Ryan Baltz is the Co-Founder and Client Partner of Grand Prize (www.grandprizeagency.com - Salt Lake City, UT), a full-service agency delivering cutting-edge customer experiences and digital solutions for global brands and enterprise clients. He specializes in B2B, direct sales, and consumer products, helping organizations connect with their audiences through strategic marketing and digital transformation. With over 20 years of international experience while living in France, the U.S., and Canada, Ryan has developed a global perspective on brand strategy, customer engagement, and digital innovation. He previously held leadership roles at McCann Worldgroup and Wunderman (now known as VML), two of the world's largest agency networks. He has led teams in creating award-winning campaigns for brands such as Adidas, Adobe, American Cancer Society, ASEA, AT&T, BMW, Clorox, Discovery Channel, Electrolux, GM, HP, Immunotec, LifeVantage, Microsoft, MINI, Nintendo, Nokia, Old Spice, Specialized, The North Face, and T-Mobile. His work spans technology, automotive, retail, sports, consumer goods, fashion, tourism, and direct sales. Ryan and his teams have earned numerous awards including 16 American and International Stevie Awards, recognizing excellence in marketing, brand experience, and digital innovation. Passionate about education, Ryan teaches graduate courses in digital marketing as an adjunct professor at St. John's University (New York Campus) and ISM (Paris Campus). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Utah and an MBA from the International School of Management (Paris, FR). His expertise in strategy, creative, and global branding continues to shape the future of digital marketing.

Jiwon Chong is an award-winning Visual UX Designer at Amazon, where she enhances web experiences and streamlines global recruitment for millions of users. With expertise in accessibility and human-machine interaction (HMI), she champions inclusive design across e-commerce and workforce development.

PSC-PR is a boutique public relations and marketing consultancy with deep expertise in the food, wine and spirits industries. Founder Patricia (Patti) Costantino is an accomplished marketing communications professional with proven brand-building expertise. Throughout her career, she has promoted--and protected--a diverse roster of food and beverage alcohol.

Kristina L. García has twenty years of experience in economic development, strategic planning, and marketing. She represented the German states of Berlin, Hessen and Bavaria, and Finland. She works across industries from IT to autotech. She holds a B.A. from the University of Kansas and Friedrich-Alexander Üniversität in Erlangen, Germany.

Saurav is a seasoned digital and IT leader in biotech, currently serving as VP at Genmab. With 20+ years of experience driving innovation, integration, and automation, he excels in transforming life sciences through strategic digital solutions. Saurav champions AI-driven insights and scalable platforms to deliver global scientific and operational impact.

Eric Hards is a creative leader and storyteller who turns complex ideas into impactful narratives. With 25+ years in design and communication, he currently serves as Creative Director at Lockheed Martin Space. Eric also mentors emerging creatives through teaching, inspiring others to lead with curiosity, clarity, and purpose.

Athul Jayaram, founder of SecurityInfinity, is a cybersecurity researcher and application security engineer with over eight years of experience in vulnerability assessments and penetration testing. Awarded the NCSC Challenge Medal and IET Mike Sargeant Finalist, he has been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, and The Hacker News.

Gen is a VFX Artist who has been in feature film/TV series post-production for more than ten years. His skills are in various areas of visual effects, including compositing, 3D rendering, FX simulation, and lighting in real-time game engines. Currently, he is working as a technical artist at Amazon fulfillment technologies & robotics.

Arvin Maleki, an acclaimed industrial designer, has won the A'Design Award Gold and five other medals, ranks 12th in Canada, and shapes the field with his book and mentorship.

Suresh Kumar works at Yahoo and brings a diverse background in cutting-edge technologies. He is skilled in building smart contracts, robotic systems, and data pipelines, proficient in tools like TensorFlow, Gazebo, Web3.js, and Kafka. He’s passionate about innovation, simulation, and solving real-world problems through intelligent, scalable, and future-ready technology solutions.

Madhu is co-founder and CTO of Flagright. He leads engineering and design, building the compliance & fraud prevention infrastructure for Financial Institutions. He has previously worked in various domains including data analytics and integration for pharmaceuticals and social media marketing, core cloud computing infrastructure and real time systems for logistics & fintech.

Kondala is a Senior Software Engineer at Southwest Airlines. With over 15 years of experience in IT, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, he brings deep expertise in application architecture, large-scale cloud migrations, and event-driven systems. Kondala Rao is known for designing scalable, secure, and high-performing enterprise solutions that drive innovation and operational excellence.

Kanishk Phulambrikar is an Investment Associate at Peregrine Investments. He has several years of experience in the investment management space. Previously, he has held roles at Tesla and Bridgeway Capital Management.

Jessica is an acclaimed Art Director known for crafting distinctive visual identities for renowned artists and international brands. Her portfolio includes music video productions for artists like Roy Woods and Burna Boy, as well as collaborations with major brands such as Adidas, Asics, and Hennessy. Jessica’s innovative work is showcased on global platforms.

Meet Archith, a mission-driven, hands-on engineering leader with 15+ years’ experience in software development. He's built and managed mission-critical, highly available, and large-scale distributed systems in the cloud, driving over $100M in annual revenue. Archith's passion lies in leveraging technology to solve complex problems, enhancing user experiences, and delivering robust, scalable solutions.

Noah Rowles is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and business operator with multiple successful exits across a variety of industries over his 30+ year career. A self-taught software engineer who has developed products used by tens of millions worldwide, Mr. Rowles also holds over a dozen key patents as sole or chief inventor.

Yevgeniy Samoilenko is a fintech expert with 20+ years in software development, focusing on fintech. He’s authored 100+ products registered with the European Copyright Office and serves as a judge for global competitions. Recognized by top financial institutions, IT organizations, and heads of state for his contributions.

Mark Shewmaker is an award-winning executive creative director and product design leader who has led teams at top agencies like R/GA and Organic. As an Executive Director in Experience Design, he drives user-centered solutions in financial services. A seasoned judge and committee chair, he has evaluated excellence in multiple award programs, including the Stevie Awards.

Yixuan (Sonia) Song is a UX interaction designer at Google, specializing in SaaS and enterprise solutions. With a background in psychology and design, she has worked on cloud computing, migration, and modernization projects. She has received multiple design awards and has experience in UX research, visual design, and product strategy.

Katerina Yukhnova is an award-winning product designer and UX strategist based in San Francisco. As an Executive Director / Product Design Sr. Lead at Wells Fargo, she drives digital banking innovation, enhancing financial accessibility and user engagement. Her work has earned prestigious international design awards, shaping global digital experiences.

Tricia Elizabeth Ulberg is a digital marketing expert, designer, and entrepreneur specializing in website design and branding. As the co-founder and Creative Director of We Rock DM, she crafts data-driven marketing strategies that elevate businesses. A Stevie Awards finalist, she’s passionate about creating impactful digital experiences and strategic storytelling.

Junru (Jennie) Xu stands out as an exceptional award-winning product designer and UX lead, boasting eight years of rich experience in product design, user experience, and human-computer interaction. She currently serves as a Senior Product Designer at DIRECTV in Seattle.