The 2025 Education Team

Kelly Mortimer is one of the world's leading voices when it comes to wedding industry training, sales & revenue. Having personally worked at and led teams for global brands such as Claridge's in Mayfair, opening the 5* Rosewood London and Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. Dealing with celebrities, royalty and even the late Queen Elizabeth. Learning her craft on the ground at resorts in the Caribbean, selling 6 weddings per week before moving into the ultra luxury end of the market in London.

She fully understands all levels, price points and angles of this unique industry. Later increasing revenue by £Multi-Millions across a portfolio of 45 hotels and leading 50 wedding coordinators before starting her company in 2017.

Now a well known speaker, trainer & consultant for wedding businesses globally.

Selling today can feel like a mysterious game where the goalposts are constantly changing. It's time to learn a new way of selling.

Learn practical and logical steps to increase sales when dealing with today's modern wedding couples. Buying patterns have changed dramatically and businesses who keep up are the ones thriving in today's market.

Kelly will teach you:

• How to uncover the new buying patterns of today's couples.

• Clear sales steps that work.

• Revenue-generating actions.

• How to stop leaving money on the table.

• How to save time and avoid burnout while increasing sales.

Dana Kadwell has over 18 years of experience in the event industry and is the co-founder of Hustle + Gather, C&D Events, and The Bradford in the Raleigh, NC area. She built her company alongside her sister, Courtney Hopper – and yes, it is as messy as you think. However, it is never bigger than what a good Dirty Martini and solid therapy can’t fix. Hustle + Gather is a training and consulting firm specializing in the hospitality industry. She is passionate about educating people on how to create a full life in what we all know can be a soul sucking industry. She helps to inspire other business owners to take big leaps, dream big, and create flourishing teams - all while having amazing culture that grows profits and a life free of burnout.

In the world of weddings, where every detail matters and expectations are sky-high, operational efficiency is paramount. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) can serve as the cornerstone of your business, providing the structure needed to streamline and optimize every aspect of your operations. By implementing effective SOPs, you can move further and faster, transforming chaos into cohesion.

Dana will teach you:

• How to recognize the critical role of SOPs in enhancing business efficiency.

• How to tailor SOPs to your wedding business for optimal results.

• How to achieve consistency and uniformity, ensuring an exceptional client experience every time.

• How to utilize SOPs as powerful training tools to empower your team, freeing you to focus on strategic growth.

• How to write an effective SOP that creates buy-in from employees
  

Anthony Lambatos grew up in the catering business working for his father - the founder of Footers Catering - in Denver, Colorado. Anthony and his wife, April, purchased the business in 2010 and successfully made the transition to a second-generation family business. With a focus on creating a great place to work, revenue has quadrupled since the purchase of the business.    In 2021 they moved Footers Catering into a new facility that houses a 20,000 square foot event center called Social Capitol. In 2019 the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce named Footers Catering “Small Business of the Year”. Footers Catering has also been recognized as one of the best places to work in Colorado by the Denver Post, The Denver Business Journal, and Colorado Biz Magazine.  As a nationally sought-after speaker within the hospitality industry, Anthony is passionate about helping businesses create a culture that allows their organizations and teams to thrive. Anthony and April also have a sister company called “MIBE” - an acronym for “Make It Better Everyday”. MIBE focuses on education on heart leadership and intentional culture building for the hospitality industry.

In this session, you will learn seven key metrics you should be tracking concerning financial health, cost metrics, sales tracking, and more. Known for his fun company culture at Footers Catering, Anthony will keep you on your toes by bringing fun and humor to an otherwise dry topic. Anthony will discuss the role these metrics play in creating a great workplace. This class is designed to help you understand how to look at your business and make smart decisions for future growth and success.

Anthony will teach you:

• Seven numbers business owners should be measuring on a consistent basis.

• Why it's critical to measure numbers on a trailing 12 basis

• How to convert numbers to trailing 12

• How to calculate a breakeven point

• The impact these metrics have on decision-making

Nadia Durán is a globally renowned event planner and designer celebrated for her ability to blend creativity with a profound passion for transforming events into personalized and unforgettable experiences. With 18 years of expertise, she has curated and executed destination weddings and events in over 40 countries. In 2019, she was named “Designer of the Decade” by the Australian Bridal Industry Academy, underscoring her remarkable impact on the wedding industry. Recently, Nadia’s legacy was further honored with the creation of the ‘Nadia Duran’ Spray Rose, a beautiful bloom that symbolizes her influence in the world of weddings and the light and love she brings to every celebration. As a keynote speaker, Nadia captivates audiences around the globe, sharing her inspiring journey of resilience, creativity, and professional growth. She empowers others to break boundaries and pursue their passions, solidifying her status as a leading voice in the industry.

This talk dives into the power of conscious decision-making as a means to reclaim control over one's life. It emphasizes the importance of embracing imperfections, letting go of the need for control, and making intentional choices that shape our personal narratives. Through her own journey of loss, surrender, and empowerment, Nadia inspires others to find strength in their choices and redefine what it means to live authentically.

Nadia will teach you:

• The Power of Conscious Choice: Learn how every decision, no matter how small, holds the potential to transform your life and reclaim control over your personal journey.

• Embrace Imperfections: Understand that embracing your flaws and imperfections can be a source of strength, allowing you to let go of unrealistic expectations and find freedom in authenticity.

• Letting Go of Control: Discover the liberating impact of surrendering control over the things you cannot change, and how this shift can open up new opportunities for personal growth.

• Creating Your Narrative: Gain insights into how intentional choices shape your story, empowering you to rewrite your narrative and live a life aligned with your true values and desires.

• Finding Strength in Vulnerability: Recognize that vulnerability and surrender are not signs of weakness but are powerful acts of courage that lead to deeper self-awareness and resilience.

Adrienna McDermott is the founder and CEO of Ava And The Bee, a marketing agency exclusively for wedding pros that builds connections with dream couples through inclusive, results-driven marketing, copywriting, branding, and website design. As a former bridal boutique owner, wedding planner, and florist, she intimately understands vendors' challenges when standing out against the competition. With a unique blend of real-world experience and a signature step-by-step process that is always backed with data, Adrienna knows how to simplify marketing so that wedding pros can confidently grow and scale their business.

Gone are the days of easy referrals and blind bookings—today's couples are taking control, diving deep into online reviews, websites, and social media to vet every vendor. Through real-world case studies and engaging data, you will learn how to navigate this anti-trust era with actionable strategies to build credibility and adapt to today’s changing buying behaviors.

Adrienna will teach you:

• What the generational shift really means for the wedding industry, and how to adapt your marketing to meet their needs.

• Where couples are doing their digital vetting.

• How to built trust and credibility in an anti-trust era.

• The critical (and subconscious!) questions couples are asking when they research vendors, and how to effectively answer them throughout your online presence.

• Real-world examples and case studies that demonstrate how to adapt your digital presence for today’s discerning couples, so you stay ahead of evolving trends.

David has been working with small businesses for over 20 years. He’s helped them grow, he’s helped entrepreneurs buy and sell them, he’s helped people finance them. David is the author of 8 books about small business transactions and local investing. He’s the host of a YouTube channel with hundreds of videos about buying, selling, financing and managing SMBs and can be found anytime at his blog site www.DavidCBarnett.com

Why would you buy a business? Chances are, if you already own one, your hands are quite full. Let’s explore how business ownership can help with expansion, scaling, wealth-building and diversification.

We’re excited to learn the following from David:

• If growing via acquisition makes sense.

• Why buying might be a faster way to grow.

• How these deals are really done.

• How people finance small business acquisitions.

• How to spot danger and avoid wasting your time and focus.

Amanda started out as an architect in corporate interiors, took a step into entrepreneurialism to start Spilled Ink Press with her husband Tony, in 2008 when half of the Chicago architecture profession was being laid off. A successful wedding invitation line and a contract with Recycled Paper Greetings led the way to many happy couples, clients, and greeting card aficionados that appreciated a snarky sense of humor. In 2019 she took a step back from weddings and started to focus on small business branding. In 2020 (another fun time to be starting something new), Amanda partnered with Cushing (a historic blueprint company in Chicago that was rapidly evolving into large format architectural graphics printing) and started their in house design and branding division, Sepia Studio. This winding path led her to an inevitable and very natural intersection between architectural design and environmental graphic design and printing. Amanda thinks like an architect and designs like a graphic designer, with a touch of knowing how to handle anxious clients.

Kimberly Rhodes is the Digital Content Producer at 37signals, the company behind Basecamp project management software, HEY email, and other innovative services. In this role, she creates educational content including product demonstration videos, written feature announcements, and live webinars. Kimberly also hosts 37signals' popular weekly podcast, REWORK, which has garnered over 4.5 million downloads and continues to grow. Prior to working at 37signals, Kimberly spent more than 20 years in the event industry, planning corporate, non-profit, and social events, including 11 years as the owner of wedding planning company Hitched Events. She is a Past President of the Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter of the National Association of Catering & Events (NACE). In her free time, you’ll find Kimberly swimming, biking or running, as she’s found a new passion for the sport of triathlon.

Kelly Simants has been in Human Resources for over 25 years, and is currently serving as Managing Director for Nevada HR Team & Texas HR Team. Kelly's expertise encompasses Employee Relations, Recruiting, Training and Development, and Performance Management. In addition to HR Consulting, she is also the CEO/Founder of My Resume Team – offering resume writing, LinkedIn optimization, professional bios, career coaching, and more. Previously, Kelly served as Vice President of Human Resources for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and held significant HR leadership roles at Starbucks and Accenture. Outside of the HR world, she also spent time in the events industry as the Founder of Sweet Pea Events – and also partnered with Michelle Loretta to deliver business planning workshops across the country with Sage Wedding Pros/Be Sage Consulting. In her free time, Kelly enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, traveling, and playing tennis.

As a sought-after event planner and seasoned entrepreneur, Terrica has been redefining the wedding industry for nearly two decades. Her signature blend of Southern charm and metropolitan style has graced countless celebrations featured in top publications like The Knot, Martha Stewart Weddings, and PeopleTV.

Beyond creating unforgettable experiences, Terrica is passionate about empowering fellow entrepreneurs. Dubbed “The Motherhustler”, she's mentored thousands of wedding professionals through her educational hub, sharing her proven strategies for success. Nominated as a Speaker of the Year by the National Association of Catering and Events, she's graced stages worldwide, inspiring and educating industry leaders.

A champion for diversity and inclusion, Terrica is at the forefront of industry change, spearheading the Unity Through Community initiative. Her dedication to uplifting underrepresented voices is evident in her role as an advisory board member, mentor and educator for Wedding Pro’s Fellowship for Change program. As the cover story for the Spring / Summer Issue of Event Therapy magazine, Terrica shares her passion for increasing wedding pros’ self care and self worth. 

When she's not transforming event spaces or empowering fellow entrepreneurs, you can find Terrica soaking up the sun in the Golden Isles, cheering on her kids, indulging in her love of cake, champagne, RuPaul’s Drag Race and Game of Thrones.