Experts

Meghan’s love affair with clean skincare began in the woods as a child. Creating potions was always a source of connection for her leading to courses of study in skincare formulations, Deeply rooted in the wellness world as a massage therapist and yoga teacher, Meghan found herself connecting most to classes centered around the divine feminine and the power of collective energy. Thus formed her desire to draw from the natural world to create potent and efficacious products designed to celebrate the feminine, honor the beauty of aging, and the energetic connection between us all.

Megan Hicks is the Founder and CEO of the DSP Alliance, where she champions innovation and excellence in the delivery industry. With over 12 years of experience in business development, Megan has built her career on fostering partnerships, optimizing operations, and driving growth for delivery service providers and the businesses they serve.Before founding the DSP Alliance, Megan co-founded Texas ToGo, a restaurant delivery service she grew to over $20 million in annual sales. She has managed relationships with hundreds of restaurants, overseen technical integrations, and successfully positioned the company for acquisition. Today, she leverages this expertise to empower regional DSPs (delivery service providers) through technology, training, and advocacy.Megan also has a heart for her community. As the founder of The Texas Lunchbox, a nonprofit dedicated to eradicating student lunch debt, she’s an advocate for childhood food security. Her experience spans marketing, technical partnerships, and legislative advocacy—skills she brings to her leadership at the DSP Alliance.When she’s not transforming the delivery industry, Megan can be found enjoying nature with her three daughters or managing creative projects like screenwriting and nonprofit events. She’s a dynamic professional with a passion for building better systems, communities, and opportunities for all.

Meaghan Clawsie - Travel ExpertHi! I’m Meaghan, a luxury travel advisor and founder of Elated Escapes Travel, where I design bespoke journeys that go far beyond the typical itinerary. For the past seven years, I’ve been helping families, couples, and groups discover the kind of trips that stay with them for a lifetime, whether that’s a safari in South Africa, a sailing trip in the Mediterranean, or a food tour of Italy.I’ve been quoted in numerous publications (such as Travel & Leisure, CNN, the NYT, USA Today Travel, etc) as a travel expert.From Silicon Valley to the WorldBefore founding my travel agency, I spent many years in Silicon Valley during the industry's explosive growth. I worked at multiple startups, and living through that era gave me both an appreciation for innovation and a front-row seat to how technology revolutionized the way we discover, book, and share travel experiences.Over time, though, I realized my greatest passion isn’t building businesses, it’s building experiences. Travel has always been my way of connecting more deeply with the world, and I wanted to help others do the same. In 2018, I launched Elated Escapes Travel, and since then I’ve curated and planned trips for hundreds of clients through countless countries, with a focus on immersive, meaningful, and luxury travel.Travel as TransformationI’ve visited over 50 countries myself, across six continents (I still need to get to Antarctica!), and I approach every trip as a chance to experience a place from the inside out. For me, that has meant experiences like:Learning to make fresh pasta at the Pope’s summer palace using ingredients from his on-site farm (Holy cow!)Gorilla trekking in Rwanda and nearly getting charged by a male gorillaCanoeing down crystal-clear Slovenian rivers that feel almost otherworldly (while singing and drinking champagne out of plastic flutes)Peeing my pants on an out-of-control toboggan ride in AustriaTaking part in a communal meal with a Thai family after a pad-Thai cooking class in their homeEmbarking on safaris in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Namibia (can you tell I'm obsessed with safaris?!)And so much more.These aren’t just “vacation highlights,” they’re stories, and they’re the reason I believe travel is as much about transformation as it is about escape.Current ProjectsThe Amazing Place (Substack): My newsletter that combines sharp, personal travel essays with expert insights.The Travel Awards No One Asked For (blog series): A lighthearted but deeply immersive look at destinations I’ve personally explored, framed through unique “awards” (Best Markets: Barcelona; Most Surprising Country: Rwanda; Best Cooking Class: Thailand).Luxury Travel Confidential (book in development): A behind-the-scenes look at the modern travel industry, inspired by the sharp, candid tone of Kitchen Confidential. My aim is to reveal what really happens inside luxury travel, and so far it’s equal parts funny, honest, and revealing.My LifeI’m currently based in Austin, Texas (though my hometown of Alexandria, Virginia is calling me back), and when I’m not writing or planning trips, I’m usually toggling between three pairs of glasses (reading, distance, and computer), wrangling my lovable brindle dog Bear, or coaxing my boy-girl twins into traveling with me (next stop: Japan!).For me, travel is my throughline: it’s how I connect, how I create, and how I help others see the world with new eyes.Let’s connect here on Press Hook, or you can find my latest work at The Amazing Place.

Maureen is the Chief People Officer at Saatva, the Smarter Luxury Sleep Company. She is a Human Resources Executive with progressive experience leading teams to deliver great results. Maureen has a deep understanding of the dynamic, changing workforce and is skilled in developing, protecting, and retaining top talent. She aligns business strategies with strategic talent development and organizational design. Maureen builds strong relationships based on credibility, respect, and is able to present alternative points of view to ensure a balanced application of policy and practice.

Matt Rollens is the Founder and CEO of Dragon Glassware, a Sacramento-based boutique and luxury glassware company offering a variety of modern and unique barware and drinkware for the home and kitchen.In 2016, Rollens received a glass tea bottle from Amazon that left him disappointed with its quality, so he decided to make a better one himself. Come 2017, the former exec at a small ad agency embarked on a glass constructing journey and never looked back. Rollens identified a need in the specialty drinkware market, concluding there was a gap in barware embodying bold, modern designs. Inspired by Jeff Bezos, Founder, and CEO of Amazon, Rollens also honed in on the customer experience to understand his consumers and create the best possible products and experiences. Fusing his graphic design expertise and consumer focus, Dragon Glassware, a leader in the barware industry, was born.

Mat Fraser is a Canadian-American CrossFit athlete and one of the most dominant figures in the sport's history. He claimed victory at the CrossFit Games five consecutive times, from 2016 to 2020, setting a new benchmark for athletic excellence. In addition to co-founding while on earth alongside industry veteran Todd Meleney and fellow CrossFit legend Brooke Wells, Mathew founded the HWPO (“Hard Work Pays Off”) training platform in 2021 to share his high-performance programming. He also co-founded Podium Nutrition as part of his efforts to support competitive athletes.

Martine Lund Nielsen is the Chief Marketing Officer of Ella’s Flats, where she leads all brand, digital, and go-to-market efforts for the clean, all-seed cracker company. Martine brings deep expertise in marketing, digital strategy, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer (DTC) growth, with a career spanning a variety of globally recognized brands. Originally from Norway, Martine has a personal connection to the product—Ella’s Flats are a nod to traditional Norwegian all-seed crackers, a staple she grew up enjoying. This cultural resonance fuels her passion for the brand and its mission to offer nutritious, clean-label snacks to health-conscious consumers. At Ella’s Flats, she is driving the company’s next chapter of growth, focused on expanding reach and deepening customer engagement nationwide.

Marty Ehrlich is the Senior Vice President of Customer Experience at Saatva. He has been in the home furnishings industry since 1987, starting as a part-time salesperson before rising through the ranks of showroom and territory management. In 1996, Marty began specializing in the customer service and quality control areas of the business. He has been involved in product development with both domestic and overseas factories. In 2015, Martin took advantage of an exciting opportunity to join Saatva.

In 2018, Martha founded her company, Storied Goods, makers of infused Sugar Cubes for cocktails, coffee, and tea. In 2019, Storied Goods won a Best of Virginia for the Rose Petal Sugar Cube for Champagne and in 2020, was a finalist in the Garden & Gun Best of the South Awards. Storied Goods Cubes are now found in major retailers and small boutiques across the country.Martha Bourlakas is a former instructor for police officers, traffic safety school participants, middle schoolers, high schoolers, and college students. Receiving her MFA in 2012, she published two books, Love Feast: Together at the Table, and Our One Word: Creating Spiritual Joy and Depth. Pre-Pandemic, she led Our One Word spiritual retreats for women across the county. Martha is wife, mother to three daughters, the oldest of whom has autism, and resides with her husband and two dogs in the mountains of Virginia.

Recognized by AdAge Magazine as one of the world’s leading “Marketing Technology Trailblazers” in 2017 and a #1 Best-Selling Selling Author on B2B Marketing and Sales, Mark Osborne brings decades of experience creating Revenue Growth Systems for Early Stage SaaS, Tech, and B2B Services Firms. Mark has delivered tens of millions of dollars in revenue for his clients often doubling revenues and pipeline in 90 days through his focus on building Revenue Systems that emphasize strategic approaches to revenue growth.  He is founder of Modern Revenue Strategies offering a "10X ROI B2B Growth Guarantee."

Mark Menning, PhD is a pharmaceutical scientist and the founder of MARK Los Angeles, a California-based skincare brand pioneering the use of flavonoids and advanced transdermal delivery to address cold sores, acne, and inflammation. With a PhD in Chemical Engineering and a track record that includes formulating FDA-approved antiviral therapies like Truvada and Atripla, Mark brings a rare blend of clinical expertise and entrepreneurial vision to the beauty and wellness space.His first venture, Nucleo Life Sciences, provided laboratory services focused on translational pharmaceutics and novel delivery systems, supporting clinical-stage programs for small, mid-sized, and large pharmaceutical companies. At the core of the brand is XDF™ (Transdermal Flavosomes), a proprietary system designed to solve the long-standing bioavailability issues of flavonoids by enabling them to penetrate the skin effectively.This technology drives a growing portfolio of performance-first products, including the Lip Rescue Serum and Lip Health Balm—a new standard in cold sore care—as well as the E.Q. Clear Skin collection, a clinically tested line formulated with flavonoids to calm inflammation and visibly improve blemish-prone skin.Mark is committed to bridging science and skincare, translating plant compounds into clinically validated actives with real-world efficacy and pharmaceutical-grade precision.

Marisa King is a seasoned marketing strategist, hospitality innovator, and motivational speaker with over 25 years of experience in the industry. As a trailblazer in the marketing world, Marisa has worked with some of the most influential brands, driving impactful strategies that blend creativity, data-driven insights, and consumer psychology to deliver exceptional results.As the author of "WTF is Happy?", Marisa brings a unique perspective to the discussion of happiness, mental well-being, and personal fulfillment. Her book challenges conventional ideas about what it means to be happy, combining humor, research, and real-world insights to inspire readers to redefine happiness on their own terms.Throughout her career, Marisa has been at the forefront of hospitality innovation, creating memorable experiences that engage and elevate customer satisfaction. Her work has earned her a reputation as a leader in the hospitality industry, known for her forward-thinking approach to guest experiences and her ability to transform concepts into successful, lasting brands.Beyond her professional achievements, Marisa is a passionate motivational speaker who shares her expertise and insights on everything from marketing and branding to mental health and personal growth. With her dynamic, engaging style, Marisa empowers audiences to challenge the status quo, embrace their potential, and live more authentic, fulfilling lives.Whether she’s crafting marketing campaigns, innovating in hospitality, or inspiring others with her message of empowerment, Marisa King is a force for positive change and a voice of wisdom for those seeking both personal and professional transformation.