Ryan Leak

Keynote Speaker

As the CEO of a leadership development firm based in Dallas, Ryan and his team train over 30,000 leaders annually — from Fortune 500 companies to professional sports teams. His unique talent for turning setbacks into opportunities, emphasizing the importance of resilience and the value of learning from failure, makes his teachings impactful and actionable with a splash of humor.

Ryan's passion is helping leaders push past autopilot and level up in their lives and careers. He spreads this empowering message through coaching, speaking, and leveraging the power of video to reach thousands through his online platforms. He is the author of the USA Today bestselling book "Chasing Failure," the Wall Street Journal bestselling book "Leveling Up," and his latest work, "How to Work with Complicated People." His work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including Good Morning America and The Today Show.

With an engaging personality and a deep understanding of human dynamics, Ryan continues to motivate and equip people to overcome challenges and succeed in their endeavors. He is also widely known for planning his viral proposal and wedding on the same day.

Shawn Achor

Keynote Speaker

After spending twelve years at Harvard University, Shawn Achor has become one of the world’s leading experts on the connection between happiness and success. His research on mindset made the cover of Harvard Business Review, his TED talk is one of the most popular of all time with over 25 million views, and his lecture airing on PBS has been seen by millions. Shawn’s talks have taken him to more than 50 countries to speak to a wide range of audiences including six battalions of Marines at Camp Pendleton, all the NBA team owners, CEOs in China, doctors in Dubai, school children in South Africa, farmers in Zimbabwe, leaders at the Pentagon, and to half of the Fortune 100 companies. Shawn is one of only two speakers to ever be invited to speak to the White House staff at Camp David.

Shawn is the New York Times best-selling author of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential. His Happiness Advantage training is one of the largest and most successful positive psychology corporate training programs in the world.

Shawn’s research has been published in the top psychology journal for work he did at UBS in partnership with Yale University to transform how stress impacts the body. He also did a two-part series with Oprah at her house to discuss his mission to bring positive psychology to the world.

Anthony Lambatos

Keynote Speaker

When Anthony and his wife April Lambatos took over Footers Catering — one of the largest catering businesses in Denver — from his father (known as “The Tornado” for his knack of yelling and creating chaos), they knew things had to change. To grow the business and create a workplace people would love, they built with intention centered around a new philosophy: Heart Leadership.

Since Anthony became President & Owner in 2010, Footers has grown by 400%, scaled to 200+ employees, maintained retention 50% above industry average, and earned “Best Places to Work” recognition from multiple publications for the past ten years. The company has been recognized nationally for excellence and innovation in catering and culture — with standout benefits like company-wide vacations, an onsite cryotherapy chamber, legendary karaoke parties, a 40,000 sq. ft. headquarters and event venue (Social Capitol), and a leadership development program that builds future-ready teams.

With such a compelling growth story, industry peers kept asking Anthony how they could get Footers-level results, too. In response, he founded MIBE. Through the MIBE Annual Summit, workshops, trainings, and keynotes, Anthony has helped thousands of leaders across hundreds of organizations build people-first cultures that drive real growth.

His message is clear: fulfilled employees create unstoppable organizations — and work doesn’t have to suck.

Terrica

Summit MC

A big-city girl with deep Southern roots, she’s equal parts sweet tea and vodka; she’s nice…but packs a punch. Terrica built her sought-after wedding planning firm from the ground up, navigating the DIY route, name changes, and all the bumps along the way. Now, as a speaker, educator, and coach, she’s here to be the mentor she needed when she was starting out: sharing honest, relatable strategies to help build a thriving business—no fluff, just real results.

Part brand genius, part straight-shooting mentor, she helps build the business you’ve always dreamed of (minus the mistakes she made along the way). As an award-winning wedding industry educator, who turned a love for weddings into an educational system that has transformed thousands into thriving businesses, Terrica is here to help you do the same.

April Lambatos

Speaker

Her name is April, but call her Miss Daisy because she is driven! Or call her Disney, because of her experience working at Walt Disney World Resorts. Receiving her formal training in business from the University of Florida, April then spent time at Disney where she sharpened her skills in hospitality, management, and operations. Working with April is like an amusement park ride. She’s gonna tell you if you’re too short to ride, it’s exhilarating, and you might pee a little bit. And she provides the security and fun to keep you coming back for more.

Her ability to dream big, achieve results, and have fun in the process is why we call her The Head Honcho of Happiness.

April will be sharing colorful lessons in leadership and life with no filter. Buckle up!

Brianna Borin

Speaker

Brianna Borin, Chief Operating Officer for Snooze, an AM eatery, is affectionately referred to as “Mother Hen” by her Snoozers and represents the heart and soul of Snooze. Raised in Wyoming, Borin began working in the hospitality industry when she was just 14 years old and came to Denver to obtain her BSBA in Business and Hospitality Management from the University of Denver’s Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management. She eventually found her way to Snooze, where she started as an intern and host at the first restaurant in downtown Denver. Over 17 years later, she has held a myriad of roles within the company and is as passionate about the restaurant’s mission as she was on day one.

Borin believes that Snooze is about so much more than just serving up amazing breakfasts — it’s also about mindfully sourcing and preparing sustainable food, giving back to local communities, creating a sense of home for Snoozers and Guests and allowing each Snoozer to show up authentically as their true self.

She dedicates most of her free time to serving her community and sits on the board for various local non-profits and community organizations, including Urban Peak, Downtown Denver Partnership, Metro State Hospitality School and the Community College of Denver. Through all of her acts of service within her internal and external community, Brianna is dedicated to thinking outside of the box, creating innovative solutions, and pushing others to be the best versions of themselves in all aspects of their lives. She enjoys working closely with youth and women leaders helping them reach their fullest and most authentic selves.

Jeremy Edmonds

Speaker

His love for people, process, and the employee experience fuels everything he does. With a career built on creating exceptional workplace cultures, Jeremy has made it his mission to design environments where Snoozers can thrive.

As a certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner and Coach through the American Psychological Association, Jeremy brings heart and strategy together to develop strong, empathetic leaders. His passion for leadership development and culture-building has inspired countless emerging leaders to reach their potential.

After more than a decade in talent recruitment, Jeremy turned his focus toward the science of engagement, becoming a respected thought leader and keynote speaker in culture, performance development, and leadership.

A foodie at heart, Jeremy is thrilled to combine his love of hospitality with his purpose—creating moments and experiences that make Snooze a place people love to work and guests can’t wait to visit.

Jennifer Jasinski

Top Chef Panelist

A James Beard Foundation award winner for Best Chef Southwest in 2013, semi-finalist for Outstanding Chef in 2016 and Outstanding Restaurateur in 2020, Jasinski opened her first restaurant, Rioja, in Denver’s Larimer Square to critical acclaim in 2004. She and business partner Beth Gruitch acquired Bistro Vendôme, a French bistro in 2006 and moved it to Park Hill in 2023. Ultreia opened in 2017 and features the foods of the Iberian Peninsula in Denver’s historic Union Station.

"Chef Jen" was a finalist on the 2013 season of Top Chef Masters and won the Denver tour stop of Cochon 555 in 2014. She was named 2004 Colorado Chef of the Year and 2005 Western Regional Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation. Rioja is consistently listed among Denver’s top restaurants and has been annually awarded four stars by AAA since 2010. She was inducted into the MenuMasters Hall of Fame in 2021 and the Denver and Colorado Tourism Hall of Fame in 2023.

Jasinski’s impressive restaurant credits include stints at Wolfgang Puck restaurants including Postrio, San Francisco; Spago, Las Vegas; Granita, Malibu; Spago, Chicago; corporate chef at Wolfgang Puck Food Company.

She lives in Denver with her husband Max MacKissock (also a chef) and Samson the Labrador retriever.

Carrie Baird

Top Chef Panelist

Chef Carrie Baird has made a name for herself leading the kitchens of some of the most acclaimed restaurants in Denver, Colorado over the last two decades. Baird is currently the Culinary Director for The Culinary Creative restaurant group in Denver. She oversees four Tap & Burger concepts and has a new breakfast concept, Fox and the Hen. Which has been named one of the "25 Essential Restaurants" in Denver, CO.

Chef Carrie competed on Season 15 of Bravo’s "Top Chef." Filmed entirely in Colorado, Baird quickly became a fan favorite. She won many challenges and even baked a cake in the snow. She was a top 4 Finalist. In the spring of 2019 Chef Carrie was a contestant on Food Networks "Beat Bobby Flay" and beat him handily with her Pork Green Chili Huevos Rancheros. In 2020 she was a James beard Award finalist for "Best Chef." Most recently she was an All Star judge on “Top Chef” Season 18, judging 8 episodes of the season.

Hosea Rosenberg

Top Chef Panelist

Executive Chef and Owner Hosea Rosenberg is the culinary force and founder of Blackbelly and Santo restaurants, located in Boulder and Denver, CO. He is celebrated for his dedication to seasonal ingredients, responsibly sourced meats, and bold flavors. As a rising chef, Rosenberg earned national culinary acclaim after winning Bravo TV’s Top Chef, Season 5, in 2009. Since then, he built Blackbelly from a small Boulder-based catering operation with a food truck and farm into a full-service restaurant, butcher shop, and market (2014). In 2017, Rosenberg further enriched Boulder’s dining scene with SANTO, a heartfelt tribute to the flavors of his Taos, New Mexico upbringing.

Expanding his footprint beyond Boulder, Rosenberg opened Blackbelly Market Denver in 2024, which focuses primarily on the craft of house made charcuterie, salami, salumi, and deli meats; along with gourmet grocery goods, provisions, and counter service breakfast and lunch. Most recently, in partnership with High Flying Foods, he opened a new location of SANTO in Terminal C of the Denver International Airport, bringing the flavors of northern New Mexico to mile high travelers near and far.

Chef Hosea has received multiple accolades and honors over the years, with Blackbelly being named among the 25 Best Restaurants in Denver by 5280 Magazine repeatedly since its inception; he has been celebrated by the U.S. Small Business Administration for inspiring the entrepreneurial spirit of the nation; and Rosenberg has made several appearances cooking at the prestigious James Beard House. Further underscoring his commitment to sustainable practices, Blackbelly received multiple Michelin Award Green Star awards for sustainable gastronomy, and, both Blackbelly and SANTO are distinguished as Michelin-recommended restaurants.

Anika Sawni

Speaker

Anika Sawni, founder of Grüvi and Chief Brand Officer, started Grüvi in 2019 along with her brother Niki Sawni. Today, Grüvi is the only company in North America to offer a multi-award-winning line of non-alcoholic social beverages including beer, wine, and sangria.

A sought-after thought leader in the space, Anika was named to the Forbes Top 30 Under 30 list, and the company was recently recognized as an EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 finalist.

In just under five years, Anika has co-led Grüvi to become one of the fastest-growing non-alcoholic brands in North America, with products available in 4,000+ retail outlets and online. She is also a founding member of the Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association (ANBA). Credited as a trailblazer in the non-alcoholic beverage movement, the team at Grüvi continues to challenge the status quo.

Combining her love for branding and community-building, Anika aims to create experiences and beverages that help people celebrate life’s moments with intention.

With a background in Neuroscience from McGill University and a deep belief in balance and mindful living, Anika also speaks passionately about the real and raw journey of building a business from the ground up — embracing vulnerability, leading with authenticity, and moving through fear to find purpose.

Luis Benitez

Speaker

Throughout his career, as a professional mountaineering guide, Luis has summited the top of the famed “Seven Summits” a cumulative 32 times, including being a six-time summiteer of Mt. Everest.

Because of this, between managing expeditions on some of the most remote peaks in the world, while working in the public and private sectors, Benitez works to tie the lessons available from the outdoors and carry them back to the everyday challenges of life and business while always holding a keen focus on the global development and advancement of the outdoor industry.

Luis has also served as the COO and Director of Operations for Adventure Consultants (AC), a highly respected New Zealand-based global expedition firm with a long and storied history of leading trips on Mt. Everest that was featured both in the book Into Thin Air and in the movie Everest.

At the heart of his career, Luis has always focused on servant leadership. Some of his most rewarding work has been to help create the internal university for Vail Resorts, focusing on leadership development for every level of employee and executive.

Benitez has also worked with VF Corporation, creating and leading a global government affairs function and restructuring and re-launching The VF Foundation. VF is a Fortune 500 holding company whose portfolio includes some of the most iconic brands in the outdoor industry like The North Face, Vans, and Timberland to name a few. Benitez has also led global government affairs for the iconic athletic leisure brand lululemon.

In the last 10 years, Benitez has grown to have a deeper investment in public service 1st by serving as a Town Councilman in Eagle, Colorado and then serving as the 1st State Director for the Outdoor Recreation Industry office for the State of Colorado under Governor Hickenlooper’s administration and then with the Polis administration.

Benitez holds a professional mountaineering guide accreditation with an Honoris Causa from Colorado Mountain College in Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Avalanche Science and an Executive MBA from the University of Denver (DU) with an emphasis certification for behavioral sciences and public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.