MISS NEVADA 2014 + FORBES BUSINESS WRITER + TV HOST

Lisa Song Sutton, J.D., is a serial entrepreneur, holding ownership interests in several companies in the tech, retail and food & beverage industries. Lisa was recently named a 2017 Top 10 Social Entrepreneur to Watch by Inc. Magazine and was a nominee in the 2016 Las Vegas Women in Tech Awards. Lisa's work writing about entrepreneurship and business has been featured in Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Fast Company and other business publications.  Lisa is actively involved in her community as a former Miss Las Vegas (2013), Miss Nevada (2014) and serves on the executive board of the Asian Community Development Council.

FOUNDER AND CEO, GRUNT STYLE APPAREL

To accommodate his family and his fellow veterans, Alarik, a former Army drill sergeant, came up with a unique idea that eventually became Grunt Style, a military-themed clothing and apparel company of which 75 percent of employees are veterans. In addition to providing a place where veterans can work together, Alarik also operates Grunt Style much the way a military infantry unit is run, with headquarters, sergeants and platoons.. www.gruntstyle.com

FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF ASSEMBLE + CO-FOUNDER OF I MADE IT! MARKET

Nina's passion for art, new media and social learning led her to found Assemble, a community space for arts + technology, in 2011. On her own, Nina works in a variety of media including architecture, film, sound, and installation and often explores the idea of recycling noise into a system or elevating the vernacular to the spectacular. Nina co-founded I Made It! Market in 2007. An idea based on urban acupuncture, this nomadic market partners with community, arts and non-profit organizations to raise funds and awareness to assist in improving their communities while allowing local artists and crafters to sell their wares.

EMMY AWARD WINNER, CEO, YA MOMZ HOUSE

Emmai Alaquiva, is an Emmy Award-winning film director, composer and mentor. Once homeless, today, Alaquiva is the CEO of Ya Momz House, Inc., an award-winning multimedia company, director for CBS Sports Network’s Daytime Emmy-nominated TVShow “Game Changers,” as well as founder of the award-winning arts education program; Hip-Hop On L.O.C.K. This five-time Telly Award-winner has been recognized as Pittsburgh Magazine’s “40 under 40”, The New Pittsburgh Courier’s “FAB 40”, WHIRL Magazines “50 Finest." Alaquiva was recently awarded as a 2016 national BMe Community Leader and recognized by President Barack Obama.

CHIEF SOFTWARE ARCHITECT, COMCAST

Jon Moore is the Chief Software Architect at Comcast Cable, where he focuses on delivering a core set of scalable, performant, robust software components for the company's varied software product development groups. He specializes in the "art of the possible," finding ways to coordinate working solutions for complex problems and deliver them on time (even in large enterprises). A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, Jon received his Ph.D. in Computer and Information Science from the University of Pennsylvania

POET + SPIRITUAL MOTIVATOR + PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER

Jamin Olivencia is an American professional wrestler, actor, poet and spiritual motivator. Currently working for Global Force Wrestling, he is a former OVW Heavyweight Champion, and WWE television personality. Jamin performed stuntwork in the Dukes of Hazzard film, and, as an actor, appeared in The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity at the Actor's Theatre of Louisville. Jamin performs his poetry and motivational speaking all around the USA.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR + SOCIAL ENREPRENEUR + DESIGNER

Ben specializes in sustainable design and brand building. After graduating in Industrial Design in the UK he launched his first startup designing products with a net positive carbon footprint. Since then he's launched a green energy comparison website, consulted for cleantech, edtech, and social enterprises. While Executive Producer at Sustainable Brands he launched a startup competition searching for the next generation of sustainable businesses with ideas big enough to change the world, that's where he met Thread.

VP, DESIGN, SCHELL GAMES + LEADER IN THE CONSOLE GAME INDUSTRY

Harley Baldwin has been a designer and leader in the AAA console game industry at notable game studios, including 2K, Nihilistic Software, Demiurge, Crystal Dynamics, LucasArts, and Her Interactive. She has worked on many titles and in many genres, from Rock Band and Tomb Raider to Call of Duty and XCOM.

At Schell Games, Harley draws on her formidable experience to mentor, manage, cultivate design culture, and collaborate freely with clients and staff to envision exciting, pioneering experiences for players or guests. With each unique project in mind, she understands and deploys the amazing and diverse skills and talents of Schell Games’ designers. 

PARTNER + CHEIF DIGITAL OFFICER, BRUNNER

As an early entrant within the Interactive Marketing field Rick has helped industry leaders -- companies like Liberty Mutual, GlaxoSmithKline, and SEI Investments -- leverage digital technologies to improve their business results. For the past 18 years, he has led BRUNNER’s digital practice and has helped to position BRUNNER as a top independent technology, creative and analytics driven firm.  Five years ago, Rick spearheaded the launch of BRUNNER’s innovation lab, BHiveLab.  Focused on helping companies invent new ways to leverage next-generation technology, BHiveLab has matured to one of the top agency innovation labs in the country.

CEO, PITTSBURGH CENTER FOR THE ARTS / PITTSBURGH FILMMAKERS

Germaine is chief executive officer of Pittsburgh Filmmakers/Pittsburgh Center for the Arts  (PF/PCA).  Prior to working at PF/PCA, Germaine served as senior program officer for arts and culture at The Pittsburgh Foundation, where he managed a grants portfolio that included support for individual artists. Before moving to Pittsburgh, Germaine was the program associate for the Rockefeller Foundation's Media Arts Fellowship program in New York City. A native of Chicago, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and received his doctorate degree in Social and Cultural History from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS PROGRAMS, DETROIT CREATIVE CORRIDOR CENTER

As Director of Business Programs, Bonnie Fahoome is charged with leading Detroit Creative Corridor Center’s (DC3) efforts to directly support the creative business community with services aimed at business growth. This includes existing programs like Creative Co, Creative Co Services Fund, and the Client Services Bootcamp. Fahoome has spent over eight years serving the entrepreneurs and small businesses of Detroit. Fahoome played a leadership role in the founding committee for the Detroit BizGrid, which serves to connect Detroit’s robust entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

DEAN, WILKINSON COLLEGE OF ARTS, CHAMPMAN UNIVERSITY

Patrick is a graduate of Murdoch University, Australia, with a BA (Hons), MPhil and Phd in Comparative Literature. He has held posts at the University of London (Royal Holloway College), Sussex University, and the University of Newcastle (Australia). He is the author of eight books and has been translated into Chinese, Italian, French, and Korean. In his current position, he collaborates with the European Union to levitate an international Creative Industries Network and Residency Program.

ENTREPRENEUR, EYEFLOW

As an entrepreneur, Phil started his first company in his parent’s basement in 2001. Now, alongside his handpicked team of industry experts, Eyeflow provides hundreds of clients with consulting and digital marketing services that help their business stand up and be heard by audiences both on and off the web.  As an avid investor into tech start ups, Phil  is involved in the day to day operation for several rapid growing companies such as into the Young Entrepreneurial Council (YEC), WUDN, Visibl, YAERD Group, and Tres Bonitas Holdings).

ARTIST + ILLUSTRATOR

Ashley's love affair with all things organic and wild blossomed as the result of studying landscapes with accomplished master painters in London while earning her master's degree at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art, immersing herself in vast collections of floral textile prints in European museums, painting from live observation at institutions including the National Aviary, collaborating with top-notch floral designers, and serving as an artist-in-residence at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Learn more at www.ashleycecil.com.

VICE PRESIDENT, PLANNING & STRATEGY, COMCAST CABLE

Michael Soileau brings more than 20 years of cable and telecommunications experience to his position as Vice President of Planning and Strategy for Communications, Data, and WiFi products at Comcast. In this role, he is responsible for the planning and design of initiatives for deploying Comcast technology to deliver innovative solutions in Comcast markets. He is also responsible for understanding the company’s competitive market pressures and developing strategic plans to navigate this landscape. Michael manages industry research, developments and needs from new and emerging providers and for future products that are yet to be publicly available.
 

CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Matt Webb holds a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University. He has worked for the Carnegie Museum of Natural History for three years and is currently serving as an Urban Bird Conservation Coordinator. His work includes overseeing BirdSafe Pittsburgh, a partnership of eight local conservation organizations that work collaboratively to research and reduce human-induced bird mortality in the Steel City.