Donald Miller, Keynote Speaker

HOW TO BUILD A STORYBRAND | AYERS 4TH FLOOR, 10AM
*First 200 attendees will recieve a free copy of his new book, How to Build a StoryBrand 2.0*
Donald "Don" Miller is an American author, public speaker, and business owner. He is the CEO of StoryBrand, a marketing company, as well as Business Made Simple, and Coach Builder. A favorite speaker at every event he headlines, he is the author of ten books including Building a StoryBrand 2.0, Marketing Made Simple, and How to Grow Your Small Business. Collectively, his books have spent more than a year on the NYT Bestsellers list.

Matt Jernigan, CEO of Ascend Federal Credit Union

FROM CLASSROOM TO C-SUITE: REAL-WORLD LEADERSHIP LESSONS | 11AM BREAKOUT SESSION
Matt Jernigan is the President and CEO of Ascend Federal Credit Union, bringing more than 20 years of leadership and financial expertise to the credit union industry. Since joining Ascend in 2005, he has guided major initiatives that expanded the credit union’s technology, service delivery, and financial well‑being programs for its 250,000 members. A Certified Public Accountant and committed community leader, Matt serves on several regional boards and actively supports the credit union movement at state and national levels. He is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and the CEO Connect Executive Learning Program at Lipscomb University.

Dr. Randy V. Bradley, Dean of The Massey College of Business

WHO YOU ARE IS HOW YOU LEAD: UNLEASHING AUTHENTIC INFLUENCE | 1:15 BREAKOUT SESSION
Dr. Randy V. Bradley is Dean of the Jack C. Massey College of Business at Belmont University and a globally recognized expert in digital transformation, supply chain strategy and emerging technologies. A seasoned scholar‑practitioner with more than 25 years of industry experience, he has authored over 100 publications and advises organizations worldwide across healthcare, life sciences and beyond. He is also an award‑winning speaker, entrepreneur and executive leader serving on multiple national and international boards. 

Dr. Jill Robinson, Assistant Dean

POWER MOVES & REAL CONNECTION: AN INTERACTIVE NETWORKING EXPERIENCE | 11:00 BREAKOUT SESSION
Jill is the Assistant Dean of External Relations and Strategic Partnerships at Belmont University’s Jack C. Massey College of Business, where she leads strategic initiatives, community engagement, and career and alumni programs after a career spanning nonprofit leadership, executive education, and university administration. A two‑time award‑winning Samford alumna with an M.A. in Organizational Management and an M.B.A., she is also an executive coach and abstract artist recognized with honors including NBJ’s 40 Under 40, Women of Influence, and the Diane Hayes Legacy of Leadership Award. She brings a deep commitment to developing leaders and strengthening community through her work.

Tosha Price, Business Development Manager at Ascend Federal Credit Union

PERSONAL FINANCE FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS | 1:15 BREAKOUT SESSION
Tosha Price is the Business Development Manager at Ascend Federal Credit Union, where she has dedicated over 11 years to building strategic partnerships and advancing financial literacy programs for local high schools, universities, and community organizations. An active leader in Middle Tennessee, Tosha serves on several boards and committees, including the State Rehabilitation Council, RUTHERFORD Cable, and the MTSU Alumni Association. Recognized for her commitment to professional and community growth, Tosha has received honors such as the Rutherford Cable Rising Star Award (2017), Murfreesboro Young Professionals Member of the Year (2022), MTSU Jones College of Business Exemplar Award (2024), and the Rutherford Athena Young Professional Award (2025). Tosha holds a BBA with a minor in Accounting from MTSU and resides in Murfreesboro with her family.

Erin Taylor, CAT Financial

COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO POWER YOUR CAREER | 1:15 BREAKOUT SESSION
Erin Taylor is a communications leader with 20+ years of experience in corporate communications, marketing and editorial. As the manager of division communications for Cat Financial, she leads a team of communicators and creatives in informing and engaging employees through a variety of channels. She loves coaching leaders to be more effective communicators and the opportunity to work with colleagues around the world. Erin holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She enjoys writing and exercising the creative side of her brain. Outside of work she can be found at the ballfield, the basketball court or a dance performance cheering on her two children.

Ashley Ledrick, CAT Financial

COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO POWER YOUR CAREER | 1:15 BREAKOUT SESSION
Ashley Ledrick is a communications specialist at Cat Financial, overseeing the North and Latin America regions, Digital and Data teams and employee experience communications based around Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). Her role focuses on taking strategic initiatives and turning them into engaging communications to keep employees informed. Her favorite part of her job is getting to highlight stories and company-specific events or perks that improve the overall employee experience of her colleagues.

Ashley holds a bachelor’s in communications from the southeast campus of Indiana University, where she became the first individual in her family to graduate college. She also served in various leadership positions throughout her collegiate time in the Alpha Phi sorority (Zeta Epsilon chapter). In her free time, Ashley is cheering on Nashville Soccer Club, highlighting Nashville restaurants through her status as a Yelp Elite, planning her April 2026 wedding and most recently has tried to start learning to play golf.

Clark Buckner, Co-founder of Relationary Marketing & Adjunct Instructor

HOST OF: YOUR STORYBRAND QUESTIONS ANSWERED: Q&A WITH DONALD MILLER | 11AM BREAKOUT SESSION
Clark Buckner is a founding partner of the award-winning podcast production agency, Relationary Marketing. The company serves clients across North America, producing branded podcasts for organizations across industries such as healthcare, technology, and consumer goods.Clark is also an active part of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, having served on staff at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center for nine years and leading the Nashville Podcasters meetup since 2016. He is an Adjunct Instructor at Belmont University, where he teaches Podcasting and remains closely involved with the university community.
Reed Covington, Business Development Manager at Glean
WILL AI TAKE MY JOB (THAT I DON'T EVEN HAVE YET)? | 2:15 BREAKOUT SESSION
Reed Covington is a Business Development Manager at Glean, the leading Work AI platform that connects all your company’s data, enabling everyone to find answers, generate content, and automate work with AI.
Reed graduated from Belmont University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing in 2020. He has experience in sales, technology, sales management,  relationship building, and negotiation. His interests include consumer and business technologies.
Allison Lacy, Sales Enablement Associate at Glean
WILL AI TAKE MY JOB (THAT I DON'T EVEN HAVE YET)? | 2:15 BREAKOUT SESSION
BIO COMING SOON!
Thor Wasbotten, Executive Director
BUILDING YOUR MORAL MUSCLE THROUGH ETHICAL INTELLIGENCE | 2:15 BREAKOUT SESSION 
Thor Wasbotten is the executive director of the Edward C. Kennedy Center for Business Ethics at Belmont University, where he leads the Center’s strategic vision, operations, and programming while also serving as a professor of practice and special assistant to the provost. He previously spent six years as managing director of the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University and has more than two decades of leadership experience in higher education, along with a decade in media and entrepreneurial ventures. His career includes key academic and administrative roles at Kent State and Penn State, as well as industry leadership positions in television news and qualitative research. 

Laura Witt, Assistant Vice President at Parallon

THE POWER OF PROFESSIONAL PRESENCE | 1:15 BREAKOUT SESSION
Laura Witt is the Assistant Vice President of Leadership Development at Parallon, where she brings over 20 years of experience in Learning and Development. With a passion for cultivating talent and driving organizational growth, Laura has led initiatives that empower leaders at all levels. She holds a dual bachelor's degree in English and Theater from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, blending creativity and communication to inspire impactful learning experiences. Laura currently heads the Leadership Engagement and Development (LEAD) Program at Parallon. LEAD hires students right out of undergraduate and graduate programs as full-time, permanent employees into a rotational Leadership Development Program. 85% of those who currently work at Parallon who have been through this program are leaders today.
 

Ed Magee, COO-Frist College of Medicine

INTENTIONAL NETWORKING: MOVING FROM THE NETWORK YOU HAVE TO THE NETWORK YOU NEED | 1:15 BREAKOUT SESSION
Ed Magee is a seasoned C-Suite executive, combat veteran, and distinguished board leader with a strong track record in global supply chain management, operations leadership, and strategic planning. He holds advanced degrees from Duke University, George Mason University, and the U.S. Naval Academy, underscoring his commitment to continuous learning and leadership excellence. Ed has held pivotal roles at globally recognized brands, including Harley-Davidson, ABB, and Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, where he drove innovation and operational efficiency. 

Brian Lowenthal, Managing Partner at Mindset 4 Success

TED LASSO LEADERSHIP LESSONS | 2:15 BREAKOUT SESSION
Brian Lowenthal is the founder and Managing Partner of Mindset 4 Success, bringing more than three decades of experience as an executive coach, advisor, entrepreneur, and educator. A former collegiate basketball player, he has dedicated his life to helping people succeed—and enjoy the process—while consistently giving back to youth through coaching, teaching, and leadership development. His career includes senior leadership roles in human resources, culture shaping, and organizational development for Fortune 100 companies and global consulting firms. An internationally recognized speaker and author, Brian holds an MBA and has taught at the university level.

Damian Seltzer, CEO & CFO at 5FT View Consulting

AI & THE FUTURE OF WORK: HOW TO BECOME IRREPLACEABLE | 1:15 BREAKOUT SESSION
BIO COMING SOON!

Terri Hudson, VP HR Strategy & Operational Excellence at Ardent Health Services

YOUR PERSONAL BRAND STARTS WITH HELLO: AN INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP | 11:00AM BREAKOUT SESSION
BIO COMING SOON!

Dr. Mark Schenkel

ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET | 1:15 BREAKOUT SESSION
Dr. Mark Schenkel is a Professor of Entrepreneurship at Belmont University, where he has taught since 2005 and built on a career that includes leadership roles in several family-owned firms. His research explores entrepreneurial cognition and strategic decision-making, with publications in leading journals such as Academy of Management Review and Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice. A past president of USASBE and a Justin G. Longenecker Fellow, he also serves on multiple editorial boards and national committees. Schenkel is deeply engaged in mentoring students and advising entrepreneurial ventures both on campus and throughout the Nashville community.