thriving wholesale business servicing retailers all over the eastern United States.In 1996, in a family disagreement, Andrew left and came to New York City in partnership with a global Indian diamond company, starting an importing and jewelry manufacturing business. In just 1.5 years, the business grew from zero sales to $5 million, opening relationships with numerous national and regional jewelry retailers. However, due to a massive and growing ulcer, Andrew sold his part of the company to his partner in an attempt to alleviate his stress and gain his freedom.In June of 1998, Andrew started Hansa Diamonds, a wholesale jewelry importer. Operating as a continuous start-up, Andrew kept an open mind, always adjusting the business to market forces. He moved from wholesale to 3rd party support to first party B2C, rolling with the punches and taking the best opportunity in the current market. Andrew is a known jewelry technology and ecommerce expert, having grown SuperJeweler.com from a new B2C in 1999 to a large and successful retail site with 8-figure revenue. His expertise in jewelry technology and ecommerce has been recognized by his peers in the industry, and he has been sought after as a speaker at various conferences and events.Today, Andrew is available to consult and speak on various topics, including 2023 ecommerce, end-to-end logistics, bootstrap financing, independent business growth, any jewelry topic, and the effects of Lab-Grown Diamonds on the market as a whole. He has the ability to briefly review any business entity and make simple, valuable suggestions for repair and growth. Andrew's vast experience in entrepreneurship, business management, and marketing make him a valuable resource for any business owner looking to take their venture to the next level.

My book #LivingSugarFree Revealed is available now on Amazon.#LivingSugarFree is not a diet, it is a lifestyle.I founded Better Me, Inc. in 2007 to help improved communities, businesses and lifestyles one solution at a time. Together we are the solution.

Amy Zalneraitis is the Co-founder and Chief Brand Officer of We Feed Raw, a premium raw dog food company that delivers complete and balanced meals to dogs all over the country. With an extensive background in marketing, Amy has leveraged her skills in writing and creative direction to create an unforgettable brand that sets the gold standard in the raw dog food market.We Feed Raw was originally founded by Amy's sister, Alissa, a huge dog lover and advocate for all animals. After Alissa's heartbreaking passing in 2014, Amy made it her mission to keep her sister's dream and legacy alive. Today, We Feed Raw is not only the fastest-growing DTC raw dog food company out there, it is considered the premier raw dog food delivery service--it's been rated “best in class” by Forbes, People Magazine, Popular Science, The Skimm, and other top-tier publications. Amy has worked tirelessly to maintain the brand's integrity. She remains endlessly inspired by her sister's mission to provide dogs with biologically appropriate, nutritious food, and is committed to delivering health and happiness to pets across the country.