Speakers

Richard Wiese

Richard Wiese – Host of ABC TV’s Born to Explore

Richard is the host of ABC TV’s Born to Explore, a weekly program that explores exotic topics ranging from Vikings in Iceland to wolves in North Carolina.

In early 2002, Richard Wiese became the youngest president in The Explorers Club’s hundred-year history. The fabled society’s members have included Teddy Roosevelt, Neil Armstrong, Charles Lindberg, Bob Ballard, Jane Goodall, and Sir Edmund Hillary.
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Carol Cain

Carol Cain is the Founder and Publisher of NYCityMama.com, a site that focuses mainly on travel and food in NYC or where ever her adventures may take her. A former public relations professional with an MBA in Global Management, Carol left it all behind launching NYCityMama in December of 2008.
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Krystin Yantis

Kristin Yantis has nearly 20 years of marketing communications experience with lifestyle brands, products and services. She was the in-house pr director for Keystone and Vail ski resorts, she opened The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch and was the assistant vice president of corporate communications for Destination Hotels & Resorts before starting her own boutique marketing communications firm in 2007. read full bio

Ted Rubin

Ted Rubin is a leading social marketing strategist and in March 2009 started using and evangelizing the term ROR, Return on Relationship™…  a concept he believes is the cornerstone for building an engaged multi-million member database, many of whom are vocal advocates for the brand, like the one he built for e.l.f. Cosmetics (EyesLipsFace.com) as the Chief Marketing Officer between 2008 and 2010, and the one built for OpenSky where Ted, was the Chief Social Marketing Officer. . read full bio

Roger Sherman

Roger Sherman founded Florentine Films with Ken Burns. He’s is a producer, director, cinematographer, still photographer, and writer. Roger has conducted workshops on a variety of topics and spoken to many groups including The 92nd Street Y (a sold out crowd of 900 during one of last winter’s snow storms), the Museum of Modern Art, the National Gallery of Art, Hampshire College, and the Culinary Institute of America. read full bio

Veronica L. Yankowski
Veronica L. Yankowski has been a professional photographer for 17 years. Most of that time has been dedicated to photojournalism by working with several of the top news organizations in the area including The Associated Press, The Star Ledger, and The New York Times. She has accumulated over 20 awards for her work from such organizations as the New Jersey Press Photographers Association the New Jersey Press Association and the Suburban Newspapers of America. Her most heralded works include her pictorial essay on the aftermath of September 11th and her collection of environmental portraiture. read full bio

Eric Cohen

Eric Cohen spearheads sales and marketing strategy for Macaroni Kid, the innovative platform that let’s moms and dads become instant hyper-local publishers.  Eric has lead several advertising companies and created campaigns for dozens of Fortune 500 brands.  He has spoken at various conferences and guest lectured at the college level.  He is excited to share his insight into online advertising and revenue generation. read full bio

Joyce Shulman

Joyce brings a diverse background to her role as Macaroni Kids’ CEO. The visionary behind Macaroni Kids’ expansion and long-term growth plans, Joyce brings her unparalleled energy and determination to the Macaroni Kid community. read full bio

Rainer Jenss

Before putting his professional expertise and personal passion to the ultimate test to travel around the world for a year with his family, Rainer Jenss was a Vice President and thirteen-year veteran of National Geographic.  As the Publisher, he helped transform National Geographic Kids into the most widely read consumer magazine for children throughout the world.  Prior to National Geographic, Rainer worked for CNN International and Business Traveler International magazine. read full bio

Cole Hernandez

Assistant Director of Brand Marketing & PR

Best described as a brand experience artist, Cole Hernandez thoughtfully crafts marketing strategies and programming for five of Denihan’s affiliate and independent boutique hotels. She is responsible for conceiving and implementing The Benjamin hotel’s Winks’ Kidzzz Club, a sleepy time program for the leaders of tomorrow, and revamping the hotel’s world-renowned Sleep Program. In the fall of 2010, Cole successfully launched The National Bar & Dining Rooms with Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian. With six years of prior PR agency experience and Master of Journalism degree from The Frank W. Mayborn Graduate Institute of Journalism at UNT under her belt, Cole’s innovative programs and partnerships have led to top-tier placements in the New York Times, USA Today, Crain’s New York Business, Departures and Wall Street Journal, among others.